Caught with medical marijuana at SFO airport

I thought I'd share my recent experience at SFO airport, getting stopped at security for carrying medical marijuana. I was travelling to JFK on Virgin America and I had a couple grams of cannabis and a glass bowl. The grams where in my messenger bag, which I sent through the x-ray, and I had a glass bowl in my pocket. Just as I was about to walk through the metal detector, the TSA attendent redirected me to the new 360 degree x-ray machine where they ask you to take everything out of your pockets and hold it above your head while being screened.

Well of course the TSA attendent saw the glass bowl in my hand and that was all it took for them to go CODE RED on me as if they had caught Osama Bin Laden himself. I calmly told them that I was a medical marijuana patient and I had a valid recommendation on me, but that didn't stop them from searching my things as if I was a criminal. There was actually quite a bit of excitement amongst the TSA agents as if they had finally caught one of the bad guys. All that ended when the SFPD showed up and explained that I was 100% legal and they wouldn't even write-up a report for the incident. In fact, the SFPD officers were most concerned that I was going to miss my flight. Thanks, fellas!

Long story short ... you can travel through SFO with medical marijuana, but, if you're caught, be prepared to be treated like a criminal by the TSA until your friends, the local police, show-up to save you. And give yourself an extra 30-45 minutes for this charade, because it's not a quick process as you sit there while the TSA flips out and writes up a report.

EdgeCase,

Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your day to let us know about your experience at SFO. I think many patients are concerned about how this exact scenario, could play out in their future travels. I was surprised to hear that you decided to go through security with a glass pipe. For one simple reason. It would seem that it could be considered a weapon / cutting device. Sounds like it was no real concern though. Nice!

It's great to know that at the end of the day all was good, and you were able to proceed as planned. I can imagine the rush a TSA agent must feel at a moment like yours. Doesn't seem to me that there is much excitement at most security check points on average.

Thanks for your information and stay safe traveling through the friendly skies!

Dig the community spirit of sharing information like this! I wonder how the landing will be for me in Arizona? Easy enough, I suppose. But what about getting back on a plane in AZ to come home...anybody gone to Phoenix lately from SF?

You have more courage than I do. I would never try what you did. I understand that you have a need though and sorry that they treated you like a criminal. The whole system is stupid, but I know I am preaching to the choir. :)

Bay Area airports have stated that patients are allowed to travel with medicine. Check out this article from '09: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5823

I'm pretty sure DIA operates under the same guidelines, but not 100%.

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2010/12/flying_tsa_medical_marijuana.php

To answer your "assumption" Sour Sticky, it is true that you can travel with medication, as long as the paperwork checks out. Make sure that you know the rules where you are going to though, and that you are prepared to follow them. There are 5 states which will accept "out of state" recommendations/licenses (Arizona, Maine, Rhode Island, Michigan, and Montana (though they're trying to do away with MMJ laws)).

Arizona should be the same, but you might want to contact a TSA person in AZ and/or the Arizona Airport's local police department, to make sure that they follow the same laws as the rest of the state. Wouldn't want you to get held up or in trouble trying to get back home.

From the way that I've read through the Arizona MMJ rules, it seems to me that they would even allow someone from a Non-MMJ friendly state to partake - as long as you have an MMJ friendly doc from your home state write you a prescription.

Anyone that is traveling TO Denver though, please realize that the way the State laws are written, you have to be a Colorado resident to purchase/have/use MMJ in the state legally. There are some parts of Colorado (Denver, Breckenridge, Nederland (outside of Boulder), etc.) which have "decriminalized" marijuana to a certain extent, but even so, it's not something that *I* personally would want to be caught with, without my redcard.

