Melinda Van Veldhuizen, 42, a nurse and chiropractor from Dallas, was diagnosed with a metal nail clipper in her suitcase after an X-ray scan detected it before her trip to the Carnival Horizon. He told The Washington Post that he was stopped by a security guard.While checking her baggage, security found a pack of CBD gummies she was carrying. I bought it at a drugstore in Texas. She said the gummies were sealed and advertised as effective for sleep disorders.
Van Veldhuizen said security and other flight attendants made her wait in the boarding terminal area for about three and a half hours, separated from her family. During this time, she said, a security guard weighed the gummies and asked if she had permission to possess them. Eventually she was told she would not be allowed to join the cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line sent a letter to Van Veldhuizen in August. She was advised that she would be banned from boarding all of the airline’s vessels and that any attempts to book future cruises would be cancelled.
“Your actions on this cruise violated ship rules, interfered with the safety and enjoyment of other guests on board, or harmed Carnival,” Carnival Horizon Captain Rocco Lubrano said in a statement.letter Reviewed by the Washington Post.
Van Veldhuizen’s suspension was first reported By Miami ABC affiliate WPLG.
Van Veldhuizen said she was initially told she would cover the cost of the cruise and the cost of the trip for her husband and two teenage sons, who would be on the cruise without her. Her South Florida-based attorney, Darren Stubinski, said the total amount was approximately $5,586. After her cruise departed, her credit card was charged nearly $700.
“I was…surprised. I don’t even have a parking ticket and I follow the rules,” she said.
Carnival ultimately sent a follow-up letter refunding the $1,665 cruise fee. But Stavinsky said this is not enough. Van Veldhuizen hopes his entire family’s fares will be reimbursed. She also hopes the ban will be lifted.
Stavinsky said his office is pursuing internal claims against Carnival, and if it is not addressed “appropriately,” Van Veldhuizen intends to file a lawsuit.
“This was emotionally distressing and embarrassing for my client. We just want Carnival to do the right thing,” Stavinsky said.
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a compound found in marijuana that can be derived from “hemp or non-hemp plants.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hemp is considered the part of the cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive ingredient that causes a high state.
The unpredictability of the compounds found in CBD products makes regulation more difficult and confusing. Congress legalized hemp products in the 2018 Farm Bill, but CBD can be obtained from both hemp and cannabis. Candy with CBD still considered illegal Regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which is overseen through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Currently, it is illegal to add CBD to food or sell it as a dietary supplement.” According to an FDA briefer.
because FDA does not regulate over-the-counter CBD productsthose products may contain higher levels of THC than advertised.
Stavinsky said in this case, the CBD gummies were derived from hemp and were not advertised as containing THC.
“We shouldn’t treat people like criminals over this,” Stavinski said of Carnival Cruise Line.
“We’re not here to confirm where our guests purchase CBD or what they use it for on board,” said Carnival Cruise Line spokesman Matt Lupoli. Line spokesman Matt Lupoli wrote in an email to the Post. “Our responsibility is to follow federal guidelines and prevent prohibited items from entering our ships.”
Cruise lines continue to comply with federal laws that prohibit possession of marijuana in any state, including Florida, that has legalized its use for recreational or medical purposes.
Disney Cruise Line also prohibits marijuana, hemp, hemp products, THC, and CBD products. stipulated in the guidelines Comply with federal regulations and local laws throughout your visit.
Van Veldhuizen said she and her husband and two sons have taken more than a dozen Carnival cruises over the years. She typically plans her annual trip, which includes airfare and other travel expenses.
On an August jaunt through Aruba, Curaçao and the Dominican Republic, Ms. Van Veldhuizen had planned to celebrate her husband and son’s last year of high school and their 21st wedding anniversary. Her birthday was also in a few weeks.
