Crossing US border as a Marijuana user

[CMW403]

From what I have been told, the new go-to question for Canadians entering the US is "do you use cannabis recreationally?", I have also been told that they are able to deny you entry just based on a "yes" to this question, especially if they are able to prove that you have purchased marijuana from a dispensary here in Canada. (not sure how they would be able to prove this, again, this is all based on heresay)

Has anyone encountered this issue yet? If so, could you please share your story?

[Star1995]

Your question is kind of strange, you say you've been told and yet you're asking for others to share their story. Do you trust the person/people that already told you this is true? I'm assuming you actually talked to these people or were they just random strangers on the street? Can you share the stories you've been told by these people.

[BavarianBeast]

“No sir, do I look like some sort of socialist hippy to you?”

As you go through customs high as a kite.

[Tik-Tok]

You're rolling the dice no matter what you say. One thing for sure to not admit is using it recreationaly before it became legal. (as in, don't say "oh yeah, I smoked when I was 18, but that was twenty years ago...)

[ExtraSlow]

There were a couple of news articles on this topic. I haven't heard anything firsthand from anyone, and lots of my buddies have the reefer madness.

I'm going to the states in March with several guys who toke. Guess we'll see if they make it. :dunno:

[BavarianBeast]

If your token friends are stupid they won’t make it across. I’ve heard of first hand experiences of being denied at boarder because admitting use.

[rage2]

I’ve never been asked.

[gqmw]

I haven't been asked yet, but if I were to answer, my answer would definitely be no to all questions.

[88CRX]

We got harassed last summer going down through Montana. We said no (which was true) and their response was "really... not even just a little, you can tell us, its not a big deal" or something along those lines. Was a very odd conversation. We stood pat on the no answer and they let us in.

[dandia89]

We got harassed last summer going down through Montana. We said no (which was true) and their response was "really... not even just a little, you can tell us, its not a big deal" or something along those lines. Was a very odd conversation. We stood pat on the no answer and they let us in.

Seems like they only ask if you're driving across. Flying, I haven't had that question ever asked.

[CMW403]

Your question is kind of strange, you say you've been told and yet you're asking for others to share their story. Do you trust the person/people that already told you this is true? I'm assuming you actually talked to these people or were they just random strangers on the street? Can you share the stories you've been told by these people.

Actually, as a matter of fact, I don't trust the person/people that told me this, they are alarmist assholes and I wanted a larger consensus, so I came to beyond. Is that okay with you boss?

- - - Updated - - -


We got harassed last summer going down through Montana. We said no (which was true) and their response was "really... not even just a little, you can tell us, its not a big deal" or something along those lines. Was a very odd conversation. We stood pat on the no answer and they let us in.

Yeah, I was told they are quite persistent so I am not surprised.




Seems like they only ask if you're driving across. Flying, I haven't had that question ever asked.

Yeah, I am pretty much only talking about driving across, flying they don't need to ask you that question, they have dogs that answer it for them.

[mr2mike]

84872

[shakalaka]

I've been to the US multiple times since legalization and not once have I been asked this question. That being said, usually the first question they ask is what I do and when I tell them they don't ask anything else. :bigpimp:

[Mitsu3000gt]

Never been asked personally, but a good family friend was denied a Nexus pass for admitting to smoking weed in the 60's in his interview. I imagine always telling them "no" is the way to go and don't carry any with you.

[CompletelyNumb]

Lie about everything they can't prove with a background check.

Example: smoking weed? Lie. Criminal record? truth.

[max_boost]

Deny it like your girl asking if you have any sides. Don't volunteer any information they can use against you.

[CMW403]

Deny it like your girl asking if you have any sides. Don't volunteer any information they can use against you.

