Cannabis on cruise ships – Cannabis | weed | marijuana

Do cruise ships allow cannabis on board? No, taking cannabis on a cruise is a risky business.

You might be thinking, well, I’m a patient. Can I bring my prescription cannabis on a Carnival cruise? Once again: no. According to the cruise line’s website:

Carnival recognizes that some state and local governments in the United States and in the destinations we visit may permit the use of marijuana. However, Carnival Cruise Line complies with US federal laws that strictly prohibit the possession and use of recreational/medical marijuana and other illegal controlled substances.

And that pretty much sums up cannabis on cruise ships. They start in ports that are subject to federal sovereignty. And federal agencies don’t like cannabis.

But what about Canadian cruise lines? What about Delta-8 THC? Can you take cannabis oil on board a cruise ship? How would they even know?

Cannabis on a cruise ship leaving Seattle

Suppose you brought cannabis on a cruise ship leaving Seattle, Washington. Suppose you fly to Anchorage, Alaska. Cannabis is legal in both states.

The cruise ship sails through Canada, where cannabis is also legal. One would think there would be no problem. However, cruise ships are subject to federal law.

So no cannabis for you.

Cannabis use on cruise ships, like all cannabis use, remains illegal under US federal law.

This includes medical cannabis and legal hemp products like Delta-8. Although the purchase, possession, and use of hemp is legal federally, it is banned from cruise lines because the DEA considers it a controlled substance.

As previously mentioned, Carnival bans all types of cannabis. But this also applies:

Royal Caribbean: The possession and/or use of marijuana, including medical marijuana, and the possession or use of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited in many jurisdictions visited and on the ship at all times, as well as in terminals, on shore excursions or in any other part of the cruise, regardless local, state or other laws that may permit the use or possession of marijuana.

Disney Cruises: Illegal narcotics/drugs, including synthetic drugs, designer drugs, and prescription marijuana, and all drug paraphernalia, including items used for marijuana, cannabis, and hemp

Celebrity Cruises: Marijuana, even in its medicinal form or for medicinal purposes, is prohibited. Illegal drugs and other illegal substances are not permitted on board nor may they be consumed during a Celebrity Cruises vacation, including on transfers to and from ships, in terminals, on board, at ports of call, on shore excursions and at our private destinations. Illegal drugs and substances will be confiscated and Celebrity Cruises reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to report violations of this nature to the appropriate authorities.

Exceptions to the rule?

Cruise ships are privately owned and regulated by the US federal government. Unless cannabis reform comes from DC, those rules are unlikely to change.

There are no cannabis-friendly cruise ships. At least not yet. One exception to the rule is Miami-based Bhang Cruise.

Created by the South Florida Women Grow organization, the annual cruise line is more of an educational experience than a party boat.

Still, the cruise stops at a Jamaican cannabis farm, the birthplace of Bob Marley, and features speakers from the cannabis industry, a trade show, and cocktail makers.

Of course, Bhang Cruise doesn’t flaunt the laws too much. They make it clear: “Cannabis will not be consumed or distributed at this event.”

What about Canada?

Technically, cannabis should be fine on cruise ships in Canada’s waters. And before the Covid hysteria, there was a cannabis-friendly cruise ship based in Windsor.

However, this cruise ship was BYOC (bring your own cannabis). And it did not leave Canadian waters.

Otherwise, no cruise ships paddle in Canadian waters. Virtually all visit American cities, the Caribbean, or leave the continent altogether. And you cannot travel internationally with legal Canadian cannabis.

Cannabis cookies on cruise ships

How about secretly smuggling cannabis cookies on cruise ships? Or a cannabis tincture? Or capsules disguised in an omega-3 fish oil bottle?

This is the least risky method as long as cruise lines allow you to bring your own food on board. Unlike flowers, edibles do not emit an odor. And they can be disguised as food or dietary supplements.

If you bring cannabis gummies, mix them with a bag of regular candies that are known and recognized. Of course, don’t bring a bar of chocolate with a big pot leaf on the lid and a cartoon mascot with bloodshot eyes.

As previously mentioned, cannabis capsules often look like omega-3 fish oil capsules. You could take capsules disguised as vitamin supplements on board.

Most security forces will look for guns, alcohol or other drugs. Unless you have a bag full of flowers, your homemade “special” crispy rice squares are unlikely to go unnoticed.

However, some cruise lines have been known to have drug detection dogs. However, there is also a greater emphasis on checking luggage when returning from a cruise than when departing. So it pays to keep these things in mind.

What about vaping?

Many cruise lines allow nicotine vaping. This allows you to pass off a THC oil pen as a nicotine vape pen. Ideally you would have a standard vape pen with nicotine cartridges, but among nicotine cartridges there would also be those with THC.

What happens if I get caught with cannabis on a cruise ship?

So it turns out your cannabis-friendly cruise ship wasn’t cannabis-friendly after all. What now?

Chances are the staff will confiscate the product. You could be fined and disqualified from the cruise. You may even end up in the “brig” or cruise jail until the ship reaches its next destination.

In the worst case, the police will be waiting ashore to arrest you. Most likely, you will be banned from traveling with the cruise line in the future.

All in all, it’s best to sneak in edibles onboard or avoid the cruise altogether. Until the US legalizes cannabis and cruise lines relax their rules.