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 lead to hefty fines aliases moreover situation time.

U.S. officials are reminding travelers that bringing cannabis products crossed world borders remains forbidden 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), aliases both, according to nan U.S. Embassy and Consulate successful Thailand.

FLYING WITH CANNABIS? TSA'S NEW GUIDANCE COMES WITH A MAJOR HEALTH WARNING

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

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

Officials are informing Americans to cheque their luggage for cannabis earlier walking abroad, reminding them that carrying it crossed world borders remains forbidden 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 world border.

"While we are seeing cannabis laws relaxed successful countries for illustration Canada and successful various states successful nan U.S., cannabis is still mostly forbidden crossed nan overwhelming mostly of nan planet," Hoffman told Fox News Digital. "When you recreation to a different jurisdiction, you go taxable to its laws."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

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

"There is nary safe harbor erstwhile walking internationally," he said. "Even a correction is nary excuse."

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

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

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

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

"Even if you're carrying a cannabis merchandise for individual usage aliases person a aesculapian prescription, that doesn't guarantee 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 group should ne'er presume customs officials will 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 investigation destination-specific rules earlier packing.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

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

Fox News Digital antecedently reported that nan Transportation Security Administration (TSA) precocious updated its guidance for travelers carrying medical 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 will place a mistake. (iStock)

While nan agency permits definite aesculapian cannabis products nether constricted circumstances, experts emphasized that world recreation is simply a different matter.

Crossing world borders pinch cannabis remains taxable to nan laws of nan destination country, sloppy of whether marijuana is ineligible wherever a traveler lives.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The TSA besides notes that while its officers are focused connected information screening, they whitethorn mention suspected violations of rule to section rule enforcement.

Khloe Quill of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.