If you smell a skunk in the campground, it may not be a skunk. Oftentimes the pungent smell of marijuana resembles that stinky animal. But is marijuana usage allowed in a campground? What are the rules?
One reader, we’ll keep her name to ourselves, was not happy when she smelled the odor of marijuana while camping. She sent us an email and we decided to do a little investigating. Here’s what she wrote:
”I know that marijuana is legal in many states now, and I personally have no issue with someone using it in their own home if done so legally. I’m wondering if readers have encountered a policy in any campgrounds that they frequent regarding marijuana use outdoors?
“On more than one occasion this summer we have been at a campground and enjoying our site only to have someone show up next to or across from us and start smoking. I would expect to smell campfire smoke when camping, but I don’t appreciate second-hand marijuana smoke. Frankly, the smell makes me want to vomit.
“I have seen rules on vaping and tobacco products, but none yet on marijuana. Would this be different for private vs. state-owned vs. national forest campgrounds? For the record, this time I did call the office. I will be curious to see what they do about it.”
What’s legal, what’s not, and where (as of 2021)
Many states have legalized the use of cannabis – many for medicinal use only and some for recreational use. 21 states have legalized recreational marijuana along with 34 states that allow medical marijuana.
Recreational use of marijuana is legal in:
• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Guam
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• South Dakota (a legalization measure was approved but is pending a lawsuit)
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington D.C.
• Washington
Here is a list of current (as of January 2023) states that have legalized marijuana and each individual state’s policies. While states can legalize cannabis within their state, it is still illegal on the federal level.
Federal law
Cannabis is illegal on the national level. This means it is illegal to consume marijuana in national parks, forests, federal wildlife refuges, any other federal properties that are under federal law. It is still classified as a Schedule I drug, along with heroin and cocaine. It is illegal to transport cannabis across state lines.
State law
State laws vary from state to state, but even when medicinal and recreational use is approved, use in public spaces, state and county parks is still illegal. Many states, even those that have not legalized marijuana, have reduced the ticket and fine to a misdemeanor. Here is a quick view of individual states’ status (updated January 2023).
Bottom line: States that have fully legalized marijuana or any cannabis products permit the use in a private home/property but not public places.
Private campgrounds and marijuana use
The use of marijuana on private lands and private campgrounds in states that have legalized the purchase, possession, and use of cannabis is up to the campground. Even a KOA in Michigan allows its use!
There have been a growing number of campgrounds in states where marijuana is legal that advertise themselves as “cannabis-friendly” or “420-friendly.” Those campgrounds allow the use but still have rules about where in their facility it is permitted.
A simple Google search brings up a growing number of pot-happy campgrounds.
What can you do?
Private property campgrounds
If you are booking a campsite in a legalized state and it is important to be in or not be in a cannabis-friendly campground, ask what their policy is when booking. Ask how the office handles it when someone breaks their rules.
Federal and state campgrounds
If camping on ANY federal land or state, county, or regional parks and there is still that pungent odor wafting your way, you can report it to the office, the rangers or the camp host.
Reporting to authorities
If reporting to the office is ineffectual, you can report to the local police. Know, however, that it may result in either fines or the arrest of your neighboring campers.
Talk
You can also consider asking the people to snub it out, but do so with caution. In this day of road rage, thin tempers and general anger, it may be wiser to go to the authorities.
Please let us know your experiences in the comments below.
##RVT1022;##RVDT2044
We have only encountered significant issues with the smell of cannabis and ironically in a state where it is not yet legal: Fort de Soto Park Campground, a county park near St. Pete, is a very pot smoking spot.
We all have issues. It’s about trying to be considerate to others. I don’t care either for the smell of cannibis, or smell of beer which travels around as people dump it out on the ground. But with that said I do smoke and understand that people as well don’t enjoy that smell. So I try to pick my site accordingly an out side perimeter. And if with a camper fire ensure sitting as the smell of smoking material travels through the fire masking the smell. Not sure how this would work for cannabis smokers. But I would think you must be pretty darn close to smell such. And if it’s a prescribe use or not I’m not sure if I’d be brassy enough to complain. As in the end we can all find something to complain about. Noise, alcohol use, cannabis, kids, dogs, campfires the list goes on. Maybe national parks are your saviour in this situation.
