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Home » Hotels » What Can Be Done About Smoking Pot In Hotel Rooms?
Hotels

What Can Be Done About Smoking Pot In Hotel Rooms?

Kyle Stewart Posted onAugust 28, 2022August 28, 2022 48 Comments
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After a recent stay in a hotel absolutely reeking of marijuana, what can be done about this problem?


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Pot Smoking In Hotel Rooms Is Rampant

Checking into a hotel lately has been a greeting of a list of amenities they no longer offer (due to COVID, labor shortages, inflation – fill in the blank) and a wafting of smoked marijuana floating along the air. It really doesn’t matter where I check in throughout the country, the smell permeates most of the hotels I find, from five-star to select service.

While I was in one of 19 states that allow recreational/medicinal marijuana use, this is not a hotel with smoking rooms. In fact, Virginia not only doesn’t allow public consumption, sharing, or offering to others but the state also doesn’t allow smoking in hotels of any kind.

No doubt this hotel not only had a non-smoking policy but a $250 cleaning charge for smoking in the room. If that’s a profitable service charge for the hotels, they could have made more money on cleaning fees than room rates for the night. Perhaps it’s part of their business model though I doubt many hotels often collect on those fees.

Why It’s Hard To Tackle

Sometimes it’s clear exactly where the smell of marijuana is coming from, and sometimes it’s less evident. Hotel staff might have the right to knock on a door and ask if there’s smoking in the room or even ask guests to leave regardless of the answer they get. But hotels and motels do not have the staff, especially at night, to vacate the desk and go door to door (even when it’s obvious.)

Law enforcement won’t service calls as a priority for suspected guests smoking in the room, especially in states where marijuana is legal. If they do, guests don’t have to answer, and opening a hotel room without permission requires “reasonable, articulable suspicion that a crime is afoot.”

State laws that decriminalize marijuana make it more of an issue of smoking indoors than possession of a substance, even if it’s illegal to use outside of one’s own home as it is in Virginia.

Hotels often collect $50 at check-in for incidentals in addition to the cost of the stay, but that doesn’t mean that there is room on a debit or credit card to absorb the charge. Further, guests who dispute those charges in essence freeze the whole charge (and potentially the room revenue as well) until the charge can be upheld which could be a bigger challenge to retain.

What Can Be Done About This?

First, bigger signs in the room that indicate a cleaning charge applies might be enough to deter some. Collecting a larger hold at check-in could also help. Enforcement of the state laws and hotel rules, whether with staff calls to the room or visits by police might help too.

Outside of that, I’m not sure what can be done.

Conclusion

Why is it a problem? They aren’t smoking in my room, right? Weed is pungent, whether you enjoy imbibing it or not, it’s a very strong scent. I personally don’t mind if someone smokes pot, takes edibles, or drinks – it’s not my business. Until it’s made my business. When my clothes and luggage smell as if I am in the room with them, it’s now my problem. On a recent trip, the smell was so strong that I could smell it on my clothes the next morning and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to go through security at the airport smelling like weed (or attracting the attention of a police dog.) I would have been mortified to show up to a professional meeting smelling of pot too. Why should I have to?

What do you think? Do you find hotel rooms reeking of weed as a common issue? What should be done about it?

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About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

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48 Comments

  1. Mak Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 7:20 am

    I was in favor of marijuana legalizations since decades ago and always argued that if it were legalized, people would consumer it in privacy such that getting high wouldn’t be normalized. Now that legalization has come to pass, I’ve been shocked by the extent to which I was wrong about this. I now see people – including teens – smoking on every corner of my city, people driving while or immediately after smoking, and the smell of marijuana from every construction site, bicycle messenger, food deliverer, etc. I know people who can’t make it through dinner without going outside for a puff. I’m perhaps most shocked to see people traveling to foreign countries with their marijuana and equipment, including to countries where it’s still illegal, with the rationalization that they have a prescription or its for their health. I think we all underestimated the extent to which marijuana is habit forming, as well as the extent to which so many Americans live in absolute depression, misery, and despair such that they can’t make it through the day without constantly being medicated with marijuana, and the proof are the twisted rationalizations people use to consume it everywhere and anytime. After advocating for drug legalization all my life, I’m now everyday having “what have we done?” moments.

    • Darkstar Reply
      August 28, 2022 at 8:58 am

      Two words: Brittney Griner

      • AlohaDaveKennedy Reply
        August 28, 2022 at 1:51 pm

        Two more words – complete idiot.

      • Mak Reply
        August 28, 2022 at 7:16 pm

        At least 3 Americans were arrested this month in Bali for possessing marijuana or marijuana vape liquid. One of them was a Havard student who was arrested on entry for having marijuana brownies and died in custody – the fact that they had a prescription from a US doctor was used as a defense but made little difference to the Indonesians.

        None of these people play basketball, so didn’t get any attention in the US Media, much less from Joe Biden. In any case, I think it points out how Americans have come under an illusion that their right to smoke marijuana is so fundamental, that they can take it with them wherever they go without consequences.

    • DCAWABN Reply
      August 28, 2022 at 9:13 am

      I’m very much in the same boat as you. I think pot is less harmful than alcohol – at least physiologically given liver issues – and am/was in full favor of legalization despite not using it. But careful what you wish for, I guess. I live part time in Europe in a country where it’s legal only if consumed in a “membership club” and not in public. But the police simply don’t care unless there’s clear intent to distribute. So, tourists (mostly) are super okay smoking at 8 AM and I’m constantly walking through clouds of dank pot smoke or vapor on my way to work. And, again, I’m all for pot, but if you need to toke at 8 AM on a Tuesday, regardless if you’re on holiday, you’re a full-on loser. It’s getting out of control.

      • Santastico Reply
        August 28, 2022 at 9:35 am

        @DCAWABN: that’s the problem. You THINK it is less harmful than alcohol. You have no way to prove that and it will take a while until people see the real effect on brains and other organs. Also, it is all about how much one smoke or drink. I would think that drinking a glass of red wine a day is less harmful than smoking pot all day long.

        • William Robert Reply
          August 28, 2022 at 10:37 am

          Lungs aren’t meant to have smoke in them, no matter the source. That’s the real danger people are putting themselves in.

          I also think people see “no smoking” and think that only means cigarettes because people are dumb

          • Santastico
            August 28, 2022 at 10:59 am

            When I see people vaping I smile because I know that moron won’t last long. That’s is where Darwin plays so well in cleaning the society.

        • DCAWABN Reply
          August 28, 2022 at 4:31 pm

          That’s another great point, and one I was simply not thinking about. But I guess you hear a lot less about pot-related DUIs than alcohol-related ones. But good point nonetheless.

    • Brian Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 10:19 am

      If it’s legal why should people hide in their homes like they are doing something wrong?
      Would you be okay with the same premise but related to backyard BBQ?
      If I object to your barbeque stench because I’m a vegatarian maybe you should keep your barbeque inside where I can’t smell it.

      • Kyle Stewart Reply
        August 29, 2022 at 12:06 pm

        Because it’s only legal “in their homes” for example in the state of Virginia. It’s not legal outside on the patio, it’s not legal in a hotel room or even to smoke inside of a car. There’s also a reasonability factor. If you’re cooking dinner for 30 minutes on the grill, then yeah, it’s a reasonable act. If you’ve got 12 smokers on all day long producing a haze and covering everything in my yard with the smell and staining the fence with smoke marks then it’s no longer reasonable.

        Why aren’t they just eating edibles anyway?

      • Julie Reply
        October 20, 2022 at 9:32 pm

        You can get away from that BBQ stench. You can’t from Welfare Weed. And not very many people are going to be barbequing anywhere outside of their backyards. I’m that person who calls security over and over again when I smell it in a hotel, and ask to be moved. More than one a$$hole smoking weed in hotels with me has had to pony up the $250. Good. You freaking inconsiderate loser. Go do it at your own home where it doesn’t stink up my room, clothes, belongings, or person.

  2. David Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 7:21 am

    If a nonsmoking hotel provides a room that smells of smoke, you deserve a full refund as a minimum.

  3. Paul Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 7:51 am

    They should give you a new room or upgrade you at least. Send your clothes to laundry but the costs must be deducted from your hotel bill.
    Hotels should always check the room before letting the guest check out, so they can bill the perpetrator and if necessary call the police.
    As the previous commentstor said, it is not my business if they pump themselves up with whatever drugs they want as long as it does not involve me or my property in any way.
    Thank You!

    • Mak Reply
      August 28, 2022 at 7:22 pm

      Of course this is right, but I don’t thin that anybody would doubt this for a moment and isn’t really the issue. The issue rather is why do people who know better than to smoke cigarettes in a non-smoking room so easily able to rationalize their entitlement to smoke marijuana in the same room . . . or various other places that people would feel obliged by rules of common decency to refrain from cigarette smoking but not feel similarly compelled to refrain from marijuana smoking.

