# Are there any laws prohibiting marijuana dispensaries at airports? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067 "2021-11-09T20:26:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/21 "2021-11-10T21:33:24Z")
Okay, shows you how familiar I am with airports–back in the day I vowed I would not get onto a plane without removing items of clothing, being subjected to radiation or being touched by strangers so that pretty much includes me out. I do know quite a lot about how to use delivery loading zones to secure awesome short term parking though so that’s something! ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/22 "2021-11-16T00:07:24Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I’d bet a million dollars I don’t have that if you replaced weed with alcohol at airport lounges and in flight, you’d have a lot less angry passenger/flight attendant confrontations. I think you mean the other way around. Replace alcohol with weed. And I expect you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/23 "2021-11-16T03:23:53Z")
Ooops. Yes. All I would need is a place that serves macaroni in like, a green plastic bowl and I am good. And a blanket. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/24 "2021-11-16T19:09:25Z")
Not sure. But if a drink and a couple of slices of airport pizza cost twenty bucks, and stoners complain government weed is priced too high, who is going to buy from an airport? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/25 "2021-11-16T20:44:36Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Cannabis is legal in Canada, but since you can’t smoke in airports, or on the tarmac, or on the plane, I doubt you could get a licence for a pot shop, especially since there can be international flights leaving for countries where it’s still illegal, eg the US. Doubtful that not being able to smoke it there is much of a consideration. I’ve seen plenty of cigars in duty free shops despite not being able to smoke them at the airport. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/26 "2021-11-16T20:47:31Z")
You could make it a coffee shop style setting. You don’t bring in any nor leave with any. You just have a community toking/vaping area where the house supplies everything, you just pay as you go until you and/or your flight is ready. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/27 "2021-11-17T01:31:54Z")
I’m not saying it is a good or bad idea. But I do think the other airport restaurants would like it. In practice, will never happen. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/28 "2021-11-19T16:24:05Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Doubtful that not being able to smoke it there is much of a consideration. I’ve seen plenty of cigars in duty free shops despite not being able to smoke them at the airport. And let’s not forget about edibles. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/29 "2021-11-19T17:05:41Z")
> [@mtnmatt](#): > > But they were inside the TSA checkpoint, meaning you had already passed the risky part - why ditch your stash then? If you are inside the TSA checkpoint (where you can still have your McDonald’s soda but will have to dump it soon) then you haven’t passed the “risky” part yet. The “risky” part is _after_ the throwaway receptacles for drinks, cannabis, etc. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/30 "2021-11-19T17:20:31Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > cannabis for personal use, carried discretely, is not a priority for them. _However_ , batteries used with cartridges are a huge concern. That seems like a good set of priorities. I don’t really care whether the guy sitting next to me is discretely carrying some weed, but I care a whole lot if he catched the plane o fire. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/31 "2021-11-19T17:47:51Z")
I would mind a great deal if someone took jimsonweed before getting on the plane. I would not care at all if a fellow passenger was mellow or sleepy. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/32 "2021-11-19T18:16:56Z")
Inside the TSA checkpoint means already through the TSA checkpoint. Where you do not have to dump drinks/liquid because you are already through the TSA checkpoint and therefore already through the “risky” part. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/33 "2021-11-19T18:45:21Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Inside the TSA checkpoint means already through the TSA checkpoint. Where you do not have to dump drinks/liquid because you are already through the TSA checkpoint and therefore already through the “risky” part This reminds me of “literally” vs. “figuratively”. If by “through the checkpoint” you mean “inside the checkpoint” I guess that works. Until you need a term to describe actually being inside of the checkpoint–where the line zigs-zags and there are trash cans to throw away your drinks. IMO, “Inside the checkpoint” refers everything between where you enter the TSA controlled area at the beginning, and where you put on your shoes and are through the TSA checkpoint at the end. If I call my uncle “my aunt” that’s cool as far as I’m concerned but if I want to communicate with someone else about my uncle it’s best to refer to him as “my uncle”. ETA–I just read part of a [Sun-Times article](https://chicago.suntimes.com/cannabis/2020/1/9/21058525/cannabis-amnesty-box-ohare-midway-airport-tsa-security) about this. They referred to the boxes as “at the end of” the TSA area which doesn’t clarify really. > The bright blue cannabis amnesty boxes were installed at the end of every TSA checkpoint at O’Hare and Midway airports But it makes me suspect that you are correct–the boxes are not inside the TSA area (which would make more sense, IMO) but after you clear TSA. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/34 "2021-11-19T19:00:08Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Until you need a term to describe actually being inside of the checkpoint–where the line zigs-zags and there are trash cans to throw away your drinks. “In the security line.” “Going through security.” ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067/35 "2021-11-20T02:29:10Z")
Having just been at O’Hare, I can testify from personal observation that there are cannabis amnesty boxes in the Terminal 3 gate area after you have been through the TSA security checkpoints. I did not see any prior to passing through TSA. I remember wondering about them, until it clicked that while I could have (I presume) legally purchased cannabis products in Illinois it would not have been a good idea to have them in my possession when I arrived in North Carolina. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-laws-prohibiting-marijuana-dispensaries-at-airports/954067.md?page=1)