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As operators of a major wholesale head shop, we understand the attachment people have to their bongs. For many stoners, the bong is part of the fabric of their life, and the idea of going anywhere without it would be practically blasphemous. But while taking your bong with you to the distant corners of the country or the world may seem like a no-brainer to you, The Man doesn't necessarily see things the same way, and there's a very real chance you could end up in hot water if you're cavalier about how you travel with your bong. So, in this guide, we're going to present our top tips for traveling with your bong.
Tips For Traveling With A Custom Bong From Your Favorite Wholesale Smoke Shop
We say "custom," but the fact is that these tips will apply to any type of bong. So sit back, fire up a bowl, and partake of our (almost) infinite wisdom.
Tip #1: Cleanliness Is Key
The first thing to keep in mind about cannabis is that while possession and recreational use may be legal in dozens of states now, it is currently illegal on the Federal level. Marijuana is currently classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule I narcotic - the same grouping as heroin and methamphetamine.
"TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer."
—U.S. Transportation Security Administration, Medical Marijuana Guidelines
Since TSA is a Federal agency, they apply Federal law. That means that even in a state where marijuana possession and use is legal, you could run into significant problems trying to get your bong through TSA security checkpoints at the airport. The key to successfully doing so is to cleanse the bong of all traces of weed. Because it's the weed TSA is looking for, not the bong.
Whether you're going to put your bong in your carry-on or checked bag make sure it's as clean as the day you bought it. If it has resin in the bowl and stem you could be busted, or TSA could confiscate it, or both. But if it's a very expensive piece of heady glass, do you really want TSA to confiscate it? We thought not. So make sure that the puppy is squeaky clean before you hit the TSA checkpoint.
How to Clean a Bong for Air Travel
Take the following steps to thoroughly clean your bong before you pack it for a flight.
What You'll Need
- Isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher)
- Coarse salt
- Rubber stoppers or bong plugs
- Plastic bags or resealable bags
- Pipe cleaners or cotton swabs
- Warm water
- Hand towel
Steps
- Disassemble the Bong: Take apart all removable pieces, such as the bowl and downstem.
- Rinse with Warm Water: Rinse each part with warm water to remove loose debris.
- Prepare Cleaning Solution: Mix isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt in a plastic bag or directly in the bong. The salt acts as an abrasive.
- Clean the Small Parts: Place the bowl and downstem in a plastic bag with the cleaning solution. Shake gently.
- Clean the Bong: Pour the cleaning solution into the bong. Cover all openings with stoppers or plugs, then shake vigorously.
- Scrub Residue: Use pipe cleaners or cotton swabs to scrub any remaining residue.
- Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse all parts with warm water to remove any remaining alcohol and salt.
- Dry and Reassemble: Place the parts on a clean hand towel and allow them to dry completely before reassembling your bong.
Carefully inspect your bong to ensure that there's no remaining cannabis residue before packing it into your suitcase. If you followed the above steps, your bong should be ready to fly!
Tip #2: Don't Ever Call It A "Bong"
These days, TSA doesn't spend a lot of time and resources actively searching for cannabis at airports. However, if a security check turns up your bong, the TSA officer may ask you what it is. DO NOT SAY, "That's my bong." Why? Because it's illegal to transport drug paraphernalia under Federal law. Because the word "bong" is associated exclusively with cannabis use, TSA agents could legally confiscate your bong if you refer to it as one, and there wouldn't be anything you could do about it. They could also refer you to local law enforcement for transporting drug paraphernalia.
drug paraphernalia • any equipment that is used to produce, conceal, and consume illicit drugs.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Justice
If a TSA agent asks you what your bong is, the correct response is "a water pipe." That's because a water pipe (even a customized water pipe) can, in theory, be used to smoke tobacco. The key to selling this notion is to make sure (as we said in Tip #1) that your bong is squeaky clean. As long as there are no traces of cannabis, the TSA agent will have to accept your answer and let you through.
Tip #3: Don't Travel With More Than One Piece Of Paraphernalia
When traveling on interstate domestic flights, you might be able to get away with taking your bong as long as it's as clean as the day you bought it. However, if you also pack a grinder, you're inviting trouble. That's because while a clean bong can conceivably be used to smoke tobacco, the presence of the grinder undermines the tobacco argument by suggesting you plan to use the bong for smoking herb.
So, our advice would be to limit yourself to one very clean piece of cannabis paraphernalia when you fly. That item should be completely free of cannabis residue of any kind - whether its a bong, vape pen, or grinder. The best approach is to simply leave the cannabis paraphernalia at home when you travel and just buy papers when you reach your destination.
