Table of Contents
- Why Does Weed Smell Linger In Your Car?
- The Importance of Getting Weed Smell Out of Your Car
- Getting Rid of Weed Smell
- Smell-Free Cannabis Products
- Getting Weed Out Of Your Car Fast
You know that smell? We all know that smell. And it’s not one you want lingering around. Especially if you (happen to) get pulled over by the cops! It’s the smell of weed, and it doesn’t belong in your car.
If you want to get rid of weed smell in your car fast, you might think that pungent odour will require a full – and expensive – car detailing appointment. Luckily, it might be a little easier than that. Getting the smell of weed out of your car requires a bit of elbow grease, but it’s possible!
Here are our best tips and tricks for getting weed smell out of your car once and for all.
Why Does Weed Smell Linger In Your Car?
Ever wonder why weed smells so strong? New scientific studies have given us a better understanding of how cannabis gets its distinct scent.
It’s always been well-known that the terpenes found in cannabis plants are what provide the floral, citrusy, and woodsy aromas that many consumers know and love. But what about that specific skunky funk that seems to seep into every surface where open marijuana can be found?
Cannabis products made from marijuana plants contain sulphur compounds that provide its unique smell. To get more specific, it’s a molecule called prenylthiol, or 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol. But let’s just call it the “skunk” gene. Despite being in very low concentration in the plant, these molecules provide a strong smell that becomes more intense during the curing of the flower.
How Long Does Weed Smell Stay In Your Car?
How long the smell of weed will stay in your car depends on a few factors. Even if you smoke with the windows down, let your car air out, and follow all of our steps listed below to get the smell out, the scent can still linger for a few days – or more.
Cars with leather seats might retain the smell for up to a few days. But regardless of the material in your car, the smell of weed could stay put if you don’t take action to clear it out.
The Importance of Getting Weed Smell Out of Your Car
Besides the obvious fact that having a smelly car isn’t ideal, it’s important to know how to eliminate that odour for other reasons, as well. When your car smells like weed, your putting yourself as risk for a number of reasons.
Even though weed is legal in Canada, there are still certain regulations and laws that differ depending on which province you’re in. And while it’s ALWAYS illegal to drive while smoking weed, it’s possible that the smell of weed can get stuck in your vehicle.
What Happens If a Cop Pulls You Over and Smells Weed?
In Canada, unlike in the US, police can request a driver provide either a breathalyzer or Approved Drug Screening test (ADSE) or a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) if they have “reasonable suspicion” that you’re driving under the influence. So, yes, that can include getting a distinct whiff of cannabis when they pull you over.
Just like with alcohol, transporting cannabis in your car that isn’t sealed in its original packaging from your dispensary is also illegal. If a cop finds open cannabis products in your car, you could be charged under the Criminal Code.
And besides all of the legal implications, if your car stinks of weed, it can be hard to resell it when the time does come to upgrade to a newer model!
Getting Rid of Weed Smell
Since nobody wants their car to smell like weed, we’re giving you the best tips and tricks for getting the smell of weed out of your vehicle. Before running into trouble – or dealing with the lingering odour, try these techniques for removing that pesky scent.
1. Neutralize The Smell
An odour neutralizer spray can help remove the smells from your car. Neutralizer sprays use chemicals to offset smells and are the best way to get the smell of weed out of your car.
To get the best effects from a neutralizer spray, spray the interior of your vehicle and close the doors and windows (with you on the outside) to let the chemicals circulate.
Follow up by airing out the car. Make sure the chemicals have been well-ventilated before driving your car.
You can also try using Ozium to eliminate the odour molecules in the air of your car. Ozium is an air-sanitizing spray that can get rid of smells for good. It’s used to neutralize bacteria and germs that can become airborne – so it will definitely help reduce the smell of weed in your car. It’s also great for combatting the smell of cigarettes and tobacco products.
2. Air Out Your Car
If you prefer to avoid harsh chemicals and sprays, you can try getting rid of the smell the old fashion way. Airing out your car by opening the windows and letting the smells evaporate on their own can be an effective way to eliminate weed smells.
Of course, this method isn’t the quickest as you’ll have to wait for the scent particles to disperse on their own, which can take anywhere from twenty minutes to a few days.
