Denver Airport Attempts to Fight Back Tide by Banning Marijuana Possession
Marijuana tourism in Colorado will see another complication before it kicks off Wednesday: Denver International Airport doesn't want to see any of your bud or weed or whatever you kids are calling it these days. From the Denver Post:
Denver International Airport will be the first city facility to prohibit marijuana possession on all of its property as it attempts to combat illegal interstate trafficking in the face of federal law.
Airport officials plan to begin enforcing the new policy, which is the furthest-reaching among the city's marijuana limitations, in early January.
Recently adopted city ordinances ban the display and transfer — but not mere possession — of marijuana on city-owned property including parks, the 16th Street Mall, streets and sidewalks near schools.
"We talked to all of (the federal agencies involved), and they've expressed concern for good reason, but it was our decision based on the way the airport operates," said Stacey Stegman, DIA spokeswoman. "We didn't want to impact other airports and other agencies, and we didn't want to facilitate transporting marijuana across state lines."
But apparently tokers shouldn't worry too much:
And while the airport has decided to implement a zero-tolerance marijuana policy, it doesn't plan to actively enforce the policy.
"It's not like we are going to do checkpoints. We just want people to comply," Stegman said, noting that a violator would have to be discovered by other means, such as committing a different crime and having pot found in the perpetrator's possession.
Well, then! But an important reminder: The airport's rules have absolutely no bearing on what the Transportation Security Agency does if their agents discover you with marijuana.
Read the full story here. Jacob Sullum explains what to expect in Colorado come Wednesday here.
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