Carnival Cruise Line will continue to use drug dogs in light of the spread of cannabis

Carnival Cruises will continue to use drug-sniffing dogs to search for marijuana and other drugs, according to a brand ambassador who confirmed the cruise line’s drug policy on Tuesday.

Don’t plan to smoke while vacationing on a cruise: Carnival Cruise Line (CCL), Royal Caribbean (RCL), Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH), and every other major cruise line operating or departing from US ports bans the Cannabis use plank. Most have Drug Free Zone signs on board and have a zero tolerance policy.

Cruise ships follow federal law, which takes precedence over state law, even though their ships do not fly the US flag, so cannabis is prohibited in almost all circumstances. The open seas are not truly law-free and laws usually stretch miles from shore, and most cruises stop in multiple countries.

The Gwinnett Daily Post reports that Carnival Cruise will not be changing its cannabis policy any time soon after a brand ambassador clarified the cruise line’s efforts to control cannabis use on board.

“As for the drug detection dogs, let me say that along with our no-tolerance policy and enforcement, they have massively changed the problem of people thinking marijuana is legal and allowed to use on their cruise. It’s not that,” Carnival brand ambassador John Heald wrote on his Facebook page May 23.

Some cruise guests have complained about the weed smell common on cruises. Passengers say they get it when ships dock at ports and when they venture into the city.

“They really need more drug dogs when we get back on the ship because people pick up drugs in ports and then I smell marijuana on the balconies,” replied a commenter named Janet on Heald’s page.

Problems with drug detection dogs and cannabis

There are a handful of problems with using dogs to detect drugs and marijuana. Commenters raised concerns about allergies to dogs, which could compromise privacy.

Heald continued, “These extremely intelligent and highly trained dogs are used at embarkation, and on occasion not every cruise on every ship sails as well with their handlers.” Ships are big enough for that, too [to] no problem for anyone who is allergic…”

It turns out the Washington Post asked the same question last March, and a CCL representative confirmed the cruise line’s cannabis policy.

“In case there is any ambiguity, I would like to remind guests that while marijuana and cannabis products may be legal in some states, we are required to follow federal laws, regardless of the laws in the state where you may be aboard your.” ship,” CCL President Christine Duffy told the Washington Post.

Drug dogs in general have been losing their jobs in droves since dozens of states legalized cannabis in one form or another. In other cases, drug-sensing dogs are trained to ignore cannabis. Why? A major 2011 Chicago Tribune exposé claimed that drug sniffer dogs can pick up on and follow their handlers’ prejudices and biases.

It’s not just dogs. China is recruiting drug-sniffing red squirrels, while honey bees could soon be the next natural drug scavengers. Researchers from the University of Cologne recently published a study titled “Detection of Illicit Drugs by Trained Honeybees” in the journal Plos One, showing the promising drugs they have in law enforcement.

Cruise passengers caught with cannabis are usually swiftly fined and often expelled from the cruise at the next port.