Mayor hails report on border issues over pot

Cross-border travellers who admit to using marijuana should not be denied entry in the U.S. because of something they did legally in Canada, says a Senate committee report released ahead of a June vote on the issue of legalization. The Senate Committee on National Defence and Security made a number of recommendations Tuesday, including one that highlighted honest discussions between the two countries to clarify how travellers at the border will be treated.

“Your committee encourages the Canadian government to have formal discussions … to clarify the U.S. government’s position with respect to Canadian travellers who admit to previous cannabis use,” the report said.

Canada should also know the types of questions U.S. customs officers will ask regarding cannabis use, the report recommended. Workers for marijuana companies should also not be singled out or penalized as “drug traffickers,” the committee said.

Mayor Drew Dilkens applauds the recommendations made this week by the committee, assigned to identify potential problems at the Canada-U.S. border after marijuana is legalized in this country. “I think the recommendations they made are reasonable and the government will hopefully consider their implementation,” the mayor said Wednesday. Dilkens was among 13 witnesses who appeared a few weeks ago before the committee of senators. His concerns during testimony included the necessity for a program to educate U.S. visitors — expected to increase once marijuana is sold legally in Windsor — so they know they cannot bring cannabis across the bridge or tunnel into their own country. Dilkens expressed fears U.S. border agents will deny entry to Canadian travellers who admit to using marijuana at home — possibly permanently. That could create the potential for Canadians contemplating whether to lie to U.S. customs.

“You don’t want to be in a situation where you are jeopardizing someone’s future,” Dilkens told the senate committee.

The committee suggested posting signs near entry points, making it clear that importing marijuana into the U.S. is illegal — primarily so American visitors don’t buy it here to bring home or Canadian users don’t try to bring their legal product across the border.

A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Michigan on Wednesday said early conversations have already taken place pending legalization of marijuana in Canada.

“We are definitely talking about it,” said Kris Grogan, public affairs officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Ensuring every U.S. customs officer stationed on the border in Detroit is on the same page in terms of questioning will be a priority as well, he said.

“There will be a lot of communication about that,” Grogan said. Whether the Senate committee’s recommendations make it into the final version of Bill C-45 should be known by June 7 when the Senate is scheduled to hold its final vote on the legislation.

Dilkens called the Senate’s conclusions “common-sense recommendations.”