Addressing the legal and health challenges of licensed medical cannabis users who want to travel abroad

TL;DR

Medical cannabis users face unclear international rules and risks when traveling, leading to the need for better global policies and guidance.

Contribution

The study highlights the need for standardized international policies and mutual recognition of medical cannabis prescriptions for travelers.

Findings

Medical cannabis users describe international regulations as vague and inconsistent.

Patients adopt various strategies to manage legal and health risks while traveling.

Improved global guidelines and mutual recognition of prescriptions are recommended.

Abstract

Despite the global rise in medical cannabis use for health purposes, patients with medical cannabis licenses face significant legal and health risks when traveling abroad. The present study sought to understand how medical cannabis users experience these challenges while traveling abroad.

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 Israeli medical cannabis license holders and collected supplementary data from two of the largest Facebook groups of medical cannabis users in Israel.

Two main themes were identified : (a) vague regulations for medical cannabis users who travel abroad. Patients described international regulations as vague, with authorities failing to treat medical cannabis like other prescription medications for tourists. They criticized the lack of clear, formal information and guidelines; (b) legal, semi-legal, and illegal solutions adopted by medical cannabis users traveling abroad. In response to these challenges, patients have adopted various strategies, such as avoiding travel, selecting cannabis-friendly destinations, planning in advance to obtain cannabis through legal or illegal means, and finding alternative self-medication options.

The study revealed the need for improving the clarity of international policies to reduce legal and health risks faced by licensed medical cannabis users traveling abroad. We recommend that countries adopt mutual recognition of prescriptions, standardized travel certificates, and improved institutional guidance. The World Health Organization (WHO) should support this effort by issuing non-binding global guidelines and promoting best practices. Grounding these recommendations in access to care and health equity frameworks would ensure fair, safe, and continuous treatment access across borders.