CHICAGO — People are lining up to buy recreational marijuana from Illinois pot shops — but they probably won’t be as excited to ditch their weed at new “cannabis amnesty boxes” in airports.
The city put in the metal blue boxes at O’Hare and Midway airports when weed was legalized last week. They’ll serve as a safe spot where travelers can get rid of marijuana and other drugs before getting on a plane, since traveling with marijuana remains illegal.
The boxes are set at the end of every TSA checkpoint — after travelers pass through security.
The boxes will be regularly checked by the Chicago Police Department, said spokeswoman Maggie Huynh.
“The boxes are where travelers can safely dispose of cannabis and cannabis products prior to travel, as they still remain illegal under federal law,” Huynh said.
Huynh couldn’t comment on how often the boxes are checked — or actually used — but she said police officers will inventory and file a report for the items found inside.
Once the items have been inventoried, they’ll be disposed of — likely in the way narcotics are destroyed by police, Huynh said.
Chicago Magazine posted a photo of one of the boxes on Instagram, leading to dozens of comments from people who questioned what would happen to marijuana left at the boxes.
“A waste of metal,” commented comedian Hannibal Buress.
“TSA tip jar,” joked another commenter.
Another person added, “Weed love to know where all this stuff winds up.”
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