Taking marijuana *into* Mexico?

Sounds kinda crazy, but an older man I know who is a card-carrying medical marijuana user is going to Baja and wants to take his medicine with him. He's worried that even if he could get some there, it might have pesticides or other contaminants. He's traveled there many times and says he's never been searched going into the country, only returning to the U.S. and he would toss anything he had left before returning across the border. Still, I'm worried about him. If his card isn't even recognized outside of his own state, it surely won't be honored internationally. I'm a legal care-giver so I told him I'd bake him some brownies or cookies to take with him, but he says his pain is better controlled by smoking or vape.

Kinda like carrying coals to Newcastle, but what are the options? Ever hear of anyone getting arrested for taking cannabis into Mexico?

I have been to Baja several times (it's only a few miles from me) and I would say it is moderately dangerous to have anything illegal on you once you cross that border. There are police/military checkpoints at various locations as well as at the toll road plazas. Once had our car thoroughly searched just by catching their eye when we used the restrooms.

Given the parody that is the Mexican legal system, he may be able to bribe his way out of a jam but you won't catch me playing any games down there.

Now I just go down for cheap lobster in Puerto Nuevo!! Baja style lobster on the beach is my kind of way to spend a day!!

Thanks, doco, are those the fried lobster I've heard so much about? This patient believes that his clean-cut, elderly gentleman appearance will make him less likely to be searched, but I'm not that confident. I may have convinced him not to carry any but I do fear for him. Do they use dogs at those checkpoints? Do you think he'd be ok if he had a Christmas tin of cookies or brownies?

I've flown into Mexico with weed hidden in my suitcase and had no problems. When we went to the market to get a pipe to smoke it in, the kid offered to "fill it up" for us and was surprized that we brought some in, but I prefer to bring my own when I travel. I don't think they are looking for anyone "bringing coals to Newcastle" when you enter Mexico. I don't come back into the states with anything, of course.

Coming by car I never brought anything back, but I also have never had any questions going through, still there are, no doubt, dogs at the border, so I wouldn't risk that. But going in by car all they check is your passport. No problem- you could have whatever you want in your pocket. Then again, I am a middle-aged female, and the more innocuous you look, the better.

Puerto Nuevo lobsters are a must, and if you want to really treat yourself, get a massage at Las Rochas on the road to Ensenada. The massage room faces the Pacific and it is quite an experience!

They did have dogs at the time we were searched but sometimes they do not. I should also say that Ive only been randomly searched that one time of many that Ive been down there but there are checkpoints, sometimes random, that are more of a worry. When I go down, we drive everywhere so that is more exposure. Your friend would probably be fine - I just tend to really be cautious in Mexico myself.

And yes, Baja style is flash fried lobster, split in half the long way and seared for just a couple of minutes...sooooo good.

Liberiamom: I usually stay at The Rosarito Beach Hotel & Spa but I've been to Las Rochas - my gf wanted to go to their Karaoke bar one night so we went there....nice looking place.

Thank ya'all for your input...I gotta stop bein' such a mother hen...but I care for folks, that's why I became a medical grower and caretaker...I'll worry for sure, but I think his older, conservative looking gentleman appearance will probably help him stay safe if he decides to take bud instead of something I bake up for him.

Actually, that's how they got Tim Leary- popped him crossing into Mexico.

I gotta say, I wouldn't do it- but I'm old and paranoid.

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Originally Posted by GrowinGranny

Sounds kinda crazy, but an older man I know who is a card-carrying medical marijuana user is going to Baja and wants to take his medicine with him. He's worried that even if he could get some there, it might have pesticides or other contaminants. He's traveled there many times and says he's never been searched going into the country, only returning to the U.S. and he would toss anything he had left before returning across the border. Still, I'm worried about him. If his card isn't even recognized outside of his own state, it surely won't be honored internationally. I'm a legal care-giver so I told him I'd bake him some brownies or cookies to take with him, but he says his pain is better controlled by smoking or vape.

Kinda like carrying coals to Newcastle, but what are the options? Ever hear of anyone getting arrested for taking cannabis into Mexico?

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well it's up to him. is it worth the risk. what is he risking and what are the benifits.

Mexican jails scare the shit out of me. And for a sick man, he's isn't going to be well of in there.

I live pretty close to the border and go across frequently, usually with a few j's stashed in a pack of cigs as they never check going in. But if I am traveling light I always (and I do mean always) have success with the taxi drivers.

put it in ur deodrant..

I brought a G once. I even brought a G back over but it was shitty mexican brick. Anyways there are a lot of checkpoints and I was with family so it didn't look suspicious. I think they only search suspicious looking people.

Wow, that's really irresponsible to risk your family like that for a couple joints! I won't say I haven't taken anything across a border before, but not with my family and only with friends who knew what I was doing. I mean no offence, but you should make sure that whoever you're traveling with knows what's going on because if you get caught it is not just you who's in trouble.

edit: ok, I didn't ask if you're family even knew I just assumed. If they knew then please ignore this post.

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Originally Posted by canuck grower

Wow, that's really irresponsible to risk your family like that for a couple joints! I won't say I haven't taken anything across a border before, but not with my family and only with friends who knew what I was doing. I mean no offence, but you should make sure that whoever you're traveling with knows what's going on because if you get caught it is not just you who's in trouble.

edit: ok, I didn't ask if you're family even knew I just assumed. If they knew then please ignore this post.

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One person did, and we actually are friends with the mayor of tijuana so we can get ourselves out of trouble, haha. It's a pretty fucking corrupt city and we were not too worried.

Yep I wouldn't cross with anything. One of my kids spent a few nights in a mexican jail in Cancun for that. He said it was no fun. Of course he paid his fine and got out then the next night got drunk and got caught peeing on a dumpster and they through him back in jail. HAHAHAHA

They will throw you in jail for anything if they think you have money. My kid has blonde hair and blue eyes so if your friend looks like a gringo it won't matter his age. He will be a target.

I have smoked weed in Mexico and it was fine. I'd just get it there. They don't want to smoke pestcides anymore than you do.

I'd have had personal experience with borders and it is just not worth it to try to smuggle anything either way and I damn sure wouldn't try to get it on a plane. The rules have changed and it's just is not that easy anymore.

...Y'all got the smuggler's blues...

Ok for someone not smoking for medicinal purposes like myself it's much different than for someone who really needs to smoke up, but at a point you just realize that most of the time it's not worth the risk. It can be pretty risky on planes, especially after 9/11.

It could be the smuggler's blues, but the more likely answer is paranoia.:D

when you look out the windshield of your ride and you see the mexican army roadblock up ahead;and they are particularly tedious with the gringo's.re-evaluate the need to transport contraband in a foreign country

...."it's the politic's of contraband...it's the smuggler's blues"-Glen Frey....comprende?....