about flying with contraband

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Speaking of controversial pot smuggling: Today brings a world-class Hot Tip from Hot Tipper Lawrence, who was heading for his departure gate at Sea-Tac International Airport last week when he found himself in the middle of every responsible pot smoker's nightmare. "I was heading through the primary gate checkpoint with just my shoulder bag," writes Lawrence. "After my bag went through the x-ray machine, an airport worker appeared and said she needed to search the bag, which apparently had a few lighters floating around in it." After stepping to a side table, Lawrence waited while the worker searched his bag's various pockets and compartments, not paying much attention until he heard the worker say, "Uh oh." Lawrence writes, "I looked over and the worker was holding a small glass pipe. It was empty, but had obviously been used, and I swear to God I'd forgotten that damn pipe even existed until I saw it in her hand." Lucky for Lawrence, the pipe-finding employee was a doll: "She said she was required to hand me over to the cops, but said they'd probably just confiscate the pipe, read me the riot act, and send me on my way. 'Keep cool and you'll fly,' the worker said, eventually returning with four uniformed policemen, which would've been scarier if they hadn't been joking among themselves. 'Fifth one tonight,' I heard one officer say. 'And it's not even Hempfest!'" From this jovial opening, things turned quasi-serious: "The lead officer took me aside, wrote down my driver's license and flight information, and gave me a lecture about flying with contraband," writes Lawrence. "It was humiliating and frightening, but thank God that stupid pipe was empty." Once safely on board, Lawrence's relief was eclipsed by gratitude for his angelically empathetic airport worker. "I wanted to write a letter praising her to her supervisor," writes Lawrence. "But I didn't want to get her in trouble. If you could sing her praises in your column, that would be grand." Lawrence's wish is our command.