I myself have also traveled through SFO with medical marijuana, but it was within the state of California from SF to SD. Now I know for a fact that at San Diego International there is no way they will let you travel with Marijuana, even if you have a recommendation. SF is a completely different story. I decided to put it in my bag and not tell any of the agents before I went through. I had my recommendation and if they needed it, they would ask. The bag scanner person noticed it in my bag and the person who searched my bag pulled it out. I instantly told them I had paperwork, and they called SFPD over to verify. Similar to Edge the Officer kinda gave the TSA people a nasty look and scolded them "If he has paperwork, why are you calling me over and wasting my time?" Officer explained to me that a report is filed with the Airport, but that they do not prosecute non-violent crimes.

Now the officer did explain to me a couple of things before I was on my way. He told me that the report is a National report and can get picked up by the Airport you are flying too. But the cop also told me that the paperwork usually takes weeks to submit and transfer through, so odds are you are safe to travel anywhere within the US with up to an OZ of cannibus. Enjoy, but remember each state has their own set of rules and consequences. Wouldn't want to get caught up in a state like Texas, or South Carolina!

GrassRootsHW....I would like to see proof that I could use my recommendation in those states. I always thought each state was subject to their own Recommendations within that state. Would be pretty cool if I could go to a Nasty Red State like Arizona and pick up some medical marijuana.

A good friend of mine was flying out of of state from SFO, he called the day before and declared he was bringing 1oz with him on his 10 day vacation, he was told to check in with a TSA Agent prior to getting in line for screening. So as he tells it he got to the airport walked up to a Agent and declared what he had, the Agent proceeded to walk him thru the security checkpoint without checking him and walked him to his gate. HOWEVER the next time he flew he declared nothing and was "found" with a mason jar full of high quality Meds, the TSA put him in a room with a TSA Inspector who "inspected" his Meds, his Scrip and had him a sign a statement promising to "dispose" of his Meds at his next stop LAX. which I'm sure he did...I personally have only been stopped by TSA 1 time LAX, I had about 1/4 of some Hawaiian Mango 1/8 of Kief and some Mowie Wowie Ear Wax about 2 grams,I didn't have my Scrip or ID ,they got stolen while on vacation, I thought I'm BUSTED in LA by a kid younger than my Son but after some extra searching of my bags and person he handed me my Meds and let me catch my flight home, on the tarmac sitting in my seat I was HIGH HIGH HIGH and I hadn't had a puff in 12 hours. :)

Awesome story Caligrown about your experience at LAX. I have never been stopped at the airport but I know TSA agents have seen a pipe in my bag thru the x-ray and let it through. One time I was standing there waiting for my bag and I could see the pipe on the x-ray screen. The agent glanced over at me, smiled, and let it through. I <3 California.

Going to be interesting to see next time I travel with MMJ if it's the same as before. I think Vegas would be an awesome trip with some fine quality buds. Bring about 150/200 worth with you, hit that in the Casinos and just bake in your motel room.

Also would be interesting to test Texas and see if you can fly into George Bush International with the finest herbs Texas has probably ever seen. Concentrates as well.

Guys just for the record, DO NOT EVER try to fly International. The Medical MMJ Card will not work, and the safety inspection is a lot stronger.

But anywhere in the USA...IF you have a card for MMJ....Then go ahead and fly away!

Traveling with obvious paraphenalia is asking for attention, and I don't play that. I'm not going to the airport to play advocate or argue with TSA, but God bless you if that's your bag.

I always travel with a new, undecorated, black or silver, aluminum $5 straight-shooter/one hitter in my shaving kit. It blends in with the tweezers, razors, clippers etc in that kit. I call it a Q-tip holder. I throw it away before I come back.

I will be lounging at the Venetian in Vegas all next week, and will not be without. Never go to Vegas without, or you're missing out. After I get back I'll share the travel specifics...

Recently went on a trip from SFO to Pittsburgh. I was only going for a couple days so I pre rolled 8 joints stuck and put them in a bag. Got to the airport and let the bag go through. Not a problem at all. I didn't think it would be so easy.

