Licensed medical cannabis patients described international travel regulations as vague and inconsistent, leading them to adopt strategies ranging from avoiding travel entirely to obtaining cannabis through illegal means at their destination.
Medical cannabis patients who travel, physicians prescribing medical cannabis, drug policy researchers
Medical cannabis patients described international regulations as failing to treat cannabis like other prescriptions
What the researchers found
Two main themes emerged: (1) international regulations for medical cannabis are vague, with authorities not treating it like other prescription medications; (2) patients adopted various strategies including avoiding travel, choosing cannabis-friendly destinations, planning ahead to obtain cannabis legally or illegally, and finding alternative self-medications.
Why it matters
As medical cannabis programs expand globally, the growing population of licensed patients faces a practical dilemma: their legal medicine at home becomes contraband abroad. This gap between domestic approval and international restriction affects treatment continuity and patient safety.
The numbers in context
15 medical cannabis license holders interviewed; supplementary data from two largest Israeli medical cannabis Facebook groups; patients criticized lack of clear formal guidelines; some avoided travel entirely; others sought cannabis through illegal channels abroad
How the study worked
Semi-structured interviews with 15 Israeli medical cannabis license holders, supplemented by data from two of Israel's largest medical cannabis Facebook groups.
What this study cannot tell us
Small Israeli sample (15 participants) may not represent patients in other countries, qualitative design cannot quantify prevalence of different coping strategies, Facebook group data may skew toward more engaged patients, Israel's medical cannabis program differs from others
How to read the evidence
Small qualitative study from one country; provides important patient perspectives but limited generalizability
When this study was published
Published 2025
The bigger picture
Unlike other prescription medications that benefit from international recognition frameworks, medical cannabis exists in a regulatory no-man's-land for travelers. The study recommends mutual recognition of prescriptions, standardized travel certificates, and WHO global guidelines.
Questions still open
- Could a standardized international medical cannabis travel certificate work? How many patients interrupt treatment due to travel restrictions? What health consequences result from patients switching to unregulated cannabis sources abroad?
Common questions
Can you travel internationally with medical cannabis?
What do researchers recommend for medical cannabis travelers?
Read the original research
Addressing the legal and health challenges of licensed medical cannabis users who want to travel abroad.
Israel journal of health policy research, 14(1), 61
Citation
Bonny-Noach, Hagit; Ne'eman-Haviv, Vered. (2025). Addressing the legal and health challenges of licensed medical cannabis users who want to travel abroad.. Israel journal of health policy research, 14(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-025-00723-2