TSA Updates Medical Marijuana Rules for Air Travel, Citing Heart Risks at Altitude

" directory for both carry-on and checked bags. Patients who use cannabis to manage chronic pain, anxiety, nausea or other qualifying conditions may travel with their medication for use at their destination. Professor Rob Mejia of the Stockton University Cannabis Studies Department, author of "The Essential Cannabis Book," said the goal for most patients is continuity of care rather than use during flight.

"For most patients, the goal isn't to use cannabis on the plane. It's making sure they have access to their medicine when they arrive," Mejia told Fox News Digital. Mejia advised against testing new products or unfamiliar doses in transit.

"An airport or airplane is not the place to test a new product or take a dose you are not accustomed to," he said. " Clinical data published by the American College of Cardiology states that cannabis use alters heart rhythm regulation and heightens the heart muscle's overall oxygen demand.

University of Florida research states that altitude forces the heart to beat faster to distribute lower levels of oxygen.

Mejia said the overall goal should be continuity of care during travel, not medicating at 35,000 feet. He advised travelers to understand state and local laws before packing. "A TSA checkpoint is not a legal shield from state or local enforcement," he said.

Mejia recommended that cannabis appear legitimate, labeled and professionally packaged. "If your cannabis looks legitimate, labeled and professionally packaged, you're less likely to raise questions than if you're carrying a bag of mystery gummies and a handful of loose flower," he said. For international travel, Mejia advised leaving cannabis at home.