How Marijuana Laws Change as You Travel Between States

 
Let’s discuss for a moment how marijuana laws change as you travel between states.

The Laws Continue Changing Very Quickly

You should first realize that the marijuana laws in this country at the state level keep changing very rapidly. Within the space of a couple of years, a state might go from marijuana being totally illegal to it only being allowed for certain individuals to it being completely legal. It’s sometimes dizzying, since the policy might change due to a statewide vote, a legislative action by that state’s governing body, or some other factor.

Some states still take a very conservative standpoint when it comes to marijuana. For instance, as of this writing, marijuana still has illegal status in Wyoming, South Carolina, Idaho, and elsewhere. In some states, voters have made marijuana legal, but the state has yet to fully implement that policy.

In short, if you’re going to use marijuana in a particular state, you should learn about its policies first. If the police catch you with it, and it’s not yet legal in that state, you can mess your life up pretty severely.

 
If your employer finds out you have a drug arrest on your record, they may attempt to fire you. You might also lose standing in your community if you have friends or family members how view drug use harshly.

Some States Only Allow Medical Marijuana

You should also know that some states allow marijuana use, but only for medicinal purposes at this time. These states may require you to have a valid medical marijuana card. Various conditions might allow you to get one.

Once you have it, you can buy marijuana at registered dispensaries. Even then, though, you can only purchase and possess a certain amount. If you have more than that, you might face criminal charges. Also, if you travel from one state to another, and the state you’re entering still has a total prohibition on marijuana, your medical card may mean nothing to the authorities there.

You Should Study Each State’s Marijuana Laws When You Visit

If you are going to take a road trip, and you plan to have marijuana with you, whether for recreational or medical reasons, you should do some studying first. Look at each state’s marijuana laws that you will pass through. Even if you’ll only spend a couple of hours in a state on your way to another one, having marijuana in the car potentially puts you at risk if the police decide to pull you over.

If you’re going to take a road trip, then probably, it’s safest not to bring any drugs with you, and that includes marijuana. If you feel you need it because you have anxiety or some other condition and you can’t get along without it, you can bring it, but only do so after some careful research.

 
It seems likely that, at some point, marijuana will see nationwide decriminalization or perhaps even full legalization. As we mentioned earlier, as the years pass, the younger generations seem to have a more liberal attitude toward it. While they recognize it’s still a drug, they see there’s a hypocritical aspect to allowing alcohol to remain legal while still having a prohibition against occasional marijuana use.

 
In the meantime, though, you must remain a responsible citizen, and that includes knowing the law in every state that you visit. That’s true with road trips, and also flights.

 
If you’re traveling via plane from one state to another, it’s generally illegal to have marijuana or edibles with you. It’s best to leave them at home rather than trying to take them along on your journey. You can indulge when you get back.