medicinal marijuana

[raudacruise]

Someone posted a question about this and the thread got immediately deleted. Possibly because the poster didn't put it quite right. There were two questions:

 

1. I'm from California and want to know if I can take medicinal marijuana perscribed by my doctor on board?

 

Good question and the answer is probably noway at this point. However, this issue is before the Supreme Court at this time.

 

It also brings in issues of customs regulations at foreign ports.

 

One thing that I caught in the newspaper this weekend however was rather surprising. An AARP survey showed that the majority of seniors thought that medicinal marijuana prescribed by a doctor was OK (note that thats a large part of cruise line's pax).

 

2. The second question was, if we can't take it on board can we get it on the islands.

 

Answer would have been, only if you want to extend your cruise vacation by 6 months to 4 years.

 

Have to admit, neither of us has made our minds up on this and haven't had a toke (we get our buzz from Champagne).

 

Host's, if you want to move this fine, please don't delete.

 

Anyway, this one got deleted a little too quickly.

[zurmoly]

That thread had many responses before it was pulled.

[hdawson]

And he posted it on every cruiseline msg board. No state is obligated to respect another states laws authorizing it's medicinal use. For now the feds don't honor it either. Try coming into the states using the California law as an excuse. Don't think so.

[raudacruise]

hdawson

 

As I said in the original post. It is before the supreme court and there exists some public opinion for allowing this.

 

zurmoly

 

Don't know what broke loose to cause the orignal thread to get cancelled. Saw the orignal posters message and the next day it was gone.

 

Anyway, this is a good debatable subject if folks don't get too out of wack ;). Thats all I was trying to point out. It probably doesn't belong on this board but I did try to make it somewhat related to cruising.

[rjg41]

And he posted it on every cruiseline msg board. No state is obligated to respect another states laws authorizing it's medicinal use. For now the feds don't honor it either. Try coming into the states using the California law as an excuse. Don't think so.

 

......and for those that think they can sneek it in, they use drug dogs at the ports. On more than one cruise we have seen the dogs being taked through the baggage. One time we saw customs officers standing by luggage at Fort Lauderdale with a dog that was very excited. When the couple that owned the bags showed up they were escorted away with the bags. It also has been reported here by people who have lived in Jamaica, that the local police work with the drug dealers to entrap cruisers to collect big fines.

[CaptData]

In some ports, you could be hanged or beheaded for it. Somewhere in Arabia comes to mind but if you go to Holland they serve it in the coffee shops. Remember the ships, expect for some NCL ones, are all foreign flagged which means that some of their laws may apply in this situation. As stated above in most of the Carb ports, you would be visiting the island for a while and you do not have the same rights you enjoy at home (ie speedy trail/lawyers ect).

[fierball]

I was told years ago that when customs check your luggage with their dogs and they stop that you better hope the dog raises his leg and does something. Some of the islands don't have a lot of food to feed people in jail. Good luck!

[dkjretired]

Someone brought up about the other states not recognizing this but it goes beyond that. No matter what happens in the Supreme Ct. it is still illegal in the other states not just a matter of that state recognizing California law.

 

Don

[hdawson]

I think what Raudacruise meant was that the case has been filed with the Supreme Court. I don't believe they've agreed to hear the case. Many cases are filed but not heard. It means it is sent back to the lower court.

[dkjretired]

I think what Raudacruise meant was that the case has been filed with the Supreme Court. I don't believe they've agreed to hear the case. Many cases are filed but not heard. It means it is sent back to the lower court.

 

I think it was accepted by the Supreme court and arguments were held within the last two weeks. That case would only rule on whether the state has a right to pass such a law when it is regulated by Federal Law. It really would have no affect in any of the other states except if they pass laws to allow it.

 

Don

[hdawson]

Thanks Don. I hadn't heard.

[flagger]

I think it was accepted by the Supreme court and arguments were held within the last two weeks. That case would only rule on whether the state has a right to pass such a law when it is regulated by Federal Law. It really would have no affect in any of the other states except if they pass laws to allow it.

It will be interesting to see the ruling since IMHO the federal stance does not leave the power to the states to regulate or enforce medicinal marijuana laws. Whoever posted about the laws of the country of registry applying with regard to marijuana use while at sea. Actually maritime law would govern this and frankly I am not even sure if it is addressed.

 

Personally I would rather see marijuana de-criminalised alltogether, but that is just me.

[dkjretired]

Thanks Don. I hadn't heard.

 

Below is a link to a story about the case.

 

Don

 

http://www.marijuana.org/

[kitty9]

I originally responded to the person's post on the Ask a Cruise Question board. And yes, he posted this on a number of boards and the responses were pretty much the same: No and No.

 

The guy probably hasn't seen the movie Midnight Express. Laws for drug violations on the islands aren't anywhere near as forgiving as here in the states. And they don't have country club prisons on the islands.

