Canadian medical marijuana patients banned from entering the US

In a nutshell, the situation is this: If you are a legal Canadian medical marijuana patient, and you admit to that fact to US Customs at the border, you are classified as an “illegal drug user” and PERMANENTLY BANNED from entering the United States of America. Our government couldn’t be bothered to stop most of the 9/11 hijackers who entered our country from Canada, but they’re doing a bang-up job of keeping out the MS, AIDS, and cancer patients who prefer herbal remedies to pharmaceutical ones.

So if they ask if you’ve ever tried marijuana or are a medical marijuana patient, if I may borrow a phrase from Nancy Reagan, JUST SAY NO!

Canadian Medical Marijuana Users Banned from the US
The Multiple Sclerosis Newsletter – 10 May, 2008

From the Newsletter of the West Kootenay Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada: The US will ban all ‘admitted drug users”, even legal ones.

I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). On November 8th 2007, I was traveling to the US with my son and daughter, both in their twenties. Upon arrival at the border, my daughter’s flight ticket was produced, verifying she was leaving that day for a weekend trip. The duty officer asked for all of our identifications and took them into the office, presumably for a computer check. When she returned a few minutes later, she requested all of us to leave the vehicle.

The duty officer took nearly ten minutes inspecting every aspect of my daughter’s vehicle, and when she came into the office, instructed my two adult children to return to the car and asked me to remain behind. She asked me if I smoked. Surprised, I said yes. She then asked me if I smoked marijuana because she detected a faint odor in my purse. I again said yes, adding it’s for medical reasons and that I have a federal government card permitting me use. I was allowed to go and get my purse, and produced the card, expecting that to be the end of it.

I did not have anything with me as carrying marijuana into the US would be an incredibly stupid move based on their anti-everything policies. And I seldom ever carry anything around, period, and couldn’t honestly recall the last time I might have. Either she has the nose equal to that of a bloodhound or had an odor-sensor tool because I’m sure an average person would not have smelled anything in my purse. On my body, perhaps, but not in my purse.

My children were instructed to remain in the car while I remained inside, and instructed to provide a statement. The duty officer explained that giving a statement now would explain everything and remain on file for future border crossings to avoid further issues about this. As much as I detested the thought of being singled out in any way, shape or form and even more so having my name automatically pulled up on the border computers, I conceded and cooperated. All of my ID was photocopied and that included other disability identification. My statement explained that I wouldn’t dream of carrying anything into the US because I understand it’s only legal in Canada and that I use it for multiple sclerosis symptoms, etc. I was truthful in all ways. Once the statement was completed, I was allowed to return to the car with my children to wait for clearance. A few minutes later the duty officer returned and told me that I would not be allowed to enter into the US and must come back into the customs office now for more statements because I have officially been refused entry.

Once back inside, within minutes what I believed to be a temporary setback turned into an avalanche of bad news — first, that I would not be allowed into the US which I thought meant for that trip; secondly, having it clarified that this was not a onetime denial, this was permanently banned from the US for being an admitted drug user; third, that it was required that I have two sets of fingerprints taken as well as mug shots for the civil file now in my name; and fourth, warned that if I attempt to enter the US again, I will be heavily fined and any vehicle I’m in will be confiscated and any other country I travel to now when asked if I’ve ever been denied entry into a country, must now declare that I was refused entry to the US for being an “admitted drug user”!

It was another hour inside the customs being processed. The duty officer did what she was supposed to do and thanked me at the end for being so cooperative… I asked her if I could leave, and she said yes. She gave me copies of my denial papers to deliver to the Canadian Customs and expected I would wait there. But I was too upset to do anything but walk off my anger and disappointment. I handed the papers to the Canadian border on my way by, and said thanks but no thanks to remaining inside the Canadian customs office.

For several days after I was ill from the shock and stress. It was several weeks before I could even begin to talk about it. I have previously spent many vacations in the US and hoped to travel in the near future. Now all those possibilities were ripped away because I’m a federally approved Canadian medical marijuana user, interpreted by the US as an admitted drug user and now in their all-seeing database. The points to this experience are numerous and repercussions extensive. For your consideration: How can I be deemed a drug user in the US when I didn’t commit an offense on US soil? Why am I banned for having genuine, federal cards identifying myself as a medical marijuana user? How is it that medical marijuana is legal in California for US citizens who qualify and they still did this?

My answers to these questions are this: The US is accumulating data on every single person in every possible way and follows their own rules, ignoring any rights we think we might have. That medical marijuana is legal in California has no relevance to them. There is no distinction between marijuana use and heroin addiction to them. Nor is there any distinction between a medical user and a street drug dealer. I was now declared criminally ill despite being legal in every inch of Canada and did not commit any offence on US soil. It has been three months since this has happened, and I am still traumatized by the entire experience but at least able to talk about it.

For you and anyone you know planning on going to the US, I have learned through other media releases and testimonials that people are even being banned for having admitted to trying marijuana (or any drugs) in their past. This is known as “retroactive punishment” and about as unconstitutional as you can get. So if you are ill and on medically prescribed drugs, don’t mention it. If you are asked if you have ever done any drugs in your life, say no.