If you are camping in a legal/recreational use state don’t camp or winter in those states!
Stay in a non legalized state.
Why complain?
Have yet to understand why people complain about camp fires, cigarettes, beer drinking at a campsite.
If Mj use is legal in that state its part of the adventure of camping, why interfere with peoples relaxation legal consumption.
Some people hate dogs, why go to a pet friendly campground?
Beyond comprehension, its actually not anyones business.
We stay at 55+ parks, that is our preference.
Be selective where you camp.
There would be very few campfires if all the smoke stayed in their campsite. I realize it’s part of camping, and I tolerate it, but it can be choking at times.
Unfortunately, some people are not happy unless there’s something to complain about. The only time pot smoke bothered me was when I could smell it on the bridge coming from the forward lookout off the coast of Vietnam…
What I’m concerned about that if the Police knock on your door and they said they smell MJ and want to search your RV and they rip it apart looking for what isn’t there, are they going to put it back together
I imagine if you’re camping in Singapore that could happen.
With the feds now seriously considering legalizing marijuana its not going away.The fastest growing segment of users are seniors so get used to the smell .
I think It will be legal in the US within 5 yrs right or wrong . Users need to be cognizant of the secondary smoke and how it effects neighboring campers. Be a good neighbor in all things shared, like nature and campgrounds. If you smoke anything be considerate of those less tolerant around you.
Do users smoke pot (non medicinal use) to get high?
Yes. Many greatly prefer it to alcohol.
deleted
Duh. I have never enjoyed the feeling I get from alcohol.
Why is Quam on the list. It’s not a state, is it?
Oops, Guam…
It is a US Territory.
And has several National Parks, but no camping (was stationed there in the early 2000’s). Never saw an RV, and few tent campers thanks to all the tree snakes. Amazing scuba diving, though!
must have been a good J…
“Guam”is a US territory. They can’t vote but they do consider themselves American or indigenous Pacific Islander. America has a huge military base in Guam.
I would rather smell the pot smoke than the campfire smoke. The OP said they “expected to smell” a campfire. Yep. Often large, belching copious smoke. Many are not used for cooking, but just for entertainment. Campfires create a LOT more smoke.
Don’t call the park office. Cigarette smoke is just as bad, if not worse smelling. Do you call the office then? Edibles are a nice solution though. Time to legalize something that is less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes. Personal choice freedoms should be embraced in bi-partisan way.
I don’t like smelling any smoke and it is adverse to my spouses health. I worry about an mj smoker driving a 15 ton rig down the road under the influence. Bad enough with the drunks.
OTR truckers are far more likely to be on meth than pot.
Absolutely.
Sorry to disappoint you. The last thing me and my friends want to do is drive a car. Pot tends to make relaxing much more attainable. Peace. The sky hasn’t fallen
Yet…
This is a common fear because it’s a common misconception. Even our law enforcement is uneducated on the issue, but you should know that consuming cannabis does not necessarily equate impairment. It is not comparable to alcohol and does not have the same effect on us.
I’d rather smell that than campfire smoke.
+1
yep
Me too. I would choose to be around pot smokers rather than alcohol consumers. Usually a happier less volatile crowd.
Just because someone is smoking a joint in a campground does not mean they are driving high. That’s like saying everybody who has a beer in a campground are driving drunk. If it’s legal, it’s legal. learn to live with it. If your next-door neighbor in your neighborhood is smoking a joint with his window open and some smoke drifts your way and its legal it’s the same as if they are smoking a cigarette.
Please keep in mind that drug use, even really harmful drugs like heroin and methamphetamine is NOT illegal. Possession is illegal. How one can use something without possessing it is beyond explanation. Obviously, there is some covert intent in the legislation.
I would hope that someday drug use would be considered a public health problem instead of a crime. I remember this constant refrain of “gateway drug”, as if EVERYONE who smoked pot would end up dead in an alley with a needle hanging from their arm. Although it is true the virtually every hard drug user smokes pot, the vast majority of pot smokers never go on to harder drugs.
