Easy to Bring Thc Cartridges Through Customs

Home Lifestyle Flying with cannabis, here is everything you need to know

April 15, 2021

We've all heard it before--the best way to fly is high. But how about having cannabis on you when you're on an airplane? Is it possible? Many of my readers ask me about the possibility of:

• Flying with the flower
• Flying with oil cartridges
• Flying with vape cartridges
• Flying with THC cartridges
• Flying with edibles

First off, nothing is impossible, but federal law prohibits cannabis in any form to be possessed by individuals for legal or medicinal purposes, because cannabis is still considered to be a Schedule I Substance by the U.S. federal government.

Important Note - Read This First!

I'm not a lawyer, and by no means is this legal advice. This blog post is for educational purposes, and doesn't encourage illegal behaviors. Whether it's the substance itself, a vaporizer, a glass pipe, or any type of paraphernalia, please understand the consequences and the risk of flying with any type of cannabis products on a flight, whether it be international or domestic.

Why is flying with weed illegal? It's simple, really--any and all airspace over the U.S. is under federal jurisdiction, which means state laws that are different from federal laws no longer apply. This is simply for ease--imagine a crime (let's say a mugging or something) is committed while on a flight and the authorities have to figure out which state the plane over so they can prosecute the attacker. That's a pain, so airspace is under federal jurisdiction. And because marijuana is not legal on a federal level (no, not even medical), that means it's not legal in the air, either.

However, people with medical marijuana prescriptions are pretty likely to be okay when traveling as long as the product is less than 0.3% THC and is FDA-approved. I recommend checking out this NY Times article for the specifics.

What that said:

• If you end up wanting to take the risk to fly high, it's your own responsibility. It's illegal no matter how you want to justify it to yourself.

• It is illegal to take any marijuana products across state lines, even if it is legal in both states. And the fine for this, even for a first offense, can be astronomical depending on how much you're carrying.

• Think about the risk-reward analysis:

• The risk is getting caught, which means that you'll be handed over to the local airport police, who will enforce the laws of your home state. You'll also miss your flight, and there's a chance you'll have to pay a fine or even see the inside of a jail cell for a little bit. Now, that's pretty unlikely, but it does depend on how much you have on you. If you have quite a bit (I'd say more than a few days' worth), they can get you on possible distribution charges (aka dealing).

• The reward, on the other hand, is a pleasant buzz that will last a few hours during your flight, or when you get to your destination.

Remember What TSA Job is

TSA is not an anti-drug entity, meaning they're not specifically looking for controlled substances. However, TSA is contracted by the federal government for nationwide security purposes, and they're obliged to follow federal law. So if cannabis turned up during a search or screening, law enforcement officer(s) should be notified; that means TSA's responsibility is to hand over whatever "illegal" substance, and the person they're arresting, to local authorities.

With all that said, it's a bit of a toss-up when you're talking about the individual TSA employee, airport, the city, and the state. Oakland CA, for instance, was at some point (not sure anymore) one of the kindest airports to medical cannabis patients, but some other airports might not be as understanding. You're more likely to be okay with medical marijuana, but you do need a medical marijuana card, and several states outlaw it entirely (I recommend checking out this helpful marijuana map , updated in April 2021).

TSA is specifically looking for bombs and guns, not marijuana. Even if they had dogs, they'll only be trained to smell dangerous stuff (like bombs or maybe some agricultural products in international airports), not your weed. But, and it's a big but, TSA still reserves the right to deny any item onboard a plane, and this includes marijuana. Even if the passenger is from one legal state traveling to another legal state, the passenger may potentially face charges because they're carrying it across state lines and through federal airspace. State laws vary regarding how medical cannabis is handled. This includes, but is not limited to, reciprocity of medical marijuana card holder status in each state (departure and arrival destination).

In conclusion: TSA employees are NOT on the lookout for marijuana, but if they find it in any way, including residue, they can (and by law, should) hand you over to the local authorities. However, it sometimes depends on the TSA employee and where you're traveling to/from.

My Personal Story with Flying with a joint

Recently I was flying out of Las Vegas, with a weed look-a-like joint (a hemp joint) to Seattle (a legal state, Nevada, to a legal state, Washington). Right before getting to the TSA checkpoint, I remembered that I had it in my backpack. It's technically legal nationwide because it's not actually marijuana, however, TSA can't necessarily tell the difference and I thought they might make a fuss if they found it. So to be on the safe side, I asked a couple of airport employees about it before getting into the security line. They chuckled first, then said:

"Just put it in your carry-on, and if they ask you about it, throw it out."

I did put it in my carry-on, went through the security, and no one said a thing.

But, listen, flying with marijuana is kind of like cheating on an exam; just because you get away with it 15 times in a row doesn't mean you won't get caught on attempt number 16. If a TSA agent becomes suspicious and decides to keep an eye on you because of whatever reason, then no hiding place is effective. Even if you sew the stuff into the lining of your suitcase, they can find it, and will if they suspect you of anything.

Have you flown with marijuana? What was it like? Please let us know in the comment section below.

Important Tips On Strategy

• Don't take more than you need--if you get caught, the quantity you're carrying can determine whether you're arrested, fined, or if they even just let you go

• Don't stick anything up your ass, unless that's your thing. Definitely not my recommendation or preference, though.

• Everything should be in your carry-on. (Checked bags may get an in-depth search with a dog, and carry-ons are usually searched in a more hasty manner. Again, while the dogs are trained to find explosives, they might still pick up on the scent)

• A slightly messy backpack can be useful in this case, or, if you're a woman, hide it under or in a box of pads or tampons. TSA agents see menstrual products and like to quickly turn the other way.

• Take all labels off the products.

• Spread everything around. The last thing you want is a little stash box.

