But on your way to California from Logan, according to Raich, they should let you board as long as you are in compliance with Massachusetts law.
"Law enforcement doesn't always do what it's supposed to do," Raich cautions. "They don't always like medical-marijuana laws. Just because they can't stop you, they might try to bluster you or make it up as they go along. You might have to force the issue, as we did here in Alameda County, to make law enforcement follow the law."
He adds: "I'd hope the police [at Logan] will be respectful of the laws. I'd hate to see a sick patient be subjected to harassment or [have] their medicine seized. But sometimes something bad needs to happen to force a precedent."
Thanks to Raich's work, Oakland now has a written policy permitting patients to board with their medical marijuana. A patient flying out of OAK was denied boarding because of his medical marijuana. Raich stepped in, and ultimately Alameda County's attorneys told the sheriff he had to follow local law and permit patients to board. The sheriff's own intransigence forced him to be the only sheriff in California to have to put a policy in writing protecting patients at the airport.
A representative from the Massachusetts State Police, who patrol Logan Airport, tells the Phoenix: "We will do whatever the policy makers instruct us to do."
Attorney Steve Epstein says to remember if you're traveling with your medical marijuana, it's best to take only a small personal quantity and keep it properly sealed and contained. Keep your registration card and paperwork with you. Don't flaunt it or draw attention to yourself, and follow local laws.
"Know before you go," he says.
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