Not sure if you were referring to all drugs as one specific thing, but just to clarify, a K-9 can detect more than one type of drug ... they even have to as a minimum for certification according to http://nndda.org/NarcoticsDetectionStandard.pdf

But you didn't actually believe them, did you? ;)

is this correct?

in other words a medical card in california is only recognized in california? taking medical marijuana out of state (despite possession of a card) is consisered interstate transportation (and is illegal)?

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Not only is that correct, but feds in CA are not bound by Prop. 215 (the medical marijuana law). Prop. 215 has no legal force against the feds. Make sure you get pulled over by state/local police on state/local property. Airports may be considered federal for this purpose.

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While all the info in this thread is interesting, and the theoretical argument is informative, isn't it mostly academ from a practical perspective? I mean, are they really searching people for pot while leaving CA? It won't show up on a X-ray (that would jump out at the operator, right?) and won't set off any metal detector. I would imagine that any dogs at the airport are trained for explosives not pot. So unless you walk up to the TSA and are like "Hey dude, those are really cool uniforms", what are the odds of the average human being who happens to leave a small amount of pot in their bag having it found? Outside of a random search of course which would mean all bets are off.

What does your SOP say about illegal substances?

DEA, ICE and yes, local cops, many times use drug dogs in airports.

With all the risks involved, I think it is time to get grandma brownie receipe out. Packing each one in a little plastic bag with a ribbon or bow on it would be a nice touch. :cool:

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I'm not trying to get anyone put on double secret probation, but SOP is referred to frequently in this forum and I'm surprised to see a TSA-type post that he/she ignores it. Lord Mountbatten said that "naval regulations should be intelligently ignored", but I've never thought the TSA-mentality went that direction.

..and the only justification an overzealous screener has to articulate is, "I think I saw a prohibited item on the X-ray."

If the TSA and cops wanted to do this right, they should set up a second checkpoint right behind the TSA checkpoint and search for pot, money, literature that violates local community standards, underage kids with booze or cigarettes, illegal aliens, etc. The TSA would have their mission creep removed from them. No cop organization would ever do this, because such warrantless searches would last about a nanosecond before a judge would throw it out.

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It is refreshing to read comments from SMF TSO. Since TSA has such a high turnover rate, perhaps it is only a matter of time before hundreds if not thousands of rational screeners are hired. We can only hope.

Perhaps those lke SMF TSO can educate others in TSA from the bottom up with reality: A smuggler is NOT a threat to this flight. A pax with a backpack full of diamonds/cash/heroin is NOT going to hijack the plane, blow it up, or let it be flown into a building. A smuggler wants to get where they are going, in one piece, unarrested and unrobbed, and with all their goods.

I consider a smuggler to be more likely than the average pax to help jump an attempted hijacker, as the smuggler has a huge vested interest to not let the plane be hijacked or crash. It may be more than just their life, the money may be the ransom for a kidnapped relative which must be delivered and delivered on time.

Even a real terrorist does not carry the cell's treasury with them on a plane they are planning to blow up. A pax with $100,000 cash or a college kid with a bag of weed is NOT a security threat. They want a safe ride to our destination as much as I do.

So, I ws once flying MVD-EZE-MIA, 1 day (no night) in MIA, onward to LIM. At MVD I got the royalty treatment from a narco-detective. He literally inspected the seams of my clothes for drugs. The AA amployees were looking at me as if they were sure I was going down. They would not even give me a BP. The detective inspected every item for a hidden stash. Honestly, if I had drugs, he would have found them. Waste of time.