Everything you need to know about flying with edibles

Let’s take a quick quiz:

1. You live in a state where medical cannabis is legal, and you have a current prescription for it from your doctor. Can you take it with you when you fly? 
2. You live in a state where recreational cannabis is legal, and you are flying to another state where it is also legal. Can you bring it with you on a plane? 
3. Airport TSA Agents follow different policies on flying with cannabis, following the laws of the states in which they are located. True or false?

You might be surprised to know that the answers are no, no, and false. Let’s take a look at the legalities around bringing edibles on a plane.

CAN YOU BRING EDIBLES ON A PLANE?

No, but there are stipulations. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the only cannabis-related products that are legal to bring onto a plane (in either carry-ons or checked baggage) are those that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC or medication that has been approved by the FDA.

This is because airports, whether in a state that marijunana is legal or not, are operated by the federal government and cannabis products containing more than .3% THC are illegal at the federal level and airports.When an individual goes through a TSA security checkpoint, that person has entered the federally controlled territory of the airport which extends to the aircraft and its airspace. 

That said, the TSA’s own statement points out that its mission is security, and its priority is detecting threats to passengers and aircraft. The agency’s security officers aren’t searching for your edibles, but if they discover any during screening, they’ll let a law enforcement officer handle it.

What about packing edibles in your checked bag?

Packing edibles in your checked bag has the same result as walking through security with them. If they are discovered during a search of your bag by TSA, they will hand them over to local law enforcement who will take it from there.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU’RE CAUGHT WITH EDIBLES IN AN AIRPORT?

Different states may take different levels of action if you are caught with edibles at one of their aiports. At Los Angeles International Airport, even though their policy notes that although TSA screening checkpoints are under federal jurisdiction, the Airport Police Division won’t arrest an individual in the airport if he or she does not exceed the legal amount in their possession, which is up to 28.5 grams. However, it depends on location.

For instance, while Massachusetts law allows a person to carry an ounce of cannabis at a time, the law itself makes the point that it is illegal to use any form of it (smoking, edibles, even vaping) in public or on federal land. Despite the legality of small amounts, if the TSA discovers your edibles during an airport security check at Boston Logan International Airport, they may contact the Massachusetts State Police at their discretion.

A few airports, including Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport, have installed “amnesty boxes,” where travelers can dispose of cannabis and related products without penalty. And others, including Denver International Airport, still prohibit cannabis anywhere on airport property. Denver’s Channel 7 reporters filed Freedom of Information requests and found that there were five times the number of cannabis “items” seized at DIA in the first eight months of 2018 than there were in the same time period in 2017 — 635 in 2018, 115 in 2017. Passengers who have items confiscated are typically interviewed by a Denver police officer.

Airports with amnesty boxes include:

• Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport
• O’Hare International Airport
• Chicago Midway International Airport

Please note that these regulations, as well as state and federal laws, only govern American citizens when they are in the United States. Cannabis laws around the world vary greatly, and getting caught in a country where it’s illegal can have serious ramifications. The U.S. State Department has even warned travelers against traveling with CBD oil in their luggage.

What Should Medical Marijuana Patients Do?

Unfortunately, flying with medical marijuana is also a violation of federal regulations, but some states allow medical cannabis reciprocity. This means patients with medical marijuana cards can enjoy similar privileges when they’re away from their home state, although they may have to apply for a new card valid only in the state they are visiting. At the time of publishing this article, the following states offered medical card reciprocity:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• New Hampshire
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Nevada
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Washington DC

However, the circumstances and amount allowed differ from state to state. For example, Arizona does not allow visitors to patronize dispensaries, although legally they may consume it, while Hawaii allows visitors who have applied for an in-state card to purchase up to 4 ounces of cannabis (per 15-day period) from certified dispensaries. Be sure to do your homework before you travel.

SO, CAN YOU TRAVEL WITH EDIBLES?

At this point, the answer is no. Bringing any cannabis product with more than 0.3 percent THC on an aircraft is against federal law. However, even though federal regulations trump all others while airline passengers are beyond a TSA checkpoint, the laws are changing rapidly. Check the laws of your departure and arrival cities, as well as their airports and airlines that you plan to use to know exactly what the situation will be.

If you are interested in learning more about cannabis legality around the world, cannabis tourism, driving with cannabis, and more, check out our new Traveling with Cannabis ebook.

If you are flying into Boston, be sure to visit our East Boston location for premium cannabis products, located one mile north of Boston Logan International Airport. And if you’d like to news delivered directly to your inbox, join our email list to become a Happy Valley Insider. Sign up by scrolling to the bottom of the page and entering your email address in the Stay Connected section.