Thank You! Well said.
Actually, most states, lets say many to be very fair, have statutes for being under the influence of a variety of illegal narcotics. Just a different charge. Possession is one penal code section, being under the influence of the same drug is a separate and distinct penal code violation. So yes, it is technically illegal to use as well as possess. I believe that the distinction you may have been trying to make is this, (at least in california) possession of these narcotics is a felony while being under the influence after ingesting them is only a misdemeanor. Your point was well made, but just wanted to clarify. Its stupid for possession, when u haven’t ingested said narcotic, to be a felony when ingesting that drug is merely a ticket. Makes no sense to me.
We have dogs. They’ll chase a skunk and twice have been sprayed. It’s a painful mess for them. My neighbor has taken up the cannibus habit and I have a hard time knowing whether it’s a skunk or not. If I smell it during the day I know it’s usually pot but if it’s dark I don’t know. My daughter can tell the difference. This is another nuisance that we have to deal with these days I’m afraid.
Pot is Peaceful. No need to be afraid. Really.
Keep your dogs on a leash.
To the person in the article who said, “…I don’t appreciate second-hand marijuana smoke. Frankly, the smell makes me want to vomit”. I feel the same way about diesel vehicles!
Thank You!
As someone who does not own a sticks & brick home, lives fulltime in a rv, travels throughout the country, and has medical issues for which marijuana helps, I check each State we visit for their marijuana use and laws. I have found that even if approved for recreational use, there may be restrictions. The common theme though for recreational use is approval to use in your home. Since the rv is my home, I am “renting” space in a private campground, and the campground has not published a prohibition against the use of marijuana my thinking is that I am on fairly stable grounds for smoking/ingesting pot in places where recreational marijuana is legal. We have parked at private campgrounds in States with legalized marijuana and the campgrounds have published within their rules that marijuana is not allowed. We have also parked in private campgrounds where their rules state no alcohol allowed. I wonder, would the person in this article complain if a neighbor at home lit up?
Its also legal in Canada
When former Speaker of the House, John Boehner, retired and joined a Marijuana Advocacy Group, you knew it was only a matter of time before it became legalized. Personal feelings about its use aside, it should be treated like booze and come down to personal responsibility, legalized and taxed (like booze) and allow small producers to grow it (craft cannabis products treated like craft beer or vodka). The ‘War on Drugs’ has not worked, just as Prohibition failed. Here in Washington State, legalization has fixed many of the issues our society has had with how we prosecute drug charges (often along racial lines). We need to fix a lot of these issues.
As for the smoke – Edibles For The Win!!
In all my life, I have never smelled Marijuana smoke that smelled like a skunk. Maybe there is something mixed with the Marijuana or are they smoking Hemp? I can’t stand cigarette smoke or be next to people who stink from the cigarette smoke. Don’t remember smokers stinking so bad in my younger days. So I assume the manufactures are adding some type of chemical to cigarettes. The smell from campfires don’t bother me.
Agreed burning marijuana smoke does not smell like skunk. But some “skunk weed” does before it is lit. Some growers have found a way to make it more pungent and potent than our younger days but not with chemicals hopefully. And to say it makes one want to vomit now that’s a first for me.
Bob M, I smoked cigs for years and my clothing smelled bad. I still like standing next to someone who is smoking – after 26 smoke-free years I like that “pleasure center” feeling, or association. I don’t like smoke on clothing though and I don’t like mj smells. As we age our sense of smell changes and something that used to smell one way may now come across smelling different. Likes and dislikes of course always change.
Seriously Bob, they have been putting chemical additives to cigarettes for decades man, where you been?
Its called skunk weed for a reason. Has nothing to do with potency its just, dirt weed or skunk weed
Generally good article (as usual Nanci) and glad to see this topic here, but comparing pot smokers to road ragers?? I think you don’t have much experience with pot smokers. If anything we’re a mellow and peaceful people. My wife and I are known to enjoy a camp cup of wine and a jay around our campfire every night.
