U.S. Official: Canadian marijuana users, workers and investors risk lifetime border ban

[Chris&Ale 153]

Hi all,

I just wanted to share this article for our Canadian friends and their SOs. 

 

Canadians who work in the marijuana industry — and those who invest in the booming pot sector — risk a lifetime ban on travel to the U.S., according to a senior official overseeing U.S border operations.

 

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/canada-weed-pot-border-783260

Edited September 14, 2018 by Chris&Ale
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[Chris&Ale 153]

3 minutes ago, Chris&Ale said:

Hi all,

I just wanted to share this article for our Canadian friends and their SOs. 

 

Canadians who work in the marijuana industry — and those who invest in the booming pot sector — risk a lifetime ban on travel to the U.S., according to a senior official overseeing U.S border operations.

 

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/13/canada-weed-pot-border-783260

Wow, so even if someone trying to enter the US has used marijuana or other drugs legally in the past, they could be given a lifetime ban? That's crazy!

 

From the article: 

If a traveler admits to past use of any illegal drugs, including marijuana, the traveler will be found to be inadmissible into the United States. CBP typically will allow them the opportunity to “voluntary withdraw” from the border — or face an “expedited removal.” Whether or not the traveler enters the U.S., a record will be kept by CBP and that traveler will not be allowed to return to the U.S. The traveler will have the opportunity to apply for a waiver from a lifetime ban, which costs U.S. $585 and requires several months to process. The waivers are issued at the discretion of CBP.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Canada can and has and does the same thing at the border also in regards to a lot of different minor drug convictions.. Even for other "small" crimes they can and have denied entry so... 

[tamcloud 92]

To this point in the U.S., marijuana usage, sales, etc. are still not legal according to federal law. So, this is not surprising, since the federal stipulations regarding drugs and visas/immigration have not changed.

[Chris&Ale 153]

18 hours ago, tamcloud said:

To this point in the U.S., marijuana usage, sales, etc. are still not legal according to federal law. So, this is not surprising, since the federal stipulations regarding drugs and visas/immigration have not changed.

In the article, it mentions that folks such as nurses or even truck drivers could be affected if they were to even visit the US. For example, a guy drives a truck delivering merchandise for retail stores and products containing marijuana were included on the truck. Perhaps a nurse administers medical marijuana oil to a patient. Will the US ban them from entering or immigrating to the US? 

[Dashinka 24,649]

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2018 at 11:18 AM, Chris&Ale said:

In the article, it mentions that folks such as nurses or even truck drivers could be affected if they were to even visit the US. For example, a guy drives a truck delivering merchandise for retail stores and products containing marijuana were included on the truck. Perhaps a nurse administers medical marijuana oil to a patient. Will the US ban them from entering or immigrating to the US? 

Here is an interesting example of someone trying to move almost a ton of pot into the US via the mail.

 

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/border-protection-officers-in-port-huron-seize-1650-pounds-of-marijuana-hidden-on-mail-trucks

[Chris&Ale 153]

2 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Here is an interesting example of someone trying to move almost a ton of pot into the US via the mail.

 

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/border-protection-officers-in-port-huron-seize-1650-pounds-of-marijuana-hidden-on-mail-trucks

In the OP's article, it talks about folks like nurses and truck drivers who handle legal marijuana products within Canada but then try to come to the US only to be considered drug dealers by the US Border Patrol. So, say a clerk at a Canadian version of 7-11 sells legal marijuana cigarettes could be refused entry to US as a lifetime ban.

[Dashinka 24,649]

13 minutes ago, Chris&Ale said:

In the OP's article, it talks about folks like nurses and truck drivers who handle legal marijuana products within Canada but then try to come to the US only to be considered drug dealers by the US Border Patrol. So, say a clerk at a Canadian version of 7-11 sells legal marijuana cigarettes could be refused entry to US as a lifetime ban.

I realize that, but I thought this was appropriate where some Canadians were importing a little pot to the US.  I would think the same thing could be said of VWP countries where marijuana is essentially decriminalized, if someone came from say the Netherlands where they can use pot in various coffee shops, etc., they could be subject to the same CBP questions.  The point is will this really happen?  Is it different for Canadians than anyone else?, etc., etc., etc.

[refugee 169]

Tangent to the main topic of crossing the border; I took a drug test for a new job in a state where cannabis is legal.  I asked the nurse "what do you do if one of your prospects turns up positive on weed?"  ( I was asking for science of course!) She said "oh we don't look for that anymore"

 

 

 

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