Passenger Trains > Pot on Amtrak?

Answered: Your questions about legal marijuana (on Amtrak)
San Antonio Express-News
October 21, 2014

> Answered: Can you legally take marijuana on an Amtrak train?
>
> “Despite the new state laws in both Colorado and Washington,
> marijuana use and possession, including medical marijuana, is still
> and will remain, prohibited for Amtrak passengers and employees,”
> said Vernae Graham with Amtrak Corporate Communications.

Answered: Your questions about legal marijuana (on Amtrak)

Playing the "we're a federal agency / entity" card when they need to.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Playing the "we're a federal agency / entity" card
> when they need to.


Can you take it on airplanes? Can airline employees use it on planes?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/14 11:12 by Ptolemy.

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Playing the "we're a federal agency / entity"
> card
> > when they need to.
>
>
> Can you take it on airplanes? Can airline
> employees use it on planes?

Not in Colorado. In fact, if you even bring it into the Denver Airport -- even in your checked luggage -- you are subject to arrest.

All of the local Colorado newspapers routinely carry articles about what is and isn't legal (according to Colorado state law) about marijuana possession. And in federal buildings and facilities -- such as Denver International Airport -- federal law trumps Colorado law.

Back in the late 1970's it was so open to smoke pot on the Coast Starlight the Pleasure Dome was a rolling Bong. I rode it many times to vouch for that statement.

So I guess that means, during smoke stops, people can't wander off to a secluded area and light up a doobie. I have seen, and smelled, that on numerous occasions.

Enforcement is another can of worms. Call a cop and observe his non-chalant, couldn't-care-less view of the situation.

It is a mind altering drug.....after years of use....and it stinks now too....

CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I guess that means, during smoke stops, people
> can't wander off to a secluded area and light up a
> doobie. I have seen, and smelled, that on
> numerous occasions.
>
> Enforcement is another can of worms. Call a cop
> and observe his non-chalant, couldn't-care-less
> view of the situation.


There's always edibles...

CA_Sou_MA_Agent Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I guess that means, during smoke stops, people
> can't wander off to a secluded area and light up a
> doobie. I have seen, and smelled, that on
> numerous occasions.
>
> Enforcement is another can of worms. Call a cop
> and observe his non-chalant, couldn't-care-less
> view of the situation.


Yep and rightfully so...

Posted from Android

I have some concerns about the federal government just deciding to ignore some laws because they don't like the law. It really shouldn't work like that. If you feel the law is unconstitutional, wrong, etc, change it.

Just deciding that they're not going to enforce a law in Colorado, but they're going to throw somebody in prison for 10 years in NJ for the same offense sounds like they're opening up a real can of worms.

Not being from the area I can't be sure of my comments but I think I heard that you can purchase pot for use IN THE STATE. You can not transport it out of the state. I guess you can do anything if you don't get caught.

About 10 years ago I was on the Empire Builder when the conductor called the engineer and ask him to call the next station to arrange for a police welcoming team. They mentioned pot in the transmission. When we got to the station the police boarded the car behind us and took someone off. After about 15 minutes they let the person back on the train. It took another 15 minutes to complete the paperwork before we moved. About 100 yards down the tracks after we got underway, I heard on the monitor someone say, "I aint strip searching nobody." I suspect the suspect flushed his stash. Probably had a rough trip from that point on.

Amtrak doesn't tolerate cigarettes. I doubt that pot would ever be allowed as long as there is a smoking ban. Wonder what they would do on the Autotrain?

John

wa4umr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wonder what they would do on the Autotrain?

=================================

Smoking, including marijuana and electronic cigarettes, is prohibited on all
Amtrak trains including AutoTrain.

http://www.amtrak.com/smoking-policy

I was on #5 leaving Denver on 10/10. Every smoke stop til we got out of Colo two guys and a gal enjoyed the purple haze. Funny to watch as they were constantly looking over their shoulder for law enforcement.

I do NOT want my state of mind involuntarily altered in situations where I cannot move away. Hardly anyone, anywhere, is discussing this. More likely avoiding it.

Entirely different situation than alcohol, heroin, cocaine, etc., which only affect the user. Frankly, it worries me a lot.

I COMPLETELY agree, Norm! I have felt that way
for a LONG time! DON'T MESS WITH MY BRAIN!!
(I need all the brain cells I have left!)

