After 800,000 prescriptions, is it time for medical marijuana be allowed on cruise ships?

• Carnival has confirmed that medical marijuana is not allowed onboard cruise ships in Australia.
• This applies to cases even when guests can present a medical certificate and doctors note.
• Medical marijuana was prescribed more than 800,000 times in 2024 in Australia.

Carnival has confirmed that medicinal cannabis is not allowed on cruise ships in Australia, even if cruisers can present a medical certificate.

Medicinal cannabis is a commonly used form of medicine in Australia, often used for chronic pain, insomnia and other conditions. In 2023, 700,000 Australians used cannabis for medicinal purposes. 

Prescriptions are reportedly on the rise, rising from 17,000 in 2020 to more than 800,000 in 2024. 

So why isn’t this allowed on cruise ships?

John Heald, Carnival brand ambassador, was questioned on the topic, He said: “No I’m afraid this [taking prescribed medicinal cannabis onboard] is strictly forbidden, despite being used for medical reasons and even with a medical certificate it would not be allowed on board.”

Carnival’s website reads: “Carnival recognizes that some Australian states and territories might allow medicinal marijuana use under certain circumstances. However, Carnival Cruise Line’s policy strictly prohibits possession and use of recreational/medicinal marijuana and other illegal controlled substances.

“Violation of this prohibition is grounds for disembarkation.”

Guests who are found with any form of marijuan will have the substance confiscated, will be reported to relevant authorities, and may be fined, banned or removed from the ship.

Even in the USA, where recreational cannabis is legal in many parts of the country, cannabis for medicinal use (or recreational) is still not allowed onboard cruise ships. 

With its use on the rise in Australia, there have been more Aussies discussing why its not allowed on cruise ships.

An anonymous poster wrote on a Facebook group for Carnival cruisers in Australia, “I have Medicinal CBD/THC oil with a doctor’s letter and script. I’ve just found out I can’t bring it on board. What do I do for my chronic pain? I’m stressed out now”.

Many other cruisers commented stories along similar lines.

One wrote: “I live with chronic pain too and use medical weed. Unfortunately, you just have to go without while cruising. It’s either stay home and be pain free or cruise and see the world in pain”. 

Given Heald’s response was just days ago, this doesn’t appear to be something that Carnival is reconsidering at the moment, but given medical marijuana is being used by more and more Australians, many of whom rely on it for day-to-day life, this does raise the question as to why it isn’t legal to bring on cruise ships.

The counter argument is that many agencies and publications have drawn question marks over how freely and frequently medical marijuana is prescribed. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency took action against 57 medical practitioners due to their behaviour as “medicinal cannabis prescriptions rise rapidly due to telehealth companies providing a one-stop shop for quick access to medicinal cannabis”.

Some Aussie cruisers have signalled online that if medical cannabis were to be allowed on cruise ships, this would provide a ‘loophole’ to bring drugs onboard, whether they are really needed or not.

Those that use cannabis medically will of course argue that they shouldn’t suffer personally due to the existence of some dodgy industry practices.

What do you think? Should cruise lines allow medical marijuana onboard, as long as it’s prescribed by a doctor?