From the smell of salt water to tropical destinations, cruises are a relaxing and fun-filled way to vacation—but not if you consume cannabis. A Texas woman was recently issued a lifetime ban from Carnival Cruise Line after CBD gummies were found in her luggage.
According to The Washington Post, Melinda Van Veldhuizen, a chiropractor and nurse practitioner from Texas, was separated from her family at PortMiami after her bag was initially flagged for a nail clipper. Security found a pack of CBD gummies in Van Veldhuizen’s bag during their search. After two and a half hours of waiting, she was told she could not join her husband and sons on board.
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“I have trouble sleeping, so it was just to make sure I could sleep on the trip — so if there were any issues, I could sleep,” Van Veldhuizen told Miami ABC affiliate WPLG. ”I’ve always traveled with them, no problem.”
Van Veldhuizen later received a letter from Carnival saying she was permanently banned from their ships.
“This decision was based on your actions on the current cruise, which were a violation of the ship rules, interfered with the safety and/or enjoyment of other guests on the ship or caused harm to Carnival,” the letter read.
CBD is technically legal on the federal level as long as it contains less than 0.3 percent THC. However, the vast majority of cruise lines do not permit hemp or marijuana products on board. Carnival’s guidelines specifically outlaw hemp-based products, stating, “While certain CBD products used for medicinal purposes may be legal in the US, they are not legal in all the ports we visit and therefore are also considered prohibited items.”
Cruise companies have gone to great lengths to ensure passengers do not bring cannabis on board. Some (including Carnival) have even deployed drug-sniffing dogs at ports. So, while life on the open seas should be an easy, breezy excursion, cruise fans who imbibe should seek alternate vacation plans.