Agree Gregg but meant no disrespect to pot smokers. Being camp hosts we are seeing increasing “Road rage” over saying anything to folks at a campsite.
👍🏻😎🤟Peace out Dude!
Also, it’s legal in all of Canada. And, considering nearly every campground in North America allows tobacco smoking at the site, I don’t worry too much about my cannabis smoke.
How about don’t be a Karen and mind your own business. It isn’t hurting you than don’t complain no one wants to hear it.
Thank You!
So you have no right to not be exposed to intoxicating smoke, while the user can emit whatever they want?
Marijuana smoke that you can smell is not necessarily intoxicating you. Your over reaction is an example of what happens when we believe propaganda over science.
Amen and i don’t smoke pot,but I do vape !!
Don’t partake, but definitely am on the live and let live side of the fence. I’ve never been bothered, or annoyed by a pot smoker. Now alcohol….. (and yes, I drink).
Personally do not like cigarette smoke, nor do I like marijuana smoke. What bothers me is the number of people I see in their cars, at a stop light, or pulling up next to me in parking lot, while actively smoking a marijuana cigarette. 🙁
I smoke
Never have I seen anyone actively driving and smoking. Nor parked and smoking. Where in the world do you live that you see this so often?
And I’ve been “around the block” a few thousand times. Also, we have the right to be offended in America….. Peace-
I have also never seen that.
Even as far back as the late 70s, while living in California, I use to see people smoking pot while driving on a regular basis.
I guess I don’t peer at other drivers that much. I’m surprised you could tell the difference between a J and a cigarette from a distance.
Hi, Chris. I’ve seen folks smoking pot in their cars near where I live north of Seattle. I’ve mainly noticed when sitting next to them at a stoplight. Also, when driving behind someone on my neighborhood two-lane road. The smoke will come billowing out their window and into my open window, or into my car through an open vent. (“Oh, great. Now my car smells like I’ve been smoking pot.”) Take care. 🙂 –Diane
Well, that’s a good way to get a DUI.
My thoughts exactly, Chris! Dang! “But, Officer … I was just following a car.” 😆 Have a good night. 🙂 –Diane
unfortunately, it is much harder to prove under the influence of marijuana when driving than alcohol as a road side police stop. Only if the offender is involved in a serious accident would a blood test prove the DUI. There are efforts to get an easy testing format for marijuana influence behind the wheel but not readily available
Talking on the phone is, by far, the activity I see most often.
Same here, Chris. “By far” is correct! I rarely drive anywhere these days, thanks to being able to work from home (Thanks, Chuck!). But when I do go out, I always see people talking on the phone, or texting, while driving. Scary stuff! Have a good afternoon/evening. Stay safe out there! 🙂 –Diane
Chances are the smoke you see billowing out of the windows is NOT mj, but the cloud from a vape pen. Mj joints do not produce any more smoke than a regular cigarette, maybe less.
As a cop for 28 years in CA, I can absolutely assure you people actively drive and smoke mj… We have the right to be offended in America but we do NOT have the right to drive impaired/under the influence…
I absolutely do not want to smell your cigarette smoke or you pot smoke. It’s like me spitting my Copenhagen in your nose.
Houston, Detroit/East Side, NOLA just to mention a few…city streets not freeway, Mickey D and Burger King lots…Walmart lot, Just to name a few…I traveled for work (25 years) and saw it often all over the US..legal or not.
Help me to understand, is actively smoking a fatty different than say just smoking a fatty. Also just what is it about the number of people in their cars lighting up bothers you? If you quit worrying about what other people are doing, life might be less bothersome as you stated. Just saying!
It should never have been added to the list of Class 1 narcotics. Politics in the 1930’s saw to that and if you want a good watch find “Reefer Madness”.
Americans want the ability to make their own choices and when given that right tend to do so responsibly. It’s our nature. As long as you behave responsibly you’ve earned that right.
And when government has a taste of all that tax money, well the sky’s the limit as they say.
There was so much fear and misinformation around MJ. It was considered to make black men attack white women. Black Lives Matter wasn’t exactly around in the 1930s, if you get my drift.
