Okay, I’m not really clear on the laws concerning the importation of prescription drugs from our neighbor to the south. I heard that it was legal to bring back a three month supply of anything. Is it only legal here if you have an American prescription for it? Are there any drugs you can’t get? Opiods? Cocaine (which is Schedule II in the U.S.[not that I’d want any])?
I also heard that even though it’s legal to cross the border with the drugs, they become illegal once you get into the U.S. True? If so, I guess it would kind of defeat the purpose of the three month law.
Mexico is only about 8 hours or so from here and I may have to make a little valium run someday, so I’d like the lowdown on this from someone who knows what they’re talking about.
Drug laws are little more lax there, and the illegal drug blackmarket is huge in border towns, but even if you score prescription drugs you cannot legally have them unless you have a prescription. You can get busted for having valium but no valium script, though I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
While it is illegal to bring Rx type drugs into the US from Mexico or one of many other foriegn countries (like Greece) that don’t require a scrip to buy such drugs, I don’t know about bringing in non-FDA approved Rx drugs. I believe in such a case, you’re home free but you use them at your own risk.
Sidebar: You also can’t bring in non-drug substances from Mexico or wherever. I don’t know if it still occurs, but there used to be a thriving trade in illegal auto air conditoner refrigerant. The old stuff (someone out there knows what it’s called; R-4?) supposedly damages the ozone layer when it escapes and the new stuff is OK, but can’t be used in older lower pressure systems. People with old systems have the option of finding the old juice or geting a new system. The old stuff used to go for a dollar a pound, but now is over 100 dollars a pound if you can find it at all. Buying it in Mexico at the old price and selling it at a 900 percent profit is not too shabby if you don’t care about the law or the environment. I think you can also get DDT and other US banned pesticides in Mexico. There are also Cuban Cohibas, if you like cigars. And it cuts the other way as well; the Mexicans won’t be too happy with you if you run guns into Mexico.