Medical marijuana

[YVRteacher]

Well someone definitely got past the non-existing sniffer beagles on my last cruise out of Seattle on the Encore because the smell of pot was rampant on deck 9.

[CILCIANRQTS]

So glad this VERY dead horse was not turned to glue and can be ridden again, over and over and over… 🦄

[Laszlo]

12 hours ago, greg_atlanta said:

I just returned from NCL Spirit Alaska sailing round trip from Seattle  Our cruise departed from Pier 66 and arrived at Pier 91 (due to other NCL ship arriving same day).  

 

Pier 66 had a strongly worded banner in the check-in area about not bringing any marijuana (THC and CBD) including a long list of different formats (edibles, vape, etc.) but I didn't notice any additional screening to detect such products (like dogs).  Just the usual metal detector and quick x-ray of your bag.  (Not sure if there was additional screening of checked baggage).

 

Granted our cruise sailed from one weed legal state to another with two stops in a weed legal country...   including a stop in Vancouver where a lot more is legal (mushrooms, LSD, etc.).

 

I didn't see any additional screening at ports of call either, just very light ship security.  

 

So if you can't smell it or smoke it you could probably bring something at embarkation or pick it up along the way.  Of course there's always the chance of a random screening, but I don't think it's a regular practice.  Like if TSA screened for THC and CBD at airports it would slow things down so much planes would leave empty....

Seems to be very similar to pier 88 in NYC. If you are using the piers parking lot their is always a homeland security person there who checks every car for explosives. You pop the hatch or trunk and the dog goes around your vehicle once. I've never seen any drug sniffing dogs in the terminal or at the security line for terminal

[Sandy Shores997]

11 hours ago, MotownVoice said:

Ask Brittany Griner what she thinks about traveling with medical marijuana products. 

Is this ship going to Russia anytime soon?

[MotownVoice]

9 minutes ago, Sandy Shores997 said:

Is this ship going to Russia anytime soon?

If a ship is going to anywhere where the laws on controlled substances are so different than ours that one might misunderstand the risks of being caught with them, then her same fate could await them. 
 

A fairly obvious point.  

[Sandy Shores997]

Just now, MotownVoice said:

If a ship is going to anywhere where the laws on controlled substances are so different than ours that one might misunderstand the risks of being caught with them, then her same fate could await them. 
 

A fairly obvious point.  

So a ship going from Seattle, to Canada To Alaska, all where pot is legal will somehow make a beeline for its flag state, Liberia, Bahamas just to throw someone in jail for bringing some medical marijuanna on the ship, or will the feds start to enforce the laws they are currently not enforcing just to throw grandma in the clink for her arthritis medicine?  Absurd.

[MotownVoice]

1 minute ago, Sandy Shores997 said:

So a ship going from Seattle, to Canada To Alaska, all where pot is legal will somehow make a beeline for its flag state, Liberia, Bahamas just to throw someone in jail for bringing some medical marijuanna on the ship, or will the feds start to enforce the laws they are currently not enforcing just to throw grandma in the clink for her arthritis medicine?  Absurd.

Show me where the OP was that specific about where (S)he was going.   
 

“Are you allowed to bring medical marijuana on a cruise if you have a medical card/prescription for it! It’s in a vape pen. Asking for a friend!”

[ace2542]

On 11/24/2019 at 8:22 PM, Pookie092403 said:

Are you allowed to bring medical marijuana on a cruise if you have a medical card/prescription for it! It’s in a vape pen. Asking for a friend!

No and any attempt to do so would get you a lifetime ban from NCL with no appeal possible I suspect. And you would be caught because of the smell of it.

Edited October 5, 2022 by ace2542

[mjkacmom]

25 minutes ago, ace2542 said:

No and any attempt to do so would get you a lifetime ban from NCL with no appeal possible I suspect. And you would be caught because of the smell of it.

Does a vape smell much? If so go with edibles.

[hallux]

https://www.ncl.com/prohibited-items

1. All illegal narcotics/drugs. (Including Marijuana prescribed for medical purposes and other items used as drug paraphernalia. This includes Hookah Pipes, CBD products, THC products).

 

If you want to try to bring these substances despite the warning, be aware of the risk of violating the policies.  Doesn't matter what the laws of the embarkation, debarkation or visited ports are.  As noted above - MARITIME LAW, which governs the ships, prohibits the substances.

[Traveling Fools]

On 11/25/2019 at 7:15 PM, erdoran said:

We are not taking the risk of bringing med. marijuana.  We will deal.  Narcotics, drugs, etc, with a legit prescription in original bottle ought to be just fine, with the exception of some Arab countries that prohibit them altogether no matter what—there was a long list from one of them, I forget which.  But under normal circumstances legit meds are just that - legit with documentation.  Medical marijuana is a special case unto itself.

They maybe legit in the state where you live, but the Federal Government has not legitimized possession or use of marijuana.

