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Spring break is fast approaching, and we want to be sure that if you plan on traveling with your medication, you do it safely! So read on for a breakdown of the laws for traveling by car, plane, and train. We also have a video version of this posted on our social media.*
Driving with your Meds
First off, it is illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis, so when we talk about driving with your meds, we are talking solely about transporting your stash from one place to another. There is no determined legal limit for THC in your body, so any can be considered enough to face charges of driving while impaired. Lawyers advise that you treat marijuana like alcohol when it comes to driving.
It is illegal to smoke cannabis in a car, even if you are just a passenger. Plus, in 2019, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that it is illegal for a medical card holder to smoke inside their own car if it is parked outside a private business that is open to the general public (in that particular case, a car parked outside the Soaring Eagle Casino), so keep that in mind as well.
Michigan allows people to drive with 2.5 ounces of cannabis. Due to an appellate ruling, you are no longer required to keep it in a locked case, but scent-proof travel cases are still a great idea. There are a lot of fantastic discreet, scent-proof, and even stylish travel options by companies like Stashlogix that you can find in shops and online.
However, because it is still federally illegal, it is illegal to drive across state lines with cannabis, even if you are traveling to a state that has legalized recreational or medicinal marijuana use. Generally you are going to be better off obtaining your meds in the state you are traveling to.
Flying with your Meds
Again, because cannabis is still illegal under federal law and post-security areas at airports are ruled by federal agencies, legally, you cannot fly with it. However, TSA has said that its agents are focused on locating threats like weapons, not cannabis. If they find do marijuana, policy is to call airport law enforcement, which will proceed according to local law. So if you’re flying out of Detroit or Los Angeles, they’ll probably just confiscate your meds. In a state where it is still fully illegal, the penalties will undoubtedly be much harsher. It’s important to know the laws of the state you are flying out of; Do your research ahead of time.
Riding the Rails
So what about trains? Amtrak holds with the feds on this one. Their officially policy says “The use or transportation of marijuana in any form for any purpose is prohibited, even in states or countries where recreational use is legal or permitted medically.”
TL/DR
So basically, the fact that marijuana is still federally illegal makes traveling a grey area, even in recreationally and medically legal states. If you have them, keep your medical card and doctor referral with you when traveling, use smell-proof, lockable travel containers, use your common sense and stay safe out there!