  4. rich Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 8:19 am

    Like everything people abuse it and don’t think it is addictive or at least habit forming. I can recall a few years ago some guy saying “I’m not addicted to weed but I need to smoke some every night so I can sleep”.

    Hmmm, I think that is close to the definition of addiction.

    And yeah, the smell is horrible.

  5. MFB123 Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 8:31 am

    While I have not noticed it as much as you…with the exception of the usual suspects of Vegas or hotels with convention/event traffic. However, at Christmas, I was shocked upon returning my rental car noticing the guys returning the car in front of me actively smoking pot as they exited their rental, throughout the garage, into the entrance of CVG (if Hertz will have it’s most loyal customers arrested as a result of administrative error, I wouldn’t want to imagine what they’d do for returning a car while high).

    • Joseph Story Reply
      August 28, 2022 at 9:32 am

      Hey. You are in the bluegrass state. They are smoking that Kentucky bluegrass. Lol

      • MFB123 Reply
        August 28, 2022 at 1:36 pm

        I did my undergrad in KY and recall a story of pot being gown on the median of I-64. Rumor has it they were quite successful with growing out in the open as no one bothered to “inspect the grass”. I guess things really haven’t changed over the past 25 years 🙂

  6. Tom Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 8:50 am

    I am shock, but I totally agree with you. I hate that I can’t enjoy the balcony of my room on a beach, with out smelling pot. Or going down the hallway without smelling pot.

  7. Santastico Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 9:37 am

    I am all in for legalizing all drugs and let Darwin do its thing. The world would be much clearer when the weirdos disappear by their own choice.

  8. Debit Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 9:48 am

    Singapore gives out lashes. That’s works really well. You can even charge people to lash these scum. $10 a lash.

    In my city smoking is allowed only in designated areas, not even on your own home in an apartment complex. Only designated areas far from any other people. On a website discussing this, only the marijuana smokers pushed back saying they are stressed and should be allowed to smoke anywhere and anytime. Only progressives want to trample other people’s rights while they pursue rights for themselves.

  9. Rjb Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 9:54 am

    We are a lawless society. Deteriorating by the day. Until w have new leadership, get used to it.

    • Billy Bob Reply
      August 28, 2022 at 10:46 am

      I assume you are pining for the previous law and order leadership that was stealing top secret documents and giving them out as party favors at weddings.

      • Joe Chivas Reply
        August 28, 2022 at 11:08 am

        I just heard that Elon Musk made an offer to buy the FBI from the Clintons.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          August 28, 2022 at 5:29 pm

          ROTFL!!!!

  10. Jerry Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    “reasonable, articulable suspicion that a crime is afoot.”

    False. In the United States police cannot enter your hotel room without a warrant signed by a judge. You have the same level of privacy in your hotel room as you do in your home. They can knock on your door and try to intimidate you, but one would hope they have better things to do.

  11. Mick Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 12:27 pm

    Yep stinks in a lot of hotels now. Chicago has legalized weed and you smell it here and there but it’s not as much in your face as other people are saying in other cities.

    I think legalizing it made 100% sense

  12. derek Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 12:27 pm

    Since two wrongs make a right, if you smell a strong smell of weed smoking, set fire to some blankets in the hallway in order to compete with the smell?

  13. jcil Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    For whatever reason, our society has decided that smoking cigarettes makes a person a neanderthal and disgusting, but smoking pot make you one of the cool kids. We have to edit out the smoking scenes in older movies because it might make younger folks think it is a cool thing to do, but have no issues with convincing them that smoking (and eating) pot is one the the habits of the hip people today. I can’t stand either, but I am probably the definition of un-hip.

    • DaninMCI Reply
      August 28, 2022 at 2:05 pm

      100% agree. Fast forward about 10 years and people will be having all sorts of health issues from cannabis just watch.

  14. Robb Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 2:16 pm

    It’s a problem for non users … especially if they have a cardiac or pulmonary breathing problem. . I think society, in general, has become waaaay more “me centric” and “to hell with you” which is unfortunate and can, and often does have serious consequences

  15. DEE Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 2:27 pm

    I agree I do not want to smell aand breathe in the STINK WEED or have my clothes smell like it… They can smoke it all they want and HARM their lungs but not around me!! Not sure what the answer is but something needs to be done. Maybe put them all in one smoking room off the hotel and let them stink up each other!!

