Photo Credit: Thrillist

You know that dreaded feeling you get after you book a flight somewhere. How am I going to get my weed there? I always consider it right after I hit the accept button on my flight. For some reason, up until then, I have failed to really consider it. I enjoy smoking a big joint at home so no doubt I will want to enjoy smoking a fat doobie on the shores of the lovely island vacation I am about to go on. If you are traveling home for Thanksgiving with the family there is no place on earth where cannabis is more required. The thing about traveling with weed is that it is still illegal and for the most part if you put it in the face of a TSA agent they will take it from you. Most states where it is legal will only throw it out or turn it over to the local police, who will most likely not do anything because it is legal there. If you do plan to travel with cannabis, put it somewhere that it will not be obvious to those looking for bombs and for goodness sake do not talk about it with people who could get into trouble, namely your friendly budtenders. Discretion is key.

I know that you are taking whatever you buy from me home. I do not care, just do not tell me about it. When you do that you are breaking the law and you are putting pressure on me to make you leave. Honestly, there are two people you do not tell about taking weed out of state: budtenders and the police. You know who cares about you taking weed out of state? Nobody. Just because I work in a weed shop does not mean I have some knowledge on how to smuggle it out of state. So please, just do not say anything or I will have to ask you to leave.

I like my job, it is not worth me risking my job to tell you how to smuggle your candy, that looks just like candy you buy at the grocery store, out of state. Your weird behavior will make you get caught, not how good your cover is. Seventy-five percent of the customers I help will not even leave me one dollar for a tip so why should I risk my job and tell them how to get something illegal back home? If you would like marijuana in your state why not get out and vote for it? There are plenty of states that have this as a ballot issue right now, plenty of states would benefit from the tax revenue from marijuana, so why not become a part of the solution? Instead, I hear people saying the same thing every day, “oh my state will never legalize this”. Well, everyone behind you is also from Wyoming, Nebraska, Texas, Florida. If all your states citizens are coming to Colorado to buy weed and risk taking it home why will everyone not get out and vote for the issue?

Please do not get me wrong, I understand your plight, I grew up in no-tolerance Delaware and we could not get good weed to save our lives. I used to have to drive out of state to buy from people in Maryland and New York, so I understand the desire to have the good stuff. I was not telling everyone about it though. The gummies, the vape pens, the drinks are all excellent items that are worth making the trip to Colorado for, just stop talking about it.

Recently the TSA put up a tweet on their social media page telling people how to take cannabis with them when they travel. They let us all know that it is not their job to search for marijuana, especially personal amounts small enough for a week-long trip. It was taken down soon thereafter but I believe it was a good idea that they chose to do that. Cannabis is medicine, and everyone should be able to take their medicine with them when they travel. Imagine not being able to take your allergy, blood pressure, or depression medication with you when you go somewhere on vacation? The vacation would be terrible and you would maybe choose to not even go. The purpose of the TSA writing that tweet was to let everyone know that there is real crime out there that they are looking for, like bombs and terrorists. Nobody cares about your vaporizer pens that look like an electronic cigarette. Nor do they care about those five gummies in your bag that look like the gummies you buy from the grocery store. Just do not be so obvious about it.

It is illegal for me to tell you how to travel out of state with marijuana, so please stop asking me. Listen to me when I say words like small and discreet. I will answer any of the questions you have regarding marijuana accept that one. I can tell you a little secret though, nobody cares that you are taking cannabis with you, and once you get out of a legal state your bags do not get checked again when you land, assuming you are flying domestically. TSA’s priorities are in stopping more terrorist attacks, not taking your small bottle of cannabis tincture, so just chill. The worst thing that could happen to you is you are delayed getting on your flight. So, take care when packing your suitcases that you check under the plane, nobody wants to bust you for something that is legal, just do not be flippant about it. Remember they are the TSA, not the DEA.

Cannabis products are designed for adults 21 and older. Please consume responsibly.

Chris Fisher

Chris grew up in Dover, Delaware with his sights set on the wild west. Inspired by 80’s and 90’s- era ski movies Chris found his way to Gunnison, Colorado in 1999 to attend Western State College, now Western State University, and to ski Crested Butte. In this little mountain town in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo mountains Chris also found a lovely little plant called cannabis. Chris still lives in Colorado, having moved to Fort Collins after graduating to follow his love of skiing, mountain biking, and all things outdoors. Currently working as a budtender with 7 years experience in the cannabis industry Chris has a passion for cannabis, a desire to write, and a love for Colorado.