Don’t Smoke Weed in National Parks
The beauty and majesty that is the North American landscape attracts many people to national parks. From Yellowstone to Sequoia the American National Park Services draw over 330 million visitors annually to camp, fish and do whatever it is people do in national parks. That’s greater than the current population of the United States.
This tourism translates to 32 billion in revenue annually, a major source of funding for the federal government. For many camping and cannabis go hand in hand. However, due to the bizarre spiderweb that is American law enforcement, you could be locked up for smoking weed in National parks. This might even be true within states where marijuana is legal. It is, for this reason, that until weed becomes federally legal… It is wise to heed the advice, “don’t smoke weed in national parks”. Let’s examine how this issue came about.
The Legal Status of Cannabis

“Possession and use of marijuana is prohibited by federal law, and as a result is prohibited in national parks”
So if cannabis is not legally permitted in national parks, what sort of punishment could you face for toking up?
Don’t Smoke Weed in National Parks: Legal Repercussions

Much to his surprise, he was taken to a holding cell in Montana where he spent the night. Gaudina would later plead guilty and received a $1000 fine.
Conclusions

While the peculiar situation surrounding the national park system might trouble many outdoors enthusiasts there are grounds for optimism. In recent addresses to the public, President Trump has stated that he supports ending the blanket federal ban on cannabis.
This is congruent with his previous statements on the campaign trail in which he said that legalization of weed was a states rights issue. However, surrounded by a cabinet that is vehemently anti-cannabis, skepticism might be the most appropriate response.
By: Stefan Hosko