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Can I bring pot on an airplane? Here’s the cannabis can nots when it comes to traveling

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Can I bring pot on an airplane? Here’s the cannabis can nots when it comes to traveling

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Millions of Americans, including Californians, will travel for a holiday season not too far off now, but there’s an item worth your attention before it makes it into your luggage.

Marijuana.

Using marijuana both recreationally and for medical reasons is legal in California, and about 17% of adults in the state used the drug in 2022, according to a January report from the California Department of Public Health.

While two dozen states have legalized recreational marijuana, the drug remains illegal at the federal level and a Schedule I drug, the highest classification that also applies to heroin and ecstasy, under the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, its classification may change to a Schedule III drug under the Biden Administration, a significant change that advocates hope will lead toward full legalization in the future, USA TODAY reported.

To avoid future frustrations — or worse — here’s what to know about traveling with pot.

When did marijuana become legal in California?

Recreational marijuana for adults 21 years old and older became legal through Proposition 64, passed in 2016. Less than a decade later, 24 states have legalized both recreational and medical usage, and an additional 14 states have legalized medical marijuana, according to the Pew Research Center.

The cannabis industry in California has seen $3.15 billion in sales this year as of August, according to data from the Department of Cannabis Control.

Can I travel with marijuana on a flight?

Californians planning to pack marijuana for a trip that involves a flight should keep in mind that marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products are illegal under federal law, according to the TSA.

Transportation Security Administration officers who discover an item that may violate the law will refer the matter to law enforcement, Lorie Dankers, TSA spokesperson, said in an email to The Desert Sun. A passenger’s originating and destination airports are not taken into account, and it would be up to law enforcement officials to determine what steps need to be taken next, she said.

TSA’s response to the discovery of marijuana is the same across every state and airport, “regardless of whether marijuana has been or is going to be legalized,” Dankers said, adding that this covers medical marijuana.

Can I bring marijuana on a road trip?

Because marijuana is still illegal under federal law, people can’t take cannabis across state lines, according to the Department of Cannabis Control. It’s also illegal to drive or ride in a vehicle with an open container of cannabis. Instead, it should either be in a sealed package or container or in your car’s trunk.

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

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