Medical cannabis rules and regulations can be confusing to new patients. Depending on how complicated a state’s system is, it can take some time to get used to how things work. However, one thing is uniform across all states with medical cannabis programs: travel restrictions.

Medical cannabis patients need to be very careful about how and where they transport their medicines. A medical cannabis card is not a license to take cannabis anywhere and everywhere. And in fact, patients are generally restricted to transporting cannabis within their own states.

The Card Is a License

BeehiveMed.com is a Utah organization that assists patients in the Salt Lake City and Brigham City areas obtain medical cannabis cards. They say the best way to understand a medical card is to view it as a license. It is a license to purchase, possess, and consume medical cannabis products within the borders of the state that issued it.

You can carry a medical cannabis card from one state to the next. But the card is separate from cannabis itself. The states do not have to recognize medical cannabis cards issued by other states. And in fact, very few actually do. Medical cannabis card reciprocity is not the norm.

Possessing a medical cannabis card in Utah doesn’t give a patient a license to use medical cannabis in Oklahoma. A patient has to follow the rules in each individual state he intends to visit.

Using Medical Cannabis as a Visitor

Fortunately, the states tend to have provisions in place to accommodate out-of-state visitors. BeehiveMed says Utah issues its Non-Resident medical cannabis card on a temporary basis. Out-of-state visitors can apply for up to two Non-Resident cards in a calendar year.

The cards are good for three weeks and allow out-of-town guests to purchase and consume medical cannabis within state borders. All medical cannabis must be purchased from a licensed pharmacy. In addition, no unused products can be taken out of the state when the visitor leaves.

It is also worth noting that out-of-state visitors must be diagnosed with a condition on Utah’s qualifying conditions list and have a valid card from their states of residence to qualify for a Non-Resident card. The rules are very strict.

Traveling Across State Lines

In terms of crossing state lines, patients are free to take their cards with them. They are not free to take cannabis. As a Schedule I controlled substance, cannabis is still federally illegal. Therefore, it is illegal to transport it across state lines.

Patients may not carry cannabis products from one state to another via car, train, plane, or boat. Any such transport is subject to federal prosecution if a patient is caught. Remember that congressional restrictions only prevent federal authorities from prosecuting state-level marijuana crimes. There is no prohibition against prosecuting federal crimes.

Traveling With Cannabis Internationally

Lastly, let’s talk about traveling with cannabis internationally. It is a crime to carry any cannabis products containing THC onto commercial aircraft. If the TSA catches you with cannabis on your person or in your luggage, you face federal prosecution. This applies even if you are traveling to a country where cannabis is fully legal.

The long and short of it is that possessing a medical cannabis card does not equal freedom to take cannabis anywhere you like. Play it safe and don’t carry cannabis outside your state’s borders. You are risking trouble otherwise.

As for your card, it’s an electronic document. Put it on your phone and carry it everywhere. Just know that once you leave your state, the cart isn’t likely to do you any good.