The Canada Border Services Agency says 鈥渘othing has changed鈥� about its mandate to keep illegal drugs out of the country, as the legal sale of recreational marijuana began in a border state on Tuesday.
Washington state became the second U.S. state to legalize pot sales, after Colorado did so on January 1. The state began issuing licences on Monday.
Under the new laws, it is legal to sell up to:
- 28 grams of dried marijuana;
- 453 grams of 鈥減ot-infused solids鈥�;
- 2,040 grams of 鈥減ot-infused liquids鈥�;
- 7 grams of concentrated marijuana, such as hashish.
Buyers must be over the age of 21.
CBSA officers are tasked with enforcing Canadian laws at all ports of entry, the agency said Tuesday in a statement, 鈥渁nd are committed to preventing illegal narcotics from entering into Canada.
鈥淐hanges to American laws do not affect the CBSA's mandate. In Canada, the possession of cannabis is illegal, and it is a criminal offence to import illegal drugs, including cannabis, into Canada. For the CBSA, nothing has changed.鈥�
Travellers who legally purchased pot in Washington State are being warned that it is a crime to bring that marijuana across the border.
While circumstances are assessed on a case-by-case basis, 鈥淎nyone found smuggling drugs will be arrested鈥� and charges could be laid, the agency said.
The CBSA keeps records of such infractions, which may result in a more rigorous examination on subsequent trips across the border, the agency said.
