Can I Bring Weed In My Carry-On In California? | Airport Reality Check

Why This Gets Confusing

California legalized adult possession up to 28.5 grams of cannabis flower and 8 grams of concentrate. Airports, aircraft, and TSA screening are federal zones. That split is why travelers see dispensaries down the street from a terminal, yet hear warnings at security. Put simply: you can hold state-legal amounts in many California public spaces, but you can’t carry marijuana through a federal checkpoint or onto a plane.

What California Law Actually Allows

Under California Health & Safety Code 11362.1, adults 21+ may possess, transport, and give away up to 28.5 grams of cannabis (not concentrated) and up to 8 grams of concentrate. Cities and counties can set local rules for where you may use it, and you still can’t consume in public spaces that ban smoking or vaping. Those limits matter inside California airports because local police evaluate possession through the state lens while you remain on the public side of the terminal.

What Federal Rules Say At The Checkpoint

TSA’s mandate is aviation security, but officers must report suspected violations of law. Marijuana over 0.3% delta-9 THC remains illegal under federal law, and the FAA makes clear that transporting marijuana on an aircraft is prohibited. If a TSA officer encounters cannabis, they can refer the matter to airport police; in California, officers often check weight and age and may decline enforcement when the conduct is state-legal, but you still won’t be allowed to take the marijuana past screening.

Traveler Scenarios Table

The matrix below condenses the rules most flyers ask about. It’s broad on purpose so you can sanity-check plans at a glance.

If you carry nicotine vapes, remember they must ride in cabin bags, and airlines have strict fire-safety rules for batteries—see vapes in carry-on for battery placement and cabin storage.

LAX’s Policy And What It Means

Los Angeles International Airport publicly states that, because California law permits up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of concentrate for adults 21+, its police division doesn’t arrest people solely for possession within those limits. That stance applies on airport property before screening. It doesn’t authorize you to carry weed through TSA or to fly with it. Once you head toward the magnetometers, federal rules govern, and the plane is federal territory.

Other California airports vary in how plainly they publish guidance, yet the same split applies everywhere in the state: state law controls local police action on the public side; federal law controls the sterile area and the aircraft. If you’re holding cannabis, stop before security.

Intrastate Flights Inside California

Many travelers ask whether a short hop from Los Angeles to Oakland changes anything because both endpoints sit inside California. It doesn’t. The airspace and the aircraft fall under federal jurisdiction. Even if a local officer declines to cite you in the terminal, TSA won’t clear marijuana through, and crew members can’t permit it onboard. Intrastate itineraries don’t create an exception to federal law.

Medical Marijuana Cards And Prescriptions

A recommendation card doesn’t override federal law. The Controlled Substances Act keeps marijuana on Schedule I. TSA’s public guidance carves out only two narrow categories: FDA-approved products and hemp-derived CBD with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis. If your product is regular cannabis—flower, vapes, carts, edibles, tinctures above the hemp threshold—it can’t go through.

What About Hemp CBD And Low-THC Products?

Hemp-derived CBD that stays at or under 0.3% delta-9 THC is allowed in both carry-on and checked bags, subject to the standard liquids rule for gels and tinctures. Labels help, but they aren’t decisive; officers may refer products that appear non-compliant. Full-spectrum items can push total THC above the hemp threshold, so stick to clearly labeled hemp CBD if you need it in your bag and keep volumes inside 3-1-1 limits for liquids.

Edibles, Gummies, And Infused Drinks

Edibles are cannabis products. If they contain marijuana-derived THC, they fall under the federal ban, even though they look like snacks. Hemp CBD gummies with ≤0.3% delta-9 THC are treated like other foods for security screening, subject to reasonable quantities and the liquids rule when applicable. International flights add risk at the destination: some countries criminalize possession of any cannabinoids, hemp included.

What Happens If TSA Finds Weed In My Carry-On?

