The UK’s Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) has published a new comprehensive guide for patients travelling with prescribed medical cannabis in the wake of a series of reported incidents involving both airlines and border control authorities.
The guide, Travelling with Medical Cannabis, published today and available free via the CIC’s website, covers domestic UK travel, international country-by-country frameworks across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia, and includes a practical pre-travel checklist.
It was developed by Cannabis Industry Council Ambassador Luke Strong and Adam Windish, CEO of British Cannabis and the Cannabis Industry Council’s Standards and Education Pillar Lead.
Next month, as part of Cannabis Europa London 2026, taking place at the Barbican Centre on May 26 and 27, the Cannabis Industry Council will present the full guide to delegates. Business of Cannabis readers can now receive a 15% discount on their tickets using the code BOFC15.
The publication lands against a backdrop of real-world patient difficulties, and draws on three documented incidents reported by our sister publication, Cannabis Health.
As reported last year, a patient travelling on a Jet2 flight from Belfast to Antalya in November 2024 had his medication confiscated after voluntarily disclosing it to cabin crew, despite having cleared airport security.
Months before the incident, five patients on a British Airways London City-to-Amsterdam service in June 2024 had their prescriptions removed from hand luggage and placed in the hold by crew members acting on pilots’ concerns.
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Another incident took place at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 in December 2023, in which a patient’s medication was seized despite pre-travel checks with the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit. This seizure was subsequently ruled unlawful, and Border Force was required to return the medication.
The incidents underscore a regulatory gap that the Cannabis Industry Council frames not as a legislative failure but as an issue of awareness and standardisation. As we’ve covered extensively in recent months, despite being legal for nearly eight years, understanding of the legal position varies significantly between police forces, transport operators and border authorities.
“This guide is about empowering patients with the information they need to travel safely, both within the UK and internationally,” Windish said.
“Rules across the globe can vary significantly, so the Cannabis Industry Council hopes this guide will help patients understand where they can carry their medication legally. As regulations continue to evolve, the guide will be updated to reflect the latest requirements.”
The guide’s international sections reflect a fragmented global picture for UK patients. Within Europe, the majority of countries permit entry with prescribed cannabis medicines under defined documentation conditions, though UK patients travelling as non-Schengen residents may face additional requirements compared with EU residents.
Outside Europe, the picture is considerably more restrictive. Cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States, and cross-border transport is prohibited in Canada, meaning patients travelling to North America have no lawful route to bring prescribed medication.
The guide also addresses the practicalities of returning to the UK, noting that patients may bring back up to a three-month supply of prescribed medication without a Home Office licence, with quantities above that threshold requiring a licence from the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit.
The post Cannabis Industry Council Releases Global Guide for Patients Travelling with Medical Cannabis appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
Continue reading...
The guide, Travelling with Medical Cannabis, published today and available free via the CIC’s website, covers domestic UK travel, international country-by-country frameworks across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia, and includes a practical pre-travel checklist.
It was developed by Cannabis Industry Council Ambassador Luke Strong and Adam Windish, CEO of British Cannabis and the Cannabis Industry Council’s Standards and Education Pillar Lead.
Next month, as part of Cannabis Europa London 2026, taking place at the Barbican Centre on May 26 and 27, the Cannabis Industry Council will present the full guide to delegates. Business of Cannabis readers can now receive a 15% discount on their tickets using the code BOFC15.
The publication lands against a backdrop of real-world patient difficulties, and draws on three documented incidents reported by our sister publication, Cannabis Health.
As reported last year, a patient travelling on a Jet2 flight from Belfast to Antalya in November 2024 had his medication confiscated after voluntarily disclosing it to cabin crew, despite having cleared airport security.
Months before the incident, five patients on a British Airways London City-to-Amsterdam service in June 2024 had their prescriptions removed from hand luggage and placed in the hold by crew members acting on pilots’ concerns.
Patient Access
Legal Medicine Shouldn’t Make You Feel Like a Criminal at the Airport
Despite being legally prescribed, many UK patients report inconsistent treatment at airport security, with a lack of clear guidance leaving experiences unpredictable and often stressful.
By Ben Stevens • August 18, 2025
Read story →
Another incident took place at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 in December 2023, in which a patient’s medication was seized despite pre-travel checks with the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit. This seizure was subsequently ruled unlawful, and Border Force was required to return the medication.
The incidents underscore a regulatory gap that the Cannabis Industry Council frames not as a legislative failure but as an issue of awareness and standardisation. As we’ve covered extensively in recent months, despite being legal for nearly eight years, understanding of the legal position varies significantly between police forces, transport operators and border authorities.
“This guide is about empowering patients with the information they need to travel safely, both within the UK and internationally,” Windish said.
“Rules across the globe can vary significantly, so the Cannabis Industry Council hopes this guide will help patients understand where they can carry their medication legally. As regulations continue to evolve, the guide will be updated to reflect the latest requirements.”
The guide’s international sections reflect a fragmented global picture for UK patients. Within Europe, the majority of countries permit entry with prescribed cannabis medicines under defined documentation conditions, though UK patients travelling as non-Schengen residents may face additional requirements compared with EU residents.
Outside Europe, the picture is considerably more restrictive. Cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States, and cross-border transport is prohibited in Canada, meaning patients travelling to North America have no lawful route to bring prescribed medication.
The guide also addresses the practicalities of returning to the UK, noting that patients may bring back up to a three-month supply of prescribed medication without a Home Office licence, with quantities above that threshold requiring a licence from the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit.
The post Cannabis Industry Council Releases Global Guide for Patients Travelling with Medical Cannabis appeared first on Business of Cannabis.
Continue reading...
