Laws regarding importation of OTC codeine from Canada to U.S...

[Nicaine]

It's been a long time since SWIM has visited Canada as a tourist, and in replying to another thread his curiosity was aroused about current laws regarding the importation of OTC Canadian codeine by US citizens. SWIM sent the following query to US Customs via website contact form:

Hello,

As a U.S. citizen returning to the U.S. after a brief tourism-related visit to Canada, would I be allowed to declare and bring back medicine that (A) is sold over-the counter in Canada, and (B) contains codeine?

If so, (1) What types of codeine-containing compounds are allowed, (2) What dosage/amount of codeine is allowed per unit or tablet, and (3) How many tablets and/or bottles may I declare and bring back to the U.S. per trip?

Thanks very much for your time.

It may be a long time before receiving an answer, so if anyone here can answer, please do. This is truly just a matter of curiosity, as SWIM has no interest in codeine either as a painkiller or recreational substance... he's just wondering if the laws have changed much since his last trip to Canada in the mid 1980s.

[Darksanity]

SWIM didn't know there was OTC codeine in Canada... Where do you get these? In a local pharmacy?

[Solidly-here]

It does NOT matter if a particular Drug is Over-the-Counter in another Country.

What matters is: Is this Drug Over-the-Counter in the USA.

So, even if Codeine is OTC in Canada ... it's NOT OTC in the States.
If you attempt to have Canada mail it to you, it's Illegal.

Please read this Thread for the real Dope on this issue:
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26166


However, if you personally bring Codeine across the border, it might be legal.
Any Prescription Drug can be brought into the US, if you're carrying it, AND you have a valid US Prescription for that Drug (a 90-day supply).
So, if your Doc writes you a script for 12 Codeines a day, you can carry-in a Thousand of them.

Many people go to Mexico (or Canada), and bring back their less-expensive Drugs.
If Hubby and Wifey BOTH go, they can bring-in a 6-month supply (as long as Doc writes each one a script).
Many people can more-than finance their whole trip (and have fun, to boot) with the savings.

[Jadegreen]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away (that has a planet very similar to ours), SWIM went to Canada, purchased some cough syrup containing codeine and had no trouble getting back across the border. SWIM cannot remember if the border people knew exactly what she had, but she remembers saying that she had gone to a pharmacy.

[Nagognog2]

I know many people who visit Canada for various reasons, and bring back a bottle or two of such. 8mg of codeine phosphate with acetaminophen and caffeine. Customs always ignored the pills if they even saw them.

What I have been told from several people is that Federal Law does not consider these a controlled narcotic in such small doses. BUT it may be against the law in certain states. So a worst-case scenario is customs finds them. Let's one continue - and calls local police to report so-and-so is coming in with codeine. That would be the worst-case. And I have never heard of this ever happening.

Just don't be a Melvin and bring back a steamer-trunk full! LOL!

[darawk]

Could also be the type of thing where they really don't care but if you get burned with something else, they'll pile some extra charges on you for the codeine.