FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - What Canada’s marijuana legalization means for travelers
Old Oct 17, 2018, 5:14 pm
  #4  
BeachRat
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LAX adjacent
Posts: 168
Originally Posted by tmiw
Does TSA in states that have legalized it do more checking than others? Granted, TSA is different than CBP, but it's still illegal on domestic flights and could predict what CBP will do.
Good questions!

For LAX, from the web:

LAX: Marijuana Policy
https://www.flylax.com/en/lax-marijuana-policy

As of January 1, 2018, California law allows for individuals 21 years of age or older to possess up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of concentrated marijuana for personal consumption. With the change in state law, the policy and procedures of the Los Angeles Airport Police Division (APD) regarding marijuana were updated to reflect this change. APD officers, who are California Peace Officers, have no jurisdiction to arrest individuals if they are complying with state law. However, airport guests should be aware that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening stations are under federal jurisdiction. Also, passengers should be aware that marijuana laws vary state by state and they are encouraged to check the laws of the states in which they plan to travel.

We Asked the TSA About the LAX Marijuana Policy - This is What We Learned
www.civilized.life/articles/lax-marijuana-policy/amp.html

According to the LAXPD, the TSA has jurisdiction over the security checkpoint, but if the TSA discovers cannabis (recreational or medicinal) during their screening process, they refer the matter to law enforcement. Even if the amount is acceptable under LAX's policy, the TSA's response to finding cannabis is the same in every state and at every airport, regardless of the state's individual cannabis laws. This is because the TSA's primary purpose is safety, "TSA’s focus is on terrorism and security threats to the aircraft and its passengers. TSA’s screening procedures, which are governed by federal law, are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers."

Our takeaway: it appears the TSA will allow travelers to go through the security checkpoint because the LAXPD said that no action will be taken if they determine the amount is within what's allowed by law.




Obviously, YMMV

Last edited by BeachRat; Oct 18, 2018 at 12:28 pm Reason: copyright
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