[erdoran]

I don't get why the compulsion to push the limits and break the rules.  Geez, just do what they say and avoid trouble.  If you're doing an itinerary where weed is legal, get off the ship, partake, have some edibles, then toss the leftovers in the trash and reboard.  Make sure nothing is left in your pockets/purse/backpack/whatever.  

 

If weed is that essential to you, be it medical or recreational, then just don't cruise, in which case realize unlimited access to weed is more important to you than cruising.  

 

NO, I am not anti-weed.  I have no issue with medical or adult-use recreational.  I just think rules are rules; we don't have to like them but we also don't have to try to get around them or share ways to break them and hope we don't get caught.  IMHO the consequences aren't worth it.

 

 

[MotownVoice]

According to this website, there are 27 countries that consider cannabis as either decriminalized, or legal.  The US is a special case because, as Traveling Fools has already pointed out, while you won't be prosecuted by local or state authorities, federal officials are free to make your life hell if they so chose.  And since federal is mostly who you are going to encounter, it should inform your position.

 

https://www.thrillist.com/vice/30-places-where-weed-is-legal-cities-and-countries-with-decriminalized-marijuana

 

However there are dozens of countries not on that list (as show by this Trip Savvy list of countries and regions who maintain cruise destination ports).  All of those could cause real grief if you tried to enter with cannabis or THC in any form, vaping fluid, herb, gummies, all of it.  It would take a customs official all of 10 minutes to test the contents of your luggage.  Once a positive test is confirmed, it can go one of two ways.

You could be waved ahead because it's not that important to them, or you could suddenly find yourself in a foreign prison trying to reach your family to get a good international attorney.

I would say your odds in the ship's casino are better.

https://www.tripsavvy.com/cruise-maps-991930

Edited October 5, 2022 by MotownVoice

[BermudaBound2014]

Some of you may find this interesting. 

 

https://morningconsult.com/2022/10/05/most-voters-back-federal-marijuana-legalization/

 

 

[dcipjr]

Since cannabis is illegal at a federal level in the USA, it's illegal to cross state lines with it, even if it's legal in both states or if you have a medical card. 

 

Bring some from NY to NJ? It's legal in both places, right? Drug-smuggling felony if you're caught.

 

Bring some from the US to Canada? Again, very illegal—crossing international borders is even worse.

 

Does this make sense? Absolutely not. Cannabis is useful for legitimate medical purposes, and so far, legal recreational hasn't meant the end of the world places that it's been legalized.

 

The federal laws are outdated. Marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug in the US, which is defined as "drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse". Is that really the case? Evidence would strongly point to no, but the laws haven't caught up.

 

Given that most people in the US are now in favor of legalization—or at the very least, medical legalization—hopefully the fed law will change to at least decriminalize, deschedule, or legalize. 

 

Politicians have proven themselves to not give a rat's behind about what people think, but I still tend to think there will be some legislative action at some point, because there's money to be made. A lot of money is flowing into the burgeoning cannabis industry, and it's legitimate money, unlike the old black market days. Laws tend to follow the money, so I'd imagine U.S. law will change on a federal level sometime in the near future.

 

Either way, it doesn't affect cruises. Trafficking marijuana across an international border is still illegal via international maritime law. And even if it wasn't, do you think NCL would want to competition with the drinks package?

 

I'd love a gummy on a cruise, but it ain't happening for the foreseeable future, and I'm not willing to go to prison for one either. 

[Traveling Fools]

6 hours ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

So glad this VERY dead horse was not turned to glue and can be ridden again, over and over and over… 🦄

Yup! Enough said.

[chengkp75]

1 hour ago, dcipjr said:

The federal laws are outdated.

 

1 hour ago, dcipjr said:

Laws tend to follow the money, so I'd imagine U.S. law will change on a federal level sometime in the near future.

 

1 hour ago, dcipjr said:

Trafficking marijuana across an international border is still illegal via international maritime law.

Your third statement is the correct one, and it trumps both of the other quotes above.  As I have said, even if the US were to make marijuana legal at the federal level, unless the US wanted to rescind being signatory to the STCW convention (which governs mariner training and competency, and covers drug and alcohol use), it would still be illegal on ships, until the IMO decides it is not illegal.  Attitudes in the US won't matter, what will matter is what the majority of folks in a majority of the 174 member nations of the IMO decide.

[IronRobi]

21 hours ago, Sea saw 56 said:

Pardon me, I call illegal or unlawful or forbidden drugs "dope".  

We take thyroid and blood pressure meds, and I've never been any place they are forbidden.

 

For the record, marijuana that's prescribed for medicinal purposes would be no different to the person taking it than your thyroid or blood pressure medication. So you probably shouldn't be judging those who use it for legitimate medical reasons as prescribed by their physician. And for those that use it recreationally, it's likely safer than alcohol since it does not cause dependencies and you can't OD from it. Also, a little fun fact, during prohibition, marijuana was only made illegal a few years later. But discussion for non-medical use is a whole different topic here lol

 

What surprises me is that NCL can deny somebody access to their prescription medications and even ban them completely if they're caught bringing it. Imagine being told you can't bring your thyroid or blood pressure meds. I believe this is all be due to laws about crossing international borders with it, which is entirely beyond their control.

