Flying when your clothes smell of weed

[witchofzog]

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.

I agree about masking scents- they will not fool a drugs dog.

The other glaring issue is that we are talking about a 10 year old child.

It's one thing giving clearance to a 22 year old who stinks of weed, but after searching shows no concealment- yes he will be fine.

But we are talking of a 10 year old child.

This is a whole different ball game- there are safeguarding issues.

I think customs and security staff would be obliged to report this.

Is there any way you could get hold of her suitcase with all her clothes she will be taking now? You could wash them a few times and air it all out before it needs packing.

Well the judgy patrol really are out in full force this morning. Hack If that is the best you can do then please go away. I can assure you this situation is real and something I have lost plenty of sleep over. I help in every way I can and the situation will hopefully not be forever. Like I said I will not be reporting them. I hadn't thought of the dangerous electrics angle before though so thank you to all those who mentioned this. I will have a chat with the parents soon though and see what happens

To answer a few questions that have not already been answered on this thread already. This child is very loved. Some of you can sneer and turn your noses up and say she can't be but she is. Her parents are skint. Proper skint. They have gone without meals themselves to feed and clothe their daughter. They spend loads of time with her doing as many free activities as possible, really talking to her and showing a lot of interest in her thoughts and ideas, they show huge interest in her schooling and want her to have a better life than she has. They don't drink or have any treats themselves.

I don't know 100 % that they are growing weed. I have my suspicions that is all. I have not seen any evidence of it but then I haven't been upstairs in their home for a while. I smoked weed when I was in my late teens with my friends at college. I am now 40 and haven't had much dealing with it since so all those who are saying I should know. I really don't know.

I will be getting a parental consent letter to take her away so that is being sorted.

Thank you to most people who have offered constructive and non judgy advice.

Children are often brought up by parents who smoke cannabis. In an ideal world, you'd think it would be an issue.
In reality, it's not regarded by social services as a safe guarding issue, unless there are other signs of serious neglect or abuse.
This child would not be better off put into the care system, where they will be introduced to worse crime and drug taking from an early age.

I would be very if a smell detected at an airport with no possession of drugs would be followed up, or reported to anyone. There aren't the resources.

*very surprised

Tell the parents to use a carbon filter FGS. It's not rocket science.

It might as well be rocket science to me The user

To answer the question - stock her up with a full set of clothes from a charity shop and she goes away in those. Leave all her own stuff behind.

When the landlord finds out or the cuckoos move in ....then the reasons this is not the answer will reveal themselves.

Dogs are likely to indicate on her. She may end up being searched which would not be a nice experience for her. I know of someone who bought all new clothes but he was stopped because his belt smelt of marijuana. He was searched. He'd never smoke it in his house or in front of his kids mind...

Not going to advise on how to cover it up as don't agree with you not reporting this (also work in law enforcement so what kind of person would that make me!). Clothes do not smell of marijuana from being in a house where it is grown. It would have to be smoked in order to penetrate clothing like that.

Honestly, when was the last time sniffer dogs were unleashed on passengers going to a regular holiday destination?

Like I said upthread, I've flown all over the world and have only come across sniffer dogs in Mexico City airport, which would be a bit of a special case when it comes to drugs.

Im trying hard not to be judgy as many of us have been on the bones of our arse. But if they are growing its more than 3 plants for profit. That increases the risk of a dawn raid that will traumatise the child for life when the police kick the doors down screaming and drag everyone into the living room. Also depending on the type of weed if its skunk thats so much worse. If she has enough around her that her clothes stink she is inhailing it and inhailing weed pre teen and teen increasing risks of severe mental health problems in future so people sayi g weed is harmless are stupid. It may be harmless for adults but scientists have already proved it damages developing brains.

Clothes do not smell of marijuana from being in a house where it is grown. It would have to be smoked in order to penetrate clothing like that. Actually if you work in law enforcement then you should also know that this is just not true.

My next door neighbour grew weed, I knew because I could smell it in my bedroom when he was harvesting it, other times I couldn't smell it at all.

I agree with those that said harvesting weed makes everything stink, badly!

I also agree that you could report it but in reality I doubt anything will be done. I know in RL several people that have been caught growing a couple of plants and been given there grow equipment back (not the plants) as CPS couldn't/wouldn't prosecute as there was no evidence of intent to supply and some of them had children.

It is terrible for the children to have the house raided but the parents - at least in the one case were not taken away but were cautioned for use.

In no cases have I known the children to be taken away because other than the parents inability to give up the weed they were not neglecting the children, didn't smoke it around the children and didn't want to rely on drug dealers or support the trade so chose to grow it themselves.

I am not saying that they were right and I am not condoning it btw.

Going slightly off the immediate topic I also think that things will change in this country pretty especially when you have people like Patrick Stewart openly admitting that he takes cannabis oil in California and over here needs to have injections to help ease arthritis. I think that the tide is slowly turning again and hope that people who really would benefit will really be able to benefit without having to rely on dealers and strains that they have no clue how strong or that have been blasted with sand or glass to weigh heavier etc.

