TSA secretly starts allowing passengers to bring weed onto planes - but there's a subtle catch

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has quietly changed its rules to allow passengers to travel with marijuana on commercial flights.

The policy update, added to the agency’s website on April 27, says doctor-prescribed cannabis can now be stored in both carry-on and checked bags.

But travelers shouldn’t get too comfortable just yet, because there’s still an important catch for anyone planning to fly with weed.

While medical cannabis is now legal in 40 US states and Washington, DC, marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, meaning airports still operate in a legal gray area because they fall under federal jurisdiction, The New York Post reported.

The rule change follows a major federal shake-up after the Trump administration signed an order reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug, acknowledging it has accepted medical uses and easing restrictions around research and regulation.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order on April 23, just four days before the TSA quietly updated its website.

TSA says officers are focused on security, not weed

TSA insists its priority is passenger safety rather than looking for travelers carrying cannabis.

"TSA’s screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers," the revised policy states, per The Independent.

"Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for illegal drugs, but if any illegal substance or evidence of criminal activity is discovered during security screening, TSA will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer," they added.

The change still doesn’t fully legalize flying with cannabis

Although the federal reclassification is a huge moment for the cannabis industry, marijuana has not been federally legalized.

The new classification mainly changes how the drug is regulated, making it easier to carry out medical research and giving legal and tax benefits to licensed cannabis businesses in states where medical marijuana is already allowed.

Lawyers told SFGATE that TSA officers usually don’t take action against travelers carrying small amounts of weed. But bringing large amounts can still land passengers in serious trouble.

Featured image credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty