Mail order marajuana laws may be loosening up in a few states, but shipping pot in the mail still remains illegal. That’s why every year, thousands of packages containing weed are intercepted by the USPS. According to Leaf Online, the mail service holds suspected packages until local law enforcement officers arrive, dressed as postal workers. The officers then arrest the receiver on federal drug charges. This is despite retailers assuring that their weed is shipped in special packages and odor-proof bags to fool drug dogs and postal inspectors.

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In fact, a recent study by Marijuana Venture found that millions of Internet users click on links for marijuana retailers that assure customers they’ll have their weed delivered by the USPS or by private, third party couriers. While the USPS does have a policy of not delivering drugs in packages (including marijuana), it is a government agency and is subject to federal law. As a result, the USPS will cooperate with law enforcement officials to protect its own interests and the integrity of its system.

As for the third-party delivery services, they have a similar legal dilemma. While they can legally operate under state law, federal regulations require them to report any suspicious package. In turn, this enables law enforcement to get warrants and open investigations. This is a risky proposition, particularly since the majority of third-party couriers don’t have the financial resources to cover the cost of a criminal investigation.

The only exception to this is in Canada where federal law allows mail-order sales of cannabis products, such as flower and edibles. But even there, the regulated market is not the cannabis wonderland entrepreneurs have dreamed of. There are restrictions on advertising, packaging, zoning, mandated security requirements and traceability.