Canadians who work in the marijuana industry 鈥� and those who invest in the booming pot sector 鈥� will face significant risks when crossing the U.S. border even after the drug becomes legal in Canada next month, according to detailed comments by a senior official overseeing U.S border operations.
A lifetime ban on entering the U.S. will apply to travellers who admit to using marijuana, employees in the marijuana industry, and investors in the marijuana sector, according to the official.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 recognize that as a legal business,鈥� Todd Owen, executive assistant commissioner for the Office of Field Operations at CBP, told and focused on Canada-U.S. relations.
Owen said U.S. Customs and Border Protection will apply existing laws against admitting drug users and drug traffickers into the United States. Among the details he laid out:
- Canadians caught crossing the border with marijuana in their car will face prosecution or a fine of US$5,000.
- CBP has not specified a minimum investment threshold in marijuana businesses that would trigger the lifetime ban.
- Not every traveller will be asked whether they use marijuana, but Owen also outlined several signs of pot use that officials will not ignore.
