🌿 Cannabis / marijuana

TSA operates under federal law, not state law, so finding cannabis — even in a legal state — requires officers to refer the matter to local law enforcement. What happens next depends on the local police: in some legal states, officers may simply confiscate the cannabis and let you go; in others, or at any international checkpoint, you face potential criminal charges. The risk is not worth taking.

Within Canada, the rules are complicated: Transport Canada technically prohibits cannabis on domestic flights, and the CBSA enforces drug laws at all airports. More critically, transporting cannabis across any international border — including into the US — is a federal criminal offence in Canada regardless of legality at either end. Even on a purely domestic Canadian route, you should not travel with cannabis by air.

TSA's stated mission is to find security threats, not drugs — but if a screener or their equipment detects cannabis, they are required to involve law enforcement. Drug-detecting dogs are sometimes present at airports, and cannabis can trigger X-ray alerts due to its density and packaging. Do not rely on the fact that screeners are not looking for drugs as a reason to attempt it.

Turn around and do not proceed through the checkpoint. There is typically no obligation to surrender yourself at that point — you can exit the terminal, dispose of the item, and return. Do not attempt to hand it to a friend or family member in a public area of the airport, as this can itself attract attention. The consequences of being caught far outweigh any inconvenience.