Federal Cannabis Prohibition Meets International Travel: What Maine Cannabis Professionals Need to Know

Mads Mikkelsen thought he was having a normal vacation. The Norwegian tourist had enjoyed some perfectly legal cannabis in Germany and Mexico—countries where possession and use are legal. He'd saved a funny meme of a bald J.D. Vance on his phone. Standard vacation stuff.

Then he tried to enter the United States through New Jersey.

What happened next should make every Maine cannabis professional think twice about their next international trip.

When "Legal" Becomes a Four-Letter Word

Customs agents found the Vance meme, leading to breathless headlines about political persecution at the border. But that wasn't why Mikkelsen got turned away (though it probably didn’t help anything). The real reason? He'd been honest about smoking cannabis in places where it's completely legal.

"It's legal in both places, so in my mind it was irrelevant," Mikkelsen told reporters afterward. "It's a legal substance where it was taken—just like alcohol."

Federal agents saw things differently. To them, Mikkelsen had admitted to using a Schedule I controlled substance. Game over.

Here's where it gets interesting for anyone in Maine's cannabis industry: If you've ever taken photos at dispensaries, posted about cannabis events, or have any digital evidence of cannabis involvement on your devices, you could be in the same boat.

Your Phone Is Telling Stories You Didn't Know You Were Writing

Mikkelsen's denial paperwork claimed he was carrying a pipe when he was arrested. He wasn't. Agents had simply found a photo of a pipe on his phone. Think about that for a second—a picture of drug paraphernalia was treated the same as physical possession.

The broader implications are concerning for all cannabis professionals. Border agents have extensive authority to search electronic devices without warrants, and photos of cannabis activities—whether from Maine dispensaries, international conferences, or personal use anywhere—can be used as evidence during questioning. From the federal perspective, cannabis use is illegal everywhere, regardless of state or foreign country laws.

But it gets even more extreme than that. I had a Canadian client who was denied entry to the U.S. simply because customs agents found my business card in his possession—a cannabis attorney's business card. He wasn't in the cannabis industry himself, but that indirect association was enough to create problems at the border.

Now consider what's on your phone right now. Photos of your grow? A group selfie at a cannabis networking meeting in Augusta? Screenshots of cultivation techniques you saw online?

Your perfectly legal Maine cannabis memories might become federal complications.

The Cannabis Industry's Hidden Travel Trap

For Maine's cannabis professionals—store owners, cultivators, manufacturers, and investors—this incident exposes a rarely discussed occupational hazard. Many industry professionals travel internationally for conferences, business development, or personal reasons. What they might not realize is that any admission of cannabis use could potentially complicate their return to the United States.

But here's the crucial distinction—at least for now: If you're a U.S. citizen, you can't be denied reentry like Mikkelsen was. Federal law guarantees citizens the right to return home. However, that doesn't mean your homecoming will be smooth. Citizens involved in the cannabis industry can still face extended detention, intensive questioning, device seizures, and potential criminal charges.

Important caveat: The enforcement landscape around cannabis and border security remains highly unpredictable. While current law protects citizens' reentry rights, how federal agencies interpret and apply cannabis-related policies continues to evolve, often without clear guidance or consistency.

Non-citizens face much harsher consequences—they can be turned away entirely, just like the Norwegian tourist.

The Digital Evidence Problem

For cannabis industry professionals, this means:

• Photos on your phone from legal cannabis activities—whether abroad or in Maine—could be problematic

• Social media posts from cannabis events, conferences, or dispensary visits might draw scrutiny

• Digital communications about cannabis business activities could be misinterpreted

• Any cannabis-related content could be used against you, regardless of where it was legal

The consequences depend on your citizenship status:

• U.S. citizens cannot be denied reentry but may face extended detention, questioning, and device seizures (at least for now, but law are not always being followed)

• Non-citizens (including green card holders) can be denied entry entirely and face lifetime bans

• Lawful permanent residents risk deportation and loss of their green card status

This Isn't Just About Tourists

While Mikkelsen was grabbing international headlines, something quieter but more systematic was happening in New Mexico. Licensed cannabis businesses there have been watching federal agents seize their legal products at border checkpoints. Not international borders—checkpoints inside the United States, in a state where cannabis is legal.

Eight New Mexico cannabis companies got so fed up they sued the federal government in October. According to reports, the state's governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, was caught on a leaked recording in April discussing her frustration with federal seizures. On the recording, she said she was "offended" when the Homeland Security secretary responded to her concerns about CBP seizures from legal operators by saying, "Who cares? They make a lot of money."

