A mum was stopped from boarding for her holiday and told she has been banned for life after CBD gummies were found in her luggage. The gummies, commonly available to buy on the High Street, online and in supermarkets, are made from cannabis plants but do not contain any of the psychoactive substance.
But Melinda van Veldhuizen, 42, says she has been banned for life by Carnival Cruise Line after bringing CBD gummies on board to help her sleep. Melinda says she was treated like a criminal after the gummies were found in her bag as she tried to board with her family for a cruise to celebrate her 21st wedding anniversary.
The nurse and regular cruiser said she regularly travels with the gummies without issues. However, upon discovering the CBD gummies, the ship’s security detained and interrogated her for two hours, reports The Express.
Melinda’s family also decided not to proceed with the cruise, which would have visited Aruba, Curacao, and the Dominican Republic, after she was not allowed to board. “I have trouble sleeping, so it was just to make sure I could sleep on the trip – so if there were any issues, I could sleep. I’ve always travelled with them, no problem,” said Melinda.
She questioned the severity of her punishment after being handed a letter signed by the captain saying she was now banned.
Melinda said she thought the authorities would confiscate the gummies and allowher to proceed on board. “I thought it was one of those situations where you’re like, ‘Oh shoot, I left a bottle of water in my backpack; you got to throw it away,’ kind of thing,” she said.
A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Lines told WPLG that warnings about marijuana and related prohibited items are communicated to passengers before cruises as well as via their website. This includes listing CBD as contraband due to its ban at various ports from which they depart.