If you go to Amsterdam, can you get in trouble for having it in your system when you come back to the US?

Question

A friend and I were thinking about a week trip to Amsterdam. We know you can legally smoke it there in certain places. But we were wondering, Can you get in trouble when you come back to the US for having it in your system? And can you back up your answer with a news article or report or something?

Answer 1

Actually it is not "legal" in Amsterdam (or the rest of the Netherlands for that matter".  Marijuana (which I assume is what you mean) is tolerated (decriminalised) under agreed conditions.  Hard drugs are stringently acted upon

The laws of each country apply as soon as you are in the respective territory, so if (as it is) illegal in the US then it does not matter if you have purchased it in the US, so carrying any back to the US would not be smart

Concerning it being in your system - from what I have read, some employers can and do urine test for specific jobs.  If you have one of those jobs where the employer does that, then again, don't do it!  It doesn't matter on which soil you were when you partook, the fact is if it is in your system and you are contractually obliged to take urine tests then it will more than likely show up.

If your employer does not test, then it is unlikely that anyone will check or be interested to check your system.  However as I mentioned, flights from Amsterdam are of course of interest to US customs, so don't try and sneek anything onboard with you

Answer 2

No, recreational use is legal in Amsterdam according to their laws. As long as you dont break their laws there is nothing the US can arrest you for. If you broke their laws and fled back to the US, then yes you could be arrested under extradition laws between the US and Amsterdam...

Answer 3

The only situation in which I could see it becoming problematic is during drug testing (from an employer).  

That said, occasional marijuana use shouldn't be detectable by urine or saliva within just a few days after use.  Even heavy, several-times-a-day use should be undetectable within four to six weeks.  Hair analysis is rarely used for marijuana testing.  So unless you plan to be applying for a government or service position within a month or so after your return, there shouldn't be any problem.