What If I Get Caught with Weed While Flying?

With weed being legal in California, more and more people are showing up to airports like the Santa Monica Airport hoping to bring their weed along with them. However, many people may not know that they can still face penalties for attempting to bring weed onto a flight, even though it may be legal in California. What happens if the TSA catches you with weed?

Since marijuana is legal in California, the TSA will likely confiscate the weed should they find it during the screening process. However, they may still contact local authorities if the amount of weed in your possession is too high or if you are not of a legal age to possess it.

If caught with illegal amounts of weed, you may face penalties pursuant to §11357 of the California Health and Safety Code.

While weed is legal here in LA, the situation remains more complex due to the nature of air travel. We’ll discuss more in detail below.

However, if you are currently facing charges for possession of marijuana, contact us at 323-655-5700 to schedule a free consultation to discuss the details of your case. William Kroger is an expert in drug law and has more than two decades of experience dealing with marijuana related charges of all types. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin preparing your defense.

Penalties for Marijuana Possession When Flying in LA

The first, and most important, aspect to understand about marijuana and air travel is that the TSA operates under federal jurisdiction, not state. While weed may be legal within California law, the TSA is bound by federal law, and therefore could technically notify federal law enforcement.

However, they are unlikely to do so.

• The most likely outcome is that they will simply confiscate your weed. The DEA is almost never notified for cases involving marijuana in airports, and the TSA won’t bother notifying local authorities unless you possess large amounts or are not of legal age. In those cases, you may incur penalties which we’ll discuss below.
• It is still not recommended to attempt air travel with marijuana in your possession. It’s still illegal to possess marijuana on an airplane due to federal regulations. You also need to consider your destination; if marijuana is illegal there, you will likely face harsher penalties if it is found when you land.

What Does This Mean for LA Residents?

Since recreational marijuana is legal in California, what would happen if an LA resident got caught with weed in somewhere like the Santa Monica Airport?

The short answer is that, in California, if you are over 21 and caught with a legal amount of weed, the TSA may simply confiscate it. However, it is still not advised to attempt air travel with marijuana, especially if it is not legal in the state you are flying to.

There are several circumstances where the TSA may still contact local law enforcement, such as when you break California state law. We’ll discuss this below.

Penalties for Marijuana Possession in LA Airports

If you are caught in an airport with illegal amounts of marijuana, or are not of legal age to possess marijuana, local law enforcement may charge you with penalties pursuant to §11357 of the California Health and Safety Code (HSC):

• If you possess less than 28.5 grams of cannabis or 8 grams of concentrated cannabis (wax, oil, or resin) and you are:
  • Over 21 - possession is legal
  • Over 18 but under 21 - punishable by a fine up to $100
  • Under 18 - punishable by a four hours of drug counseling and up to 10 hours of community service

• If you possess more than 28.5 grams of cannabis or 8 grams of concentrated cannabis and you are:
  • Over 21 - punishable by a misdemeanor and up to 6 months in county jail and/or a fine of up to $500
  • Over 18 but under 21 - punishable by up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $500, or both
  • Under 18 - punishable by up to 10 hours of drug counseling and up to 60 hours community service

Special Circumstances and Other Questions

Can You Fly With Weed From Legal State to Legal State?

No. Despite marijuana being legal in some states, it remains illegal under federal law. Although the TSA's primary focus is on public safety rather than drug enforcement, agents are required to report any marijuana they find during security screenings to local law enforcement. To avoid any potential legal issues, it is best not to travel with marijuana.

Can You Fly With Edibles Between Two Legal States?

No, you cannot. Even though edibles may not be the main concern at security checks, traveling with them is still against federal law. It is safest to avoid carrying any form of marijuana, including edibles, to prevent legal complications.

Can I Fly With Weed If I Have a Medical Marijuana Card?

No. Medical exemptions for cannabis are irrelevant outside of the state in which the exemption is issued, and airplanes are under federal jurisdiction so there are no exemptions to the illegality of cannabis.

If you are flying between states, then your medical marijuana card will likely not be valid in the state you are traveling to anyway.

What if I’m Flying Between Two States Where Weed is Legal?

It is still illegal even if you are traveling between states where weed is legal. The airplane you are traveling on is technically under federal jurisdiction where cannabis is illegal.

Instances where travelers are caught attempting to cross state lines with drugs can be prosecuted more harshly and with larger penalties. This is why, even though the TSA may not find it, it is not wise to attempt travel across state lines with marijuana in your possession.

Will the TSA Find Weed in My Checked Bag?

Probably. It is more likely that the TSA will find weed in your checked luggage because checked bags are randomly searched at a higher rate than carry-ons. Just like you, your checked bag goes through a number of screening procedures to ensure there is nothing illegal or dangerous in it.

If you try to hide large amounts of marijuana in your bag, you may be detained when you land and exit the plane. Your cannabis will likely be confiscated and you may be faced with legal action for the possession of large amounts of marijuana, especially if you are travelling to a state where it is illegal.

Can I Take Hash/Oil/Edibles on a Plane?

No, you cannot take any form of cannabis on a plane. Hash, oil, resin, wax, and edibles are all considered forms of concentrated cannabis, which is regulated under the same laws as flower, but possession limits are lower.

In California, you may only legally possess 8 grams of concentrated cannabis compared to 28.5 grams of flower cannabis.

Does the TSA Look for Marijuana?

In an Instagram post on the TSA’s official account, they clarified that TSA screening procedures are focused on identifying potential threats to airport security, and, as such, TSA officers do not specifically search for marijuana during the screening process.

However, just because they aren’t looking for it doesn’t mean they won’t find it. TSA screening procedures regularly reveal drugs of many types. There may also be sniffing dogs present at the airport.

In California, drug dogs and their handlers likely won’t do much with personal amounts of marijuana other than simply confiscating it for disposal. Still, it’s safer not to take that gamble and leave your weed at home when traveling.

What if I am Found With Weed After Landing in LA?

If you are found with legal amounts of weed after landing in LA and are on your way to exit the airport, they won’t do anything. You are unlikely to be found in the first place since arriving passengers are not typically screened at all.

Realistically, you are on California soil with an amount that is legal in this state, so they probably won’t care. If you possess illegal amounts, that is when it becomes an issue and you could be charged as described above.

Marijuana Possession in Airports

While you may not face any legal action for attempting to travel with personal amounts of marijuana here in LA, it is still not recommended to try. At the very least, it will likely be confiscated and you will lose it forever.

If you attempt travel with larger amounts of marijuana, or are not of a legal age to possess it, that is when you may face more serious legal action from local enforcement agencies. Still, you can rest assured that if you forget or accidentally leave small amounts of weed in your bags when flying out of LA, it will likely just be confiscated.

However, if you are currently facing any marijuana related charges, you should contact us immediately. William Kroger is an expert on marijuana law here in California and has successfully defended against drug charges of all types. If you need a criminal defense attorney here in LA, William Kroger and the rest of our trusted team here are your best option for a successful defense.

Contact us at 323-655-5700 for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.