• Make sure your "paraphernalia" tools are completely cleaned. No residue=no smell. Vaping and smoking gadgets are perfectly legal when they're clean .

• If you were using a box mod with an atomizer, break them down to as many little pieces as possible, and everything goes in separate little pockets in your clothes or backpack.

• As for the marijuana itself:

• Stay away from the flower! It smells, and dogs can pick the smell up from a mile away, even if they're only trained to find bombs.

• If you're gonna go with shatter , keep it on the wax paper rather than a small storage jar, slide it into a little credit card sized envelope and mix it up with some random paperwork in your carry-on.

• As for THC cartridges , I will elaborate in the next section.

• Edibles also are a great way to sneak it into the airport. I suggest buying edibles from your dispensary that look like candy (you know the ones our moms used to check our Halloween candy for?), taking them out of their original packaging, and mixing them up with some regular types of candy. Here's a picture:

• Keep your head high with confidence, and don't look like a bum. Keep a low profile, don't touch your face, don't try to rush through security, and relax. If you look nervous, they will see it--they're trained to notice nervous/suspicious behavior and read body language.

• Only do this if you really think it's worth it. If you're terrified of being arrested and think it will ruin your life, ask yourself if you really want to do this. If you do, then just remember to stay calm and take a deep breath.

• Getting a little high can be helpful to loosen your nerves a little bit, but I would only recommend this for experienced stoners . Inexperienced stoners might get paranoid, which is a dead giveaway. And whatever you do, DON'T GET TOO STONED!

• Once you're through the first TSA checkpoint in the airport where you're departing  from, you will be good the rest of the trip. Unless it's an international flight and you go through customs, you won't be searched after your flight. On the return trip, the same goes.

• If you're traveling internationally, make sure to research the weed laws in that country. For instance, I know that Chinese "drug" laws are fairly harsh and I wouldn't recommend taking the risk if you were traveling to China. However, Canada, Jamaica, and the Netherlands are pretty weed-friendly, although I'm not sure how the feel about you bringing your own into the country.

(Psst, since you made it this far, here is 25% discount code "421Store" for your next order on our 421Store)

Related article: LAX airport to allow marijuana in carry-ons

Flying with THC cartridges 2021

Besides edibles, I think cartridges are the safest way to bring marijuana on a plane. Using cartridges is very convenient, and a lot less risky than shatter or bud for two main reasons: cartridges don't smell, and they can be camouflaged as nicotine e-liquids cartridges.

Here are the steps you need to follow if you were willing to take the risk:

• The first thing you want to do is to put the cartridges with your Toiletry Bag . If you don't have a Toiletry Bag , I recommend getting one, even just for your own convenience when traveling. Make sure it's not just an empty bag with your THC cartridges. Mix them up with shaving cream, perfume, any medication and/or ointments, toothpaste, labeled nicotine e-liquids, etc. Again, ladies, include some pads or tampons--male TSA agents especially are definitely not gonna go digging through the box. Make sure to check the TSA liquid rules here .

• Place the toiletry bag in your carry-on, not your checked back. The air pressure in the hull increases the chances of e-liquid cartridges leakage.

• As for your vaporizer/battery, it's recommended to place it in a separate carry-on or in your pocket. You will have nothing to worry about as long as it's 100% clean of any residue. Never put the battery in your checked suitcase.

• If you were asked to check-in your carry-on bag right before you get into the airplane along with your suitcase, that's normal. Sometimes they don't have enough space in the overhead bins. Just make sure to take your Toiletry Bag and the vaporizer/battery with you before checking your bag.

• If you see dogs, don't get alarmed. Cartridges don't smell. Keep calm and act like this is just any ol' flight.

Conclusion

A few things to keep in mind:

• If you end up wanting to take the risk to fly high, it's your own responsibility. It's illegal no matter how you want to justify it to yourself.

• It is illegal to take any marijuana products across state lines, even if it is legal in both states. And the fine for this, even for a first offense, can be astronomical depending on how much you're carrying.

• Think about the risk-reward analysis:

• The risk is getting caught, which means that you'll be handed over to the local airport police, who will enforce the laws of your home state. You'll also miss your flight, and there's a chance you'll have to pay a fine or even see the inside of a jail cell for a little bit. Now, that's pretty unlikely, but it does depend on how much you have on you. If you have quite a bit (I'd say more than a few days' worth), they can get you on possible distribution charges (aka dealing).

• The reward, on the other hand, is a pleasant buzz that will last a few hours during your flight, or when you get to your destination.

Because marijuana is still classified as Schedule I Substance by the federal government, I personally would be wary of bringing  any kind of marijuana on a commercial aircraft, including products used for medicinal purposes unless you have a note from your doctor. Being an activist is still a fairly risky occupation in this country, let alone trying to get on a plane with plant material or related products.

I'm fortunate enough to live in an area of the country where marijuana is much less stigmatized than in the past. Perhaps because of this, I do feel federal law changes are in the near future for the country regarding cannabis, and when the law at the federal level does change we are going to see a huge shift in attitude across entire industries, perhaps including flight. I look forward to seeing this happen.

Let's revisit our main question: is it possible to fly with marijuana? The answer is: nothing is impossible. If you want to take the risk, by all means do so; you're an adult and you're responsible for your own actions. My job is simply to tell you the risks so that you can decide whether or not flying with marijuana is something you want to do.

I also recommend checking out this video about how to travel with medical cannabis (it applies to recreational smokers, too):

This video also useful... check it out.

Stay toasty my friends.

Ayad Maher is a Cannabis Industry Entrepreneur, Blogger & Activist. eCommerce Specialist and Owner of a 420 Life Style Website;Monroe Blvd, an online smoke shop;421Store, and an online CBD store;GoodyCBD.

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