MJ was legalized in WA a few years ago, and I was so hopeful that the tax revenue would be a boon. What I was shocked to learn was that the street was still cheaper, so people were buying there instead of the stores. Bummer. And the Federal government is so behind the times, they don’t even allow legal pot stores to have bank accounts. How do they pay their taxes… in cash??
I have medical marijuana for medical use to help with pain from dystrophy. In states where it is illegal it is difficult for me so I use a vape pen inside my trailer which has no smell. Or use an edible like chocolate or gummies. Even in states where it is legal I do not smoke pot. I am very respectful of my camping neighbors.
I have arthritis, I chose to use the tank at the gym pushing and pulling 840 lbs it works. I fight the inflammation and pain with pain I don’t have to count sheep to sleep. I am 70 years old and I still do activities I did in my twenties. Some want to take the easy way out instead of meeting it head on.
I get very sick when smelling marijuana. Why can’t they make edibles only, as not to make neighbors sick, from smelling it. Smoking is just as bad as cigarretts. So I don’t understand the health aspect of it. I do not care to smell your prescription drug nor recreational. Those who do smoke need to consider the neighbors as well.
Nobody smokes 20 MJ cigarettes a day, so no, it’s isn’t nearly as bad as cigarettes. Now if they only made edible campfires.
I’m for individual rights and freedoms. Isn’t that what America is all about? However, I realize others don’t have the same viewpoint. I don’t smoke anything. However, if I did, I would be respectful of others in the campground and not impinge on their rights (don’t want to smell smoke). As for campfires, I generally don’t start one. When I do I limit the fire to small ones and put them out at “quiet time” rules. I realize people sleep with their windows open and may not want smoke in their RV’s. Mj should be legal in all 50 States just like carrying a firearm for protection should be legal in all 50 states.
Let’s be considerate of others yet maintain our personal choices and freedoms.
Thank You that’s all we anti Mary Janes want go somewhere else.
Cannabis products including dried pot for smoking has been legal in Canada for years and no problem in the campgrounds. We camp 70 nights a year and smell that and tobacco smoke regularly. No worse than some wood people bring in to burn. Hope the Feds legalize in the USA too and get some tax revenue out of it. Product quality is better when controlled and different oils and drinks available. It is the 2000’s, let’s move on.
We all have something to grumble about. I will only agree its a funky smell but so isn’t a bad camp fire or that beer that was poured out on the ground. But I find those partaking of the evil weed laid back and not at fisticuffs like those over indulging in alcohol. The smell is usually short lived unlike a camp fire and the stench of a fire just put out or a fire just left and everyone’s gone to bed wondering all night if there will be a fire. I find those smoking are more approachable then those drinking. I think we need to be more tolerant. If you want to live in a glass home then stay home or just stay at federal grounds.
Yes, amen!
Well said!
My sentiments exactly! Well stated. Thank you.
Thanks! Well said. ESPECIALLY… About camp fires.
Disagree vehemently! My parents raised me to not partake of drugs, Jesus also refused drugs (murgh) spelling incorrect I think was a good example to follow. I to do not have a problem with others using, I just do not want to partake some people are not aware they have neighbors within 10 feet. If they could just walk down the road and do it and then come back. I oppose it and will continue to oppose it its just a trail through the woods that just leads one to stronger drugs to be addicted to. I continue to let my political reps know my position, it would not hurt my feelings if they banned it. It is being abused. All his buddies gets free joints. They do not have a medical problem. I would like it if it was reduced strength levels.
It is a plant, just like the plants grown that then become wine, which jesus did drink.
Keep it simple. Nicotine and alcohol like marijuana are drugs. If you can smoke, vape or drink in a campground, you should be able to smoke marijuana.
At one Colorado State Park last month, the “host” was the source of the skunk smell! The title “camp host” seems to go to all sorts now days. These people bragged about what a piece of cake the job was compared to the camp they worked at previously…they were actually the source of noise during “quiet time “. Used to be a friendly old couple enjoying their golden years camping…not a 40 something would be rebel rouser.
