Secondhand weed smoke smell on luggage when traveling to Japan. Will it be a problem?
I'll be flying to Japan and I'm staying at a friend's house before my flight to save money on lodging. I already knew but completely forgot about the fact that she smokes cannabis and now I'm worried about the stench sticking to my suitcases and/or their contents. They don't seem to smell of anything yet but my puny human nose can't possibly compare to a trained dog's. She usually smokes 1 joint at night in a well ventilated room and I've only been staying with her for 3 days, if that matters at all.
Supposing that the suitcases did in fact catch the smell, will this be a problem when arriving at the airport in Japan? I've never smoked anything and it's not as if customs will find something in my suitcase, but I'm worried about any possible problems like wasting hours and hours at the airport while they turn my luggage upside down a dozen times.
Would I be better off renting in some other place before my flight to let the smell dissipate or is it one of those things that stays there for months?
customs-and-immigration japan drugs
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
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add a comment |
I'll be flying to Japan and I'm staying at a friend's house before my flight to save money on lodging. I already knew but completely forgot about the fact that she smokes cannabis and now I'm worried about the stench sticking to my suitcases and/or their contents. They don't seem to smell of anything yet but my puny human nose can't possibly compare to a trained dog's. She usually smokes 1 joint at night in a well ventilated room and I've only been staying with her for 3 days, if that matters at all.
Supposing that the suitcases did in fact catch the smell, will this be a problem when arriving at the airport in Japan? I've never smoked anything and it's not as if customs will find something in my suitcase, but I'm worried about any possible problems like wasting hours and hours at the airport while they turn my luggage upside down a dozen times.
Would I be better off renting in some other place before my flight to let the smell dissipate or is it one of those things that stays there for months?
customs-and-immigration japan drugs
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I don't know if you are travelling from the US or from other relatively permissive country to weed. But, it might be that you trigger an alarm and they ask you where you were staying. Are you comfortable disclosing your friend's address?
– Pierre B
Mar 21 at 17:48
I'm flying from Latin America, which might be a problem given its infamy as a drug producer. I wouldn't outright state her name and address if possible, but I'd be fine with mentioning the city.
– Ars
2 days ago
add a comment |
I'll be flying to Japan and I'm staying at a friend's house before my flight to save money on lodging. I already knew but completely forgot about the fact that she smokes cannabis and now I'm worried about the stench sticking to my suitcases and/or their contents. They don't seem to smell of anything yet but my puny human nose can't possibly compare to a trained dog's. She usually smokes 1 joint at night in a well ventilated room and I've only been staying with her for 3 days, if that matters at all.
Supposing that the suitcases did in fact catch the smell, will this be a problem when arriving at the airport in Japan? I've never smoked anything and it's not as if customs will find something in my suitcase, but I'm worried about any possible problems like wasting hours and hours at the airport while they turn my luggage upside down a dozen times.
Would I be better off renting in some other place before my flight to let the smell dissipate or is it one of those things that stays there for months?
customs-and-immigration japan drugs
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'll be flying to Japan and I'm staying at a friend's house before my flight to save money on lodging. I already knew but completely forgot about the fact that she smokes cannabis and now I'm worried about the stench sticking to my suitcases and/or their contents. They don't seem to smell of anything yet but my puny human nose can't possibly compare to a trained dog's. She usually smokes 1 joint at night in a well ventilated room and I've only been staying with her for 3 days, if that matters at all.
Supposing that the suitcases did in fact catch the smell, will this be a problem when arriving at the airport in Japan? I've never smoked anything and it's not as if customs will find something in my suitcase, but I'm worried about any possible problems like wasting hours and hours at the airport while they turn my luggage upside down a dozen times.
