Are there restrictions to shipping certain things?
The short answer is yes.
There are restricted items that we simply cannot ship for both domestic and international scenarios. While we do not have the entire list, here are some common items that we've encountered:
Medicine and Prescription Medication
Prescription medication should normally be mailed directly from the pharmacy to the patient. This is because pharmacies have specialized licenses to ship medication to those who have been prescribed it.
Pharmacies in most instances will not ship medication internationally, as they do not have proper export licenses for individual consumption. We do not have these licenses either, so we urge you not to ship your prescriptions to VPM for reshipping domestically or internationally.
If you do need to ship medicines, you should first contact your country's customs or post office to determine what is needed to get medication shipped for personal use. They may allow you to import medication if you are able to provide certain documents or permits.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain the proper documents for importing such items (even for returns). We will not ship medication otherwise.
Hemp Based Products (CBD/THC)
Shipping hemp-based products requires the hemp content to be below a certain percentage to be considered legally shippable. Our service is not in the business of selling these products, so we do not have the proper knowledge required to reship them. Additionally, interstate shipping of such products is likely illegal, as it is no longer a state matter but a federal one.
You should ship hemp-based products directly to yourself. See
Controlled Substances and Drugs for detailed information about shipping medicine, controlled substances, and prescription medication.
Nicotine
Shipping nicotine-based products requires strict adherence to federal regulations, which heavily restrict or entirely prohibit their transmission through the mail. Because we do not sell nicotine products, we lack the specialized regulatory expertise required to safely process or forward them. Additionally, the interstate mailing of nicotine and vaping products is strictly regulated under federal law, rendering most domestic shipments illegal regardless of individual state policies.
You should purchase and ship nicotine products directly to yourself through authorized vendors.
Alcohol
Shipping alcohol has restrictions that are specific to each state, so depending on the state and its laws, you may or may not be able to ship items within the state or even to other states. As we do not hold a specific license to ship or re-ship alcohol, we cannot process this through our service.
Should VPM find prohibited items in your shipping request, we will contact you with options that you may pursue. Unfortunately, we cannot catch all restricted items during order processing. If this is the issue that causes your shipment to be returned or delayed in customs, we may be able to initiate inquiries for you; however, you are responsible for providing proper documentation for the claims to go through. No refunds are provided in this case.
Hazardous Items
Similarly to alcohol and medicinal products, we do not have the proper licenses to mail packages containing hazardous materials. If we receive a package with hazardous labels, we will not accept it from the courier because we are unable to mail it out on your behalf. Additionally, our facilities are not set up to store these types of packages.
Domestically Prohibited Items
These items may not be sent in U.S. mail:
- Air Bags
- Ammunition
- Explosives
- Gasoline
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
- Nicotine
Internationally Prohibited Items
These items may not be sent from the United States to any country:
- Aerosols
- Air Bags
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Ammunition
- Cigarettes
- Dry Ice
- Explosives
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
- Gasoline
- Marijuana (medical or otherwise)
- Nail Polish
- Nicotine
- Perfumes (containing alcohol)
- Poisons
Countries may have their own prohibitions and restrictions. Please make sure to check each country's import rules before shipping anything.
Additional Resources