OP you will be fine and I hope you have a lovely holiday.

Dealers is another huge concern. They are not nice people. Either the parents are dealers. Or they are buying off dealers. Or they are selling to dealers. Either way thats not good.

I grew up around my parents growing weed and taking drugs.
(Name changed as this will definitely out me to anyone who knows me!)

My clothes and hair always smelt like weed and it never did me any harm! Once the police came around in a rather dramatic fashion but I was never traumatised! Martha you are completely overreacting. Inhaling some bits of plant won't have the same effect as actually inhaling the smoke. As long as she's not inhaling the smoke, even cigarette smoke, she will be fine. Second hand smoke is probably the biggest possible concern here.

I went to university and am now a professional, have a good life and don't even smoke cigarettes or alcohol.

On the same council estate I grew up on some kids had parents who drunk alcohol and abused them and they ended up neglected, dirty clothes, hungry and some in care.

Alcoholism is just as bad and there's much less social outrage towards 'drunk mummies' who have a G & T every night, than parents that smoke weed.

I'm sorry, but to everyone outraged at someone growing a bit of weed needs to stop being so naive. It never did me any harm as my parents were good loving parents; they read to me every night, my clothes were always clean, I did all my home work on time, I had a home cooked dinner every night.

Parents who use or sell drugs does not always mean parents who are neglectful.

But if they are growing its more than 3 plants for profit.

Or not. Maybe they're breeding and refining genetics - quite a few do to get a strain they respond best to.

Also depending on the type of weed if its skunk thats so much worse.

I agree with those that said harvesting weed makes everything stink, badly!

Not when I do it.

I also agree that you could report it but in reality I doubt anything will be done. I know in RL several people that have been caught growing a couple of plants and been given there grow equipment back (not the plants) as CPS couldn't/wouldn't prosecute as there was no evidence of intent to supply and some of them had children.

We have the laws we can afford. It really is that simple. More things are illegal than (say) 20 years ago. But the number of police and their funding is less. So it should be no surprise that not all crimes are treated equally.

Going slightly off the immediate topic I also think that things will change in this country

Is what people were saying when I was growing up in the 80s. But, like jet packs we are still waiting.

FWIW I doubt the parents are Bonnie and Clyde. If anyone knows they are growing or smoking (as the OP does) then it's already amateur hour.

Anyone who is growing cannabis will be far more afraid of being raided by a criminal gang than the police bearing in mind (for obvious reasons) few such attacks get reported.

You'll be fine. A very close relative of mine lives in a house where everyone smokes weed all the time, including him. I know when he's at his grandparents' house as I can smell him when I walk in. He flew somewhere in Europe and a sniffer dog followed him for a bit then wandered off again. I honestly don't think the smell will be bad enough to get you all busted.

And good on you for not being judgemental. You seem like a really nice person. Have a lovely holiday!

Great post NameyChangey1234.

I love this little girl like my own.

No, you don't.

Laurie - we've had a offer dogs randomly in uk airports. More so than abroad. Going to the US and Europe. More so at large airports such as Gatwick.

Offer = sniffer

Is what people were saying when I was growing up in the 80s. But, like jet packs we are still waiting.

I will stand by the correction that you can harvest weed and it not smell but as you mentioned amateur hour, then chances are they don't have refined skills so it probably is enough to make the house stink, however, I do believe that things will change - I get your point however, there seems to be stuff on TV and in the news every few weeks now showing the benefits to legalisation with people like John Snow, the show with Fashanu etc. The world is becoming rapidly a much smaller place and with the polices inability to really police the situation and our desire to follow America blindly and now the young child who has been granted the right to use cannabis oil, I really do believe that things will change - but I am no expert.

namey Thank you for sharing your story. This little girl is really very happy and I hope she grows up similar to how you have. I have worried about all the ways she might be affected including the police kicking the door down. I hope to god it doesn't come to this. I AM going to speak with her parents in a non judgemental manner but I don't yet know what I am going to say.

Mythicalchicken thank you

Shirt Gee that is so constructive. Thanks for that. I do love her like she is my own but she obviously isn't my own so I can't parent her in the way I would my own ds as some decisions are not mine to make. All I can do is look out for this family and try to make things a bit easier when I can.

I AM going to speak with her parents in a non judgemental manner but I don't yet know what I am going to say.

Suggest they pop to their local hydroponics store and look at extraction and filtering ?

Also suggest they dial it down a bit and follow the 3 golder rules .... don't sell, don't tell and (probably #1) don't smell

HTH HAND

Yes, the low life's this will attract are the major concern. Its not fun for the neighbours either as the dealers start knifing each other.

I AM going to speak with her parents in a non judgemental manner but I don't yet know what I am going to say.

Babe, I really don't think you should. It would not go down well. Just imagine another parent speaking to you about one of YOUR failings as a parent (not suggesting you have any). I know if another parent spoke to me about my love of wine for instance, I would be furious and would end the relationship forthwith.