Since 2018, medical cannabis has been legally available on prescription through licensed clinics like Alternaleaf for 50+ conditions. You can find out if you’re eligible by completing the quick eligibility checker on our website.
But a big question we get asked here at Alternaleaf is: can I take medical cannabis abroad from the UK? We’ll be answering this below, as well as giving you as much information as we can, so that when it comes to travelling with your medication, you’re ready to go.
Can You Travel with Medical Cannabis from the UK?
Although medical cannabis has been legal in the UK since 2018, it isn’t necessarily legal everywhere else. Which means travelling with a medical cannabis prescription requires some planning. Below we’ll be exploring where you can find information on travelling with medical cannabis from the UK, as well as what documents you’ll need, and how this may vary between destinations.
Where Is Medical Cannabis Legal, And How to Check Your Destination
We always recommend you check the rules and local laws of the place you’re travelling to if you’re ever unsure or just want a bit more clarity. It might also be a good idea to directly contact your destination’s embassy - and any stop-overs - for the most up to date information. Some countries will allow you to bring medical cannabis.
Places where you are allowed to bring medical cannabis include parts of the EU, like Germany.
But other places won’t allow you to travel with it, and there might even be serious legal repercussions if you attempt to. So, it’s always a good idea to check any and every government source.
It’s also good to keep in mind that medical cannabis travel rules across different forms of transport vary. Some airlines are known to allow medical cannabis, depending on their policies and the laws of both your departure and destination countries. It’s a good idea to search for any airport rules for prescription cannabis in the UK, especially if you’re feeling anxious. The more information you can find out, the better. Some security teams may even be able to make accessibility adjustments for you if you contact them in advance. Other forms of transport, such as cruise ships and ferries, may have stricter rules. So, it's always best to check in advance with your travel provider.
When you are allowed to bring medical cannabis with you when travelling, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the right documents with you. We’ve got a checklist for you below.
Documents You Need to Travel with Medical Cannabis
From having the right documents, to making sure you’re travelling with your medication correctly, here are three things you need to keep in mind before and during travel:
- Keep a printed copy of your valid prescription on you.
- Request a travel letter from your clinic. Alternaleaf will provide travel letters for free, and we recommend you request this around 2 weeks before your trip so it applies to your current month's active prescription.
- Keep your mediation in its original packaging, with the pharmacy label clearly visible.
- Always carry ID, so you can verify that the medication and documentation belongs to you.
Keep in mind that some countries may require additional forms or documents to be sent. Contacting the location's embassy or researching the local laws will give you clarity on this.
How to Pack & Travel Safely with Medical Cannabis
As we mentioned above, it’s important to keep your medical cannabis in its original packaging. Bonus - did you know this can actually preserve your medical cannabis too? But when travelling, it just means it’s easy to identify that what you’re carrying is medication. Your packaging label may also have information about your prescription, the clinic, pharmacy and more.
While the original containers and packaging usually mask the cannabis smell quite well, if you’re looking for discretion you may want to invest in a smell-proof bag.
Here are a couple other things to keep in mind when it comes to packing medical cannabis for flights and travelling in general.
- You must pack your medication in your hand luggage. This means it’s easily accessible and can be checked at the appropriate times. For example when you’re going through airport security, or if a customs officer asks to see your medication when going through border control.
- Pack vapes or lithium batteries in your hand luggage. For the same reasons above, but also because it’s required if travelling on an aircraft for example.
- Keep your documents handy. Again, it’s a good idea to keep these in your hand luggage or on your person, so you have them readily available to show when appropriate.
- If you’re prescribed oil, make sure you’re keeping this with any other liquids, and follow any liquid restrictions. This is something you should research before heading off - for example some airports require you to carry liquid bottles that are no larger than 100ml.
- Only ever bring what is written on your prescription. That way all your paperwork will line up with your medication. If you’re carrying more than what you’re prescribed, you will not be legally covered.
- We recommend travelling with plastic grinders over metal ones.
Can You Travel Within the UK with Medical Cannabis?
Yes, of course! If you’re prescribed medical cannabis, you can legally travel around the UK with your prescription. Again, we recommend you carry a printed copy of your prescription and keep your medication in its original packaging.
If you’re driving to your destination, why not read through our article about driving with your prescription? If you’re a passenger, the same rules above largely apply here - keep your medication in its original container, and carry a copy of your paper prescription, just in case. It’s unlikely you’ll need a travel letter, but if you’d prefer to have one for peace of mind, feel free to request one from your clinic.
How to Request a Travel Letter from Alternaleaf
Requesting a travel letter from Alternaleaf is easy. Simply get in touch with our support team to request one. You can either email us, or use the form at the bottom of our website. As we said above, we recommend you do this around 2 weeks before your trip so it applies to your current month's active prescription, but also gives us enough time to get this to you.
If your trip is a bit more last minute, we recommend you call our support team, so we can get that travel letter sent over to you sooner.
What If Medical Cannabis Is Illegal Where You’re Travelling?
The simple answer here is to not bring your medication with you. If it’s a small trip, you might feel comfortable going a couple days without consuming any medication. But we understand that pausing treatment is a big no for some people - especially for an extended period of time. Speak to your clinician during your next appointment if you can. At Alternaleaf, we’re with you every step of the way, and are happy to support you whenever we can.
If you can, check in advance before booking a trip or holiday to make sure medical cannabis is legal, and maybe consider changing your destination if you’ve not yet booked/paid for anything. Planning ahead may be a game changer.
What to Do If Stopped at the Airport with a Prescription
Stay calm. We know this is easier said than done, but if you’ve done your research, and you’ve got all the documents on you that you need, you know that you’re not doing anything wrong. You’ve got the evidence you need to support the legality of travelling with your prescription. It may just be that the airport staff aren’t aware that medical cannabis is legal. It’s why one of our missions at Alternaleaf is to push medical cannabis into the mainstream.
Show them your prescription and travel documents, and explain your medical needs clearly to authorities. A simple review of your medical cannabis documentation - like your travel letter, prescription and medication in its original packaging - should be enough evidence to allow you to continue your travel uninterrupted.
Summary
Hopefully we’ve helped you feel a little bit more confident about travelling with your prescription. Just remember to complete your travel checklist, and do your research. Hopefully, we can continue to push medical cannabis into the mainstream and make more people aware. Who knows, maybe the next time you travel, you’ll come across someone who already knew it was legal.
If you’re considering medical cannabis treatment, the best thing to do is seek the help of a licensed medical cannabis clinic like Alternaleaf. Find out if you’re eligible by heading to our website and completing our 30 second eligibility checker.