Cannabidiol (CBD) gummies have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their perceived health and wellness benefits. However, their legality status remains complicated, as CBD is derived from the cannabis plant. This raises questions for travelers who wish to bring CBD products like gummies along on trips and vacations, including Disney cruises.
In this comprehensive guide, we will examine if and how you can bring CBD gummies on a Disney cruise. We’ll cover relevant factors like current laws, Disney’s official policies, tips from other cruisers, and what to know before packing CBD gummies in your luggage.
The Legality of CBD
While the laws surrounding CBD are complex, CBD gummies are legal at the federal level in the United States, due to the 2018 Farm Bill. However, regulations can vary by state. It’s important to research your embarkation port’s laws.
For example, if your Disney cruise departs from Florida, CBD products are legal there as long as they:
– Are derived from hemp with 0.3% or less THC content
– Are tested by a third-party lab
– Include a scannable QR code linking to the lab test results
Some other popular Disney cruise embarkation ports like California, Texas and New York also allow CBD products meeting these requirements. Still, always check state-specific legislation, as laws are subject to change.
Disney Cruise Line’s Policy on CBD
Disney Cruise Line’s official policy is to prohibit marijuana and marijuana by-products onboard their ships. Their rules state:
“Marijuana and marijuana by-products, including items infused with or containing marijuana (such as CBD oil), are prohibited.”
This policy covers not just recreational marijuana, but also CBD products like oils and edibles. Technically, Disney cruises adhere to federal regulations from the U.S. Coast Guard, which align with federal laws stating cannabis is illegal.
However, these policies refer specifically to marijuana and THC. They do not directly address hemp-derived CBD products that contain 0.3% THC or less by dry weight. This gray area and lack of specificity around CBD could potentially allow exceptions for passengers with CBD gummies meeting legal requirements.
Experiences from Real Cruisers
While Disney’s official rules prohibit CBD products outright, cruisers’ experiences suggest enforcement may be inconsistent. Here are some first-hand accounts:
Melissa C. wrote: “I just got off a Disney cruise and brought CBD gummies with no issues. I kept them in my checked luggage and didn’t try bringing them in my carry-on bag. I also made sure they were sealed in the original package showing less than 0.3% THC.”
James R. said: “I travel with CBD regularly for anxiety, including on my last Disney cruise. I had CBD gummies that I kept with my other medications in my carry-on and no one said anything.”
However, Dana W. had a different experience: “I tried bringing CBD capsules in my purse and they were confiscated when boarding the Disney ship. Make sure to leave CBD at home!”
Based on these mixed reports, bringing CBD gummies on a Disney cruise is not guaranteed to be allowed. It may depend on factors like where in your luggage you pack it, the discretion of individual security or staff members, and how closely they examine all medications.
Tips for Smooth Sailing
If you decide to attempt bringing legal CBD gummies that contain 0.3% THC or less on your Disney cruise, here are some tips:
– Research laws at your embarkation port to ensure your CBD gummies meet all legality requirements
– Keep CBD gummies in your checked luggage versus carry-on bag
– Leave products in original packaging showing THC content under 0.3% and other details like a third-party lab’s QR code
– Pack CBD gummies alongside other medications or vitamins
– Store CBD gummies discreetly like any other medication
– Be ready to surrender your CBD gummies willingly if asked
– Consider alternatives like topical CBD products which may raise fewer flags
With CBD still in a legal gray area, these tips can help avoid any hassles when cruising with Disney. But it’s wise to be prepared for them to potentially be confiscated during screening regardless.
Can Children Bring CBD Gummies?
For children and teens under age 21, the rules become even stricter regarding products containing THC. Minors are not legally permitted to possess marijuana or THC products, including trace amounts under 0.3%.
This means children would almost certainly not be allowed to bring CBD gummies on a Disney cruise. Security staff are very unlikely to make exceptions for minors, even if the THC content is tiny and legal for adults.
The best option for parents is to leave any kind of CBD product at home when cruising with kids. Focus on more travel-friendly medications, treatments, or relaxation alternatives if your child could benefit from CBD’s properties.
Storing CBD Safely
If you do succeed in bringing CBD gummies on your Disney cruise, be very careful where you store them in your stateroom. You will likely share the room with children, who should not access any CBD products.
Keep CBD gummies in your locked luggage or a high, secure location away from where kids can see or reach. Do not leave them sitting out on tables, countertops, etc. Treat CBD gummies as you would any medication and store safely.
You may also wish to hide CBD gummies when your stateroom attendant does daily cleaning service. Feel free to politely tell attendants that you have private medicinal products in the room they should not touch or remove.
Alternative Travel Options
If you want to err on the side of caution, consider these alternatives to bring CBD on a Disney cruise:
– **Topical CBD products:** Balms, lotions and creams only affect the skin externally versus internally through ingestion. These may raise fewer red flags for security staff.
– **Hemp seeds or hemp hearts:** These wholefood options offer nutritional benefits without CBD content.
