Legalized Pot & Airports – Caught in the Middle?

As more states legalize the use of marijuana for medical or recreational use, more U.S. airports have found themselves caught in the middle of contradictory federal and state laws. 

On one hand, marijuana remains a Class I controlled substance under federal law, and possession or distribution within the U.S. is banned. On the other, many states have legalized, and regulate, the use of pot within the state. 

Within the boundaries of states that have legalized marijuana use, the federal government has generally declined to exercise its rights to prosecute. But when travelers possessing marijuana fly from a state where it is legal, they face a dilemma: Federal law governs U.S. airways and prohibits the possession
of pot. 

When passing through federal security checkpoints, what are passengers to do? Moreover, what are airports to do? 

U.S. cities and their airports have addressed this legal conflict in several ways. For instance, the city of Denver has simply banned possession of marijuana within Denver International Airport, even though it is otherwise legal in Colorado. Others, such as the city of Chicago, have installed “amnesty boxes” into which travelers with cold feet may deposit pot before passing through security. Some airports in states where marijuana has been legalized have not taken action at all, while others have embraced local legalization and allowed local pot shops to advertise within the airport. 

The consequences for marijuana possession, of course, vary by state. TSA’s position, as stated on its website and in media interviews, is that it focuses on detecting security threats. TSA officers consequently do not search for marijuana at security checkpoints; but if any illegal substance, including marijuana, is found, TSA will refer the matter to local police.

What happens from there depends on local law and airport policy. Where marijuana has not been legalized, offenders are subject to arrest. Where marijuana is legal, however, possessors will often be told to dispose of the substance—either in an amnesty box or otherwise. 

Recently, the most troubling issue has been travelers who carry marijuana onto planes that subsequently land where pot possession is prohibited and severe penalties for possession are imposed. At least one U.S. airport has been contacted by representatives of a foreign government and asked to take steps to stop travelers flying through that airport from bringing marijuana to their country.

What is an airport operator to do? As noted above, several approaches exist. The simplest, and perhaps most conservative, is to adopt Denver’s approach and ban pot within the airport. This not only simplifies decisions for frontline personnel, it also helps assure compliance with applicable federal requirements, including the Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Amnesty boxes are also becoming more popular, but airport operators need to think through how they will be secured, maintained and emptied. Earlier this year, an amnesty box at Chicago Midway International was robbed.

The most important advice may be that if your airport is located in a jurisdiction where pot has been legalized, don’t ignore this issue. Each community will warrant a different approach; but until federal law is amended to repeal the ban or devolve the issue to each state, this conflict will continue to vex airport operators and their customers.