Can a Medicalmarijuana Patient Carry Pot on Flight
Travel Tips
How to Travel With Medical Marijuana
Even as more states allow medical marijuana, traveling between states with cannabis can leave patients in legal limbo.
This fall, Sierra Riddle queued upwards at security at Los Angeles International Drome with a tincture canteen of THC oil — the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis — in her purse.
Ms. Riddle, 31, a nursing assistant from southern Oregon, was traveling with her son Landon, 9, and uses medical marijuana to care for his astringent nervus pain from chemotherapy, equally well as her own chronic pain. She was on her way to a medical conference in Dallas to talk nearly her son'south medical marijuana use and was "praying and meditating that nosotros'd make information technology through security," when a Transportation Security Administration agent pulled the bottle out of her purse.
"It's merely botanical oils," Ms. Riddle said she told the officer. "But this was L.A. — they're hip to the game and and then they knew what is was."
To Ms. Riddle's surprise, the officer told her that, while it's illegal to wing with marijuana and he was obliged to call the police force, instead, he would simply throw the bottle in the trash and wouldn't written report her.
With 33 states now assuasive some course of medical marijuana, it might seem that traveling with medical marijuana should be easy enough. Simply there's a difference betwixt state governments and the federal government, and if you don't know the rules, traveling with medical marijuana could lead to an arrest or at the very least, a complicated legal grey area.
What'south the bottom line?
In the United States, the federal government still classifies marijuana, even medical marijuana, as a Schedule I controlled substance, which means anyone transporting it across state lines is committing a federal crime and tin be charged with drug trafficking. This carries a minimum penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the get-go offense.
Internationally, fines and punishments for marijuana possession can be much harsher, including long jail sentences or fifty-fifty execution for trafficking large amounts.
In the airports
The T.S.A. says it's not interested in finding your medical marijuana.
"We're focused on security and searching for things that are dangerous on the airplane," said Mark Howell, a T.S.A. regional spokesman. Even though the T.S.A. is a federal bureau, and it tin can frequently experience as though agents are overly zealous most checking your bags, "nosotros're non actively looking for marijuana or other drugs," Mr. Howell said.
Careful: Though a recent Instagram post by the T.S.A. notes that while "T.South.A. officers DO NOT search for marijuana or other illegal drugs," if they practice find it, they are required by federal law to turn it and the owner over to local constabulary enforcement.
In a state where medical marijuana is legal, Mr. Howell added, "you present your medical marijuana card, and the law enforcement officials will usually merely give it back to you lot."
You should also look up your airline's rules and regulations: Many carriers, including Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have created policies that ban medical marijuana (THC) from their aircraft, even if you have a medical menu.
At your destination
Know the laws of the states you lot are traveling to or through: Even if you lot take a medical marijuana card, you can be arrested and charged for possession in states where medical marijuana is not legal.
Nearly 20 states take out-of-country medical marijuana authorizations, but reciprocity laws vary from land to state.
In some states, like Arkansas, visitors are required to sign upwards for the medical marijuana program xxx days in accelerate and pay a $50 nonrefundable fee. Visitors should too continue in listen the land's purchasing limit, which can be dissimilar for residents versus those who are at that place temporarily. In Oregon, for example, residents tin can possess up to 24 ounces, while visitors are allowed only i ounce.
On the roads and on the runway
Amtrak'due south policy is strict: "The utilise or transportation of marijuana in any form for whatsoever purpose is prohibited, even in states or countries where recreational utilise is legal or permitted medically."
Greyhound Lines bans alcohol and drugs "anywhere on the bus (including in your checked baggage)."
If you choose to drive with medical marijuana, be detached. Many marijuana arrests begin equally traffic stops, according to Americans for Safe Access, a nonprofit advancement group. They recommend keeping cannabis locked in your torso and never driving under the influence. You should never comport medical marijuana in a state where it's non legal.
What about C.B.D.?
In May, the T.S.A. updated its rules for flying with medical marijuana, assuasive travelers to now carry products like Cannabidiol oil that contain less than 0.three pct THC. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a molecule in cannabis that does not get patients high. Passengers tin can bring products that are approved by the F.D.A. in their checked or bear-on luggage.
Reminder: Pack your documents
Don't forget all your official documents.
"Nosotros tell patients to bring their doctor recommendation with them, simply in case police force enforcement stops them," said Debbie Churgai, the interim managing director of Americans for Condom Access.
"Nosotros also tell them to continue their medical recommendation and their medical I.D. card with them, and know their physician'south number and maybe their lawyer'south number — just in case."
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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/31/travel/traveling-with-medical-marijuana.html
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