 

When I was in Indonesia a few years ago, there was a British citizen who was caught with 1/2 oz of some drug (can't remember what the drug was) and everyone was trying to get amnesty for the guy. The pope even asked for mercy. But, the man was executed in a public square. Many countries don't mess around with people and illegal substances in any way.

[Host Walt]

The answer is no. Period. Federal law prohibits possession. Until Federal legislation is enacted and signed that permits "legalization" of marijuana, it is illegal to possess and, therefore, to use marijuana regardless of medical prescription.

 

[The thread referred to in the OP was removed because the author was not properly registered, the query was his/her only post and the post was repeated in excess of 20 times on as many different boards. The post also promoted marijuana carriage and use, yet another violation of board policy.]

[raudacruise]

The answer is no. Period. Federal law prohibits possession. Until Federal legislation is enacted and signed that permits "legalization" of marijuana, it is illegal to possess and, therefore, to use marijuana regardless of medical prescription.

 

 

Walt, as pointed out the case is before the Supreme Court so current legislation and regulatory rules could be overturned, but only in California or other states with similiar statutes.

 

Don, the article you pointed out was though provoking. Where do state rights end and federal mandates begin? And where do individual rights fit in? Thinking of abortion, assisted euthenasia, living wills ... The Court has a hot one in its hands.

 

I don't want to explode this thread and it has sort of turned away from cruising (except for the well pointed facts that if you get arrested for drug possession in a foreign country, you might get something you didn't bargain for).

[GATKLT]

I was hoping Host Walt's response would have stated the previous posts were removed because they had nothing to do with the subject of cruising. While I am sure Raudacruise did not have this intent, this amounts to an attempt to have a debate on the issue of medical marijuana, thinly disguised as a cruise issue. As Raudacruise stated, "the article you pointed out was thought provoking. Where do state rights end and federal mandates begin? And where do individual rights fit in?" Is a discussion of federal, state's and individual rights an appropriate subject for CC? How about calling a debate on gay marriage a "cruise issue" if cast as "Should the captain be able to perform a wedding we can't get married in my home town?"

 

Until the Supreme Court decides, as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney (who sees the federal side of the matter) and a former Chief Counsel in a state attorney general's office (who also sees the state's rights position), I can vouch that Host Walt is right. "The answer is no. Period."

 

And, I object to this thread as inappropriate to a cruise discussion board. I come here for cruise information, Newt's humor, and Danno's complaints about cell phones. If I wanted political discussions, I'd listen to talk radio. :eek:

[dkjretired]

The answer is no. Period. Federal law prohibits possession. Until Federal legislation is enacted and signed that permits "legalization" of marijuana, it is illegal to possess and, therefore, to use marijuana regardless of medical prescription.

 

[The thread referred to in the OP was removed because the author was not properly registered, the query was his/her only post and the post was repeated in excess of 20 times on as many different boards. The post also promoted marijuana carriage and use, yet another violation of board policy.]

 

Walt:

 

You are absolutely correct and even if the SC approves it for California it will be illegal to possess it in the state that you pick up your cruise ship and most likely every port you will visit. I also remember on the Daily sheets on the ship very stern warnings about drug use on the ships. This doesn't even take into account crossing state lines, aircraft and other factors which might involve federal charges.

 

Don

[Happy ks]

I'm wondering, even if it were legally obtained and used in the US, would it even pertain when you are on a cruise? Once you leave US port, you are in international waters, then a foreign country.

 

A friend of ours had marijuana prescribed to alleviate side effects of chemotherapy. It was in a pill form, not smoked and so strong he would have to empty the capsules to half strength. This was a few years ago, in the state of Washington.

[fireguy091]

Until it's legal do what everyone else does, hide it and don't flaunt it.

[fireguy091]

You been smokin too much. Your sig. says you are from Oh. but you say Ca. :cool:

[Happy ks]

He was posting regarding questions from someone who lives in California, not questions he was asking for himself. I read the original posts and also wondered why it disappeared.

 

You would have a hard time hiding marijuana, they have dogs sniffing all the luggage and people when disembarking.

[fireguy091]

He was posting regarding questions from someone who lives in California, not questions he was asking for himself. I read the original posts and also wondered why it disappeared.

 

You would have a hard time hiding marijuana, they have dogs sniffing all the luggage and people when disembarking.

 

You are correct about him not being from Ca.

 

If pot is so hard to sneak onboard, the pax that are smoking it must be buying it from the crew,lol

[hdawson]

The original posting has certainly had enough attention.

[Heidict]

If pot is so hard to sneak onboard, the pax that are smoking it must be buying it from the crew,lol

I have to agree. People are either sneaking it onboard with ease or the crew is selling it. Whenever we came back from port there was never any dogs sniffing. Just scan and go. Very easy to get it back on. I think more of the danger would be in purchasing it on the islands. Chances that its a set up are good.