Travelling with cannbis oil abroad.

Hi Sambob 

My name is Steph and I’m part of the team who look after the Online Community here at Macmillan.

It's great to read that you're planning a holiday, although I am sorry that rules for taking medication abroad is proving stressful.

Whilst you're waiting for other members to reply, I'm here to offer some information in case it is helpful:

• The government website has this page about taking medicines abroad. I can see that cannabis oil appears on the list of controlled drugs.
• You may want to contact the Portuguese Embassy in the UK for further information. From what I have read online, you may need to contact 'INFARMED' (Portugal's national medicines authority) via email at infarmed@infarmed.pt to request authorisation to bring your medication into the country. The embassy should be able to confirm requirements.
• The prescribing clinic may be able to offer some information about travelling with your medication. 

I hope that once you have the right permissions and documentation in place, you can relax and enjoy your time away. 

For further advice from Macmillan, our Support Line teams are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00, email or live webchat.

Thanks Steph 

Infarmed replied in less than 24 hours and are not the issue. It's uk goverment that is the issue. Over a week and no reply going to look at this again later. So frustrating. 

I think I may have to get a licence from uk to take out and to return into the country and yes the uk appears to charge two separate amounts for each direction. 

I will feed back in case anyone else wants to know.

Hi Sambob,  are you taking the cannabis oil for pain and does it work?  I have heard about it but not tried it, do you get a prescription for it?  Sorry for the questions but anything that can help with the pain.

Lee x

Hi yes. I went to a private clinic as the NHS will not prescribed it. I have been on edibles for a couple of years but now taking the oil. Aids my sleep, gets rid of nausea and helps with aches and pains. Also helps with anxiety.  It's not cheap there are various options available at the clinics. I am using the company called releaf. 

Unfortunately I can't take most of the pain killers available but didn't want to go down the chemical pain relief road..had too many side effects etc. You also get a card which makes it legal if you happened to be stopped by the police with it on you.

Feel free to ask away.. 

I took my oil and gummies with me to malta, I contacted my prescriber and asked for a travel letter they asked for the dates and where I was travelling to and I got a letter to prove I was taking for medical reasons, I had no issues at all, wasn't even stopped in customs on the way out or the way home x

Ooo that's good to know.. I have a letter so just going to leave it at that. Just think I was over thinking it all and the goverment website isn't actually that clear.

Im sure everything will be fine, enjoy your break x