Although marijuana is legal only in some states, and for medicinal purposes in more, pot remains illegal under federal law (but where it’s legal there are even loyalty programs with reefer-a-friend bonuses).

You have to clear a federal checkpoint to fly commercial. And the TSA (T)akes (S)tinkweed (A)way.

Denver’s airport even instituted an unconstitutional ban on wearing marijuana t-shirts.

Smelling of pot could be reason to confiscate all your savings (if you happen to be carrying it on you when a fed’s nose is working).

So you cannot fly in the U.S. with weed. There’s a few exceptions though like Portland and Spokane, Washington but only as long as you’re flying intra-state (and local law enforcement, when called by the TSA, will mock their lessers-in-blue).

Colorado Springs airport installed amnesty boxes so that passengers could leave their weed rather than break the law. This is, in essence, free pot for airport employees. And the practice has spread to the Aspen airport where they offer Pot Only waste bins (HT: Alan H.).

Credit: THE-SEER

Apparently they’re quite popular.

The items left behind are an indicator of how broad Colorado’s cannabis market has become.

Items regularly left inside the bins are marijuana-infused drinks, pipes and edible items like sweets and biscuits.

No word yet on whether relieving passengers of their pot has reduced airside restaurant sales.

Memo to American Airlines: please stock your Aspen – Dallas CR7 regional jet with cookies.