TSA Will Allow Travelers to Fly with Medical Cannabis
- The TSA updated its guidance on April 27 to allow travelers to fly with medical cannabis following its federal reclassification from Schedule I to Schedule III.
- TSA security officers focus on safety threats and do not specifically search for illegal drugs, but will refer any illegal substances found to law enforcement.
- Medical cannabis products are permitted in both carry-on and checked bags with unspecified "special instructions," with final approval at the discretion of TSA officers.
- The federal government has also introduced an online portal for registering medical cannabis firms and updated firearms forms to distinguish between medical and recreational cannabis use.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will now allow travelers to fly with medical cannabis. The agency updated its website on April 27 to reflect the updated guidance which comes amid the federal government’s reclassification of medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
“TSA’s screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.” — TSA “What Can I Bring” Medical Marijuana
The website notes that medical cannabis products are now allowed on carry-on and checked bags, but subject to “special instructions” — however, the website does not indicate what those instructions are. The website does indicate that “The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.”
Since the rescheduling announcement in late April, the federal government has also launched an online portal for registering medical cannabis firms with the Drug Enforcement Administration and released a draft Firearms Transaction Record form that includes an updated question related to illicit drug use that differentiates between medical and recreational use of cannabis.
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