The update comes ahead of Canada’s marijuana legalization
Next week, Canada is preparing to legalize marijuana across the entire country. This has raised questions in the US where, on a federal level, the natural plant is still illegal. Some have been concerned that Canadians might be barred from entering the country completely if they are involved in the industry, but the US government has now clarified its stance.
According to an announcement by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from this past Tuesday, “A Canadian citizen working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal marijuana industry in Canada, coming to the U.S. for reasons unrelated to the marijuana industry will generally be admissible to the U.S..”
However, the CBP still cautions that there could be repercussions if any entries to the US are found to be tied to marijuana. The CBD added, “[I]f a traveler is found to be coming to the U.S. for reason related to the marijuana industry, they may be deemed inadmissible.”
The US federal government may not yet be ready to recognize the legitimacy of marijuana, but pressure is certainly mounting. With the new laws in Canada and a continued spread of acceptance across the US, it should only be a matter of time before US lawmakers move to validate marijuana in the country. If not for the social and medical benefits, they should do it for the economic benefits.