Would I be better off renting in some other place before my flight to let the smell dissipate or is it one of those things that stays there for months?
customs-and-immigration japan drugs
customs-and-immigration japan drugs
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited Mar 21 at 4:25
Ars
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
asked Mar 21 at 3:46
ArsArs
11615
11615
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Ars is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I don't know if you are travelling from the US or from other relatively permissive country to weed. But, it might be that you trigger an alarm and they ask you where you were staying. Are you comfortable disclosing your friend's address?
– Pierre B
Mar 21 at 17:48
I'm flying from Latin America, which might be a problem given its infamy as a drug producer. I wouldn't outright state her name and address if possible, but I'd be fine with mentioning the city.
– Ars
2 days ago
add a comment |
I don't know if you are travelling from the US or from other relatively permissive country to weed. But, it might be that you trigger an alarm and they ask you where you were staying. Are you comfortable disclosing your friend's address?
– Pierre B
Mar 21 at 17:48
I'm flying from Latin America, which might be a problem given its infamy as a drug producer. I wouldn't outright state her name and address if possible, but I'd be fine with mentioning the city.
– Ars
2 days ago
I don't know if you are travelling from the US or from other relatively permissive country to weed. But, it might be that you trigger an alarm and they ask you where you were staying. Are you comfortable disclosing your friend's address?
– Pierre B
Mar 21 at 17:48
I don't know if you are travelling from the US or from other relatively permissive country to weed. But, it might be that you trigger an alarm and they ask you where you were staying. Are you comfortable disclosing your friend's address?
– Pierre B
Mar 21 at 17:48
I'm flying from Latin America, which might be a problem given its infamy as a drug producer. I wouldn't outright state her name and address if possible, but I'd be fine with mentioning the city.
– Ars
2 days ago
I'm flying from Latin America, which might be a problem given its infamy as a drug producer. I wouldn't outright state her name and address if possible, but I'd be fine with mentioning the city.
– Ars
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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It's likely to be an inconvenience, but it's unlikely to be a major problem. Cursory Customs checks including opening bags on arrival are common, but while the inspector is unlikely to notice any smell, they are on occasion (but not always) accompanied by drug dogs who may indeed pick up on the scent. However, if there are no actual drugs or other contraband in your bag, they have no reason to detain you, and it never took me more than a few minutes to get through, even back when I was a suspicious long-haired student.
If you're already staying at your friend's place there it's a bit late, but next time keep your suitcase away from any smoke by sealing it in a large plastic bag (eg. trashcan liner). But since it is late, airing it out well (say, on the balcony) is probably your best bet. A quick scrub with water and soap would not hurt either.
Last but not least, if they do find any actual drugs, no matter how minute the amount, you're in for a world of pain: Japanese law specifies up to 5 years in jail for simple possession, and people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket.
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
1
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
3
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
5
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
2
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
2
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
|
show 4 more comments
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It's likely to be an inconvenience, but it's unlikely to be a major problem. Cursory Customs checks including opening bags on arrival are common, but while the inspector is unlikely to notice any smell, they are on occasion (but not always) accompanied by drug dogs who may indeed pick up on the scent. However, if there are no actual drugs or other contraband in your bag, they have no reason to detain you, and it never took me more than a few minutes to get through, even back when I was a suspicious long-haired student.
If you're already staying at your friend's place there it's a bit late, but next time keep your suitcase away from any smoke by sealing it in a large plastic bag (eg. trashcan liner). But since it is late, airing it out well (say, on the balcony) is probably your best bet. A quick scrub with water and soap would not hurt either.
Last but not least, if they do find any actual drugs, no matter how minute the amount, you're in for a world of pain: Japanese law specifies up to 5 years in jail for simple possession, and people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket.
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
1
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
3
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
5
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
2
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
2
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
|
show 4 more comments
It's likely to be an inconvenience, but it's unlikely to be a major problem. Cursory Customs checks including opening bags on arrival are common, but while the inspector is unlikely to notice any smell, they are on occasion (but not always) accompanied by drug dogs who may indeed pick up on the scent. However, if there are no actual drugs or other contraband in your bag, they have no reason to detain you, and it never took me more than a few minutes to get through, even back when I was a suspicious long-haired student.
