Now that recreational marijuana is legal in California, airport police won’t cite or arrest travelers carrying legal amounts—at least that’s the case at Long Beach Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
While these policies have been in effect since Prop. 64 legalized marijuana starting Jan. 1, the changes got some attention through social media this week.
While LGB doesn’t have a specific policy, it follows local rules when handling marijuana, said Long Beach Airport spokeswoman Stephanie Montuya-Morisky.
If Transportation Security Administration officers discover marijuana during a routine screening they are required to inform local law enforcement—which would be Long Beach police—to investigate if a crime has occurred, she said.
If the person is 21 years of age or older and carrying the legal amount—28.5 grams (about one ounce) of marijuana or 8 grams of concentrated marijuana—then they are allowed to depart with the substance, according to Montuya-Morisky.
When travelers cross into federal jurisdiction, it’s a different story, she said, since marijuana is still federally regulated.
LAX’s marijuana policy states that airport police allow passengers to travel through the airport with the legal amount, noting, however, that federal law prohibits the possession of marijuana, including in federal airspace.
“Passengers should be aware that marijuana laws vary state by state and they are encouraged to check the laws of the states in which they plan to travel,” LAX’s policy states.
However, travelers won’t get cited or arrested at LAX either if they are found to be carrying the legal amount, said Los Angeles Airport police spokeswoman Alicia Hernandez.
Federal Aviation Administration Pacific Division spokesman Ian Gregor said the agency does not have regulations pertaining to passengers and marijuana but pointed to an FAA advisory issued in March that alerted pilots to the federal regulations and penalties for violators despite some states now legalizing marijuana.
“The bottom line is that even if marijuana possession or cultivation is legal in a state, it is illegal under federal law to use an aircraft to transport marijuana to, from, or within that state,” the FAA advisory stated.