If you're planning to stay with friends or family, you can use our online smoke shop to order smoking accessories to their address before traveling - including grinders, rolling papers and dab tools. This will prevent any potential problems of flying with paraphenalia, and save you the trouble of finding a local smoke shop after you arrive.
Tip #4: If Possible, Leave Your Bong at Home
No matter how attached you are to your bong, how eager you are to show it to your friends out of state or in another country, and how much you love the big rips you get off of it, don't take it with you when you are traveling. It's simply not worth the potential aggravation.
Even if you think you've done a bang-up job removing every trace of cannabis from the bong, there still might be enough residue for a sniffer dog to pick up on. And if the dog says there's cannabis in that pipe, well, the TSA agent is going to assume there's cannabis in that pipe. In 2019, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled it unlawful to use sniffer dogs trained to detect marijuana without probable cause. However, other U.S. states have less permissive policies. While sniffer dogs are generally more concerned with finding things like explosives than cannabis residue, many are trained to also sniff out various drugs, including weed.
Keep in mind too that even if you somehow get it through security and customs, it could get damaged in transit and be useless when you arrive in your destination.
Tip #5: NEVER Take Your Bong On An International Flight
"CBP will seize any illegal drug paraphernalia. Law prohibits the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale or transportation of drug paraphernalia. If you are convicted of any of these offenses, you will be subject to fines and imprisonment."
—U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Prohibited and Restricted Items
While traveling with a bong from state to state in the US can be done with relative ease, taking your bong on an international flight is another thing altogether. One of the biggest challenges facing customs in most countries is preventing the flow of illegal drugs. So even if the country has a pretty relaxed attitude toward cannabis use among its own population, that doesn't mean they'll abide a foreigner bringing a customized bong into their country.
In almost every country - including the United States - customs tends to have a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to drugs and drug paraphernalia. So unless you want to have your very own Midnight Express moment, take this tip to heart: Don't take your bong, no matter how clean, on an international flight. Period.
International Travel Arrests for Cannabis Residue
When traveling abroad, even the smallest trace of cannabis residue can lead to serious legal consequences. Numerous tourists have found themselves detained in foreign countries due to strict drug enforcement laws, often for minute amounts of cannabis left on personal items. Consider the following four cases before traveling abroad with a bong or other paraphenalia.
- Brittney Griner in Russia — In 2022, professional basketball player Brittney Griner was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after customs officials discovered vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. Despite the small amount intended for personal use, she faced severe legal consequences under Russian law, resulting in her prolonged detention and international diplomatic efforts for her release.
- Audrey Lorber in Russia — Audrey Lorber, a college student from New York, was detained at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport in 2019 when authorities found a small amount of medical marijuana residue in her luggage. Although she had a medical prescription, Russia's strict anti-drug laws resulted in her arrest and a month-long detention before she was released and deported.
- Conor Howard in Qatar — Conor Howard, a 27-year-old Scotish backpacker, was arrested in 2018 during a layover in Qatar when customs officials found a cannabis grinder in his luggage containing negligable cannabis residue. While Howard was released from holding six hours after his arrest, he was placed on the international wanted list and faced the threat of extradition from his home to Qatar for a year of additional prison time.
- Andrew Brown in Dubai — Andrew Brown, a British traveler and father of three, was arrested in Dubai after authorities found found 0.003 grams (0.0001 ounce) of cannabis residue in his luggage. Despite the minimal amount, Dubai's strict zero-tolerance drug policy led to his immediate detention and a prolonged legal battle, emphasizing the importance of understanding local drug laws when traveling abroad.
Summary
Can you fly with a bong? To a point, yes. As long as the bong is either brand new/has never been used, or has been scoured so thoroughly that it's clear of even the tiniest traces of cannabis resin or residue. If your plan is to smoke a few bowls, then pour out the water and put the bong in your bag, forget it. Weed is still illegal at the Federal level, so TSA agents will not let you board a flight with a bong that has weed residue in it.
As for flying internationally with a bong… we would strongly urge you not to try. Even if you get through security at your US departure point, you can be sure that customs in the country you're flying to will not allow you to enter with a bong. They may, in fact, bust you for trafficking in drug paraphernalia or simply confiscate your bong and put you on the next flight back to where you came from.
Visit The Puffr Wholesale Head Shop Today
Airport security and customs may not be big fans of bongs, but we are. We have one of the largest selections of retail and wholesale custom bongs you'll find anywhere. So make sure to stop by the Puffr wholesale smoke shop today for all your cannabis-related needs.