From Thailand to the Netherlands, this is why traveling abroad with cannabis, even by accident, can carry significant legal risks.
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Under Thailand’s new tariff policy, Americans who travel with marijuana in their bags, even by accident, could face up to 10 years in prison, nearly $15,000 in fines, or both.
The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General in Thailand announced in a July 9 alert that new rules went into effect on June 17, replacing the previous gratuitous confiscation policy. Cannabis has been decriminalized in Thailand since 2022, but it is illegal to cross the border with cannabis without the proper permits.
“Local laws apply to international travel,” the agency said. “If you are detained or arrested abroad, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your release.”
Thailand is not the only country where travelers can get into serious trouble if they bring in cannabis products. In 2022, WNBA star Brittney Greiner was arrested in Russia on drug possession charges. A vape cartridge containing cannabis-derived oil was found in her luggage by border agents, and she said she was prescribed medical marijuana to help with off-season pain management. The basketball player was sentenced to prison in Russia and served 10 months before being released under a prisoner exchange agreement.
“I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through. I’m very blessed and I know I’m very lucky to have my team at my agency, my wife and everyone supporting me,” Greiner told USA TODAY last year. “We want to make sure people are aware and informed and know where they are going and where they are traveling.”
For many travelers, the laws regarding domestic cannabis use and what is considered import and export can seem complicated. Traveling with cannabis products can lead to serious consequences around the world, even if you do not intend to smuggle them. This includes items that may seem harmless at home, such as gummies to help you sleep.
Here’s what you need to know when traveling internationally with cannabis products.
Where is it illegal to travel with cannabis products?
Traveling with cannabis products is illegal almost everywhere, said Dan Richards, founder and CEO of travel risk and crisis response provider Global Rescue. Global Rescue’s information arm, which publishes travel information for 220 countries and principalities around the world, found that it is illegal to bring any type of cannabis-related substance into the country in all of these locations.
“So while there are obviously countries where you can buy and consume cannabis products, when it comes to actually transporting cannabis products across borders, there is no country that we know of that doesn’t violate the law and doesn’t have some kind of penalty for doing that,” Richards said. “But, of course, the range of penalties is wide-ranging.”
For example, cannabis can be purchased for personal consumption in the Netherlands, but transporting it across the border is considered trafficking. He added that even a small amount in a bag could “catch you in drug trafficking” and that law enforcement would likely not give you immunity.
In some countries, getting caught by border guards is a small problem. However, in other countries, such as Türkiye and Egypt, it can result in hefty fines and prison sentences.
What precautions should travelers take?
Richards said arriving at your destination with cannabis means you have technically already broken local laws, and the next steps are “more complicated” as they depend on the relevant penalties and policies of that country.
The best precaution is to thoroughly inspect your luggage before leaving on your trip to make sure you haven’t accidentally left anything behind. Richards said if you are at a U.S. airport and find yourself in possession of a cannabis substance, get rid of it. “Unfortunately, the time to remember is before you go through security and obviously before you get on the plane to your destination,” he says.
Travelers should also check the U.S. Department of State’s international travel page in advance to understand what is illegal in their destination, including marijuana. Turks and Caicos Islands has strict firearms and ammunition laws that are strictly enforced at the airport. If a single bullet is found in someone’s suitcase, they can be arrested, fined, and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Another good starting point is the State Department’s travel advisories. “Our destination information pages include travel advisories, entry and exit requirements, tips from the U.S. Embassy, health considerations, local laws, and a series of other important travel guidelines,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
“People do this kind of thing all the time. … There’s a segment of the population that does it intentionally, but there’s a lot of people who do it by accident,” Richards said. “And different countries have different rules for all sorts of things.”
