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Original poster

Flying when your clothes smell of weed

180 replies

witchofzog · 02/04/2018 22:52

I am taking a close family members dd on holiday in a couple of weeks. She is 10 and really excited as it is her first holiday. The issue is that I am 99% sure her parents grow cannabis and her clothes smell of it. She stays with us frequently and even after washing her clothes there is still a lingering smell.

Please don't tell me to notify the police or social services. This is not what the thread is about. This little girl is not neglected, is very very loved, doing well at school etc. Her parents are people who have not had much luck in their lives, live in a universal credit area and constantly struggle for money (aside for every 3 months or so when they seem a bit better off which is another reason I suspect they are growing rather than smoking weed) . I will not be calling anyone about this. I love them all and feel helpless though I do help as much as I can with money, food, gifts of clothes etc for their dd.

My actual question is if I can smell weed on her clothes how on earth will we get through airport security.? I have bought her some new bits but simply cannot afford to replace her entire wardrobe for summer. Will we get stopped? Could this prevent us from flying even though we are not carrying anything? She is so looking forward to this holiday and selfishly so am I. Any advice would be really welcome. Thank you.

OP posts:
Magpiemagpie · 02/04/2018 23:16

Depends on where your going if your going to Dubai then I would buy her a whole new wardrobe and not take any of her stuff 😂

If your going to Spain I wouldn't worry about

Crispbutty · 02/04/2018 23:17

“Weed farms are dangerous due to the elctric circuits wired up to keep the plants warm constantly. Massive fire risk. “

If the parents only grow two or three plants there would be no need for any of that.

I have plenty of mates who smoke weed. None of them have even been pulled over at the airport despite having a last puff before going in. Think of all the people who go to Amsterdam and other countries where it is legal. They all have to come back through customs and probably stink of it.

I’m sure you will be fine. Have a brilliant holiday.

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:18

We are going to Europe to an average country. I would be too scared to go to uae etc. I am worrying enough about this holiday!

I love this little girl like my own. I am going to have the conversation with her parents also because if I can smell it then so will her school probably and they will then have an obligation to make a social services referral. There has been some ill health in the family hence not working currently but hopefully this situation will not last forever

OP posts:
Terftastic · 02/04/2018 23:18

You could consider something drastic like picking a few sets of holiday clothes up for her in Primark or Asda, and not taking any of her clothes.

My DH (as a student) was strip searched at the airport because one of his mate's suitcases contained something they had used to cut/hold weed - even though they had no actual weed on them. It was picked out by an airport sniffer dog, and the whole group were searched.

They were let through once it was established that they had no drugs on them - but it's not a very nice experience, obviously.

RainbowGlitterFairy · 02/04/2018 23:19

Not sure on cannabis specifically but for very smelly clothes, rinse in washing up liquid and water, rinse out and then wash the clothes twice, spin them but don't actually dry in between. Aldi's purple washing gel is very good at removing most smells. Then line dry if possible.

hungryhippo90 · 02/04/2018 23:20

Witchofzog- Shock you don’t know unstoppables?! They’re brilliant super perfumed little things you put in the wash, they add scent to stuff. I usually wash the cushion covers/throws/curtains and coats with them. They make everything smell lush. Apparently they can make stored clothes smell good for something like 6-8 weeks so could really mask the smell of weed if the wash doesn’t completely eliminate it!

I think it’s on sale in Tesco at the moment x

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:21

It would only be 2 or 3 plants I reckon. Their house is tiny and they are definitely not rolling in it even when they seem better off. They are then able to clear arrears on utility bills etc rather than being able to treat themselves

OP posts:
HaroldsSoCalledBluetits · 02/04/2018 23:22

Back in my younger days I travelled to and from places with stoners (and worse) and yes they got searched because it was obvious they spent time getting high and they stank of the stuff but none of them were stupid enough to carry across borders so it was fine.

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:24

I do actually use Aldi purple but the 2 in 1. Is that the same thing? Unstoppables sound amazing for general use too. I shop in Aldi mainly so I must have missed these I will definitely be getting some now Smile

OP posts:
Cheby · 02/04/2018 23:27

Honestly? I would speak to the parents, say essentially what you have said here, which is that you are not judging, you don’t want to know what they’re up to but you’ve noticed you can smell weed on her clothes and you’re worried about air travel.

Then you can just deal with it together, rather than secretly and risk them finding out. Personally, I’d use one of my own suitcases rather than hers (I’d be worried the parents might have used it for storage or themselves at some point and actual weed traces might be in/on the case). I’d wash all of her clothes, twice if possible, with strong smelling fabric softener or zoflora. Dry them outside.

