The Transportation Security Administration has updated its guidelines on flying with medical marijuana, allowing patients to carry cannabis in carry-on and checked bags for use at their destination. But health experts issue a stark warning: using marijuana during the flight can be dangerous.
Professor Rob Mejia of Stockton University advises patients to separate travel from treatment. "The goal isn't to use cannabis on the plane," he told Fox News Digital. "It's making sure they have access to their medicine when they arrive."
Clinical data from the American College of Cardiology shows cannabis significantly alters heart rhythm and increases the heart's oxygen demand. At altitude, where cabin pressure forces the heart to beat faster, combining cannabis with that strain can trigger acute cardiovascular distress.
Experts say using high-potency doses at altitude can worsen anxiety, cause severe nausea, dizziness, and hyperventilation. Mejia warns against experimenting: "An airport or airplane is not the place to test a new product."
For international travel, the risks are even higher. Mejia advises leaving cannabis at home regardless of destination laws. "The TSA checks for security threats, not cannabis. That doesn't mean cannabis can't become your problem."