Pot question bans some Canadians from U.S. for life

[brooklynite]

Source: Seattle Times

In case you missed this story percolating to our north on CBC News, Canadians are being banned from entering the U.S. if they admit to customs agents that they’ve recreationally used marijuana.

Canada’s Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale called the lifetime bans “ludicrous,” especially in light of “certain ironies about the current American position.”

Adults, including foreigners, are allowed to consume pot in Washington state (as well as Colorado, Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C.). But the U.S. federal government still considers pot illegal. Customs agents may ask Canadians coming into the Washington, such as Matthew Harvey, if they’ve consumed pot in the past. Harvey, on his way from Vancouver, B.C. to a concert in Seattle, answered affirmatively. He was hit with a lifetime ban because the feds treat such an admission as if it were a criminal conviction.

Canadians can apply for a waiver to enter the U.S. but it costs $585 and has to be renewed. With Canada planning to legalize pot, and research showing that 44 percent of the country’s residents have tried pot, there’s a concern more and more Canadians could face bans for answering a seemingly harmless question.

Read more: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marijuana/pot-question-bans-some-canadians-from-u-s-for-life/

[LiberalFighter]

1. Why don't they retroactively apply that ban to Ted Cruz?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Why do you hate Canadians?

[LiberalFighter]

6. But isn't Cruz a Canadian? Just trying to help him find his way back.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Why subject them to him?

[billpolonsky]

24. No NO NO

Don't even...

He is your problem now.

[SHRED]

2. When they ask..."just say no"

[Missn-Hitch]

17. LOL!

[RKP5637]

3. FFS, the USA looks like a bunch of fools! n/t

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. Keep in mind that these laws are being championed by gin drinkers.

[GummyBearz]

16. Probably to retaliate against that stupid Canadian law..

That bans you from going to Canada if you ever had a DUI

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. Seriously?

[Laser102]

7. The older I get the more I'm convinced America is seriously ignorant. This is just more proof.

[GeorgeGist]

8. iDiocracy must be smashed.

[Plucketeer]

9. OK.... while we're building walls....

Those DAMNED Canadians! Figures they'd wanna get stoned and come south to incite violence!

[LoverOfLiberty]

10. As I understand it

A DUI in the US can be a permanent ban from entering into Canada. That's pretty harsh as well.

[OnlinePoker]

12. These are the reasons for inadmissability to Canada

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/inadmissibility/who.asp

While driving under the influence is included, there are procedures that might get the ban lifted.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/inadmissibility/conviction.asp

[LoverOfLiberty]

13. Thank You

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. Yep. Happened to my brother in law. Surprise! You have to turn around and go home.

[jtuck004]

18. "For the latest year of data available (2010), TIRF recorded 1,621 drivers killed in a motor vehicle

"For the latest year of data available (2010), TIRF recorded 1,621 drivers killed in a motor vehicle accident. Of these fatally wounded drivers, 36% (590) had alcohol detected in their blood. From a human cost perspective, the TIRF data show that the problem of alcohol-related deaths on Canada's highways and streets is a greater problem than homicide: there were more alcohol-related driver fatalities in 2010 than homicides (554)."

The U.S. kills off about 11,000 related to alchohol every year.

Deaths caused by cannabis? Hard to find anything but zeroes.

This is why Canada is so concerned about alchohol, and why the U.S. is so concerned about making sure we lock up people of color (which is the history behind our cannabis bans).

[Egnever]

32. Both are stupid

[barbtries]

11. this would be the right time to lie.

what a bullshit policy. and stupid.

[FrodosPet]

15. At least for U.S. going into Canada you can only be blocked for a drug possession conviction

I doubt if they actually ask if someone has used, only if they have been convicted of it.

[ColemanMaskell]

19. Fair (if odd) Revenge for Martha Stewart being banned from Canada ?!

The American policy would seem embarrassing if not for the fact that the analogous Canadian policy is similar but more all-encompassing (i.e., worse). I mean, Martha Stewart? Really? She's a threat to Canada?
And threading through the process for getting the Canadian ban lifted is worthy of an old Russian novel. (I know someone who did it. It took him years and brought a bunch of legal fees into the Canadian economy.)

[Wibly]

20. What's really interesting

Is our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has openly admitted to smoking cannabis, even while serving in our Parliament, yet your border service did not deny him entry to the US.
Your President has also admitted to smoking pot, but they always let him back in when he returns.
Even more absurd is the fact many of these incidents have occurred along the BC-Washington border, and cannabis is legal in Washington!
Very clearly the US Border Service is being very discriminatory for some reason, and they are also sending a strong message to Canadians and others, that it is better to lie that tell the truth.
What's more, they are doing your country economic damage by preventing people who will go down, patronize your pot shops and your pizzerias!
Dumb, dumb, and very discriminatory practice that you should all take up with whoever is in charge of your border service.

[maxsolomon]

23. it's highly unlikely that the USBP will be responsive to public pressure

the last place weed will be legalized is federally. it's still classified with heroin as Schedule 1.

sad that lying is the best policy here.

[Wibly]

25. Silly argument

Public pressure on lawmakers will result in lawmakers putting pressure on the border service. And the border service most definitely listens to law makers.

[maxsolomon]

26. #1, Republicans exist

#2, Republicans control the Legislative Branch.
#3, Republicans do not want this rule to change because they fancy themselves "tough on crime".

Further, you said to take it up with head of the USBP, not Lawmakers. Regardless, until Republicans don't control a single branch of the Federal Govt., this policy will not change.

Sorry to be Cynical, but that party's Raison D'Etre is to stop progress. It frightens them.

[melman]

27. This goes both ways

I have a weed conviction(very small amount) and I am unable to visit Canada as a result.

[melman]

28. Also

I don't know if they ever ask that question on the Canadian side, but I can tell you right now..


If they do you better say no.


The Canadian border agents are harsh, every bit as much if not more than the US people. They do not F around.

[ColemanMaskell]

30. Totally agree. American border bad, Canadian border worse.

[The Wizard]

29. lie to them (NT)

[tirebiter]

31. Can't get into Canada with a misdemeanor on your record

Anything. And RCMP has the list. Take care of getting arrested at a demonstration if you plan on defecting or just visiting.

[elmac]

33. Just like the Marine Corps

Pretty sneaky. If I were running things the pot smokers would be given a special pass to flash, generally a smarter group of people and we need all the smarts we can get.