This informal CPD article ‘Travelling with prescribed medical cannabis: the latest guidance for patients’ was provided by Dr Sue Clenton, Medical Director and Specialist Consultant Oncologist at Releaf, a HealthTech company dedicated to transforming access to Cannabis Based Products for Medical use (CBPMs) in the UK.
As the summer months approach, one question patients often ask medical professionals, is can I take prescribed medical cannabis on holiday with me? It's an important question to ask and, like many topics related to medical cannabis, the answer is a little more complicated than you might think. While medical cannabis has been legal to prescribe in the UK since 2018 (1), travelling with it remains a big sticking point for many patients (2).
Whether that’s due to uncertainty about different laws, inconsistent police enforcement across countries, or ongoing societal stigma, there is a lot for patients to consider (3). For many, the hassle often isn’t worth the effort, and they end up choosing to leave their treatment at home, spending their time away unable to relieve their symptoms.
Clinicians would generally much rather a patient asked about this issue in advance than shy away from it. While it may seem complicated on the face of it, travelling with medical cannabis is doable and may help patients do exactly what holidays are intended for: relax and recuperate. This article will look at some key points patients need to know.
What are the main difficulties with travelling with medical cannabis?
It’s common knowledge that different countries have different laws, rules and regulations. And herein lies the problem: UK medical cannabis prescriptions are not universally recognised. (4) Even if a patient has a medical cannabis prescription in the UK, the understanding of the law can vary from county to county, and person to person. A police officer in one town may be lenient towards it, but another may feel differently, depending on their own level of education and awareness. (5)
Take that premise internationally, and the picture changes country by country. Some nations, like Denmark, Portugal or Australia, allow prescribed cannabis medicines into the country with the right paperwork. (3) Others, like Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Ireland, have zero-tolerance laws where possession can lead to the prescription being confiscated, the patient being detained or worse, in some cases (3). Preparation isn't just a nice-to-have when considering travelling with medical cannabis. It's essential.
The rules at a glance: updated guidance for UK, Europe and beyond
The Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) recently released a new guide, Travelling with Medical Cannabis, to help patients “avoid common pitfalls and travel with confidence”. (3) Guidance like this is definitely needed, as there remains a gap in the current awareness and understanding of how to travel with medical cannabis safely. (2) Yet at the same time, more patients are being prescribed than ever before, with demand continually on the rise. (6)
Even recently, an update to the US Transportation Security Administration's website was widely reported as a green light to fly with medical cannabis. (7) In reality, the agency confirmed its policy hadn't changed at all, and that the guidance applied only to US domestic flights under American law (8).
Reports like this will only intensify the confusion patients face when deciding whether to travel with medical cannabis, or not. So, it is useful to cut through the noise by looking at the CIC’s updated guidance on a country-by-country basis.
Travelling within the UK
Patients can legally travel anywhere within the UK with prescribed medical cannabis, including Northern Ireland (3). This applies to any mode of transport, including plane, train or car. If travelling by plane, patients must always carry their prescription with them, keeping it in their hand luggage and never in the hold.
Patients are under no obligation to volunteer their prescription during the security check, either. If they do get stopped and asked about it, they just need to stay calm and simply show their documentation. If an officer seems unsure of the law or questions them on it, patients have the right to politely ask for a supervisor, who should allow access.
Advance authorisation from medicines regulator
Travelling to Europe and further afield
Travelling into Europe is where things get a little trickier for prescribed medical cannabis patients. Countries like Denmark, Portugal and the Netherlands generally allow prescribed cannabis medicines for personal use with the right paperwork and up to a set number of days. Others, like Spain, Greece and Switzerland, may require advance authorisation from their medicines regulator or relevant embassy (3).
Some destinations are completely off-limits. For example, much of the Middle East, several Asian countries and the Scandinavian nations enforce strict laws that don't acknowledge or allow UK-based medical cannabis prescriptions at all (3).
The golden rule for patients wanting to travel in Europe is a simple one: if cannabis is illegal or medical cannabis prescriptions aren’t recognised in the desired destination, it’s not worth the risk.
Returning to the UK
When travelling back into the UK, patients can lawfully return with up to a three-month supply of their prescribed medicine (3). Any more than that will require a licence from the Home Office (4).
Prescribed medical cannabis patients also have no legal duty to declare their prescription at the border. But offering a voluntary, calm declaration could save a lot of confusion and prevent being stopped and questioned later on (3).
Pre-travel checklist: guidance for patients
Travelling with prescribed medical cannabis may feel daunting, so having a simple list may help. The following are some points patients should look to consider (3):
- Make sure to research the destination's laws on cannabis, including any countries they may be travelling through.
- Speak to the relevant authorities in advance, including the embassy and your airline. Get written confirmation where possible, as this may help later on if they do encounter any issues.
- Don’t volunteer information about the prescription unless specifically asked.
- Carry hard copies of the prescription, including any medical cannabis card, along with the prescribing clinic's details.
- Bring a travel letter or certificate to sit alongside other travel documents.
- Keep all medication in its original pharmacy packaging and only take what’s needed.
- Pack the medication in hand luggage, never the hold.
- Stay calm and open if customs or border officials ask questions.
Plan early, keep calm: the golden rules of travelling with prescribed medical cannabis
Travelling with medical cannabis may be confusing for some patients but, in many cases, it’s absolutely possible. It just takes a little more planning. By treating the paperwork as an additional part of the packing routine, checking the laws of the destination, and giving plenty of time to prepare beforehand, patients should feel a lot more assured when travelling.
For clinicians, the more confidently they can guide patients, the less daunting it will likely become for them, and the more likely they are to return home feeling relaxed and refreshed as a result.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Releaf, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
References:
- GOV.UK. (2018). Government announces that medicinal cannabis is legal. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-that-medicinal-cannabis-is-legal.
- Bonny-Noach, H. & Ne’eman-Haviv, V. (2025). Addressing the legal and health challenges of licensed medical cannabis users who want to travel abroad. Isr J Health Policy Res. 14:61. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12557901/.
- Cannabis Industry Council. (2026). Travelling with Medical Cannabis. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.cicouncil.org.uk/app/uploads/2026/04/Travelling-With-Medical-Cannabis.pdf.
- GOV.UK. (2026). Take medicine in or out of the UK. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/take-medicine-in-or-out-uk.
- Schlag, A., Baldwin, D., Barnes, M., et al. (2020). Medical cannabis in the UK: From principle to practice. J Psychopharmacol. 34(9):931–937. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7436434/.
- Cannabis Industry Council (2026). New Research Estimates UK Medical Cannabis Patient Numbers at 60,000–75,000 Active Patients. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.cicouncil.org.uk/new-research-estimates-uk-medical-cannabis-patient-numbers-at-60000-75000-active-patients/.
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2026). Medical Marijuana. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/medical-marijuana.
- Snopes. (2026). TSA's medical marijuana policy hasn't changed, contrary to claims. Here's what's allowed. [Internet]. Available at: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tsa-medical-marijuana-policy/.