  16. jm Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 2:59 pm

    I moved away from the beach in SoCal in part because of the horrible stench of pot that ruined the beach and my whole neighborhood. The majority of the planes I’ve been on have some reeking passenger aboard and a paper mask can’t filter out the horrible skunk stench. I just started experiencing the problem in hotels a few months ago. I think anything that smells that bad should have harsh penalties. The harshest.

  17. Cam Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    I know someone who uses Febreeze air freshener, while puffing out side.. now thats good 420!!

  18. Tom marky Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    Stop being a wimp, go complain and get a new room.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 12:11 pm

      It was every other room, and it was not just this one hotel. It’s most that I find myself in. Just go outside like any other smoker.

  19. DFWSteve Reply
    August 28, 2022 at 10:40 pm

    Guess I can now fire up a cigar anywhere I like without feeling guilty.

  20. William Holden Reply
    August 29, 2022 at 5:46 am

    Anyone going to mention the key point that pot smoke doesn’t linger or contaminate like tobacco? The reason hotels don’t care is because unlike tobacco, the room can be aired out and is fine after someone smokes pot in it. The author’s claims of their personally belongings smelling later because of secondhand smoke smells fishy

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 12:11 pm

      No, it smelled skunky.

    • Mak Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      This is the cognitive dissonance of the addicted, who will rationalize their habit in a million different ways to avoid confronting the offense they cause to the people around them.

      I’m old enough to remember when cigarette smokers did the same . . . “you can’t smell the smoke from the smoking section of the plane in the non-smoking section,” “my kid doesn’t mind if I smoke in the car,” etc., etc. Yes, we can smell your marijuana smoke — not only in the places you’ve been smoking but on your clothes and in your car.

    • Maryland Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      Weed does linger on fabric and hair. Tobacco also lingers. They both stink & I’m a cigarette smoker. But always outside so I’ve no problem condemning those who choose to ruin an enclosed space for others. It’s so rude. And I have knocked on a hotel door when the weed stink started permeating the hallway.

    • jm Reply
      August 31, 2022 at 11:03 am

      Pot smokers always make this claim. I can only surmise that smoking pot makes one unable to smell pot. Believe me, the smell lingers longer and more strongly than cigarette smoke.

  21. Brian Reply
    August 29, 2022 at 6:23 am

    I think you are full of crap.
    Unless you are in the same room and they’re hotboxing it for an hour or two there’s no way the smell is going to attach to your clothes in a dresser or bag in an entirely different area of the establishment.
    I’ve never smelled cannabis at a hotel as strongly as you try to imply it is.
    I think your assertion that ” you don’t care what people do until they make it your business” is cover for a personal gripe
    .. you know The way racists always have a “black friend”

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 9:40 am

      We hope you find the help you need to quit smoking dope.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      August 29, 2022 at 12:10 pm

      Your assertion is 1) that they were not hotboxing for an hour or two, and 2) that it was just one room. I have zero doubt that it was multiple rooms nearby, not just one (you could tell walking down the hallway, it might have been every other room) and I have been around it enough to know the difference between one person smoking alone, and a group activity with a large quantity for an extended period of time. It was the latter.

      But this isn’t specific even to just this one hotel stay, it seems rampant and many commenters agree.

  22. Nathan Reply
    September 22, 2022 at 6:32 am

    I was in hospital and wasn’t allowed out to smoke so I’d go in the bathroom and run the shower and I made a hole in a 600ml Coke bottle and formed a mintie lolly into a cone piece and id punch tobacco through it every couple of hours lol where there’s a will there’s a way

  23. Melanie Jo Simms Reply
    October 26, 2023 at 9:21 pm

    I completely sympathize! Pot reek is GROSS. DISGUSTING and did I mention GROSS? I have been staying in hotels while looking for a new apartment and its been a nightmare having to learn to navigate what hotels are smoke and pot free and which are not. Shocks me that in my state of PA people reek it up illegally and nothing can be done.
    I complained, called police but they were unable to act on it unless I could give them specific names. I don’t know the guest names and the front desk only had 1 person working there so he was useless too. Its a horrible stink and I wish these scum bags would stop reeking it up and making everyone miserable. Even some cities STINK now. Ever been to Akron Ohio? REEKS of pot.
    I

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