ASPEN — Federal officials say they are in uncharted territory after agents with the Transportation Security Administration found 36 ounces of marijuana-infused edibles in a traveler’s luggage at the Aspen airport.
The TSA turned the case over to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, which declined to pursue charges against the person because the person was doing nothing wrong under state law.
Sheriff’s spokesman Brad Gibson says once passengers get into the security line and onto a plane, they are covered by federal law which bans marijuana.
According to the Aspen Daily News (http://tinyurl.com/ly4owec), federal officials say they will enforce the law, but authorities are not sure where county authority over the airport ends and federal agents take charge.
Lauren Maytin is an attorney with the Aspen firm of Edson, Maytin and Matz, which consults with marijuana businesses on the law. She told the Aspen Daily News she believes federal agencies like the FBI are not concentrating on marijuana concentrates like those found at the Aspen airport.
“They’re not prosecuting for petty amounts,” she said. “Unless you’re talking about major poundage, they’re turning it over to the local authorities, and the locals are saying, ‘It’s legal.'”
Information from: Aspen Daily News, aspendailynews.com
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