Ever been unsure of what to do with your recreational marijuana once you arrive at the airport? Though most of us would probably answer no, Chicago Airports have addressed this concern by recently installing marijuana disposal boxes.
According to the Chicago Tribune, both O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport installed “cannabis amnesty boxes” earlier this month in the wake of recreational marijuana legalization in Illinois.
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“We’re not encouraging people to bring cannabis through the airports at all. But if for some reason you have it on you, we have those amnesty boxes out there so that you can dispose of it prior to getting on the airplane,” Maggie Huynh, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department, told the Tribune.
The boxes are located near TSA checkpoints allowing travelers to dispose of their recreational marijuana to avoid any issues when traveling to areas where the substance is not legal.
Although this move seems very progressive, Chicago’s airports aren’t the first to install marijuana disposal boxes. Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport and Colorado Springs Airport also offer similar cannabis amnesty boxes and surely we will be seeing more of them as the legalization of marijuana continues to spread across the country.
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While TSA doesn’t actively search for marijuana, (their concerns are focused on the safety of travel) officers who uncover drugs or illegal substances are required to “refer the matter to a law enforcement officer,” according to TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz. From there, the matter is left to the local police to handle.
As a reminder, always know what is in your possession and be aware of local laws wherever you are traveling to avoid any potential issues.