I can see it now, if smoking cigarettes onboard under the guise of ADA is okay, the next will be pot. (Other than the fact that Amtrak falls under Federal and not state regulations)
"But I have a PRESCRIPTION to smoke a joint, as it eases my pain." :mellow:
since it falls under federal regulations, wouldn't it be illegal to have any kind on board?
That is true. Smoking marijuana would be illegal under Federal law, where I believe it is listed as a 'controlled and dangerous substance.' Meanwhile many states have legalized 'medical marijuana' and allow people to use it for certain prescribed reasons - including pain relief. Therefore someone who is disabled and has chronic pain may be entitled to 'smoke dope' under state law, even though it is still illegal under Federal law. Conversely, I don't believe tobacco has any standing as medically beneficial at either the Federal or state level.
Ever since the Constitution became the basis of law in the United States there has always been a certain amount of 'grey area' about where Federal law ends and state law begins. People being people, folks tend to decide where this line lies depending on what is in their own interests, even if the law is actually fairly clear about what is what.