No, you cannot bring weed or concentrate on a plane, regardless of whether you are flying within the United States. This is the short answer to the common question, can you bring weed on a plane?
Traveling with marijuana on a plane is illegal due to federal law, enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While there are exceptions for medical marijuana with low THC content or FDA-approved products, possession without proper authorization can result in confiscation by the TSA and potential criminal charges based on state laws. We do not encourage breaking any of the laws mentioned in this article.
Federal, state, and federal laws if you try to bring weed on a plane
Astonishingly, in 2023 cannabis is still considered a federally illegal Schedule I drug according to the DEA. As a result, even a first offense misdemeanor for possession has a maximum of 1 year incarceration.
Despite the federal government’s mandate that cultivation, possession, usage, and sales of cannabis are punishable by law, state’s rights laws have kept adult-use cannabis legal in 23 states, two territories, and Washington D.C. While 38 states, three territories, and Washington D.C. have legalized medical marijuana.
What are the international laws if you try to fly with weed ?
Just as every state in the U.S. has its own laws and penalties governing adult-use and medical marijuana, so too does every other nation in the world. The last thing anyone needs is to be punished severely in a foreign land just for trying to fly with weed. Just as one example, if you get caught trying to fly with weed in Singapore on your return flight, you can be sentenced to a max of 10 years in jail. Below are some additional countries outside of the USA which may or may not allow you to fly into the country with cannabis.
- Canada: It is legal to fly with cannabis for medical purposes in Canada. However, you must have a valid medical prescription and the cannabis must be in its original packaging.
- Uruguay: It is legal to fly with cannabis for recreational purposes in Uruguay. However, you must be over the age of 18 and the cannabis must be in its original packaging.
- Netherlands: It is legal to fly with cannabis for personal use in the Netherlands. However, the amount of cannabis you can carry is limited to 5 grams.
- Spain: It is illegal to fly with cannabis in Spain, even for medical purposes.
- Thailand: It is illegal to fly with cannabis in Thailand, even for medical purposes.
Illegal in many countries like Russia
All you need to do is take a look at what happened to WNBA star Britney Griner in Russia for possession of several hash oil cartridges to see how some other countries deal with cannabis. Even France is notoriously tough on cannabis possession!
If you are planning on flying with cannabis, it is best to leave it at home. It is simply not worth the risk of being caught with cannabis on a plane. The penalties for being caught with cannabis on a plane can be severe, including fines, imprisonment, and even denial of entry to the United States.
Will the TSA take my cannabis away?
If cannabis is discovered by the TSA, it will be confiscated, and you may be referred to law enforcement, potentially leading to criminal charges. The severity of the consequences depends on factors such as the quantity of cannabis, your location, and your criminal record. Potential outcomes include confiscation of cannabis, criminal charges, and fines imposed by the state.
- The TSA does not search every bag, so it is possible that you could get away with bringing weed on a plane. However, it is not worth the risk. If you are caught, you could face serious legal consequences.
- Even if you are flying from a state where marijuana is legal to a state where it is illegal, you could still be prosecuted. The federal government has jurisdiction over air travel, so it does not matter where the marijuana is legal.
Flying with medical marijuana in the USA
Medical marijuana is generally illegal under federal law, except for products with less than 0.3% THC or approved by the FDA. TSA officers do not actively search for drugs but will report any illegal substances they find during security screening to law enforcement authorities. (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all-list)
Explore cannabis-friendly destinations
If you don’t need to figure out how to fly with weed, do yourself a favor and just fly somewhere that already has some cannabis already waiting for you.
Places like California, Colorado, and Arizona are just 3 picture-esque destinations that have low-cost, high-potency legal cannabis, concentrates, edibles and more you can buy at a dispensary if you’re over 21. They also have endless amounts of beaches, mountains, deserts, and natural wonders respectively to sweep you away while you enjoy the pleasures of legal cannabis–without having to stress how to fly with weed.
The country of Canada is also just as naturally breathtaking–and completely legal everywhere for adults to consume cannabis as well!
And of course, we must mention the world-famous hash bar coffee houses found along the canals and alleys of Amsterdam that so many tourists love to frequent every year. Amsterdam has been a number-one destination for cannabis tourism for decades. However, it has slowly been getting out-visited by some of the aforementioned U.S. states who feature endless varieties of products and cultivars.
These are just a few no-risk options–just make sure your bags are free of cannabis for your flight home!