3. Use Air Fresheners
Whether your car already smells like weed or you think it might in the future, it’s always a good idea to have some air fresheners on hand. To cover up those unwanted smells in your car, spray an air freshener inside the vehicle.
You can look for fabric-specific air freshener sprays that you can spray directly onto the seats to cover up strong smells. Or try installing a diffuser or hanging a long-lasting air freshener from your rear-view mirror to keep that pine or lavender aroma going for weeks.
The only downside to air fresheners is that they tend to hide and mask the odours rather than eliminate them. The result can be a melange of scents that could be somewhat unappealing!
4. Absorb Odours
One surefire way to take out smells is by absorbing the molecules causing the stinky aroma. There are multiple ways to absorb odours from your car.
The first option is baking soda to eliminate weed smells from the car’s upholstery. Sprinkle some baking soda on the fabric and let it sit for anywhere between a few hours and overnight. After that, vacuum up the baking soda. This should thoroughly deodorize the car, leaving it smelling fresh.
Activated charcoal can also help absorb odours in your car. Take a bag of activated charcoal inside the car and leave it under the seats. The porous quality of the charcoal should help absorb those weed smells within a few days.
5. Clean Inside Your Vehicle
It never hurts to give your car a good wipe-down! If getting your interior detailed isn’t in the budget, you can always clean the inside of your car yourself with whatever household cleaning products you have lying around.
Grab a rag and some cleaning spray and wipe down the interior, vacuum the upholstery with upholstery shampoo, and remove any leftover trash that could be holding onto unwanted smells. If you don’t have cleaning spray, you can wipe down your vehicle’s hard surfaces with a mixture of plain white vinegar and water.
6. Replace Your Air Filter
If you’ve thoroughly cleaned the inside of your car and thrown in a few air fresheners for good measure and are still getting a whiff of weed, you may need to take an extra step to remove those smells.
Weed odours can get trapped in your car’s air filter and continue circulating smells. Smell that skunk every time your turn on your AC? You might have to change out the air filter. While the air filter is typically located behind the glove box, you can always check your car’s manual to find its location before ordering and inserting a replacement filter.
This should help get rid of those last lingering particles of weed smells.
Smell-Free Cannabis Products
Want to avoid the stinky smell altogether? These days, online dispensaries like Budmail have a variety of cannabis products that can get you high without stinking up your space. To get all the good effects of cannabis without the smell, try these.
Edibles and Beverages
Edibles are a fun and delicious way to enjoy cannabis. Cannabis can be infused into a variety of different foods, such as gummies, chocolate, tea, and other drinks. Not only do cannabis edibles and drinks taste great, but they also offer consumers precise measuring options for specific dosing and trying out various strains.
You can buy CBD or THC cannabis edibles from your dispensary online or make your own at home!
Vape Pens
Vape pens, also known as “weed pens” are devices used for cannabis. Instead of creating smoke, the pen heats the cannabis product to about 160 to 220 degrees Celsius. This activates the cannabinoids and produces vapour that you can inhale.
In recent years, vape pens have become a popular method for consuming cannabis thanks to their convenience and ease of use. Vape pens come in a variety of strains and flavours.
Tinctures and Capsules
Another way of consuming cannabis while avoiding the smell of burning the flower is with tinctures and capsules.
Topicals are yet another popular cannabis product available online. With cannabis topicals, the effects of CBD and THC can be absorbed through the skin, like with facial creams and ointments.
Getting Weed Out Of Your Car Fast
We hope these tips for getting the smell of weed out of your car were helpful. There are plenty of effective ways to rid your vehicle of that stinky odour. From neutralizing the scent particles to using air filters, purifiers, and fresheners, there are always ways to get your car smelling like new again.
That said, it’s important to remember that when consuming cannabis products, you keep your local laws and regulations in mind.
While hotboxing a car sounds like a great idea, having your car smell of weed isn’t fun – or (technically) legal. If you want to play it safe, smoke inside the safety and privacy of your house or apartment, where you can fully relax and enjoy the many benefits that your favourite cannabis products have to offer.
Sources:
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Weed-Smell-Out-of-Car
https://www.leafly.ca/news/science-tech/can-police-really-smell-cannabis-car
https://thefreshtoast.com/cannabis/can-police-search-cars-for-marijuana-based-on-odor-alone/