Hello I'm traveling out of SFO next week. I'm traveling to Puerto Rico ( us territory = no international) there is a stop @ Miami then San Juan, pr. I am a medical patient that would like to bring 2-3 grams.. No pipe just bud. I know you can leave with it out of SFO.. But can anybody give me advice on how they would tackle this. First time trying to bring meds and I'm super scared! I'm thinking just leaving it in a small jar in my carry on?

Just keep in mind that if you are caught in the Miami airport with weed the medical card that you show them will be of absolutely no use to you............. and there's a good chance you will lose it, the weed, your flight and for a while perhaps your freedom.

Yeah that's what I'm scared about. But just wondering how this will occur? I haven't ever experience a double carry on check at a stop. I plan to keep it sealed in my carry on until my destination. Im open to any advice anybody can give me.

Flying with bud (no paraphanelia) within the US couldn't be easier my friend. Tightey whitey that shit. There's a 5-6 year long thread pertaining to exactly this on some other forum, complete with input from a former TSA official explaining why this is so simple.

In a nutshell, it's because drug dogs are so rarely used inside airports on domestic flights, if at all. Yes, carrying bud in your checked or carry-on can still be found, so even in a legal state, you still might have to spend a good amount of time explaining and or defending it. Tuck that shat shit and be done with it. Even if for some reason you get selected for a secondary screening, and even with the new x-ray machines, there is no reason for them to be eyeballin your junk for anything but an obvious metallic indicator.

Easy Breezy

I heard the about the tidy whitey.. I have a fear getting caught with it and get smuggling blah blah.. I'm catching a red eye so I'm hoping to just leave it in my carry on. I will have no trouble leaving sfo since they let you carry up to 8 ounces. I'm just trying to bring 2-3 grams.. If I get stoped in Florida I will just play clueless and ask if I can just dispose it. Anybody have any advice?

haha this reminds me of every time i take a cruise or flight, i usually end up smashing like 15-20g into a package smaller than a M&M Mini container and vac sealing it then literally taping it straight to the under side of my d... (omfg it always hurt like hell to remove, specially when the tape managed to get onto the head with travel... shesh) but it worked out many many many many times evne when i was searched like 4-5 times through 2-3 airport hops (several searches between gates) -- but on one cruise my mom kept basically saying "well you have recomendation so just take it, dont worry about it" and i kept tryin to explain to her how it didnt matter in Federal or out of state locations and she just wasnt paying attn i guess (later told me) and kept arguing "just chill out" and told me to just put the entire oz jar im my carry on.... so i figured if she was willing to deal with the mess that came up i would try it out heheh (yea it was stupid but im so unhappy in life and suffering, i just have a hard time givin a fk anymore) so it went through the xray scanning machine in my regular school backpack in a Quart mason jar fluffy as can be, smellin like a skunk and no questions asked....

later cruises i decided i wouldnt be that brazen but i still put the clean bong in my luggage and then carry the oz in my pants, for cruises you dont have to worry much about heavy security yet, its more like airports were 20 years ago, i hope terrorists dont fk that one up to soon for us...its the only way ill travel anymore cause of that exact reason... i can bring my meds and medicate on the trip, and i smoked out in the open on the WHOLE SHIP, im talkin indoor bars ect, only one time someone walked up to me and mentioned, "sir this is a non smoking area, you'll have to move to the bar" ROFL!!!! -- but i roll joints with a crutch so thye kinda look like cigarettes, so people were looking around confused but end result, noone cares and those that do just want a puff usually, you make plenty of friends if you have extra... i try to bring 2x what i need...

oh but bring a bottle of cleaner or buy a pipe your willing to throw away, papers glue will usually go bad with enviornment changes so those dont work that great for cruises, i just go down to the glass studio and throw a quick sick looking piece together and usually let someone else take the chance takin it off the ship if they want to or ill just dump it before search, i dont see a reason to risk something i can make in an hour or two

Ober, good shit. Although the whole taping bit sounds painful lol.

