Texas is enormous, so a road trip to Houston means a long stretch of state highway before you see the skyline. That's a lot of miles to carry a problem you don't need.
Crossing the state line
New Mexico sells to adults. Texas doesn't allow it. The minute you cross, what you bought legally becomes illegal to possess under Texas law. The same goes for driving in from any other state, and carrying cannabis across a state line brings federal risk on top. There's no exception for road trips or for passing through.
The long I-10 stretch
If you're coming across West Texas on I-10, it helps to know the Border Patrol has run a checkpoint near Sierra Blanca. Checkpoint operations can change, so we won't tell you what's running on a given day, and we're not offering a way around anything. The point is simpler: there's no good reason to have it in the car.
Harris County's policies don't follow you across Texas either. Every county along your drive has its own prosecutor and its own approach.
Driving high
In Texas, driving while impaired by a drug is treated as driving while intoxicated. Houston's a driving city, with fast freeways and sudden flooding, so keep your head clear behind the wheel. Our getting around Houston guide covers the freeways, and rideshare is there for a long night out.
Before you leave home
- Check the car. Console, glovebox, door pockets, trunk and any bag that's been to a sesh.
- Check rentals and borrowed cars too. You're the one driving it.
- Plan your stops around food. Save your appetite for the Houston eating guide.
- Watch the weather. Never drive into water you can't see through. Our season guide explains why.
Once you arrive
You've got a car, which makes you lucky in Houston. Use it for Bellaire Boulevard, Space Center Houston or a Galveston day. The weekend itinerary makes good use of it.
Where this comes from
Rules change, so check these before you travel. This is general information, not legal advice.
