Canadians crossing the US border are apparently being denied if they admit to having ever used weed

Canada voted to legalize marijuana in June, a measure that came into effect less than two weeks ago. But now it would cause problems for some Canadians crossing the US border. According to NPR, some Canadians say they may be barred from entry if they admit to having used grass.

Although it is legal in some states like Washington and Alaska, "on the American side, nothing has changed," said Stephanie Malin, spokesperson for the Customs and Border Protection Department. Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug in the United States, which means that the move to the United States – even in a pot-friendly state – with cannabis-based products remains a federal crime. "If, during the inspection, the officer has reason to ask questions about it, he will do it," said Malin. "It depends on the intention of the trip." When asked about allegations of refusal of entry by Canadians, CBP sent Bustle its official statement entitled "Legalization of marijuana in Canada and crossing the border," which you can read here.

Canadians actually claim that the application of CBP goes beyond the current possession and use of cannabis. "This is a pretty serious concern," said Roy Ludwig, mayor of a border town of Saskatchewan, on Canadian television channel CBC. "Even people who could have been smoking tobacco 20 or 30 years ago are asking:" Have you ever smoked cannabis? "When they arrive at the US border. We understand that some people said yes, they have been and have been repressed. "

Earlier this month, The Los Angeles Times reported on numerous occasions that CBP officials had asked Canadian travelers if they had ever used grass and had been banished from the United States after saying yes. During the summer The Star Vancouver Jay Evans, the CEO of a farm equipment manufacturing company, was sentenced to a lifetime ban from entering the United States because he was designing farmer-friendly equipment cannabis. Despite not being involved in the process of growing or selling weeds, Evans said L & # 39; star he and his colleagues were considered "drug traffickers" under federal law.

"If you're a Canadian tourist in Seattle and you're over 21, you can buy marijuana, but on your next trip to the US, border officials question you and admit you're using marijuana. in the past, you can be banned, "said Len Saunders, a Canadian lawyer who has addressed these weed bans. The temperature. "It's totally backwards and does not make sense."

Recourse for such cases is arduous – Canadians, given lifetime bans, must seek an exemption from CBP, which may take up to a year to process for a fee of $ 585. If granted, the waiver remains valid for five years and the traveler must still have it with him while in the United States. Once the five years have passed, they must start the whole process again.

"The archaic rule of law is overcoming common sense," said Lou Correa, representative of the House of Representatives who pushed the Trump administration to reform drug possession laws. The temperature. "The federal law does not reflect at all what is happening."