Absolutely…..it is clearly spelled out in the regulation…….possession of raw ivory, artifacts or items containing ivory
are absolutely not against the law since all laws enacted in the United States under our Constitution are usually done on a de facto basis. Ex post facto laws are prohibited and a perfect example is the Volstead Act (Prohibition).
Under that law, it was prohibited to manufacture, transport or sell alcoholic beverages. However,the consumption of alcohol legally acquired before the law took effect did not violate the law. All alcoholic beverages purchased before midnight the law took effect was legal to consume after the law took effect. Under rare circumstances can a law be enacted retroactively and the ivory ban is not such a situation either. Anything acquired before July 1, 2016 is yours to keep. Ivory is still legally traded, ex., pool cues, in the vast majority of states. Possession is legal in all 50 states.
Should you travel domestically with your cues? Legally the cues are yours and can never be permanently confiscated. I said permanently…..temporarily is always possible when you deal with people that have authority over you. TSA and CBP agents are just such people and they can have bad day reactions, behave like assholes and be absolutely wrong but nonetheless still ruin your travels, maybe even temporarily seize your cues alleging the ivory was illegal. So if you do travel with your cues, make sure to have documentation corroborating the provenance of your pool cues with ivory. You do not need a CITES document unless your are traveling internationally with your pool cues is my understanding.
Anyway, others will surely be chiming in but what I explained is absolutely true. Possession of ivory acquired legally before the ivory ban was enacted is not a crime. FYI, I could be in Louisiana visiting my daughter or go on vacation to Florida. Either case, I can sell my cues or buy more and bring home the cash or new pool cues and it is totally legal. I bought a inexpensive SP cue just so I never need be concerned about this becoming of potential concern. I don’t require one of my custom cues built to my specs to play good pool. It’s just that I play a little better when I do.
