r/CookIslands • u/ComprehensiveBid5686 • Sep 10 '26
Medical cannabis cooks island
I’ll be traveling to the Cook Islands in February. I’m a medical cannabis patient in the U.S. and have medical authorization from my doctor.
From what I understand, the Cook Islands allows visitors to bring qualifying prescribed medicinal cannabis with the appropriate documentation.
Unfortunately, traveling internationally with it from the U.S. creates some legal complications, so I’m trying to figure out my options once I arrive.
Does anyone know what cannabis availability is like in the Cook Islands, particularly Rarotonga or any of the other islands? I rely on cannabis for medical purposes, so I’m mainly trying to understand how accessible it is locally and what my realistic options will be during my trip.
I’d especially appreciate hearing from locals or travelers who are familiar with the cannabis situation on the islands, including what the local laws and customs are like.
Any information or firsthand experiences would be greatly appreciated.
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u/moneypenny4-ur-thots Sep 11 '26
I’m from the Cook Islands but don’t live there anymore, trust me you’re not gonna find weed there. The locals are pretty religious and growing yourself is super taboo. French Polynesia is different though. You can get it there.
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u/potchiemeowmeow Sep 10 '26
I brought mine from Australia. Went through customs and they were only worried because I took 20g of flower and 30ml of oil for 7 days. Only reason I had so much is because I filled my script before we left. I explained that I'd only be having less than 1/5th of it and they were fine. They were worried about the vaporiser I use with it, so only take one MC vape and if you use a tobacco vape have a friend take it as its one vape per person.
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u/Keewee11 Sep 13 '26
Crap. Same as in all the pacific islands. It’s stringing leaf - very little bud and has seeds! If you can find it, you will have to know a local there in order to have any hope of finding it there. NZ on the other hand - you won’t have a problem lol. But the islands - unless someone has bought in proceed alternatives then I don’t like your chances. In saying that I’m not a smoker, but my husband is. I think so long as you have a detailed doctors note, you carry it on you declare it might be ok. Contact the consulate / that’s what I did when I was travelling through the Middle East with opioids for my pain. Keep any back and forth contact with ministry of health or customs in the Cooks https://www.health.gov.ck/medicinal-cannabis/
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u/I-will-judge-YOU Sep 10 '26
You are looking at taking some very large risks for something that is not actually medically necessary consistently. Yes, it absolutely has benefits. No, there is not a single medical condition that requires cannabis.
I would talk to your doctor about finding a legitimate legal medication while you were traveling. The fact that it's not federally legal in our country should be a pretty good indication traveling internationally would be problematic.
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u/ComprehensiveBid5686 Sep 10 '26
When you have a year left to live and your not doing chemo therapy, yes weed is one of the only things that really helps slow cancer down so I’m sorry you don’t find it medically necessary
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u/I-will-judge-YOU Sep 10 '26
Its not. That is an actual fact. I suggest you find a short term alternative.
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u/Hot_Cicada_9318 Sep 10 '26
I wouldn't be relying on any availability in The Cook Islands. Your best bet is to bring it along with you with appropriate paperwork such as prescription, letter from doctor etc, despite the travel complications you mentioned. I'm there now but didn't bring any with me on this trip but I have done so on my previous trip and no issues (although this was from Australia with a stopover in New Zealand).
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u/ComprehensiveBid5686 Sep 10 '26
Flying from where you did is fine! Flying out of the USA I cannot unfortunately
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u/johnhbnz Sep 11 '26
Why not from the U.S.? I thought that’s where you were prescribed it?
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u/SweetAndHotMustard Sep 11 '26
The US is a strange place. Without getting too into the minutiae, weed is illegal at the federal level but many states have passed laws decriminalizing it. Our airports fall under federal jurisdiction, so technically, you cannot have weed at the airport because of this.
Now, hardly anyone is ever arrested and charged with federal crimes for possessing minor quantities and this is part of the reason states have gone forward with decriminalization. The federal law enforcement agencies are not going to track you down because you smoke a few joints. This is, again, a simplified explanation.
I am aware that some people will fly with cannabis/cannabis products here despite it not being legal. Particularly on a domestic flight, there's a good chance you won't get "caught" or that they won't care that you had a THC chocolate bar in your bag. But I don't think it's worth the risk and there's no way I would do it internationally where you have to go through customs.
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u/RowLongjumping8166 Sep 10 '26
Medical cannabis is legal in Rarotonga as long as you have it your medical certificate, I have friends that get it from nz so if your going through nz should be fine