A new customs policy in Thailand means Americans traveling with cannabis in their bags, even accidentally, could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of about $15,000, or both.
The US Embassy and Consulate in Thailand announced in a July 9 alert that the new rule went into effect on June 17, replacing the previous policy of confiscation without charge. Cannabis has been decriminalized in Thailand since 2022, but it is illegal to cross the border with it without proper permission.
“When traveling abroad, you are subject to local laws,” the agency said. “The U.S. government cannot guarantee your release when you are detained or arrested abroad.”
Thailand isn’t the only country where travelers can face serious trouble for bringing cannabis products. In 2022, WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested on drug possession charges in Russia after border agents found vape cartridges laced with cannabis-derived oil in her luggage, which she said were prescribed medical cannabis to help with off-season pain management. The basketball player was sentenced to prison in Russia and served 10 months until his release under a prisoner exchange deal.
Griner told USA TODAY last year, “I never want anyone to go through what I went through. I know I’m very fortunate and have the agency team, my wife and everyone behind me.” “I want people to be aware, to be informed and to know where they’re going, where they’re traveling.”
For many travelers, the laws governing cannabis use within a country versus what is considered import and export can seem complicated. Traveling with cannabis products, even without the intent to transport, can have serious consequences around the world. This includes items that seem harmless at home, such as sleep aid gummies.
Where is it illegal to travel with cannabis products?
According to Dan Richards, founder and CEO of Global Rescue, a travel risk and crisis response provider, traveling with cannabis products is illegal almost everywhere. Global Rescue’s intel department, which publishes travel intelligence on 220 countries and territories around the world, found that it is illegal to bring any type of cannabis-related substance to all of those places.
“So there are certainly countries where you can purchase and consume cannabis products; when it comes to actually taking them across borders, there is no country that we know of that is not against the law and where there is not some type of penalty for doing so,” Richards said. “But of course, there are limits to the punishment.”
For example, in the Netherlands cannabis can be purchased for personal consumption, but taking it across borders is considered smuggling. Even a small amount in your bag can “implicate you in drug trafficking,” he said, and it’s very likely that law enforcement will not discount.
In some countries, getting caught by border agents is a minor problem. But in others, such as Türkiye or Egypt, it can result in heavy fines and imprisonment.
What precautions should travelers take?
According to Richards, arriving at a destination with cannabis means you’ve technically already broken local law, and the next steps are “more complicated” because it depends on that country’s respective penalties and policies.
The best precaution is to thoroughly inspect your bags before leaving on your trip to make sure nothing has been accidentally left in them. If you’re at a U.S. airport and see that you have cannabis substances in your possession, Richards said destroy them. “Unfortunately, the time to remember is before you go through security and obviously before you get on the plane to where you’re going,” he said.
Travelers should do their research on the U.S. State Department’s International Travel page ahead of time to understand what is illegal at their destination – and not just cannabis. Turks and Caicos has strict firearms and ammunition laws that are strongly enforced at airports. Finding even one pill in someone’s suitcase can result in arrest, fines, and a prison sentence of 12 years or more.
Another good starting point is the State Department’s travel advice. “Our destination information pages include travel advisories, entry and exit requirements, suggestions from the U.S. Embassy, health considerations, local laws, and other important travel guidance,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
Richards said, “People do things like this all the time. … There’s some portion of the population who do it intentionally, but there’s a whole group of people who do it accidentally.” “And different countries have different rules about all kinds of things.”