I was also just reminded of another method that might be helpful. A friend suggested grinding up the herb very fine, and filling your own vitamin pills, so that it just looks like ginseng. Hell you could probably do a whole pill bottle like this. Still unnecessary IMO, but if it helps someone great.

Let's keep this pinned to the top of the board. I think many wonder how they can travel in the US with their medication on them.

I have called the SFPD station at SFO and have asked them what their policy is. They told me that as long as I have proper ID, and carry my allowed amount, I will be fine. I still haven't mustered up the balls to do this, but will be traveling to Colorado in the Fall, and I would love to bring an eight for the weekend.

one of my mothers friends is a TSA agent, i finally got to talk to her a few months ago and ofcourse my first questions were how to smuggle my medicine, she basically said keep it under 8oz containers (8 fluid oz - ALL your contianers even, not just the one with herb, so they dont look to search another container and find the medicine one) and that basically they dont even care to look at tea/herbs/potporri/ect... she was like just seperate it into a buncha small containers under 8oz and put them all over your bag so they dont see any large substance and try to keep anything you think would look bad out as well - metals and such, it almost seemed like marijuanna was a fairly safe substance to smuggle but that most other things are what are going to get you caught.... honestly it scares me the idea of putting "several" different packages in my bag, but she made it sound like if i wanted to "be stupid" then go ahead and do what i wanted hah, the odd part was how non-shallant (sp?) she seemed about it all, like it was no big deal, BUT she is a TSA agent in northern cali too so that could make a bit of difference.... and yes she does operate the xray often heh..

anyone know about san jose or oakland airport policy?

Oak and San Jose are all suppose to be cool with it if you follow the rules. I'm leaving Wednesday night out of sfo. Puting my medicine in a small jar in my carry on with my doctor slip in my pocket just incase. Wish me luck!

Let us know how that turns out.... If we don't hear back in a few days then I'm guessing it went bad..... But from reading the other posting it should be all good, either if you tell the TSA you have medication or not you'll be on your way once SFPD shows up..... Good luck & enjoy.....

I hope everything turns out good. I leave Wednesday night and I'll make sure I update my status every stop. I have one stop before my destination. So kinda nerve racking.

Have gone through 360 scan a couple of times without removing small new/clean glass piece in my pocket, scan was no problemo. Also pitch the glass as suggested above for the the return trip

please let us know how everything went for you today.

Well guys don't jinx me but so far sfo was a breeze

Send in the Dogs, lets see how you hold up to anxiety :P j/k - good luck, hope all turns out well..

So landed @ my destination with my meds! I was kinda too easy. I just kept it on my carry on. So when I was in sfo, I asked the first TSA agent who said don't even mention it just stay quiet. If they find it be ready with your slip.. Sent my bag through the X-ray.. Nothing..... Grab my bags and walked off.. So just to catch everybody up. Left sfo, change planes in Miami and took another plane to puerto Rico.... No problem what so ever. Now time to get medicated on the beach!!

Score for International! Yahoo! Congratz, glad it all turned out well...

if you ever wanna scare yourself check out Locked Up Abroad (think its also called Banged Up Abroad some places) - crazy stories that would scare you from wantin to do anything like that internationally, but i would think they would have alot more shows if it were actually a common occurance... i mean sure it happens but its probably rarely that bad..

Does it matter if we check it in or carry on???

Ober: puerto Rico is not considered international so I wouldn't count that as a score. Its a US territory .

Fly high: I'm not sure if it matters. The Tsa guy said don't mention anything about it. So I'm assuming if you do check it in make sure your slip is right next to your meds. All I know is from my experience which I used carry on method and ready to show my prescription slip

On my way home from pr. I would like to add do not bring meds back from your trip if it's not a medical marijuanna state.. In puerto Rico while I was waiting @ the gate.. I experienced a dog sniffer who sniff my bag and walked off.. Again just haring my experience with you guys..

Thanks for the update hood.