Marijuana never smelled like a skunk to me. If it does, I’d say it has something mixed with it. All my life they said marijuana was not good for you and leads to hard drug use. Now that our politicians are making it legal to get tax dollars it’s ok. The other clincher to me was when our politicians said menthol cigarette smoking was bad for minorities health. But legalizing marijuana which will be smoked is ok.
Real potent pot does have a bit of a skunky smell to me. The ‘gateway drug’ propaganda was used for decades to demonize pot. While it is true that almost 100% of hard drug users are or were pot smokers, that does not mean that all pot smokers become hard drug users. That flawed logic worked well for a long time.
Also, studies show most drank alcohol and often abused it. I guess one could properly label alcohol as a gateway drug.
For years the government pushed the tobacco industry for the health effects of inhaling tobacco smoke. Marijuana smoke is just as bad or worse for the lungs and now they want it legalized, more than likely if it is legalized nationally there will be national companies selling it in stores just as beer and hard liquor is sold. Years down the road they will be going after these companies because people are getting cancer or some other ailments. Makes sense to me to only inhale clean air as much as possible.
Nobody smokes 20 to 40 joints a day. Big difference. The federal government has been so adamantly against pot they haven’t even allowed its health effects to be studied. So far nobody’s made tobacco illegal.
As far as I am concerned, it is none of my business what others are doing as long as they are not having a bad affect on others (loud, rowdy, aggressive, etc.). Frankly, I find campfire smoke annoying, especially from the idiots who cannot seem to build a real fire rather than a pile of smoldering logs. And while Federal laws may prohibit it anywhere, and State laws may prohibit it in public locations, in any private campground in a State where marijuana use is legal, a campsite is not a public space. You are renting it just like you may be renting a house or an apartment. In any State or municipality with an open container law does that preclude drinking a beer, glass of wine, or a cocktail at your campsite in a private campground unless the campground rules say no. We don’t need any CUAs (campground users associations); just look at HOAs where busy body types tell everyone there grass is an inch to high or that you cannot paint your front door red.
Feds need to legalize cannabis and maybe those states that still don’t allow recreational cannabis (like Floriduh) will finally join the 21st century.
c
Maybe just MYOB! 🙂
Agreed!
The author seems mostly motivated by outrage that people can legally use mj rather than true concerns about air pollution. If not, why would cigarette smoking not also be on her list of concerns? Typically, if there is a whiff of mj smoke in the air, then it is passing and quickly dissapates. We are talking about the great outdoors yes?
Definitely!
Get a grip. I will take 10 campgrounds full of pot heads to 1 drunk!! Oh,and when did you decide it was good for anyone to be the Mary Jane police! We have been too many campgrounds & I have yet to have an issue with pot smokers or seen them lighting up everywhere. The idiots with the liquor are everywhere, all the time!!
Maybe take a puff next time and chill 😎👍
Wow.. your outside, give it a break !!
It’s not like you’re in a tent with the ones smoking..
If Marijuana is legal in a state and a campground prohibits it, then to be consistent they also need to ban alcohol and all smoked alcohol.
Article is a year and a half old.
Yes, Gary. That’s why we put this caveat in the newsletter: “*Please note: This article is a couple of years old so laws may have changed in certain states. However, the lists linked in the article have been updated as of January 2023.” And we have lots of new readers who weren’t with us, and didn’t see this post, when it was first published. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
please read the whole content of the article prior to snark…this has significance with all the changes in legal status
Interesting comments. I want to comment on the last section of the article, “Talk”.
Are you seriously suggesting that calmly confronting pot smokers could result in them inflicting bodily harm to your person? Seriously? I could see them uttering expletives or derisive comments, but physical violence? A stoned person is quite the opposite, seeking to avoid confrontation in most cases. The fear of violence from a reefer consumer is born of the ‘Reefer Madness’ mentality, that is to say, pure propaganda. Having said that, if the weed is consumed in combination with chemicals then all bets are off. Manufactured chemicals can overcome the calming effects of marijuana.
Foul, foul smell but to each his own so I MMOB…