Nervous about traveling with a weed vape? Here’s what you should know

Traveling with marijuana should not be taken lightly. It was announced this week that WNBA superstar Brittney Griner had been arrested in Russia after her e-cigarette cartridges were discovered in her luggage. It’s a mistake that could result in a 10-year prison sentence.

While America doesn’t function like Russia, cannabis still remains difficult. Regardless of the laws in the state you travel to, marijuana remains a federally illegal drug in the United States. It’s even worse internationally, as cannabis is illegal in most countries.

If you’re considering traveling with a weed vape, here are some of the most important things to know.

National

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Wouldn’t it be great not to have to worry about weed while traveling? Unfortunately, we’re not that far – far from it. At the national level, everything depends on the state. While some airports are okay with weed, others are not. For example, Denver Airport, located in the very legal state of Colorado, bans cannabis.

The stance of the Travel Security Administration (TSA) is pretty clear. Because marijuana is illegal nationwide, passengers will be stopped if they have cannabis on them. Still, it helps to know your rights; do not interact with police officers unless you have to and, in the event of an arrest or arrest, tell them that you do not consent to a search and want a lawyer.

While vape pens are discreet, it’s still important to be careful with these devices considering they’re illegal at the federal level. The TSA isn’t looking for weed, they’re more concerned with things that may pose an immediate risk, but you never know what an agent might do if they stumble across your vape during a security check.

International

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When it comes to international travel, weed is never a good idea. If you travel to a country with illegal cannabis, there is no way of knowing what they might do and whether or not you could be arrested. And even if the country has a legal marijuana program, such as Canada, traveling with marijuana remains illegal. “Cannabis is illegal in most countries. If you attempt to travel internationally with any amount of cannabis in your possession, you can face severe criminal penalties both domestically and internationally,” according to the Canadian government website.

What about medical marijuana?

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If you have a medical marijuana card, you may face fewer hurdles at airports. Still, it’s not a clear path and if you get caught, you’ll be on the losing side of the argument. If you’re caught with a weed pen, it can be helpful to have all of your documentation on hand, including your medical certificate, medical marijuana ID card, and doctor’s number. Ideally, you will travel to a medical marijuana mutual state.

bottom line: When traveling nationwide with weed, the more discreet you are the better off, and know that no matter how far-fetched it may seem, there is always some risk. If you’re traveling internationally, don’t do it. Regardless of the drug’s legal status, jail time is a real possibility and it’s best to be as cautious as possible.