Oh you don't say! I have great practice with this, I'll be fine at the border mods please close thread lol

[max_boost]

Oh you don't say! I have great practice with this, I'll be fine at the border mods please close thread lol

Attaboy :bigpimp:

[blairtruck]

I blaze on the regular. and have been buying lots of weed online for 4 years. also have a medical prescription and flew to USA in January and wasn't asked a thing. I wiped my phone before i left cause i follow a bunch weed subreddit and all over Instagram because of these news stories. didn't need to. I remembered i had my Aurora/spectrum weed cards in my wallet after i already went thru security.

[Xtrema]

Never been asked. Actually ever since they implemented those computers, I have not talked to an US custom agent since. Just hand them the slip and move right on to the gate.

[you&me]

If your token friends are stupid they won’t make it across. I’ve heard of first hand experiences of being denied at boarder because admitting use.

So, once someone has been denied for admitting to smoking weed, then what? Are they flagged forever? Or is each time just a crapshoot?

(only curious... Not a smoker myself)

[Xtrema]

So, once someone has been denied for admitting to smoking weed, then what? Are they flagged forever? Or is each time just a crapshoot?

(only curious... Not a smoker myself)

Once denied entry, you will always have a flag on file. Friend was mistaken as Mexican drug lord, same name, same race. Flagged every time going to US that he avoids it like a plague.

[you&me]

Once denied entry, you will always have a flag on file. Friend was mistaken as Mexican drug lord, same name, same race. Flagged every time going to US that he avoids it like a plague.

That sucks... Especially in the case of mistaken identity.

[adam c]

So, once someone has been denied for admitting to smoking weed, then what? Are they flagged forever? Or is each time just a crapshoot?

(only curious... Not a smoker myself)

denied is different than banned, I believe if you admit to smoking weed you're banned then every time you want to cross you have to apply for it before crossing

[rage2]

denied is different than banned, I believe if you admit to smoking weed you're banned then every time you want to cross you have to apply for it before crossing
You get a Waiver of Inadmissibility. It’s a bullshit process that takes a year, and the waiver is only good for a year, but eventually can extend to 5. Have a buddy that needs one to go to US, he says it’s all innocent old people applying because of charges from forever ago. DUIs, weed possession, etc.

[CMW403]

So do you guys think that the situation would vary a little bit if you were crossing over into a border state where recreational marijuana is legal, like Washington?

[ExtraSlow]

So do you guys think that the situation would vary a little bit if you were crossing over into a border state where recreational marijuana is legal, like Washington?
Absolutely not. The US federal law is clear, and the international border workers are federal workers.

[R-Audi]

Interestingly enough, the Canadian Customs computer asked if you were travelling with any cannabis products. (When coming back to Canada)

[ExtraSlow]

.

[nzwasp]

Seems like a bit of a cash grab in terms of the ban but you can apply for a waiver....so they dont really care but they want money for you to travel. If they really cared then they would ban you outright and the waivers would be off the table.

[rage2]

Seems like a bit of a cash grab in terms of the ban but you can apply for a waiver....so they dont really care but they want money for you to travel. If they really cared then they would ban you outright and the waivers would be off the table.
No, the waiver is there because by immigration law they have to provide a process for inadmissible people. It's also a way to discourage people from hiding shit at the border, and discourage people that get busted from travelling to the US again. The process has it's place, if you're a convicted murderer, you're not going to get a waiver so it's not just a money grab.

[370Z]

Does anyone know if the border agents are still asking? Or has the whole thing blown over?

[lasimmon]

Wasn’t asked on my last 2 trips to Pheonix in the last 40 days.

But I also don’t look like a degenerate.

[370Z]

Wasn’t asked on my last 2 trips to Pheonix in the last 40 days.

But I also don’t look like a degenerate.

Good to know, ya im going on a work trip so I'll be in dress shirt, rolling suitcase, etc

Just wondering if maybe they've come to their senses lol

[zieg]

Just answer with something like "what, you mean today?"

[MR2-3SGTE]

They mostly ask for land crossing. Rarely for flights. I fly to the states a dozen times a year and have never been asked

[roopi]

Nothing to worry about if your suitcase rolls.

[dirtsniffer]

If you roll on the other hand watch out