 

Governments should view this as any other prescription medication at this point where one can carry a personal-use amount no greater than 30 days worth as long as they carry a copy of their prescription with them. Although back when I was given a prescription it was for up to 40g/day (crazy!!!) so a 30 day supply would allow me to bring 2.6lbs worth. 100x more than I'd likely ever use. So there's got to be some more regulations somewhere.

[Sea saw 56]

Well, Mr IronRobi, I've travelled all over the world with my meds - they weren't prohibited anywhere on plane, train, ship, or automobile.  We all have to follow the rules.

I was only trying to warn people that there were sniffing dogs (sniffing what exactly-I have not clue) in the areas I referenced..

I live in the midwest.  My name for certain "drugs" is different than yours. 

Apologize if your feelings were hurt, I can't help it if you feel the term "dope" is judgemental.  That is what I have always called marijuana, guess it has to do with the way I was raised and I can't change that now.

You may need to limit your cruise travels until the rules change if it is a problem.

[BirdTravels]

12 hours ago, MotownVoice said:

Show me where the OP was that specific about where (S)he was going.   
 

“Are you allowed to bring medical marijuana on a cruise if you have a medical card/prescription for it! It’s in a vape pen. Asking for a friend!”

And you know that the OP asked the question 3 years ago. This was a long dead thread that someone decided to poke. 

Edited October 6, 2022 by BirdTravels

[CptAleSpill]

2 hours ago, IronRobi said:

Governments should view this as any other prescription medication at this point where one can carry a personal-use amount no greater than 30 days worth as long as they carry a copy of their prescription with them.

How do you carry your 90 day prescription home from the pharmacy?

[hallux]

3 hours ago, IronRobi said:

What surprises me is that NCL can deny somebody access to their prescription medications and even ban them completely if they're caught bringing it.

Doesn't surprise me, when you consider that the substance in question is banned from all ships around the world regardless of prescription for the person, and is banned federally in the US which has several implications explained earlier in the thread.

 

By the way, this isn't just NCL.

Here's Royal Caribbean's prohibited items list - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/prohibited-items-onboard-policy

• Illegal Drugs & Substances
• CBD Oil / CBD Products

 

Here's Carnival's - https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=1202

• Any illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, Cannabidiol (CBD) and medical marijuana

Here's Princess - https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/prepare-for-your-cruise/?accordion=prohibited-items

• All illegal drugs, including medications without proper prescriptions. This includes legal intoxicant synthetic or “designer” drugs also known as “Legal Highs” such as Lysergamides, Opioids, Methoxetamine, Synthetic Cannabis, Betel Nuts or Kava (Cava).
• Medical Marijuana

 

I could go find more but I think you get the idea.  Until maritime regulations change these prohibited items lists won't...

[IronRobi]

9 minutes ago, hallux said:

Doesn't surprise me, when you consider that the substance in question is banned from all ships around the world regardless of prescription for the person, and is banned federally in the US which has several implications explained earlier in the thread.

Is it banned federally in the US for medical use as well or just recreational?

It's technically not legal to acquire ANY prescription medication without an actual prescription for it. If legal for medicinal use with a prescription, denying it would be no different than denying somebody's heart medication. 

 

I get that laws are outside of the cruise line's hands. Not trying to argue it or contest it. I'm just stating it's not the "right" thing to do. 

 

49 minutes ago, CptAleSpill said:

How do you carry your 90 day prescription home from the pharmacy?

I meant carry it over international borders, just as you would any other prescription medication. As for getting it home, they just sent it in the mail. But now that it's legal, we've got provincial cannabis stores attached to a large number of our provincial liquor stores LOL

[CptAleSpill]

2 minutes ago, IronRobi said:

I meant carry it over international borders, just as you would any other prescription medication. As for getting it home, they just sent it in the mail. But now that it's legal, we've got provincial cannabis stores attached to a large number of our provincial liquor stores LOL

Thanks.  That's different.  I know that some people insist upon having copies of their prescriptions to board a cruise ship (I believe it's the same ones who attach two luggage tags to each bag), but I just don't think that makes sense for most common prescriptions.  They can audit my pill container all they want.  Nobody is going to jail for "possession of statins."

[IronRobi]

1 minute ago, CptAleSpill said:

Thanks.  That's different.  I know that some people insist upon having copies of their prescriptions to board a cruise ship (I believe it's the same ones who attach two luggage tags to each bag), but I just don't think that makes sense for most common prescriptions.  They can audit my pill container all they want.  Nobody is going to jail for "possession of statins."

I know to travel internationally with prescriptions you're supposed to have everything in the original bottle, copy of the prescription and no more than a 30 day supply. I would expect it to be the same on a cruise ship since it often sails into multiple countries. Even if the meds stay on the ship, they're still in that country's waters. But they'd have to be digging pretty deep to be going through passenger's pill containers on a cruise ship to lay drug related charges.