American immigration inspectors are refusing to allow Canadians who admit they once smoked marijuana to enter the U.S., The Ottawa Citizen reported on April 23. The paper revealed that Canadians who tell U.S. border officials the truth about their past use of marijuana will be denied entry to America indefinitely.
Calgary lawyer Michael Green, who is national secretary of the Canadian Bar Association’s immigration and citizenship section, said that American immigration inspectors have taken a “gatekeeper approach” that includes asking about one’s marijuana history. Green criticized the policy, which he said began last April, arguing that the same strict adherence to the law by Canadian inspectors would prohibit President Bill Clinton from entering their country.
“Canadian officers are specifically trained not to ask that question because if we did ask, possibly half your population under 50 would be inadmissible to the country,” he said.
Admissions of marijuana use are entered into U.S. records and will result in future denials by inspectors, The Citizen reported. Those who admit to marijuana use may only enter the U.S. if they obtain a waiver from the immigration service.
For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Tanya Kangas, Esq. of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.
