As recreational marijuana use becomes more legalized in the United States, more and more 420-friendly lodgings and accommodations are popping up. As you might have guessed, cannabis consumption – including toking – is usually permitted in these places. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to such abodes. So, what do you if you’re staying in a non-smoking hotel and you’re suddenly tempted to blaze up that fat joint?

It may sound impossible, but there are ways to smoke freely and avoid detection. Below, we talk about how to smoke weed in a hotel – especially non-marijuana-friendly hotels.

How to Smoke Weed Discreetly in a Hotel Room

Discreet weed-smoking all boils down to being well-prepared, vigilant, and smart. First of all, you need to ensure that the smoke won’t escape from the room during the toking session. You can even minimize or eliminate odor production with a few nifty tricks. Once done, make sure to clean up and get rid of every single evidence. Finally, consider ditching your doobie for slightly more inconspicuous inhalation methods, including vape pens, bongs, and bowls.

A word of caution. Before toking, understand that there are risks, especially if you’re in an area where recreational marijuana use remains illegal. If the hotel staff catches you in the act, you can expect them to snitch on the cops. On top of that, you’ll have to pay a hefty fine, too. So, proceed with extreme caution. We don’t condone illegal drug activity, but we do understand that there are times when you just need a good smoke. That’s why we’ve laid out some harm reduction principles to help you get started.

1. Seal That Door Crack

The first thing you need to do is contain the marijuana odors inside your room. Placing moistened towels on door cracks and window gaps is one way of doing this. Sure, it’s not fool-proof, but it can already do wonders in minimizing the skunky smell. Just keep in mind, though, that some hotels may already know about this technique since potheads have been relying on it for years.

Smoke on close door
Close door knobs with keys

2. Use a Smokebuddy or a Sploof

A Smokebuddy is every stoner’s dream come true. Imagine: in as little as 20 bucks, you’ll already get a personal air filter that can effectively get rid of marijuana fumes and stench. Using it is as simple as exhaling through the device, and watching the smoke get expelled as clean, odorless air. Trust us, no one will ever know that you’ve just spent the last hour smoking your lungs out.

On a tight budget? Don’t worry. You can just make a sploof instead. To make the poor man’s Smokebuddy, you’ll only need a plastic bottle, dryer sheets, scissors, and rubber bands.

Start by cutting off the bottom of the plastic bottle. Fill it with dryer sheets – but don’t overpack. Place a dryer sheet over the base of the bottle, covering the hole completely. Secure it with a rubber band. To use, all you need to do is exhale into the opening. This time, the weed smoke will take on the smell of freshly-laundered clothes.

3. Steam up the Bathroom

Transforming the bathroom into a steamy hotbox is another tried-and-tested way of masking the smell of cannabis smoke. Not to mention, the thick steam and the rise in humidity also help magnify the psychoactive effects, resulting in a more mind-shattering high.

Smoke on steamy bathroom
Hot andsteamy bathroom

Procedure:

  1. Start by covering any gaps and openings with moistened towels. This will prevent the marijuana fumes from escaping.
  2. Blast on the shower, turning it to the hottest setting.
  3. Let the steam accumulate for a bit.
  4. Blaze up once the bathroom resembles a steam room.
  5. After a few minutes, you can turn off the shower.
  6. Clear the air in the bathroom after the hotboxing session. For best results, spritz some deodorizer or air freshener all over the place before removing the damp towels.
  7. Grab this opportunity to take a real shower to remove the traces of cannabis smoke from your hair and body.

4. Try Vaping

If you’re too worried that the smoke will give you away, consider vaping instead. This inhalation method doesn’t combust the plant matter, which means that it won’t produce any smoke. Plus, cannabis vapors tend to linger for a shorter period than smoked weed. Not to mention, they also have a significantly less potent aroma than burnt pot. For best results, stick to vape pens – no doubt the most discreet vaping paraphernalia.

5. Blaze up a Bong

Not willing to switch to vaping? Well, try bongs instead. Compared to joints, blunts, and spliffs, they produce a more subdued smell. And since they’re potent and only require a couple of hits or even less to take effect, you’ll also be expelling a significantly less amount of cloud. For even less smell and smoke, consider packing a small bowl instead.

Smoke on marijuana bong
A girl using a bong for smoking marijuana

6. Discard Your Trash Properly

The last thing you want is to leave any incriminating evidence behind. So, make sure to tidy up after the smoking sesh – and to avoid throwing anything on the trashcan. Instead, flush the ashy residue and the dirty bong water down the toilet. Place larger wastes, including roaches, sploofs, and papers, in a container and dump them in the trash when you get home.

7. Be Nice to the Cleaning Crew

We shouldn’t even have to say this, but sometimes it’s incredibly easy to forget the obvious. Make sure to greet and tip the cleaning crew daily. If you get on their good side, then they probably won’t report you to the authorities. Of course, remember to be polite to them all the time – and not just when you’re worried about your pot activity.

Hotel Cleaning Service
A hotel crew cleaning window

Note: Give generous tips to your delivery guy, too. If they notice that you’ve been smoking, they will likely blabber about it to the hotel front desk clerk. Better safe than sorry.

Smoking Weed Discreetly Is Attainable

For regular marijuana smokers, traveling can be a real nightmare. This rings especially true if you’re going to states where cannabis remains illegal and strongly stigmatized. The very idea of going weed-free for long periods, after all, is enough to make your stress and anxiety spiral out of control.

Here’s the good news: there’s no need to go down that dark path. With quick thinking and a few crafty ways, you can get away with smoking weed in a non-smoking hotel room. And don’t forget: being polite and nice can go a long way, too.

In any case, remember to exercise good judgment before lighting up that joint or bowl. Is the hotel staff too observant? Are there cops prowling about? If it seems too risky, then you don’t have a choice but to resist the temptation. If caught, after all, you never know if you’ll just be fined – or reported straight to the authorities.