Flying High
I fly for work a ton. All over the place and as a small business owner usually in the cheap seats. Surviving flights without stress and my back all messed up is why you will find me flying high on Cannabis.
Good, Bad, Ugly
Let’s start with your first time getting high should not be on a plane. Period. You should start at home and learn what dosage of THC works well with your body. Know your number.
There is no such thing as a THC overdose but you can risk placing yourself in the position of being way too out of it to function in flight. Stay out of the emergency exit rows. I once dosed too much and found myself asleep on the toilet. Not glamorous nor cool.
Always travel with a concentrated CBD only product such as gummies which can help reduce the effects of THC and get you perked up as your flight approaches the gate upon landing.
You also need to know if the munches are going to strike with the strain you have consumed. There are no extra snacks on airplanes these days. Arriving with a ferocious appetite could ruin the first day of your trip not to mention ruin your diet.
For myself personally my dosage is about 20mg THC for a cross country flight. Taken about an hour before getting on the plane. You want a high that makes you not really care about what the people around you are doing, that your seat sucks, and you need to be able to navigate and airport to either a rental car or a hotel upon arrival.
I usually take a hybrid strain in my edibles while on a trip. The best mix is something that won’t throw you too far into sleep as you can with an indica, or the high strung energy of flying on the wrong sativa.
It is your personal choice if you decide to re-pack your Cannabis products into another container or to keep them as they are purchased from the manufacturer. There are arguments in favor of both approaches. I can say that I have stored for personal use Cannabis products in checked luggage that was inspected by TSA to find my stash still there alongside the card that my bags had been opened.
You may also not want to advertise to friends and family that you actively medicate. Your self care is your business.
The Edibles
You must always READ THE LABEL to determine THC content. The amount varies drastically from state to state and by manufacturer. Don’t make my noob mistake of eating a 100 mg THC cookie expecting to get only 15 mg like back home.
Gummis — These have the best shelf life for traveling tending not to melt as you switch climates. Packaging is easy to read by the piece of candy to determine your dosage. Easily re-packed into another container such as vitamin gummis for storage which while child proof does not clue anybody else in on the contents for discreet consumption. You can keep them stored for weeks between trips.
Mints — These store great and easily slip into a Altoids tin. I have found that keeping them in the tin with the stronger scented mints also improves their flavor. Make sure that your products stay out of the hands of children. But it does offer an easy stress free low cannabis smell alternative. These store for weeks but are sensitive to high moisture if you forget to close the storage tin.
Chocolate — Chocolate is a great medium for consuming cannabis it can however make a mess. I have found that single serving packages often melt on long trips. I don’t recommend attempting to measure a dose from a bar while in a busy airport.
Rice Crispy Treats — These are a great way to dose and they do not melt. However they do take on the flavor of anything else stored next to them. Take it from the woman who flew with rice crispy treats with her freshly laundered fabric softenered up lingerie that made the treat taste like licking a soap dish drenched in Snuggle.
Cookies and Brownies— The danger zone with baked goods is getting the correct dosage. Make sure you are indulging from a commercial kitchen with a tested dose. I always pass on the homemade treats while heading out into the world. You can re-pack them but they will always have a smell to them. Also if traveling to a moisture rich climate cookies tend to absorb water and taste a little swampy after the first 2 days.
Snack Mixes — These are a similar configuration to a Chex type mix and make a good discreet layover treat. Purchase the mix from a dispensary then pour it into a bag of the commercially available mix. Consumed alone the product depending on manufacturer may have a strong cannabis smell. When you mix it you get the munchie experience during your layover while dosing for the next leg of the trip. The same can be done with potato chips and cheese curls available. These products do not store well during travel and should be consumed within a day.
Caramels — Seemed like a good idea at the time but they tend to be both sticky, leave behind a fuzzy mouth feel, and the activation time varies greatly along with the dosage from state to state. In my experience the caramels in California were pretty mild, and the ones sold in Maine will kick your ass into next week.
Lollipops — These sound like a great idea until you realize you have a case of weed mouth. Single serving lollipops that require you lick and suck on them for a while leave a noticeable smell making it pretty clear its cannabis time. Absorption activation time is on the longer side of the scale as well. They tend to make you thirsty which is not always helpful on a long flight.
Tinctures — I don’t recommend flying on these because they are fast acting meaning you would need to take them while on the aircraft. Additionally the risk of managing a glass bottle that can break during your travels is a hassle not worth risking.
Popcorn — I flew out of LAX munching on Cannabis popcorn. The entire bag was only 10mg. It had by the bottom of the bag a weedy taste to it.
Where to Buy
The following states are legal adult use recreational Marijuana sales:
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine.
In all of these states you can show up and with valid identification that you are over the age of 21 legally purchase Cannabis products from retail non-medical sellers.
All states have strict labeling requirements for the products sold. And again, try the products at home first, don’t fly high on your first supply.
Medical states where you can purchase if you have a medical ID card include: Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New York, and Hawaii.
Puerto Rico is also a medical sales state and honors cards from mainland states and territories.
Be extra careful with products in Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Kansas, and Virginia where Cannabis is not yet legal and law enforcement regularly communicates that all enforcement measures remain in place.
Best Airports for Flying High
Portland, Oregon — It is not only where I live but has the best price for the variety of cannabis products on the market. For less than $10 you can get what you need to fly high and happy cross country. In Oregon dispensaries are allowed to deliver to hotels for your convenience.
Las Vegas, Nevada — Vegas has the fanciest splashy Marijuana markets in the country. Though prices are at a premium to offset the high costs of operation the quality is amazing. McCarran airport has courtesy boxes to drop off your unconsumed product if you change your mind at the very last moment. Many dispensaries are open 24/7 no matter when you are on your flight back home to get medicated. You will need to go to the dispensary as delivery services are not allowed to come to hotels.
Denver, Colorado — The original and still among the best. A wide variety of shops to visit with experienced staff who know just what you are saying when you say you don’t want anything that tastes “too weedy.” Delivery does exist but is governed city to city.
Worst Airports for Flying High
San Juan Puerto Rico — While medical marijuana is legal here it remains a crime to possess cannabis in Puerto Rico. There are drug dogs in the airport actively sniffing bags and pulling individuals out of line leaving the island. Coming into the island you will encounter dogs on the ferry system if you choose to visit a smaller island.
Tampa, Florida — Airport security patrols the area asking about Marijuana smells on passengers. I observed a couple who were otherwise not disturbing anyone outside of their poor taste in stinky skunk weed harassed for the entirety of a 2 hour lay over with a rent a cop implying that he could drug test them and keep their from their next flight.