Make sure you go through her belongings carefully as you repack them.

I hope all goes ok.

As an aside; I fully appreciate your reasons for not reporting. But maybe consider that there are risks of living with people growing and/or selling weed. If other people know about them growing it and possibly having money in the house, they are at risk of home invasion, and the DC could be living in a dangerous situation.

TroubledLichen · 02/04/2018 23:28

Oh and meant to add, putting the stinky clothes in hold bag probably won’t help if they’re really that bad... they have sniffer dogs etc. behind the scenes and if they react to your luggage you will all be searched. Whilst you’ll ultimately be fine and you won’t get arrested trying to go to Spain as you obviously won’t actually have anything on you, if you can’t get the smell out in the wash and want to avoid a strip search then I’d hot foot it to primark/Asda etc. and buy her some new clothes. Maybe buy some anyway, attempt to wash her clothes and if you do manage to get the smell out you can return them?!

Cheby · 02/04/2018 23:30

Oh, and arrive at the airport with LOADS of extra time to spare, just in case you do get pulled aside.

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:30

Really good advice Cheby thank you. The family don't own suitcases as they have no need for them Sad so she will be sharing mine

OP posts:
Ncha · 02/04/2018 23:31

"Horrible situation for the kid"

It's growing a bit of bud. Not breaking bad Hmm

And if they only get rich every 3 months for a short time I doubt it's even enough for them to get in trouble over.

DingDongDenny · 02/04/2018 23:32

I would have a travelling outfit of new clothes for her. Get her to wear them to the airport out and back.

Also a suitcase that her clothes can go into to hopefully contain the smell

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:32

I will definitely try to buy as much new as I can. It will be a treat for her and I will probably take her with me and make it an outing for her

OP posts:
Fatandfrigid · 02/04/2018 23:33

I have never ever seen sniffer dogs at an airport.

Enjoy your holiday !

Crispbutty · 02/04/2018 23:33

If you are going to the canaries the cannabis laws have been relaxed there too. So you wouldn’t have any problems there either if there was any whiff of weed.

Em308 · 02/04/2018 23:35

This is weird - you think they're growing it not smoking it, but then say probably only 2 or 3 plants which wouldn't be enough to (a) make clothes stink in the way you're suggesting and (b) make any money at all! Sounds to me like they're smoking it around their daughter, in which case you should be concerned for her welfare.

BadAsMe · 02/04/2018 23:40

Many years ago a couple of good friends lived in Amsterdam. Every time they came to England on holiday they'd smoke their houseplants before they left. They were aware that they reeked but were careful not to be carrying anything. They were fine but one time a sniffer dog was very interested in them. They were unphased, confident there was nothing to be found on them. Fast forward to their next visit home, different port of entry, same dog, whose name they now knew. Again very interested in them. "Look, it's General. Awwww! He remembers us, what a lovely doggie, who's a good boy?...". They really pissed its handler off but they knew that even though they stank, they weren't carrying anything illegal.

CommanderDaisy · 02/04/2018 23:40

Smell wise - yes - a dog will likely do a happy dance if you come across one.
And you will have to have a reason why the dog reacted. A discrete mention of second-hand clothing is an excellent line to use.Allow for extra time at the airport in case everything gets searched.

Use your own cases and check her clothes thoroughly. Washing will help.

I would make her parents aware of your concerns as suggested. They may not be aware of the smell if they are living in it constantly. I also respect your postion not reporting the family. If the child is not neglected there is no need, though a suggestion to the family that their grow activites should be moved out of the home, would not go astray. It is likely as the child grows older ( or even now) she will notice and ask questions about it, and the parents are putting themsleves and her in a difficult situation. You are likely to get a better response if you keep any judgement out of the conversation annd mention it in passing as opposed to making a large issue out of it.

Happy travels.

Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:41

I don't know em. All this is speculation. I just know her clothes smell. She doesn't smell smoky in anyway and there is no evidence downstairs of any smoking activity at all. Though of course you could be right. I will be talking to her parents about it soon and will help them anyway I can

OP posts:
Original poster
witchofzog · 02/04/2018 23:42

Thank you commander. I will.

That's really funny Bad Grin

OP posts:
GreyGardens88 · 02/04/2018 23:43

Unless her clothes also smell of sausages I doubt sniffer dogs will be a problem

AnneProtheroe · 02/04/2018 23:44

Poor child.

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