This is a great thread that has a lot of value.

Looking forward to reading updates from other travelers.

Hey was bud the only meds you took with you or did you bring kief or wax, etc?

Flyhigh: all I brought was bud 2 brownies, and 2 cookies

I'm planning on taking a flight to Vegas soon from San Jose
I'm sure il make it on to the flight with my meds and paperwork
in my carry on , but I'm sketched about landing in Vegas does my carry on
get checked before l leave the Vegas airport ?

Once you land at your destination you never get searched unless it's International and you go through customs.

They do not prioritize marijuana even in the most strict states in terms of reporting, so I would bet that you will be fine on your trip to Vegas so long as you have the proper documents.

They shouldn't check it. On my flight I stopped at Miami and changed planes ....landed at my destination and they never checked my bags. Just don't bring no meds back!

I flew from SFO twice in 2011. Each time I called the SFPD, airport division a few days before my flight to inquire about its policy (and to make sure it hadn't changed between my first and second trips). I was told to bring my paperwork and declare it to TSA, who would call SFPD to OK everything. As long as my paperwork was in order, I'd be allowed to proceed with amounts commensurate with personal consumption -- I figure anything up to an ounce is no problem. I was also assured that though I would be informed that the laws in my destination city may not allow medical cannabis, neither the SFPD, nor the TSA would inform authorities at the destination airport of my pending arrival.

Each time I flew, I brought small quantities of multiple strains, concentrates, brownies and pills, along with papers, a roach clip, and cheap glass pipe I would feel OK about throwing away, all tucked into a pelican waterproof box. The first time I flew, I put the different strains in different baggies. The second time, I worried about looking like a small time dealer with so many strains in little baggies (especially since the woman I spoke to at SFPD mentioned "only in personal amounts," twice during our phone call), so I got two large 7-day reminder pill boxes to put the different strains in and sealed the covers with medical cannabis stickers from jars and baggies I got from dispensaries. I took a pic of my box and its contents when I got to my destination, but I guess I can't post it here. Oh well...

I made no attempt to hide it. When I went through security, I had the pelican in my computer backpack which would go under my seat. I didn't declare it at TSA, because I knew they would call the SFPD if they found it and had any concerns about it. Each trip, the TSA agents smiled and wished me a nice trip ;-) SFO has private TSA and it makes a difference compared to other airports I've flown through. I understand one can travel from OAK and LAX carrying cannabis, but given my two experiences at SFO, I will always choose to fly out of the Bay Area from SFO.

I also understand there are other airports around the country from which one can fly from with proper paperwork, but do your research, and don't plan on bringing anything back home, unless you're flying from friendly airport to friendly airport. Also, don't count on being able to stay within security during flight changes, so non-stops are extremely important. If you do have to leave security in a non-friendly airport, you might as well throw it away, as it's not worth risking arrest and prosecution for a personal amount of weed. Keep that in mind when flying during the winter, when flights are sometimes diverted due to weather.

It's strange that flying with cannabis from friendly airports is less stressful than ever, despite security being more extensive than ever.


So...

-- Only fly with cannabis from friendly airports and never bring amounts large enough to cause concern. Unless you will fly back from a friendly airport, only bring what you'll use and throw away the paraphernalia and whatever you don't finish before you head to the airport for your trip home.

-- Always carry Cannabis in a carryon bag that will not be checked. You want to have the cannabis in your possession at all times. Don't put it in your checked luggage, as the TSA will have sole possession of it until they release it from inspection. Don't put it in carry on luggage which might need to be checked if the overhead bins are full. The only time it should be out of your possession should be when it is going through the xray. I can't find the link of the post where I read that, but it makes lots of sense. In addition, don't try to hide it on your person. It will just look like you're trying to smuggle something if you have to go through a backscatter machine or a pat down. You're a patient, not a criminal.

