TSA Officers to Stop Actively Searching for Cannabis

A TSA agent searches luggage at an airport. (12MP camera, NO model release, editorial only)

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]I[/dropcap]n a recent Instagram post, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that its officers won’t actively search for cannabis, but reminded travelers that they are required to inform law enforcement in the event that cannabis is found.

The announcement is bittersweet, because passengers can still be reported to law enforcement if their luggage is searched for other items. “Let us be blunt,” TSA wrote in the caption. “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.”

Passengers who carry cannabis run the risk of penalties, even if TSA officers are searching for something else. While things are moving slowly regarding the treatment of cannabis in airports, progress is being made at the state level.

 

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Are we cool? We like to think we’re cool. We want you to have a pleasant experience at the airport and arrive safely at your destination. But getting caught while trying to fly with marijuana or cannabis-infused products can really harsh your mellow. 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. #traveltips #travel #traveling #aviationlife #marijuana #420

A post shared by TSA (@tsa) on Apr 20, 2019 at 11:48am PDT

According to a statement by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), local law enforcement officers will not arrest passengers who possess less than an ounce of cannabis and up to 8 grams of concentrate for personal consumption.

The same goes for Portland International Airport (PDX). According to a statement by PDX, local law enforcement will not confiscate recreational cannabis for in-state flights, nor will they confiscate medical cannabis from valid patients, although their destination may handle things differently.

If both local law enforcement and TSA officers aren’t actively looking for cannabis, the chances of an arrest for cannabis at the airport are falling fast. Still, it’s not a good idea to travel across state lines with cannabis or charges may follow.

One way that the disconnection between federal and state law could be resolved, including airport policies, is via the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, which is currently in committee.