TSA Considers Letting Passengers Fly With Marijuana

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

TSA Considers Letting Passengers Fly With Marijuana
BY AVIVA SHEN ON OCTOBER 9, 2013 AT 10:12 AM


The Transportation Security Administration, grappling with legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in 22 states, may decline to enforce federal marijuana laws at the airport.

Normally, if TSA agents spot drugs while screening for weapons and liquids larger than 3.4 ounces, they call local law enforcement and the Drug Enforcement Agency to deal with the contraband. Philadelphia Eaglers quarterback Michael Vick was famously stopped by TSA agents in 2007 for trying to carry pot in a secret compartment of his water bottle. Even a card-carrying medical marijuana user was barred from flying in 2001.

But TSA screeners are increasingly relaxing their response to people carrying small amounts of marijuana. As TSA is meant to focus on national security, not drugs, agents have discretion over whether or not to call the police on drug offenders. According to the New York Daily News, passengers with legal medical marijuana prescriptions say they have been allowed onto their flights, even though TSA does not officially recognize state drug laws, as a federal agency. In 2011, Denver International Airport agents allowed rapper Freddie Gibbs to keep a small bag of pot found in his luggage, simply leaving him a note saying, “C’mon son.”

TSA has been struggling with the marijuana question since last November, when Colorado and Washington legalized small amounts of marijuana for recreational use. The agency was quickly confronted with questions asking if passengers flying between the two states could legally carry pot. TSA spokespeople explained at the time that agents do not screen specifically for drugs and suggested that marijuana would probably be tolerated, depending on the case.


Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/10/09/2754211/tsa-marijuana/

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Some of us geezers remember when it was possible to get high at 10,000+ feet.

This country has become an unrecognizable fascist shithole since then. Sorry about the mess.

[SheilaT]

2. But still no bottles of

breast milk, I'm guessing.

[Xipe Totec]

3. If you're going to fly, fly high. nt

[Link Speed]

4. We always fly with pot.

Never been caught, and we fly at least twice a month.

[FreeState]

5. Baked goods work well for that as well :) n/t

[marble falls]

13. I've had them look right at it and not see it.

[Bosso 63]

6. passengers sure, pilots not so much.

[bitchkitty]

7. I dunno...

I've never in my life known a pothead who wrecked his car because he was smoking pot. It always made me ultra careful behind the wheel. I understand though, that my experience doesn't equal anything more than anecdotal evidence...

[Bosso 63]

9. At the very least, the fact that planes fly at hundreds of miles per hour,

with hundreds of passengers makes the comparison different.

[bitchkitty]

11. True. Although I am much more

concerned with the pilot's drinking habits. Did he party the night before?

It never occured to me to be afraid that the pilot was stoned...too many other things to worry about.

I am very afraid of flying. I haven't flown in almost 20 years, and intend to keep it that way. I am the passenger who can't breathe during takeoff and landing. I used to drink alcohol, and would pour myself on the plane. Now, I stay put. Or take the train or bus.

[Warren Stupidity]

14. It could have happened that a joint fell of into your lap and whilst rescuing your

groin from impending conflagration, whammo! I'm not saying it did happen. But it could.

[Heywood J]

15. Yes, but...

bad things happen if you fly too slowly

[bitchkitty]

16. LOL! n/t

[sir pball]

19. I'm not a pilot but I'm related to a couple, and have flown a few times

I would never ever even begin to dream of flying a Cessna while high, let alone a 777...driving is one thing (I may or may not be guilty there), but there's so much more to keep track of in a plane I would just mentally seize. Look at a picture of a commercial cockpit sometime. Same for drinking, or being hungover.

[DeSwiss]

8. I do all my flying with cannabis.

- I don't mind getting bombed, but I won't be irradiated. Or groped.

K&R

[madrchsod]

10. a pot post without music?

light`m if ya got`m

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. This is interesting

I get in and between the states where it is legal, but what if one is flying through or to Atlanta? It is illegal to possess in GA.

[askeptic]

17. A suspicionless search justified for aircraft safety should only seize safety-related items

IMHO this is already a violation of the 4th, but it was justified on the basis of ensuring aircraft safety. Drugs of any type do not fit that description along with lots of other "contraband", and the TSA should not be allowed to take anything not involved with the safety justification.

[Uncle Joe]

18. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[PeteSelman]

20. Good.

I hate having to go through extraordinary measures just to bring some weed on vacation.

[1000words]

21. Still gonna hide it ... don't want TSA pinching my stash

[MillennialDem]

22. I am not a marijuana user... though I am for legalization but really, why do this?

I don't mean the TSA letting people fly with it... that's cool.

But if you are a user, really why would you bother doing this? Assuming you are a recreational user can't go without pot for that long? Plus all the hassle it could entail if a cop or TSA agent wants to be a dick about it?

I had to bring a big wad of cash (long story, don't want to get into it) on a trip this summer which is PERFECTLY LEGAL whereas pot is at best legally nebulous. It was under $10,000 but was fairly close to that amount. I didn't want to get pick pocketed or have it stolen out of my luggage so I ended up sewing a hidden pocket into my pants and putting the money in there.

While I felt safe that I wouldn't be pick pocketed I still felt like I might get detained and hassled thinking I was a drug or contraband smuggler. I would feel the same way carrying pot, even an amount that is clearly "for personal use" rather than "with intent to sell".