CHICAGO (AP) – Marijuana was stolen this week from a box placed at Chicago’s Midway International Airport for travelers who dispose of their marijuana before they board a plane, police said Friday.
The “marijuana amnesty boxes” were placed at Midway and O’Hare International Airport after it became legal this year to possess marijuana in Illinois. The boxes were installed so that air travelers can be in compliance with federal law as well as the local laws at their destination.
The boxes are owned by the Department of Aviation and serviced by the police. Police officers regularly empty the boxes, file a report for the items inside and dispose of any surrendered marijuana like they would narcotics.
“Tampering with them, or attempting to remove anything placed inside, is a crime,” said Chicago police spokesman Antony Gugliemi, who added an investigation is underway.
Transportation Security Administration agents don’t search for marijuana at security checkpoints, but will report any violations of federal law, including the discovery of an illegal substance, to local police, said TSA spokeswoman Sari Koshetz.
Illinois residents can legally possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, or about an ounce, in Illinois and out-of-state residents can have half that.