All the time budtenders are asked about marijuana at the airport. I’m not going to lie the first time or two I was asked, I didn’t feel comfortable speaking on it.
Shortly after legalization, (between 2012-2014) I was under the impression that it was still illegal to have it at the airport and TSA would strictly follow the federal laws. Which state that marijuana is a schedule 1 drug, and if you got caught with a schedule 1 drug at the airport you could very likely be going to a federal penitentiary.
2019 Kyle approaches this question much differently. Now a days when I get asked, “Is it cool if I bring some weed back with me on the plane?” or “How much marijuana can I fly out of Sea-Tac with?” I reply with one simple statement.
It all depends on where you’re flying. I usually elaborate further depending on their answer with a yada yada don’t be flying to Texas, or a yada yada if you’re flying into Cali you good Dogg.
For the purpose of this little instructional, I’ll give my honest official weed at the airport response.
Lets start with the depending on where you’re flying into statement in mind. If I was flying into California or Nevada and I didn’t want to mess around with the expensive prices when I were to land I might pack an 1/8th or two or three in my carry-on luggage. In California the legal limit is about one ounce of flower and eight grams of oil for people 21 years of age and older. In Nevada the limit varies slightly at one ounce of flower and 3.5 grams of oil. Therefore if I was landing in either of those states I would feel comfortable carrying a legal limit’s worth.
I think that in my case I would never check a bag that had marijuana in it especially if I wasn’t landing in a legal state.
According to a TSA instagram post from last 4-20 they jokingly alluded to the fact that they are not looking for marijuana but it is their job requirement to notify when it is found.
“Let us be blunt: TSA officers DO NOT search for marijuana or other illegal drugs. Our screening procedures are focused on security and detecting potential threats. But in the event a substance appears to be marijuana or a cannabis infused product, we’re required by federal law to notify law enforcement. This includes items that are used for medicinal purposes.”
TSA on instagram
When I read the quote from TSA i understand it as, as long as local law enforcement has no problem with me carrying the given amount of marijuana when I step outside the airport then I should be fine, but they don’t straight up say that, and legally they are probably not advised to.
According to a Kiro7 article it is legal to have fewer than 40 grams of marijuana in your checked bag or carry-on when you arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
In Washington State the legal carry limit is one ounce of flower and seven grams of oil, 40 grams of marijuana is almost 1.5 times the legal limit so I have no idea how they came up with that one. Let me real quick throw a disclaimer out to make the bosses happy, at NO point in this post am I offering advice on or advising to fly through an airport with any sort of marijuana, pot, weed, cannabis, ganga, sensimilla, grass, or any other colloquialism.
Safe travels my high flying peeps.