The Transportation Security Administration recently made changes to their policies regarding marijuana, according to a report from NY Daily News.
[jump]A search result for “medical marijuana” on the TSA website will now bring up a notice that states the following:
“TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other drugs. In the event a substance that appears to be marijuana is observed during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.
Whether or not marijuana is considered “medical marijuana” under local law is not relevant to TSA screening because TSA is governed by federal law and federal law provides no basis to treat medical marijuana any differently than non-medical marijuana.
Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.”
Although the new policy does not necessarily mean that the TSA is flat-out allowing travel with marijuana, the agency’s ambivalence is seen as a win for marijuana policy advocates.
A post on Lawyers.com quoted Keith Stroup, attorney and founder of NORML, as saying, “I’m delighted to hear that because I think it shows that TSA primarily is acting as it was intended when it was established, to protect all of us when we travel on the airlines and to thwart terrorists. It is not supposed to be an anti-drug agency.”
