It's OK to pack medical marijuana on a flight ... sometimes. What you need to know

The TSA updated its “What Can I Bring?” page to reiterate that medical marijuana is allowed in carry-on bags and checked luggage with special instructions. Experts note that a major caveat remains because the final decision rests with the TSA officer at the checkpoint. State laws regulating marijuana vary, so airports may not treat medical marijuana products the same way. The TSA did not say its underlying policy changed, but the update followed federal actions involving cannabis-derived products and FDA-approved drugs. Those actions placed qualifying medical marijuana activity into a federal Schedule III framework rather than treating it uniformly as Schedule I contraband, creating a legal basis for medical patients to travel with qualifying products.

"The TSA updated its website to reflect its long-standing policy of allowing medical marijuana in carry-on bags and checked luggage, but experts say there are caveats. It's OK to pack medical marijuana when heading to the airport in California, but whether those products will still be with you when you land remains somewhat of an open question, experts say."

"At the end of April, the Transportation Security Administration quietly updated its “What Can I Bring?” web page to reiterate that medical marijuana is fine to bring aboard a flight in a carry-on or pack into a checked bag - with special instructions. The Times reached out to TSA for clarity on what those special instructions are, but officials did not provide an explanation."

"In any case, there's a pretty major asterisk. The agency notes that “the final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.” And a patchwork of state laws regulating marijuana means not all airports will treat the products the same. The TSA said its policy on medical marijuana has not changed, but the website update occurred after the Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration announced they would issue an order to place FDA-approved drugs containing cannabis derivatives and marijuana products regulated by a state medical marijuana license in the Schedule lll category of the Controlled Substances Act."

"That means the products are considered to have moderate-to-low potential for physical and psychological dependence. “For the first time, qualifying medical marijuana activity is recognized within a federal Schedule III structure rather than being treated uniformly as Schedule I contraband,” said Meital Manzuri, managing partner with Manzuri Law, which specializes in cannabis and hemp law. Under this categorization, there is now a legal basis for medical patients to travel with qualifying medical marijuana p"

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