If you're already staying at your friend's place there it's a bit late, but next time keep your suitcase away from any smoke by sealing it in a large plastic bag (eg. trashcan liner). But since it is late, airing it out well (say, on the balcony) is probably your best bet. A quick scrub with water and soap would not hurt either.
Last but not least, if they do find any actual drugs, no matter how minute the amount, you're in for a world of pain: Japanese law specifies up to 5 years in jail for simple possession, and people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket.
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
1
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
3
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
5
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
2
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
2
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
|
show 4 more comments
It's likely to be an inconvenience, but it's unlikely to be a major problem. Cursory Customs checks including opening bags on arrival are common, but while the inspector is unlikely to notice any smell, they are on occasion (but not always) accompanied by drug dogs who may indeed pick up on the scent. However, if there are no actual drugs or other contraband in your bag, they have no reason to detain you, and it never took me more than a few minutes to get through, even back when I was a suspicious long-haired student.
If you're already staying at your friend's place there it's a bit late, but next time keep your suitcase away from any smoke by sealing it in a large plastic bag (eg. trashcan liner). But since it is late, airing it out well (say, on the balcony) is probably your best bet. A quick scrub with water and soap would not hurt either.
Last but not least, if they do find any actual drugs, no matter how minute the amount, you're in for a world of pain: Japanese law specifies up to 5 years in jail for simple possession, and people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket.
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
It's likely to be an inconvenience, but it's unlikely to be a major problem. Cursory Customs checks including opening bags on arrival are common, but while the inspector is unlikely to notice any smell, they are on occasion (but not always) accompanied by drug dogs who may indeed pick up on the scent. However, if there are no actual drugs or other contraband in your bag, they have no reason to detain you, and it never took me more than a few minutes to get through, even back when I was a suspicious long-haired student.
If you're already staying at your friend's place there it's a bit late, but next time keep your suitcase away from any smoke by sealing it in a large plastic bag (eg. trashcan liner). But since it is late, airing it out well (say, on the balcony) is probably your best bet. A quick scrub with water and soap would not hurt either.
Last but not least, if they do find any actual drugs, no matter how minute the amount, you're in for a world of pain: Japanese law specifies up to 5 years in jail for simple possession, and people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket.
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
edited Mar 21 at 12:28
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
answered Mar 21 at 4:35
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
117k18372531
1
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
3
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
5
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
2
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
2
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
|
show 4 more comments
1
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
3
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
5
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
2
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
2
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
1
1
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
Good answer, but would love some citation for "people have ended up doing hard time because they forgot a joint in a back pocket"
– Kialandei
Mar 21 at 10:25
3
3
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
@Kialandei Why would that need a citation though? If you can get jailtime for carrying any amount of drugs, this would simply be enforcing the rules to the letter.
– Mast
Mar 21 at 10:43
5
5
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
@Kialandei “a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes” when he landed in Dubai
– Gilles
Mar 21 at 11:10
2
2
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
@Kialandei Here's one case: 0.5g of weed, looking at 5 years in prison. elitedaily.com/envision/heres-happens-get-caught-weed-japan/…
– jpatokal
Mar 21 at 12:27
2
2
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
@Gilles well Dubai isn't really japanese though. But wow. pretty intense :/
– Patrice
Mar 21 at 13:01
|
show 4 more comments
Ars is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ars is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ars is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Ars is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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I don't know if you are travelling from the US or from other relatively permissive country to weed. But, it might be that you trigger an alarm and they ask you where you were staying. Are you comfortable disclosing your friend's address?
– Pierre B
Mar 21 at 17:48
I'm flying from Latin America, which might be a problem given its infamy as a drug producer. I wouldn't outright state her name and address if possible, but I'd be fine with mentioning the city.
– Ars
2 days ago