Executives, professionals connected to cannabis industry avoid travel to U.S. for fear of lifetime b

gb123

Well-Known Member
Lawyer says Canadians working in cannabis industry are starting to run into problems at U.S. border
CBC News · Posted: Jul 13, 2018 8:08 AM PT | Last Updated: July 13

Cannabis will be legal in Canada as of Oct. 17, but business executives in the cannabis industry say they are facing troubles at the U.S. border. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Canadians working in the cannabis industry are starting to run into big problems at the border, according to an immigration lawyer.

Len Saunders is an immigration lawyer based in Blaine, Washington, a busy port of entry for British Columbians headed to the U.S. He says some of his clients are being denied entry — some have even received lifetime bans — for their business associations with marijuana.

"I'm getting calls almost daily from individuals in the marijuana industry in Canada who are concerned about either themselves or their employees entering the United States for business," Saunders said.

Despite the fact marijuana is legal in Washington state, and will soon be legal in Canada, the border between the two places is still federal jurisdiction patrolled by federal border guards.


Cars from Canada line up to cross into the U.S. in Blaine, Wash. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)
Saunders says his clients are being told by U.S. border guards that even a loose association — like being an angel investor — could land them a lifetime ban from the United States.

"They're being told that they're barred, either based upon reason to believe that they're involved with the drug-trafficking industry — which is marijuana — or based upon living off the avails of drug money, because they're getting paid by their Canadian companies."

Fears of ban prompting extreme measures
Saunders said until recently it was unheard of to see a business traveller denied entry. Now, he says, many Canadian business executives have decided, for the time being at least, to stay in Canada and not travel to the U.S. for business purposes.

Barinder Rasode, the CEO of the National Institute for Cannabis Health and Education, says fears of a lifetime ban are leading some business people to take extreme measures.

"[They are] wiping their phone clean or only communicating in certain apps so they can delete the app, or even shipping their phone ahead to their destination … these are realities we're not used to as Canadians."

Terry Lake, B.C.'s former minister of health, is now vice-president at a marijuana company. He says he plans to lobby the federal government about the issue.

"I think we'll really have to press for some discussions with the federal government to try to intervene on behalf of anyone not just directly involved in the cannabis industry, but let's say you make lighting systems that happen to be used in greenhouses," he said.

"The ability to do our business is going to be severely impaired if we cannot cross that border."

damn eh...sucks to be you!!
 

The Hippy

Well-Known Member
Tilray could be in for a ride...isn't privateer 'merican?...lol...oh my...how can there be a company in the US profiting off of cannabis in Canada?....I would think there is more than one....hahahahahahahaha.....my stomach hurts....
I think Dom Trumpio outta round em all up into his concentration camps. Then he can grab and finger fotch the woman and fire the men.
 

gb123

Well-Known Member
Uh oh! Unintended consequences for anyone involved in Canada’s cannabis industry
By Marc Montgomery | english@rcinet.ca
Denied U.S. entry, even banned for life
Recreational use of cannabis is set to become legal this fall in Canada.

After the federal government announced its plans to legalise marijuana, many business types, former politicians and even former police rushed to set up new businesses or invest in what is expected to be a very lucrative industry.

In the rush to establish the new and burgeoning industry many of those involved are now caught up in a surprising and serious international issue. Marijuana may be legal in some U.S. states, but federally it is not. The U.S border is federally controlled and customs agents there seem to be taking a very hard line on the issue of drugs.

Many avoiding travel to U.S.
Now, anyone involved in the cannabis industry can have trouble if the want to travel to the U.S. Some executives have been turned back, some have already been banned from the U.S. for life by a U.S border agents. U.S. border agents have wide-ranging discretionary powers to turn back or even bar entrants.


In the rush to get in on the new Canadian cannabis industry, it seems neither the Canadian government nor businessmen realised the potential for serious problems they could encounter at U.S customs. Many who travel to the U.S for legitimate business needs have found themselves turned back or banned for life (Todd Korol-Reuters)

Given a number of cases of trouble at the border, many business types who would normally travel to the U.S. in the course of their business activities are simply avoiding such trips and

“You would think the federal government would be able to talk to the United States government to have some sort of memorandum of understanding on this issue because you’re taking people that are engaging in perfectly legal businesses and treating them like they’re criminals” Terry Lake, former BC health minister, now cannabis exec

The U.S laws can affect anyone in Canada’s new industry ranging from workers in the various cannabis growing operations, to company executives, to investors, to executives of companies that make equipment sold to cannabis companies. One Canadian was barred from the U.S. simply because he is part owner of a Colorado building which rents space to a cannabis dispensary in Colorado (where it is legal).


Unintended consequence: Anyone from workers in a legal cannabis company, to the executives, to suppliers of equipment to investors can find themselves banned from the U.S. (Canopy Growth)

A U.S immigration lawyer says he’s being inundated with calls for “waivers” to enter the U.S. coming from a variety of people involved in the cannabis industry.

A former British Columbia health minister, now turned marijuana executive, Terry Lake, is calling on the federal government to begin talks with the U.S government to resolve the issue.


BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU'D FIGURE out that youre a rat bastard and deserve everything you get:hump:

“You would think the federal government would be able to talk to the United States government to have some sort of memorandum of understanding on this issue because you’re taking people that are engaging in perfectly legal businesses and treating them like they’re criminals” Terry Lake, former BC health minister, now cannabis exec
 

The Hippy

Well-Known Member
I am in favor of that. :twisted: Anyone have an e-mail address?
They probably have some kind of tip call in line...or in other terms...the rat out line. Seems pretty appropriate for our new weed dealer weedsells. After all, they are all being paid with weed profits and fit the requirements for NO ADMISSION TO THE USA.......what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Somehow there's gotta be a way to get the list to border services....haha
This would be SO SWEET.
From their website

If you are unable to find the information you need, the CBP INFO Center is open Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time. You can ask your question via email or by calling 1-877-CBP-5511 (877-227-5511). If you are outside the U.S. you must call 202-325-8000. (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339 or https://www.federalip.us/)

1-800-BE-ALERT
To report suspicious activity: Call 800 BE ALERT or (800) 232-5378.
 

MedicatedHiker

Well-Known Member
should call and rat myself out...Hi I am a Canadian citizen and I consume cannabis....
lol....please don't deny me entry ...oh please ...rofl
Yeah, the threat of being banned from entry is not as intimidating to most Canadians as they assume. They need to be reminded that even though most of us live just an hour away from the border, many still prefer to vacation in Cuba or Mexico.
 
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