The dismissive attitude toward state-legal cannabis businesses wasn't supposed to be public, but the leaked recording revealed the federal government's position on state-licensed operations.

The Rules Are Simple: There Are No Rules

Here's the federal government's position, straight from Customs and Border Protection: Cannabis might be legal in your state and legal where you used it, but it's still federally illegal everywhere. Period.

What This Means If You Work in Cannabis

Let's say you run a store in Bethel and you're taking your family on vacation to Europe. You go, you sightsee, you enjoy time with your kids. Just a normal family vacation.

On your way home, customs agents search your phone and see evidence of your cannabis business in Maine - maybe photos from your store, business communications, or they simply ask what you do for work. When they discover you're involved in the cannabis industry, your family vacation could become a federal complication.

The Practical Reality Check

This doesn't mean cannabis professionals should never travel internationally. It means you need to think differently about it and understand that enforcement practices remain inconsistent and unpredictable.

Before you go, consider what digital footprints you're creating. That Instagram story from your latest grow might seem harmless, but it's also documentation of cannabis business activities that federal agents could use against you later.

When you return, remember that honesty and oversharing are different things. If asked directly about cannabis use, being truthful but succinct is important—lying to federal agents is a serious crime. But volunteering information? Don’t.

Real-World Implications for Maine Cannabis Professionals

International Business Travel

Cannabis industry professionals travel abroad face unique risks based on their immigration status:

For U.S. Citizens (as of current law and practice):

• Cannot be denied reentry but may face hours of detention and questioning

• Device searches are extensive and refusal to unlock devices may lead to seizure

• Admissions of cannabis use can trigger criminal investigations

• Extended screening at every future border crossing

• Note: Enforcement practices in this area are highly unpredictable and subject to change

For Non-Citizens (including green card holders):

• Can be denied entry entirely for admitting to any cannabis use or business involvement

• Lifetime bans possible even for legal activities in legal jurisdictions

• Green card holders risk deportation and loss of permanent resident status

• Work visa holders may lose their ability to work in the U.S.

Protecting Yourself and Your Business

Before You Travel

• Digital hygiene: Consider what's on your phone and social media before international travel

• Emergency contacts: Ensure you have legal representation available if issues arise at the border

Upon Return

• Honest but limited responses: If questioned, be truthful but don't volunteer unnecessary information

• Know your rights: Understand what customs agents can and cannot do during inspections

• Document everything: If problems arise, record what happens for potential legal action later

• Report issues immediately: Contact your attorney if you experience any problems at customs

• Document any irregularities: Like Mikkelsen's case, federal forms may contain errors that need correction

• Follow up: Ensure any issues are properly resolved to prevent future travel problems

The Uncomfortable Truth About Citizenship and Cannabis

Maine's cannabis industry has built something impressive—a regulated, professional market that serves both medical patients and adult consumers. But that success exists within state borders, protected by state law.

Step outside those borders, especially internationally, and the protection changes dramatically based on your citizenship status. Your Maine cannabis license doesn't mean anything to a federal agent at JFK Airport, but being a U.S. citizen does mean you can't be turned away like Mikkelsen was (for now).

The reality is that federal enforcement practices around cannabis continue to evolve without clear, consistent guidance. What happened to one cannabis professional at the border last month might not predict what happens to another next month.

Non-citizens face the full force of federal prohibition—denial of entry, lifetime bans, and potential deportation.

Smart Precautions Aren't Paranoia

If international travel is part of your lifestyle, treat it like any other business risk. Plan for it, prepare for it, and have legal counsel available if things go sideways.

Most importantly, don't assume that because something is legal where you're doing it, federal agents will see it the same way. They won't.

The Long View

Mikkelsen's story went viral because it seemed absurd—a tourist denied entry over a political meme. The truth was more mundane but more important: he was denied entry for admitting to legal cannabis use in legal jurisdictions.

For Maine's cannabis professionals, this case is a reminder that federal prohibition creates real-world consequences that extend far beyond banking restrictions and tax complications. It can affect where you can travel, how you can travel, and what happens when you come home.

The cannabis industry has made incredible progress, but it's still operating in a legal landscape where yesterday's vacation photos can become tomorrow's customs problems.

Understanding that reality isn't pessimism—it's the first step in protecting the business you've built.