Legal Question in International Law in New York

Re: Marijuana use in international water

If you are outside the borders of the US then you are outside the jurisdiction of the US. Accordingly, US laws are inapplicable. Bear in mind, however, that if you are on a US-flagged vessel then you are always subject to US law as well as the law of the jurisdiction in which you find yourself. Moreoever, US law requires its citizens to obey the laws of foreign jurisdictions while in or transacting business in such jurisdictions at least in some respects -- i.e. US law forbids a US company from bribing a foreign official. It follows, therefore, that if you are in international waters on the flagged-ship of a nation which prohibits the use of marijuana then you still cannot legally light up.