In the wake of several reported incidents, both with airlines and border officials, UK’s Cannabis Industry Council published a guide that provides comprehensive information for medical marijuana patients traveling abroad.
Guide to the guide Medical Cannabis Traveling with YouToday’s edition is free and can be downloaded from the CIC WebsiteThe book covers UK domestic travel as well as international frameworks for countries in Europe, Americas, Asia and the Middle East. It also includes a pre-travel check-list.
The CIC Standards and Education Pillar was created by CIC ambassador Luke Strong and Adam Windish. Adam Windish is the CEO of British Cannabis and CIC Standards and Education Pillar lead.
The CIC is presenting the complete guide next month at Cannabis Europa London, which will take place on the 26th and 27th of May, in the Barbican Centre. MEDCAN24 Code BOFC15 will give readers a 15% off their ticket purchase.
This publication is based on real patient problems and three incidents that were reported in our sister publication. Cannabis Health.
According to a report last year, an unidentified patient who was travelling from Belfast, UK to Antalya, Turkey in November of 2024, had his medications confiscated by cabin crew after they voluntarily disclosed them to the staff, even though he cleared security at the airport.
Five patients were removed from their hand luggage on an Amsterdam-London City British Airways flight in June 2024 by crewmembers acting upon pilot’s concerns.
In December 2023 at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, a medication of a patient was confiscated despite the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit’s pre-travel check. Border Force were required to return this medication after the seizure had been ruled unconstitutional.
CIC describes the incidents as evidence of a regulatory dysfunction that is not a failure in legislation, but a lack of knowledge and standardisation. We’ve reported extensively on this issue in the last few months. Although it has been legal for eight years now, perceptions of legality vary significantly among police, border agents, and transportation operators.
Windish explained that “this guide is designed to provide patients with information on how they can travel in safety, not only within the UK but also internationally.”
As rules can differ significantly around the world, the CIC is hoping that the guide below will assist patients in understanding where they are allowed to legally carry their medication. The guide will continue to be updated as regulations change.
International sections of the guide reflect fragmented information for UK-based patients. Most European countries will allow patients to enter with cannabis prescribed medicines, provided they meet certain documentation requirements. UK citizens travelling abroad as non-Schengen Residents may be subjected to additional requirements.
The situation is much more restricted outside of Europe. In the United States cannabis remains illegal, while cross-border transportation is banned in Canada. Patients travelling to North America therefore have no legal route to bring prescription medication.
Guide also talks about the practicalities when returning to UK. Patients can bring up to three-months worth of medication back to UK without needing a Home Office permit. Quantities above this threshold will require a Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit license.
In the wake of several reported incidents, both with airlines and border officials, UK’s Cannabis Industry Council published a guide that provides comprehensive information for medical marijuana patients traveling abroad.
Guide to the guide Medical Cannabis Traveling with YouToday’s edition is free and can be downloaded from the CIC WebsiteThe guide covers UK-wide travel and international country-bycountry frameworks in Europe, Americas and Asia. Also included is a handy pre-travel list.
The CIC Standards and Education Pillar was created by CIC ambassador Luke Strong and Adam Windish. Adam Windish is the CEO of British Cannabis and CIC Standards and Education Pillar lead.
The CIC is presenting the complete guide next month at Cannabis Europa London, which will take place on the 26th and 27th of May, in the Barbican Centre. MEDCAN24 Code BOFC15 will give readers a 15% off their ticket purchase.
This publication is based on real patient problems and three incidents that were reported in our sister publication. Cannabis Health.
According to a report last year, an unidentified patient who was travelling from Belfast, UK to Antalya, Turkey in November of 2024, had his medications confiscated by cabin crew after they voluntarily disclosed them to the staff, even though he cleared security at the airport.
Five patients were removed from their hand luggage on an Amsterdam-London City British Airways flight in June 2024 by crewmembers acting upon pilot concerns.
In December 2023 at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, a medication of a patient was confiscated despite the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit’s pre-travel check. Border Force were required to return this medication after the seizure had been ruled unconstitutional.
These incidents highlight a regulatory gap, which the CIC does not see as a failure of legislation but rather as one that is a matter of standardisation and awareness. Like we have reported extensively on in the last few months, even though it has been legal for eight years now, understanding of legal positions varies greatly between police, transport operators, and border authorities.
Windish explained that “this guide aims at providing patients with information to help them travel in safety, whether they are travelling within the UK or abroad.”
The CIC believes that this guide can help patients to understand the legalities of carrying their medications around the world. The guide will continue to be updated as regulations change.
In the international section of this guide, patients in the UK are presented with a fragmented picture. In Europe, most countries allow entry of cannabis medicine prescribed under certain conditions. However, UK residents travelling outside the Schengen area may have additional requirements.
The situation is much more restricted outside of Europe. In the United States cannabis remains illegal, while cross-border transportation is banned in Canada. Patients travelling to North America therefore have no legal route to bring prescription medication.
This guide addresses practicalities for returning to the UK. Patients may return up to three months’ worth of prescription medication to the UK without needing a Home Office license. Quantities above this threshold require a Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit licence.
Cannabis Law Resources for Poland
Browse essential legal pages on cannabis sales and cultivation in Poland. You can use these resources to learn about the requirements for certification, permissions and compliance.
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Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
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Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
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Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
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Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
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Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
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Registration of Medical Products in Poland