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This article was originally published on VICE Canada.
Good news for the legions of white guys who take advantage of the legal grass: they will be allowed to enter the United States for personal trips. But if you have legally smoked a joint, you may be unlucky.
The US government released this week an update of its border policy regarding the imminent legalization of recreational cannabis by Canada. The statement, published by the US Customs and Border Protection, states that Canadians working in the legal field "will generally qualify for the United States." However, they may not be allowed to enter the United States if they go there for commercial cannabis-related reasons.
This is more or less a reversal of what Todd Owner, a US border official, told Politico last month, when he said workers and cannabis investors could be safe. expect a lifetime ban from the United States.
The updated statement also stated that an "addict or addict" would not be welcome in the United States.
"Every foreigner who is determined to become an addict or drug addict, or who is found guilty, admits to having committed or admits to having committed acts that constitute the essential elements of a violation of … any law or regulation of a State. States, or a foreign country related to a controlled substance, is inadmissible to the United States. "
So, basically, anyone who admits to having used cannabis still runs the risk of a lifetime ban on America. Canadians convicted of cannabis-related crimes are not allowed to cross the border.
Black and Aboriginal Canadians are disproportionately arrested for weeding, while last year's VICE News survey found that Canadian licensed producers are largely headed by white men.
The federal government has not yet developed a plan to grant amnesty to Canadians convicted of condemning grass, and has only stated that it would look into the issue after the legalization. Last week, the NDP tabled a bill asking the government to write off the criminal record of Canadians convicted of simple possession of marijuana.
At the present time, to obtain a pardon, a Canadian must wait five to ten years after his sentence and pay hundreds of dollars for a pardon, which could be refused. Even if they are granted, their criminal record is considered "forgiven" rather than erased, so there are potentially problems to cross the border.
But if you're one of those old cops or politicians (let's be honest, how many weed CEOs even smoke weed?), You're probably fine.
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