Passengers Who Consume More Marijuana Risk Being Arrested In The U.S

Although marijuana possession is still against federal law in the United States, many states have made it legal to use it for recreational purposes. Travelers, on the other hand, must navigate a maze of state and federal regulations when bringing small amounts of marijuana.

Amnesty boxes have been set up at some airports in states where marijuana is legal so that passengers can dispose of their stash before boarding.

As more states legalize marijuana, it is still up for debate whether or not passengers can bring their possessions aboard.

There are medical marijuana programs in 37 states and Washington, D.C., and 21 states have legalized recreational use for adults over 21. But federal law still prohibits marijuana use.

As a result, travelers hoping to travel with marijuana on domestic flights within the United States will have to contend with an ever-evolving patchwork of contradictory state and federal laws.

Although it may appear straightforward to travel between states where marijuana is legal, it quickly becomes complicated due to overlapping jurisdictions and difficult-to-enforce regulations.

Technically is a big No!. Marijuana possession and sale are against the law in the United States.

Despite President Joe Biden’s recent directive to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law and his recent pardons for anyone convicted of a federal crime for simple possession, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says that substances in Schedule I have a high risk of abuse and no accepted medical use. That includes LSD and heroin as well.

Additionally, despite the fact that airports are locally owned and managed, air travel is still governed by federal law.

According to Karla Rodriguez, a police captain at Los Angeles World Airports, which owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport,

“most people are under the impression that it is acceptable to travel with cannabis since it is legal in California, but they are not aware of the travel restrictions.”

Additionally, it is important for passengers to be aware of whether or not cannabis is legal in other states or countries.

She said most arrests include “travelers who take a sum which is more than whatever is viewed as private use.”

Medical marijuana products that “contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by FDA” are allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

An agency spokesperson stated that the traveler would not likely be asked to show a medical marijuana card unless they were carrying a larger quantity or were traveling through a region where marijuana was completely illegal.

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While the TSA isn’t effectively looking for pot or other governmentally illegal medications, assuming it finds a sum that surpasses nearby cutoff points, which differ broadly for both weed and THC-implanted edibles, it will caution local authorities.

Airport police enforce the laws of New York and New Jersey, which both legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2021.

In the meantime, according to the Denver Police Department, travelers at Denver International Airport can return their marijuana to their vehicle or give it to someone who isn’t traveling if it weighs less than 2 ounces. In 2014, Colorado made recreational marijuana legal.

The Denver Police Department says they can also hand it over to officers, who will get them destroyed and not returned to them. Any amount more than 2 ounces will be the subject of an investigation, during which they may be arrested and face charges.

Nonetheless, the seriousness of the punishment is generally up to the locale. You could face significant jail or prison time in states with stricter marijuana laws.

Although marijuana laws vary from country to country, it is still strictly prohibited in many. Even though carrying large quantities of marijuana through foreign borders results in some of the most well-known prison sentences, even smaller amounts could result in substantial fines or more severe penalties.