Thinking of flying with cannabis? We know due to the ever-changing laws and regulations, this can be a confusing topic. We also know the present laws around cannabis and their implementation have a lot of flaws that need to be fixed. However, there are ways to travel with Cannabis if you are flying out of LAX.
Before we look at the airports that make it convenient to carry Cannabis, let’s observe the factors behind these growing doubts.
What makes Flying with Cannabis Difficult?
The factors that make flying around with Cannabis difficult are as follows:
- Cannabis laws have been changing in the United States since the time it appeared on the screen of the medical world.
- U.S. federal laws surrounding Cannabis are different from the laws of the individual States.
- Every state has different set of laws when it comes to Cannabis regulation. Some states totally prohibit the consumption of Cannabis; some allow limited use in case of a medical emergency, while the others will enable the utilization for recreational purposes as well.
- Even the airports find themselves confused between the state and federal laws in some instances.
This confusion makes people speculate whether even the lawmakers understand the laws they have been formulating.
Airport Laws in the Legalized States:
Different states have imposed different laws to regulate Cannabis consumption in the United States and it is up to you to be educated on which states are cannabis-friendly. You might face severe lawsuits if you are carrying Cannabis in a state where it is prohibited. On the other hand, the states where Cannabis consumption is legalized might offer leniency when you’re traveling with Marijuana.
Again, please understand the need to be informed about the Cannabis law in each state before you traveling is very important and we urge you to do your research!
Below are some airports that allow you to move with Cannabis and their limitations.
- San Francisco International Airport:
San Francisco is a heaven for people who need to possess cannabis for their physiological needs. Everyone is allowed to carry one ounce of cannabis; that’s the maximum limit.
While talking to SF Weekly, Doug Yakel, the SFO Public Information Officer, states that “As a rule of thumb, our law enforcement personnel would not confiscate a personal use amount (i.e., one ounce) from someone heading to a location where it’s legal”
- Boston Logan International Airport:
Just like San Francisco, The state police at Boston Logan International Airport states that no one would face any difficulty from the Law Enforcement forces while walking and boarding with the legal amounts of Cannabis here.
The legal amount at Boston is the same as that at San Francisco that is one ounce (28.5 grams). Only people aged 21 or above 21 can carry this legal amount.
- Los Angeles International Airport:
If you are at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), you legally can’t consume cannabis on airport grounds, however, you are free to carry it anywhere if you are holding it in legal amounts.
Although the officers at the airport won’t confiscate the legal amounts of Cannabis, the officers at the airport have warned that the TSA works under Federal laws, and hence, Transportation Administration Security screening stations might cause you some problems because of that.
However, again in every state, you have to comply with the legal amount and the age limitation to avoid any inconvenience.
- John Wayne Airport of Orange County:
If you need to fly with the legal amount of cannabis from the John Wayne Airport without consuming it on the airport premises, you won’t face any confiscation. If TSA stops you from possessing cannabis, the police will only be called to check if the Cannabis is there in the legal amount.
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:
Sea-Tac hasn’t issued any official statement regarding flying with cannabis yet. However, in 2014, Port of Seattle Police says that they’ve never confiscated pot or made a single cannabis arrest since it was legalized in 2012.
The use of cannabis and moving with it is legal and permitted throughout Seattle. However, there is a limit to it.
Anyone who is 21 or older than 21 can carry cannabis in a legal amount that states: “One can buy up to one ounce of cannabis in flowers or bud form; sixteen ounces of edibles that are cannabis-infused; 72 ounces of cannabis in liquid form and 7 grams of cannabis when it is in concentrated form.
Despite this, signboards at Seattle Airport warn people who are carrying cannabis outside Seattle.
- Portland of Oregon:
PDX (Portland International Airport) has made it easy for people to carry medical cannabis, however, visitors can not smoke cannabis or consume cannabis edibles in a public place or in public view.
Although decriminalized in Oregon, warnings are still in place not to take cannabis out of the boundaries of Oregon because cannabis is still prohibited under federal laws.
End-Note:
Living under such confusing laws, you must be very careful about the amount of cannabis you carry, even to the airports in states where cannabis is legal. It is also equally essential to know about the laws of the airport where you are going to land.
For most of the airports that allow you to carry cannabis around, the amount limit is one ounce, and one must be 21 or above 21 to possess this amount.
We do believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and things will change soon as more and more states are reconsidering their laws regarding cannabis. Till then, stay informed and safe!
