What You Need To Know About Transporting Marijuana Plants

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The legalization of marijuana in 25 states has solved some problems and created a host of others. One such issue is that it may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find a moving company that will transport your medical marijuana plants. Even though it may be legal in your state to grow cannabis for personal use, federal law still outlaws it, and movers generally don't want to risk their employees getting into legal trouble for handling prohibited substances. If you've resolved to move your marijuana plants yourself, here's what you need to know to avoid landing on the wrong side of the law.

Transport Over State Lines is Prohibited

If you're moving from one state to another, you cannot travel with your plants. It's illegal to transport marijuana across state lines, regardless of what form it's in and even when both states have legalized the use of medical marijuana. This is because federal law rules when it comes to interstate travel. Since, as noted previously, marijuana is considered illegal at the federal level, it's subjected to bans prohibiting the transport of controlled substances.

So it's highly recommended that you rehome your marijuana plants if you're moving from one state to another. If you choose to take your plants with you anyway, you're doing so at significant risk of being hit with federal felony charges. You may be targeted by police as you're leaving a state where marijuana is legal, because the police know people exiting these areas are more likely to have the drug on their persons.

Intrastate Transport May Be Allowed with Restrictions

In general, you can transport medical marijuana plants in a legalized state as long as you have a medical marijuana license, are the appropriate age, and are within the legal limitations for possession of the substance. For instance, people with personal use licenses can have up to 4 plants in Oregon, and can drive around with them in the state as long as the plants are not flowering and are concealed from public view. However, the state may have very strict rules about who can transport the plants and how. In Michigan, only the person who owns the plants is allowed to be in the vehicle with them during transport, for example. It's best to contact the regulatory agency in your state for specific information about driving with cannabis plants to ensure you remain within the legal limits.

What to Do With Marijuana Plants

Your options are somewhat limited if you find you can't take your marijuana plants with you when you move. The best choice is to give them away to another person who also has a medical marijuana license and doesn't already have the maximum amount of plants. You can sell your plants in some states, but you need to thoroughly check and adhere to the laws in your area to avoid getting into trouble. In some places, it's legal to grow marijuana but against the law to sell it. In others, like Colorado, you can only sell it if you have a retail license.

The other thing you can do is to harvest the plants and use your supply while you're still living at your current residence where it's legal to do so. Since the quality of the crop will vary depending on where the plant is in its growth stage, consult with one of the cultivation websites available online to determine if this is a viable option for you. If you're using marijuana to treat a medical condition, you may not obtain the full potency needed to alleviate your symptoms if you harvest the plant at the wrong time.

Under no circumstance should you leave the plants at your current residence unless you know for a fact the person moving in after you also has a valid medical marijuana license. Additionally, do not try to mail your stash or your plants to your new address. Sending marijuana through the postal service is a felony offense.

For assistance with moving your other household goods, contact a local mover like Wheaton World Wide Moving.

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