Why You Can’t Bring Recreational Cannabis Back from States Where It’s Legal
If you’re planning an upcoming vacation to Nevada, California, Colorado, or Oregon (or any state where recreational marijuana has been legalized), then you may be planning a trip to a dispensary during your stay. However, you shouldn’t plan to purchase any more product than you plan to use on your vacation, since you can’t bring anything from the dispensary home as a souvenir. While you may have purchased those cannabis products legally, you cannot bring them back to Arizona. Here’s why.
State marijuana laws are localized.
The federal government has largely shown that they will not interfere with states’ laws concerning medical and recreational cannabis. However, each state’s laws are highly localized. Marijuana and other cannabis products sold in state dispensaries are all produced within that state. That means that you can’t bring marijuana from one state to another, even if it’s legal in both states. The moment you cross state lines, you are breaking the law.
Marijuana is still illegal on a federal level.
While the federal government has backed down on marijuana enforcement at the state level, they still have strict rules and enforcement in areas where they have full jurisdiction—such as interstate commerce. Air travel is also regulated by the federal government, so you should never try to bring any cannabis, edibles, or other THC-containing products through airport security.
Arizona has strict marijuana laws.
In Arizona, any type of marijuana possession is considered a felony offense. That means that you could face up to 4 years in prison just for bringing back a few edibles from your California vacation. Quite simply, it’s not worth the risk.
If you are facing drug possession charges, call Janet Altschuler at (520) 247-1789. Ms. Altschuler is a trusted criminal defense attorney in Tucson who has been representing clients for more than 20 years. She is ready to advocate for your rights.