Federal prosecutors in Wyoming are taking marijuana possession on federal lands seriously. This includes national parks.
The U.S. Attorney for Wyoming recently announced the office is rescinding more lenient charging guidance and will “rigorously” enforce marijuana rules on federal lands.
Why it matters
Many RVers assume that if marijuana is legal in a state, it’s safe to use anywhere in that state. That’s not true on federal land. National parks, national forests, BLM land, and other federal sites are governed by federal law, and marijuana remains illegal federally as a Schedule I substance. The National Park Service explicitly prohibits possession or use of marijuana inside park boundaries. So even when state rules are relaxed, parks are different.
Enforcement
Federal priorities and resources shape how strictly rules are enforced. However, the recent policy change reverses years of lower-priority treatment for simple possession. It gives U.S. attorneys more latitude to prosecute. That means rangers and federal law enforcement can, and in Wyoming’s case now will, refer possession or use cases for prosecution. It raises the stakes for anyone consuming in campsites, at trailheads, or while driving through parklands.
Practical rules to follow
Avoid using, storing in plain view, or transporting marijuana on federal lands. If you have legally purchased cannabis in a state that allows it, you may not use it in federal parking lots, picnic areas, trailheads, or campgrounds run by the Park Service. Treat federal campgrounds and pullouts as no-go zones for possession. If you cross state lines in your RV, remember that transporting cannabis across state lines can create additional legal exposure even when both states allow it.
Alternatives
If you want to indulge legally and safely, plan ahead. Consume only on private land where state law allows and where federal authority doesn’t apply. If you’re unsure whether a campsite or pullout is federal, check park/forest/BLM maps or the official site before lighting up.
Consider using odor-proof storage and keeping documentation of purchase if it’s a state-legal product and you must transport it—but remember those precautions do not make possession legal on federal land.
Penalties
Consequences vary by case but can include seizure of product, citation or arrest, and referral for federal prosecution under federal statutes. Sentencing can range from fines and misdemeanor charges to more serious federal consequences depending on the amount and circumstances. Even a minor federal charge can complicate travel plans and future background checks, so weigh the risk carefully.
Why parks care
It’s not just about the law. Park agencies also point to environmental and safety problems tied to illegal cannabis activity. These include unauthorized grows, irrigation impacts, and increased human footprint that can harm fragile ecosystems.
Enforcement messaging often combines public-safety and conservation reasons with legal ones, so staying clear of cannabis in parks helps both you and the places you’re visiting.
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RVT1236b
Ah yes. The alcohol lobbyists at work with the corrupt admin
Marijuana has been Federally illegal since 1937.
Prior to the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, distribution, consumption and possession in was illegal in 29 states.
That said, which “corrupt admin” are you referring?
Vince, many people don’t like it when laws are enforced. While they will scream “No one is above the law!” at the top of their lungs, they will also scream words like corrupt and facist at those who actually do enforce the law.
It’s much easier to scream than work with their representatives to try to change laws via our constitutional process.
So your saying 2 tiers of justice exist? Selective prosecutions exist? Congress passes laws and then violently protests the laws they passed instead of introducing new laws? Governors protect criminals for political gain? Mayors prefer to prosecute law enforcement instead of law breakers? Is it really that simple….. I think so.
Great article Gail. Reminds people that even though it is becoming legal in many states, don’t be complacent, it is still illegal federally and in many states. Personally I think it should be legal federally and let states set their own laws.
Waste of time, waste of money. And makes no sense.
Marijuana replaced alcohol as society’s bogeyman when Prohibition was repealed and a large workforce of federal law enforcement officers had nothing to do. Thank Harry Anslinger for this confusion. Unfortunately those laws have been used against certain ethnic groups disproportionately and has created much of the mess we see in urban America.
Apropos of nothing my maternal grandmom was a cigarette girl in various speakeasies during prohibition She carried on her tray tobacco cigars & cigarretes but also Maryjane It wasn’t illegal until 1939 She told me many would buy a joint& keep it on their table If raided would fling their glasses against the wall hoping the feds would only think they had been smoking not drinking
What a great story! Thanks for sharing.