-- Have an emergency disposal plan if you get diverted to an unfriendly airport, and have to reenter security. My first trip (to an un-named airport in the midwest) the flight attendants were expecting to be diverted to Tennessee because of the ice storm that day. I was fortunate that my plane was one of only three permitted to land that night! If I had been diverted, I would have been SOL.

-- Call ahead and ask what the current policy is. If the police ask you any questions on the phone, politely decline to answer -- you shouldn't answer any questions about anything from law enforcement without the advice of an attorney, and the police phone calls are taped, but they won't ask in the first place.

-- Make a checklist of paperwork and make sure you have everything you need before you get in line for security.

--- Do not take it out of your carryon until you are off airport property at your destination. Don't brag about it to other passengers -- I know that sounds obvious, but people do stupider things. Taking a schedule I drug through federal airports with impunity is a nice privilege which could easily disappear given a different political climate. It's important not to draw the attention of too many people who would be easily freaked-out by it.

-- Have a nice trip!

What about traveling international with like 5 omicron carts full and your omicron of course? I will be going to Spain in a couple months.... I really want to take it with me, I don't want to have to be asking around for herbs, although I probably am just to see the quality. ( still won't beat Cali ) but we'll see... Anyone ?????? Thanks!!

I will be traveling to Arizona soon for spring training and I plan on bringing about 5-6 g's with me for a 4 day trip. I plan on bringing none back with me when I fly back on Monday morning. I will update all of you and let you know how this goes.

Look in my personal experience I have snuck bud once in San Diego's airport in my jock strap and then I also have claimed it legally at SFO, had my paperwork checked by the cops, and then I headed out on my way.

As long as you have proper medical documentation you can fly with it as soon as a Police officer checks your rec. By the time they file the report it will be weeks maybe even months later and they will just throw it out.

Make sure to slap a "Legalize It" sticker on a Maricopa County patrol car.

@ Ceelo 310 : DUDE..i was just researching the same thing you asked! Also going to Spain (end of May) and was wondering how safe it would be to travel International with your Omicron. Should we fill the cartridges before hand?

A friend of mine recently took his Omicron with a filled cartridge to Brazil and got through customs with ease. He said that he just kept the Omicron in his toiletry bag and they didnt say anything (not sure if he disassembled it or not). I wonder, if there were dogs at the airport, if they could smell the concentrates in the cartridges? Or if you were questioned, that you can get away with saying that it was some kind of electronic cigarrette or a fancy nose trimmer LOL

i am flying from burbank ca to AZ and i want to bring brownies that i have already made, i want to place them in a zip locked bag, and put it in my carry on i will have all my paper work, am i safe?

As long ax the brownie mix was Ghiardelli double choc ,you should be good to go ,cos if a dog gets a handle on ,it will want to devour not bark/alert ,LoL ~ j/k (seriously ,think 'bout it ,will a dog get past the exotic choc aroma ?/?

Great info on this page, adn i want to know bout leaving sfo and landing in MIAmi???

Can't vouch for current times ,but brings to mind Christmas Day ,'65 ,coming into MIA from MontegoBay ,Jam. ,HEAVY

!!! (carrying 4 lbs manicured Black Ganja ,ouch) ~ tho` concealed in lining of raincoat ,old ,customs geezer got lucky w/

fluke (hand slipped on carry-on ,trying to open clasp ,brushing against coat being held over left arm ,then WTF is that

?? ~ cut to chase ,@ 22 yo ,forced out of college ,fiance`/myself ,tho` 1st offense (1st time arrested ,ever) ,ended up

giving feds 13 mos + 11 mos parole !! `

Moral of story ,NEVERt take '"RIDICULOUS"' chances !

There is a new Vapor pen out called Eureka Vapor and I travel every were with it and people think its a E CIg.. I went SF airport and the TSA asked me to show them the pen and use it.. So I puffed it right infront of them to show it works and it was not a bomb or some shit and they just let me go to my flight after seeing it worked.. They did not smell or know what its was.. They thought it was an E Cig...