Smokers are almost always rude when they smoke.
They stink up the air and make others sick from their
second-hand smoke -- and pot-heads mess up other
people's brains, too.

Your "right" to smoke stops at my nose and mouth.

And you have NO right to operate any kind of machinery
when your mind is not clear.



norm1153 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I do NOT want my state of mind involuntarily
> altered in situations where I cannot move away.
> Hardly anyone, anywhere, is discussing this. More
> likely avoiding it.
>
> Entirely different situation than alcohol, heroin,
> cocaine, etc., which only affect the user.
> Frankly, it worries me a lot.

Funny how many people cannot tolerate cigarette tobacco. Don't breathe second hand smoke. The same types think nothing of smoking pot and passing that second hand smoke around. When I see Jimmy Buffett tomorrow, I expect the air to stink. But his show should be great! Fins up!

The original question was: "Can you legally take marijuana on a train?" Not that I would ever put this to a test, but a passenger could probably carry a stash in his or her baggage if it was sealed in an air-tight package that would not get attention from a drug-sniffing dog. As far as toking during transit, a poster that I saw back in the 80s would be appropriate: "We don't care what it is--don't smoke it here!!" Back in 1979, I worked with a guy who told me about sending pot all over the country in relatively small amounts by using First Class mail.

DNRY122 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The original question was: "Can you legally take
> marijuana on a train?" Not that I would ever put
> this to a test, but a passenger could probably
> carry a stash in his or her baggage if it was
> sealed in an air-tight package that would not get
> attention from a drug-sniffing dog. As far as
> toking during transit, a poster that I saw back in
> the 80s would be appropriate: "We don't care what
> it is--don't smoke it here!!" Back in 1979, I
> worked with a guy who told me about sending pot
> all over the country in relatively small amounts
> by using First Class mail.


Even in an air sealed bag, you're not fooling the dog. Last month the Cleveland PD had a police dog kind of leisurely strolling past passengers and cars in and about the station. Nothing serious and they weren't obnoxious about it at all. I'm sure alot more people then we think transport drugs through Amtrak...

Posted from Android

NSClevelandLine Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DNRY122 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The original question was: "Can you legally
> take
> > marijuana on a train?" Not that I would ever
> put
> > this to a test, but a passenger could probably
> > carry a stash in his or her baggage if it was
> > sealed in an air-tight package that would not
> get
> > attention from a drug-sniffing dog. As far as
> > toking during transit, a poster that I saw back
> in
> > the 80s would be appropriate: "We don't care
> what
> > it is--don't smoke it here!!" Back in 1979, I
> > worked with a guy who told me about sending pot
> > all over the country in relatively small
> amounts
> > by using First Class mail.
>
>
> Even in an air sealed bag, you're not fooling the
> dog. Last month the Cleveland PD had a police dog
> kind of leisurely strolling past passengers and
> cars in and about the station. Nothing serious and
> they weren't obnoxious about it at all. I'm sure
> alot more people then we think transport drugs
> through Amtrak...
>
> Posted from Android


Any decent dealer knows that residue remains on your hands, on your clothes, etc. So, even if the dog can't smell the weed, he may pick up the traces on you or your clothes, or even the money in your wallet, or the wallet itself. Probable cause = search.

What a waste of scarce taxpayer resources. For any taxpayer funded agency, law enforcement included, fears their budget could be being cut scare them more than anything.. gotta show some bang for the buck, that means running dogs through trains to find someone's meds..buying or otherwise acquiring military gear for police work or law dressing in all black with masked faces.. sounds like East Germany to me!

And no, I'm not saying pot users (not all smoke it by the way) should be able to consume anytime anywhere, but running drug sniffing dogs through trains is not my idea of a free country. The dome bong is a funny anecdote Photobob!

I could tell you all a story about the smell of pot wafting through my sleeping car back in 1979, the car attendant simply reminded those folks as he passed them in the corridor later that it *could* be smelled throughout the car as the air flow from fresh air intakes would be cycled through the entire car, not just the private room (pre Superliner era). Therefore his suggestion: go to the vestibule where it would exhaust directly outside, as the conductor was an old head about to retire "and for all I know might call the St. Police". That was on the Pioneer, via the UP, in eastern Oregon, along the Columbia.

Sometime I'll tell the story of the Amtrak attendant on another train I rode that partied with passengers....

chico