According to an update published online by the CBP, the Customs and Border Protection of the United States have announced that Canadians in the legal cannabis industry will not be banned from entering the United States. The update was published online by the CBP on Tuesday.
The update states that Canadian citizens working in or simplifying the expansion of the Canadian legal marijuana industry, visiting the U.S. for reasons not associated with the marijuana industry will be generally allowed in the U.S. But, if it is discovered that a traveler is coming to the U.S. for reasons associated with the marijuana industry, they may be not be allowed to enter the U.S.
According to Len Saunders, an immigration lawyer from Blaine, Washington, the revision revokes a statement declared on September 21. Saunders said that it’s a complete update from the declaration made two weeks ago.
According to the original statement, job opportunities in Canada’s legal cannabis industry could be the reason for the denial or entry to the U.S.
The original statement reads that as marijuana remains a controlled substance under the United States law, working in or simplifying the expansion of the legal marijuana industry in U.S. states where it is deemed legal or Canada may affect entry to the U.S.
The declaration from the CBP also notes that while employees of the cannabis industry are allowed to enter the U.S, products related to cannabis are still restricted.
The new policy states that the prerequisite for international travelers who want to enter the United States are controlled and regulated with respect to the U.S. Federal Law, which overrides state laws. Even though medical and recreational marijuana is legal in most U.S. States and Canada, the selling, ownership, cultivation, and distribution of marijuana are still illegal under U.S. Federal Law. Thus, traveling or reaching a U.S. port of entry without conforming to this law may lead to repatriation, seizure, fines, and apprehension.
According to Saunders, the new policy will eliminate some doubts surrounding Canadians and their government.
He said this is a best-case scenario and the government of Canada should be satisfied knowing that Canadians won’t be banned from their country. However, Canadians will not be able to access the U.S. cannabis industry, and this is similar to a lot of big companies.
As Canada prepares for the legalization of cannabis, Saunders thinks that this is due to the changing times. He said that the Americans have establishes a common-sense policy. He also said that the Canadian government is still preparing to respond to the change in U.S. policy.
According to Saunders, the Americans are releasing statements that are very vital to the Canadian government, and Canadian are hoping that their government would issue a report and say ‘Hey, it’s not as bad as everyone was anticipating’’.
Despite the fact that the new CBP policy states that “abusers” of drugs such as cannabis can be prohibited from entering the U.S, he thinks that most cannabis users should not worry.