– **Take a tolerance break:** Some find skipping CBD while on vacation is easier than they expect. Cruises have many distractions and sources of relaxation like spas.
– **CBD drinks or spray:** These liquid options may be easier to conceal and pass off as other beverages or health products.
– **Vape pens and CBD vape juice:** While you cannot vape inside Disney ships or parks, vaping is sometimes permitted in certain outdoor smoking areas which allow e-cigarettes.
If carrying on your CBD regimen is truly important, a non-ingestible format like these alternatives offers your best chance. But abstaining from any form of CBD is the only way to remove all risks of confiscation.
Purchasing CBD in Ports of Call
Another option is to buy CBD products during your cruise while in port rather than bringing them on board. If your cruise itinerary includes stops at ports where CBD is legal, look for local retailers.
For example, in Nassau, Bahamas you can find stores selling CBD oils, edibles, topicals and more. However, availability and regulations vary greatly across different countries, so do thorough research ahead of time.
The benefit of purchasing CBD in a port is you can leave it ashore before returning to the cruise ship. But have a plan for where to store any opened products safely through your next stop. And check if customs regulations allow you to bring CBD products back home depending on your country or state laws.
Considering Cannabis Consumption
Some Disney cruise passengers may be considering not just bringing CBD, but also consuming cannabis like marijuana while onboard or in ports of call. However, this carries major legal risks.
Despite loosening attitudes, recreational cannabis remains illegal at the federal level in the U.S. Transporting or using it on a Disney cruise would be strictly prohibited. Most other countries also ban cannabis, sometimes imposing severe penalties even for small amounts such as mandatory jail time.
Consuming cannabis like edibles before boarding the ship can also show up in Disney’s screening process and cause denial of entry. And even medical marijuana prescriptions are not accepted under Disney’s cruise policies, only while visiting Walt Disney World in Florida.
Overall, any form of cannabis consumption on a Disney cruise or at Disney ports should be avoided completely. The potential consequences simply make it unsafe and not worth the risks. Focus your cruise enjoyment on Disney’s many legal entertainment offerings instead.
Disney Cruises vs. Other Cruise Lines
An important perspective is how Disney’s CBD policies compare to other major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, etc. Unfortunately, most cruise lines follow the same prohibitive approach as Disney regarding CBD and cannabis.
Some examples of big cruise line policies:
– Royal Caribbean: “Marijuana, marijuana products and paraphernalia are strictly prohibited.”
– Norwegian Cruise Line: “Marijuana, marijuana products, hemp and CBD oil are strictly prohibited.”
– Carnival Cruise Line: “Marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia and CBD oil are not permitted.”
Almost all mainstream cruise lines are aligned with federal regulations from the U.S. Coast Guard. So crossing your fingers that another line may be more lenient is generally futile. Policies tend to focus on banning cannabis and THC, ignoring nuances around hemp-derived CBD.
A small handful of boutique and startup cruise companies have promised more relaxed policies allowing marijuana use in certain onboard areas or during private port stops. But major family cruise lines like Disney will almost certainly continue banning all forms of cannabis for the foreseeable future.
Future Policy Changes
While current CBD restrictions on Disney cruises are disappointing for proponents of CBD and cannabis, the policy landscape continues evolving. With time, Disney may follow shifting public sentiments and loosening laws around cannabis-related products.
We have already seen some indications of change, such as Walt Disney World recently allowing guests to possess CBD at their resorts and theme parks in Florida. Guests must show a valid medical marijuana card issued from that state and follow certain rules. But this policy would have been unthinkable only a few years ago.
For now, the federal prohibition of all forms of marijuana on cruise ships remains a roadblock to change. But as more U.S. states reform their cannabis laws, the pressure on cruise lines to rethink their hardline stance on CBD will only increase.
Do not expect any overnight transformations of CBD policies on Disney or other family cruise lines. But recognizing the direction of momentum can offer some hope that rules may relax gradually over the coming decade. Continued education, advocacy and science supporting the benefits of CBD could all help accelerate this potential timeline.
Summary
Bringing CBD gummies onboard a Disney cruise remains legally questionable and risky according to both cruise line policies and federal laws. While some passengers seemingly travel with CBD without problems, confiscation and denial of entry remains a real possibility.
Anyone hoping to have CBD available on a Disney cruise should research all laws very carefully, consider alternatives like topical creams, and be prepared to willingly surrender their CBD if asked by security or staff. Following tips to hide CBD gummies and store them safely around children is also crucial if attempting to travel with them.
Despite moderate public progress around CBD acceptance, the significant risks and gray areas involved make leaving CBD products completely at home the wisest choice for Disney cruises. As cannabis laws and attitudes continue evolving nationwide, Disney’s cruise line policies may hopefully relax further down the road. But for now, erring on the side of caution prevents any potential legal headaches.
With smart planning, knowledge of current laws, and embracing the magic of Disney cruises beyond any one substance, you can have an amazing vacation without the need for CBD. Focus on quality family time enjoying the world-class entertainment and activities Disney is known for, and leave cannabis off the high seas for another day.