What You Need to Know About Cannabis Before Traveling to the US

Under federal law, cannabis is illegal, if you are caught by the Custom and Border Protection (CBP) operatives in possession of pot you are likely to be arrested when entering the U.S. border. A small amount of marijuana will be confiscated, you will face a hefty fine, and often a denial to enter the U.S.

Stronger penalties may apply like jail time depending on the amount of cannabis and whether it is concealed.

It’s a different thing when you’re embarking on an interstate trip every state has its own marijuana laws. Know the ins and outs of your destination state’s laws and the federal laws. It can spell the difference between a trip to paradise or a nightmare.

Two hands holding a cannabis plant

Photo by davide ragusa on Unsplash

States That Legalize Cannabis

Canada legalized cannabis for medicinal and recreational in 2018, next to Uruguay. In the U.S. there are 11 states that fully legalize marijuana that includes Alaska, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. And 22 states have legalized cannabis only for its therapeutic benefits. The numbers will grow in 2020 with states like Arizona, New York, New Jersey, and New Mexico knocking at the door.

Here are the states which have approved the use of marijuana for medicinal and/or recreational application.

STATE

MEDICINAL

RECREATIONAL

DECRIMINALIZED

Alaska

Yes

Yes

Yes

Arizona

Yes

No

No

Arkansas

Yes

No

No

California

Yes

Yes

Yes

Colorado

Yes

Yes

Yes

Connecticut

Yes

No

Yes

Delaware

Yes

No

Yes

District of Columbia

Yes

Yes

Yes

Florida

Yes

No

No

Hawaii

Yes

No

Yes

Illinois

Yes

Yes

Yes

Louisiana

Yes

No

No

Maine

Yes

Yes

Yes

Maryland

Yes

No

Yes

Massachusetts

Yes

Yes

Yes

Michigan

Yes

Yes

Yes

Minnesota

Yes

No

Yes

Missouri

Yes

No

Yes

Montana

Yes

No

No

Nevada

Yes

No

Yes

New Hampshire

Yes

No

Yes

New Jersey

Yes

No

Np

New Mexico

Yes

No

Yes

New York

Yes

No

Yes

North Dakota

Yes

No

Yes

Ohio

Yes

No

Yes

Oklahoma

Yes

No

No

Oregon

Yes

Yes

Yes

Pennsylvania

Yes

No

No

Rhode Island

Yes

No

Yes

Utah

Yes

No

No

Vermont

Yes

Yes

Yes

Washington

Yes

Yes

Yes

West Virginia

Yes

No

No

How to Buy Marijuana in the U.S.?

Every state has its own laws regarding the purchase of marijuana whether it is for medical or recreational use. If you plan to purchase marijuana regardless of the purpose you are faced with the following questions…

Weed in jars

Photo by Add Weed on Unsplash

Where can I buy marijuana?

There are 11 legal marijuana states with local dispensaries for your recreational requirements. In D.C. there is no existing system for the legal purchase of weed, the state only recognizes a medical cannabis card.

For patients who wish to use cannabis for the management of their medical condition, select from the 22 states which legalized marijuana for its medicinal benefits.

Photo by Wesley Gibbs on Unsplash

How do I find a recreational dispensary?

Once you are in a legal marijuana state you can find a local marijuana dispensary through online directories, websites, print media, sign spinners, or billboards. States limit the conventional marketing channels dispensaries have to be innovative to attract customers.

What do I need?

To purchase marijuana in a legal recreational state, you need to present a state ID or your state driver’s license or a passport to prove you are over 21 to gain access to a dispensary.

Don’t forget to bring your medical cannabis card if you are a patient, otherwise, the budtenders won’t fill your prescription.

Be sure to bring enough money; most dispensaries are on a cash-only basis only a few accept credit cards. There are ATMs but fees are high.

How do I get marijuana?

You can get your marijuana by walking into a cannabis shop, ordering in advance for pickup, or through a delivery service. It’s nice to visit a physical shop to see and smell the strains, get tips from the budtenders, and glimpse at the range of products for sale.

Woman preparing a joint

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Health Effects of Cannabis

Most states have approved medical marijuana for its therapeutic benefits, but the federal government still considers cannabis as a Schedule I substance. This made it hard for researchers to conduct clinical trials on humans. But the limited researches from medical marijuan doctors have shown favorable results in the treatment of some conditions.

Chronic pain

Basic experiments on pain were conducted on lab rats through the application of cannabinoids. Nerves that sense pain impressions have abundant receptors for cannabinoids, and cannabinoids seem to block the pain in animals.

A few clinical trials were applied to humans using THC to relieve chronic pain it was concluded that cannabinoids gave mild to moderate relief.

Alcoholism and drug addiction

Researchers disclose that cannabis can alleviate addiction to alcohol or opioid.

Photo by Louis Hansel @shotsoflouis on Unsplash

Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety

The future looks bright for people suffering from mood disorder. Researchers focused on the restoration of endocannabinoids, application of cannabis to restore normal levels which can ease the symptoms of mood disorders.

Nausea and vomiting

FDA approved the use of Cesamet and Marinol for nausea and vomiting to cancer patients treated with chemotherapy drugs.

Epilepsy

In June 2018, the FDA approved the CBD-based drug known as Epidiolex. The medication treated rare, severe types of epilepsy plaguing children namely: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome.

 

Photo by Grav on Unsplash

Downsides to cannabis use

THC in marijuana has been increasing exposing users to higher risks of harmful reactions. It may lead to addiction or people may consume more edibles to reach a high level faster.

Breathing problems

Just like tobacco, marijuana smoke irritates the lungs resulting in breathing problems associated with coughs and phlegm, lung illness, and lung infections.

Increased heart rate

The heart rate kicks up after three hours of smoking exposing older people and those with heart problems to a heart attack.

Nausea and vomiting

Long-term users may experience severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.

Photo by Justin Aikin on Unsplash

Most Popular Cannabis Products

With more and more states joining the bandwagon for the legalization of cannabis, the cannabis industry focused on producing products made from cannabis. Since THC and CBD can be taken in many ways, companies are expanding to new cannabis-based products beyond smoking pot. Products are on the rise and it takes on many forms like beverages, high-tech vaporizers, edibles, and more.

Photo by Kimzy Nanney on Unsplash

Cannabis oil

CBD oil has low traces of THC and more of CBD which means you won’t get high but you’ll get the therapeutic effects of cannabis. You can get the desired results like pain relief, managing symptoms of mood disorders, sleep issues, and nausea among others.

Beverages

Quench your thirst with beverages spiked with cannabis like beer, sparkling water, coffee, and tea. In addition to all the wonderful effects of cannabinoids, the terpenes in cannabis add aroma and taste for your drinking pleasure.

Photo by Grav on Unsplash

Skincare products

Beauty products have grown every year, though it’s not just women who use them. The allure of clearer, beautiful, and youthful-looking skin is just too tempting.

Photo by Margo Amala on Unsplash

Chocolates

Edibles are a popular way to get high without smoking. Companies never stop innovating and include chocolate with the well-known edibles like brownies, cookies, and gummy bears. Now you can satisfy your cravings and get high too.

Joint and muscle gels

Aches and pains are no match for the joint and muscle gels that provide quick and effective relief.

Vaporizers

Vaporizers were taken to the next level, it’s compact and produces top-notch vaping wherever you go.

Photo by Grav on Unsplash

About Davide

Davide is a Columbia University alumnus and a member of the Columbia Alumni Association of Italy. He received a Ph.D. in Italian Literature from the Department of Italian at Columbia University in 2012. Davide was born in Correggio, Reggio Emilia in 1978 in a loosely catholic environment. At the age of 1.6 he gets involved with the Reggio Children lobby. Later, moved by idealistic hope for a better world, he starts a liturgical organ class, as if it made an impact. He also plays soccer. He quits both. He surprises everybody devoting himself to writing — well, rewriting — placing and removing commas on every page, to exhaustion. In 2005 db2296 moves to New York, where he makes a living by writing subtitles for B-movies. After many brilliant accomplishments in the field, he gets fired for ruining a pun in Fandango, that which upset Kevin Costner. Hopeless, db2296 obtains a PhD in Italian Literature from Columbia University with a dissertation on Ubertino da Casale and some obscure 13th-century friars obsessed with the Apocalypse and the coming of the Antichrist — thanks to the generous interest of the Whiting Foundation Fellowship. According to Colorado College, where he had the pleasure of teaching Italian, db2296 is “sincere advocate for inter-cultural and experiential learning”. Not everybody knows that his favourite author is Sir Laurence Sterne, followed by Czar Vladimir Nabokov. As for his private life he has no secrets.
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9 Responses to What You Need to Know About Cannabis Before Traveling to the US

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  9. Dahlia Wilson says:

    This is very informational. These information are true and I have learned a lot of knowledge about marijuana use. It is necessary to know all the information first before you engage into such kind of thing. Thanks for sharing!

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