Never did I ever think I’d write this tip but there’s an important lesson here for travelers who smoke pot or do other drugs. Just because marijuana might be legal in your home state it can show up in your blood or urine days or weeks later … and that could potentially cause you problems if you travel.

Per the Sacramento Bee, “A Las Vegas man faces prison time after he traveled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and marijuana was detected in his urine, his lawyer said. Peter Clark, 51, traveled to Dubai for a business trip on Feb. 24 but was hospitalized for pancreatitis, Clark’s attorney Radha Stirling wrote on her website Detained in Dubai.

“The hospital took a urine test, found traces of marijuana and reported it to the police, who charged Peter and took him to the Al Barsha police station on March 3, Stirling said. Recreational marijuana is legal in Nevada, but consumption or possession of the drug is illegal in the UAE, even if presented with a doctor’s medical card, according to the U.S. State Department.

“People can still be charged and convicted in the UAE even if substances were taken outside the country, “as long as traces are still present in the bloodstream upon arrival in the UAE.”

How long does marijuana stay in your system?
According to AmericanAddictionCenters.org, marijuana can stay in your system for quite a while:

“Urine test: This is the most common drug test used. Infrequent users (less than 2 times/week) can test positive for 1-3 days. A moderate user (several times per week) can test positive for 7­–21 days after last use. A heavy user can test positive for a month or longer after last use. People who eat marijuana may produce a positive result for 1-5 days.

Even if you don’t do drugs (like me), you still have to be careful when traveling to countries that have no tolerance, especially in the UAE. You might remember: Back in 2008, a British man was sentenced to four years in prison in Dubai for having a microscopic amount of marijuana on the bottom of his shoe while he was just changing planes in DBX. When I say microscopic, I mean just that. According to NPR, “Custom officials found a speck of marijuana smaller than a grain of sugar, stuck to one of his shoes.”

Be sure to pass this tip on to any friends and family members who are traveling to countries that have no tolerance when it comes to drugs.

2 Comments On "Why You Shouldn’t Smoke Pot or Do Drugs Before Leaving the United States"
  1. Dr Del Case|

    Could the external, medicinal use of CBD cause any “drug” problems like you are reporting?

    1. Johnny Jet|

      Good question. You would have to ask the U.S. embassy of the country but if CBD is illegal there then yes

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