One cannabis mistake at airport could bring 10 years in prison and $15,000 fine

Before heading overseas, American travelers are warned to double-check their bags for 1 point that could pb to hefty fines oregon adjacent situation time.

U.S. officials are reminding travelers that bringing cannabis products crossed planetary borders remains amerciable successful galore countries — pursuing a caller customs argumentation successful Thailand that importantly increases penalties for violators.

In June 2026, Thailand introduced tougher penalties for travelers caught bringing cannabis crossed its borders. Violators tin look up to 10 years successful prison, a good of up to 500,000 Thai baht (about $15,000), oregon both, according to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate successful Thailand.

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Fox News Digital reached retired to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) for comment.

Although Thailand decriminalized cannabis possession successful 2022, importing oregon exporting cannabis without the due permissions remains illegal, the informing said.

Officials are informing Americans to cheque their luggage for cannabis earlier traveling abroad, reminding them that carrying it crossed planetary borders remains amerciable successful galore countries. (iStock)

Jeffrey Hoffman, a New York-based cannabis attorney, said travelers should ne'er presume that laws astatine location use erstwhile they transverse an planetary border.

"While we are seeing cannabis laws relaxed successful countries similar Canada and successful assorted states successful the U.S., cannabis is inactive mostly amerciable crossed the overwhelming bulk of the planet," Hoffman told Fox News Digital. "When you question to a antithetic jurisdiction, you go taxable to its laws."

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Hoffman, a legalization activist, pointed to the high-profile lawsuit of WNBA prima Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned successful Russia aft authorities recovered cannabis lipid successful her luggage, arsenic a reminder that immoderate countries strictly enforce cause laws.

"There is nary harmless harbor erstwhile traveling internationally," helium said. "Even a mistake is nary excuse."

Travelers should ne'er presume that laws astatine location use erstwhile they transverse an planetary border, experts say. (iStock)

Travel adept and erstwhile formation attendant Bobby Laurie, based successful the D.C. area, said galore travelers mistakenly presume that if thing is ineligible astatine home, it's automatically ineligible everyplace they go.

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"Even if you're carrying a cannabis merchandise for idiosyncratic usage oregon person a aesculapian prescription, that doesn't warrant it [will] beryllium allowed astatine your destination," Laurie told Fox News Digital. "Some countries person highly strict cause laws, and the penalties tin beryllium severe."

"Even if you're carrying a cannabis merchandise for idiosyncratic usage oregon person a aesculapian prescription, that doesn't warrant it [will] beryllium allowed astatine your destination," said 1 expert.  (iStock)

Laurie recommended checking section laws earlier each trip, positive emptying backpacks, purses and carry-ons of forgotten items. He said radical should ne'er presume customs officials volition place a mistake.

Some countries person laws governing mundane items that galore travelers would ne'er expect, Laurie noted — pointing to Singapore's restrictions connected chewing gum arsenic a reminder to probe destination-specific rules earlier packing.

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"This is 1 of those things you wouldn't cognize unless you researched it, and however galore of america locomotion astir with that successful our bags?" helium said.

Fox News Digital antecedently reported that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) precocious updated its guidance for travelers carrying aesculapian marijuana connected home flights.

Experts urge checking section laws earlier each trip, emptying backpacks, purses and carry-ons of forgotten items, and ne'er assuming customs officials volition place a mistake. (iStock)

While the bureau permits definite aesculapian cannabis products nether constricted circumstances, experts emphasized that planetary question is simply a antithetic matter.

Crossing planetary borders with cannabis remains taxable to the laws of the destination country, careless of whether marijuana is ineligible wherever a traveler lives.

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The TSA besides notes that portion its officers are focused connected information screening, they whitethorn notation suspected violations of instrumentality to section instrumentality enforcement.

Khloe Quill of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.