Outcomes vary by airport, but the playbook is familiar. TSA calls local law enforcement. In California, police usually check age and amount. If you’re 21+ and under the state limits, officers may release you and ask you to remove the cannabis from the sterile area attempt. You’ll be told to surrender, discard, or store it outside security. If you’re underage, over the limits, or carrying concentrates above 8 grams, penalties escalate under state law, and you still won’t fly with it.

Carry-On Vs. Checked Bag

The federal prohibition applies to both. Moving weed into your checked suitcase doesn’t change the rule. Checked bags are screened, and airlines cooperate with TSA and law enforcement when contraband appears. If you’re tempted to “risk it” because a friend said their bag got through, outcomes are inconsistent by nature; the rule itself hasn’t changed. Don’t gamble your trip, your money, or your record.

Crossing State Lines Or Flying International

Cross-border movement is where people get into real trouble. Crossing any state line with marijuana is a federal offense, even between two legal states. Internationally, penalties can be severe, and some destinations prosecute trace amounts. If you’re leaving California for someplace with legal dispensaries, plan to buy after you land. If you’re arriving in California, finish what you have before you fly home.

Practical Ways To Travel Smoothly

If you rely on cannabis for sleep or pain, build an air-travel plan that doesn’t involve marijuana. Consider legal alternatives: hemp CBD that meets the 0.3% threshold, over-the-counter pain relievers, or relaxation aids that don’t conflict with federal rules. Keep packaging tidy, quantities modest, and liquids under 100 milliliters each inside a quart-size bag. Keep anything questionable in your car or at home—don’t force a checkpoint conversation you can’t win.

Quick Packing Reference

Use this compact table as a second check before you zip the bag.

Keyword Variant: Bringing Weed In Carry-On From California

Travelers search this exact phrasing because the rules feel contradictory. The clean answer: possession on the public side can be lawful under California statutes, but carrying marijuana past TSA or onto a plane is not. Keep cannabis off your packing list, and rely on hemp CBD or destination purchases instead.

Airline Rules And Crew Discretion

Even apart from TSA, airlines can deny boarding for policy violations or if a passenger brings prohibited items. Crew members are trained to escalate suspected drug transport. Flight attendants also enforce smoking and vaping bans from pushback to arrival. Don’t bring THC vapes or hash oil “just in case”—those are still cannabis products and can trigger both airline policy and federal law issues.

Tips For Packing CBD Legally

Stick with hemp-derived CBD labeled ≤0.3% delta-9 THC. Keep tinctures and drinks under 100 ml each in your liquids bag. Pack gummies in original retail packaging that lists cannabinoid content per serving and per package. If questioned, calmly state that the product is hemp-derived and meets the 0.3% limit and that you’re prepared to discard it if an officer disagrees. Don’t debate chemistry at the lane.

Penalties To Know Under California Law

State consequences hinge on age and quantity. Adults 21+ within limits are generally lawful under California law. Over the limits, or underage possession, can trigger fines, counseling requirements for minors, and misdemeanor charges at higher quantities. None of those outcomes creates permission to board with marijuana, and any federal referral can complicate immigration or professional licensing later. For granular rules, see the California possession limits and local notices published by major airports. TSA’s own page spells out the federal stance in plain terms, and the FAA frames aircraft carriage as a firm no-go.

Bottom Line For California Flyers

Treat the plane as a federal space. Enjoy legal access before or after your trip, but don’t bring marijuana to the checkpoint. If you need relief while traveling, switch to compliant hemp CBD or purchase cannabis at your destination where lawful. Save yourself the stress and keep your carry-on clean. If you also pack flame sources for camp trips, double-check airline rules on lighters on a plane before you head out.

Sources To Trust While Planning

Rules that matter most to this topic are published by aviation and California authorities. TSA explains screening and the federal cannabis line, the FAA clarifies the aircraft ban, and California law sets possession limits that local police use landside. When an airport like LAX prints a policy page, it helps you judge what happens on the public side—yet it doesn’t change federal control past security.

Read the agency text straight from the source: TSA’s page on cannabis and medically prescribed items and the FAA’s position on marijuana carriage. For the state side, review Health & Safety Code 11362.1 for possession limits and LAX’s posted policy for how local police handle adults within those limits.