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The Oakland airport pot conundrum
Airports in California are in a bit of a pickle - their state allows the medicinal use of marijuana, but until last year, no airport in the nation allowed users to legally carry their stash on a plane.Oakland airport is the only one with an official policy permitting pot carrying passengers to fly, though officials do point out that they run the risk of being arrested if they are searched at their destination (if they are flying somewhere medicinal marijuana is not recognized).
Pot for medicinal use has been approved in California since 1996. Until 2008, any marijuana found at Oakland airport meant the cops would be summoned, and the stash thrown away - even though it was obtained legally. FAA regulations ban people from carrying marijuana on a plane - unless it is authorized by a Federal or State law.
According to a local Sheriff, some other Californian airports have an unwritten tolerance policy, while others like Burbank, Ontario and San Diego do not. The Sheriff says all airports in the state should have an official policy supporting the state law, but at the moment, Oakland airport is the only one.
Obviously this does not mean that any pothead can fly in and out of Oakland with a couple of baggies, the distribution and use is still regulated, but those people that need their daily joint to relieve pain can fly knowing they won't be harassed.
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Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
mia white Oct 19th 2009 9:12PM
I thought that Federal Law prohibits smoking on airplanes?
Gregg Oct 19th 2009 9:20PM
taking it to where theyre going retard
LGP Oct 19th 2009 9:51PM
"Carrying" a joint on a plane is not the same as "smoking" a joint, people who carry cigarettes on a plane does not mean that they will smoke on the plane
Gary Oct 19th 2009 11:46PM
Sure just make it legal, pot today and crack tomorrow where would it stop
robert Nov 8th 2009 6:37PM
I like banging stupid girls, Mia. When do you want to get together?
Plumberpete Oct 19th 2009 9:35PM
They should De-criminalize it
Rob Oct 19th 2009 9:48PM
How does a state law go against federal law? Brushing up om my pot research, it appears people are walking into legit businesses and ordering pot like I might order a sandwich at the deli. All I want to know is when is the pot store coming to my town in Virginia?
looker Oct 19th 2009 10:01PM
VIRGINIA , NEVER
LindaMarie Oct 19th 2009 10:12PM
You need to vote in like we did here in Cali...... or better yet...move here! However, you must have a medical need in order to get a permit. Anything from stress to back pain is what you have to prove. =)
Jeanne Oct 19th 2009 10:34PM
Here here! In Louisiana too. It's already listed in our top 10 crops, wth, eh? I know I sure could benefit from it medically, I could never smoke it, but there's other ways like the very difficult tea or in butter. My mom could stand to use it too to help with a lot of her problems I know.
flownotup Oct 19th 2009 10:50PM
As soon as you and your fellow voters elect people who aren't in the pocket of wretched corporate interests.
Funny, isn't it, how tobacco is coming out of the seams in America which is proven to cause massive harm and death, yet weed and it's massively useful cousin, hemp aren't. We are a nation of unlucky Forrest Gumps.
luvsmike piazza31 Oct 19th 2009 11:14PM
There's a little convenience/country store in the eastern panhandle of WV that sells legal BUD among other paraphernalia, food, and beer. They also sell fishing stuff and worms. What a combo, huh? Get stoned-drunk and go fishing! Lol! I know this cuz i lived there in the panhandle for 12 years. I never bought it myself but i did inquire about it cuz the case that it was in was right by the register. Had to do a double take on it. Finally i asked the cashier is that what i think it is? And sure enough it was! The store was about a mile down the road from me. I think they should just legalize marijuana but they won't cuz the government has no way of putting a tax on it. People will just grow it themselves.
Ed Oct 19th 2009 10:14PM
this country would make so much money on taxes and get outta this horrible debt if they just legalized it....its so stupid not too
Cynthia Oct 23rd 2009 5:43PM
really, do we really need that here, i mean come on!
kassy Oct 19th 2009 10:32PM
Oh for heavens sake. This is so stupid. We waste so much money over the issue of pot. Meanwhile drunk drivers mow down innocent people in droves, people are shot or beaten to death in the streets and we fuss over marihuana. Anyone who has done even basic reading on this substance can see what a sham this all is. It is non-addictive ... at most a habituating. So can chocolate or ice-cream become.
One of the safest medicines for pain and nausea ... the best known treatment for glaucoma. Oh yes ... some redneck idiot is going to scream at me. Well guy, read up before you do. Articles by the American Medical Association for a start ... if you can read. And then give me a coherent and reasonably well-spelled reply.
Richard Oct 20th 2009 12:03AM
Your what hurts when you pee? I could hardly understand what point you were trying to make. Are you stoned? I know I am...
Farfromapotsmoker Oct 19th 2009 10:50PM
I know that pot helps with the nausea caused from chemotherapy but it is a drug and needs to be treated as such.
stephanie Oct 19th 2009 11:15PM
Let me start by saying I AM NOT a pothead, don't do it at all now but I did try it during my college years. It is no more than a strong drink and the fact that it is illegal is due to the fact that billions of dollars are being made by crooks and mobster types who smuggle/sell it. Same thing as liquor once was long ago. If marijuana were ever legalized it would put these hoodlums out of business. They will continue to pay BIG money to the "right" people to keep marijuana illegal !
Jim Oct 20th 2009 12:22AM
Stephanie and Kassy,
The real reason MJ is not legal is because it is not grown and processed in the USA by a corporation. If a corporation was processing, then they would have a lobbiest in DC ( district of criminals). The lobbiest would talk to all the right Congress people and it would be legalized like tobacco and alcohol.
ladyrenwal Oct 19th 2009 11:21PM
to: FARFROMAPOTSMOKER:
Yes, it should be treated the same as alcohol and caffeine...decriminalized and available for purchase accordingly.
ALSO have you seen this "Breaking News":
WASHINGTON (Oct. 19) - Pot-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for federal prosecution in states that allow medical marijuana, prosecutors were told Monday in a new policy memo issued by the Justice Department.
Under the policy spelled out in a three-page legal memo, federal prosecutors are being told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state law.
tadaa!