Can You Bring a Grinder on a Plane?

When it comes to the recreational use of marijuana, state and federal governments are having a change of heart.

However, you can not bring weed products with you everywhere. 

And since many people grind their own weed, you may wonder if you can travel with a weed grinder on a flight. 

While federal laws still declare marijuana illegal, paraphernalia is not, meaning it’s fine to carry a pipe, grinder, bong, or whatever else houses, prepares, or allows you to smoke cannabis.

You just can’t have cannabis in it. 

The TSA doesn’t typically bother with contacting local or federal authorities over confiscated marijuana, but they will definitely take it if it’s in a checked bag. 

Can I Bring a Weed Grinder on an Airplane?

Yes, it’s fine to bring a grinder on a plane in either your carry-on bag or checked bags. However, you never want to have weed in it, even if you are flying between states where it’s legal. 

You can not have marijuana, even in vape pens and in other liquids, because the drug remains illegal on the federal level as it is still a Schedule 1 substance. You can’t even bring it if you have a medical card. 

Additionally, remember that you have to follow state laws in the place you go to so be careful with weed once you get off the airplane. 

Can I Bring a Grinder on an International Flight?

For the most part, you shouldn’t have a problem if the grinder is clean. But, you ought to research your destination before you leave because you could get into trouble with local authorities. 

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Should You Hide Your Grinder?

First off, hiding it won’t do much good because the TSA will run both your carry-on bags and checked luggage through an x-ray machine. Thus, you can’t really hide anything in your bag from security or the airline. 

Also, if your grinder’s metal, which most of them are, you’ll set off every metal detector you step through when you bring it in a carry-on bag. So, you will have to pull it out of your carry-on luggage every time you go through a security checkpoint. 

In other words, hiding the grinder won’t work. 

You may as well just put the thing in a plastic bag, so it’s easy to find when you’re at the metal detector. It’s completely legal to carry a grinder on a flight, so there’s no reason to be secretive about it. 

Should I Pack My Grinder in Carry-On Luggage or Checked Baggage?

Overall, it is best to bring your grinder with you in your carry-on bag. Carrying it in your carry-on baggage is better because you can show security that there is no marijuana inside it. 

However, whether you can legally carry drug paraphernalia in your checked bag is entirely up to the officer checking your luggage. Thus, when you have a grinder in checked luggage instead of carry-on bags, you have no way to defend yourself. 

But, technically, you can have your grinder in both carry-on and checked luggage. 

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How to Properly Clean Your Grinder?

Remember, having cannabis is still a federal crime, so you will need to clean your grinder before you pack it in your bag. 

While TSA probably isn’t going to flip their lid if they see a seed inside your grinder, it’s better safe than sorry. You don’t want them to confiscate your property. 

Thus, you’ll need a few things to properly clean your grinder so that it is “alert dog” proof. 

These items include:

  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Hot water or water bottles
  • Toothbrush 
  • Toothpick 
  • Freezer

First off, take apart every detachable piece of your grinder and stick it in the freezer for 30 minutes to harden all of the sticky residues. Then, remove it from the freezer after half an hour and tap the pieces against a cutting board.

Next, scrub everything you can reach with a toothbrush. 

Afterward, use the toothpick for hard-to-remove substances. Finally, place the grinder pieces in a cup or bowl of isopropyl alcohol before removing it and scrubbing it again, if necessary. 

Once your grinder is all shiny and new, you’re good to go. 

You’ll need to clean thoroughly because any grime or residue can alert drug dogs at airport screening. And while TSA isn’t likely to call the FBI over residue, it’s a hassle you want to avoid if at all possible. 

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Can I Bring Any Grinder on a Plane?

According to federal law, you can bring almost any grinder on a plane. But, you should know that you can not have weapon replicas. 

Thus, a grinder shaped like a grenade or other types of weapons is a no-go, and TSA officers will probably take it.