Medical Marijuana
Don’t travel with drugs. This seems like a no-brainer, but apparently not.
On a recent group trip, one of my fellow travelers was carrying a small, personal supply of THC products (edibles). Even though pot and pot products are legal in their home state, in the majority of countries around the world, drug use is illegal and strictly enforced.
This includes CBD products, which are not differentiated from other cannabis products. Especially in a region such as Central Asia, which is hyper vigilant against drugs because of the proximity to poppy growing regions, like neighboring Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan, for instance, has a strict, zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal drugs, with first-time offenders, including foreigners, facing 5 to 8 years in prison.
During our many cross-border searches, border patrol had dogs sniffing our bags. This could have ended very badly, not only for the individual carrying the drugs, but also for all of us on the tour by association.
It is simply not worth the risk to put yourself and others in danger.
Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter Medication
I even had my prescription medication questioned at the Uzbek border because I had taken it out of its Rx bottle (although I kept the original pharmacy tag).
And my over-the-counter medications like allergy pills, ibuprofen, and Imodium were closely looked at because, again, I had taken them out of the original package (to save space) 🤦. Even though I cut out the name of the medication and included it with the pills (more as a reminder to myself), this isn’t an adequate solution.
Going forward, I’ll be keeping all medication in its original packaging. I’ll also consider having the Rx translated for border guards.
Bottom line: Don’t do what he did. And don’t do what I did, either.
✴️ Bonus Tip: Leave the vape (and any residue it may carry) at home. Brittney Griner ring a bell?
How do you carry your medication? Which over-the-counter drugs do you travel with? Have you had any incidents with customs?
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Christened “Wander Woman” by National Geographic, Erin Michelson is a professional speaker and author of the Nomad Life™ series of curated trips and travel guides, including the #1-ranked “Explore the World with Nomads.”