Update: Individuals connected to the recreational cannabis industry could be banned for life from the United States

We recently published an article on how individuals and organizations involved in Canada's recreational cannabis industry could be banned for life from the United States.

On October 9, in connection with the impending legalization of cannabis in Canada, United States Customs and Border Protection amended a notice to travelers to the US.

The agency affirmed the following: "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, if a traveler is found to be coming to the U.S. for reasons related to the marijuana industry, they may be deemed inadmissible." (source: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/speeches-and-statements/cbp-statement-canadas-legalization-marijuana-and-crossing-border)

Customs and Border Protection has therefore relaxed somewhat its earlier position by specifying that only individuals traveling to the U.S. for reasons related to the cannabis industry may be refused entry.

In Canada, the government has also revised its notice as follows:

"Canadians travelling for reasons related to the cannabis industry may be deemed inadmissible." 

(source: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/cannabis-and-international-travel)

If you are involved in the marijuana industry and intend to travel to the United States, regardless of the reason, we recommend you remain cautious.

For further details, contact Mtre. Martin Laurendeau or Mtre. Jean-François Carrier at PFD Lawyers.