Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jun 2010 Source: Missoulian (MT) Copyright: 2010 Missoulian Contact: http://www.missoulian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/720 Note: Only prints letters from within its print circulation area Author: Tim Trainor REGISTERED PATIENTS CAN VISIT CANADA, BUT NOT WITH POT BUTTE - Having a medical marijuana card cannot affect a Montanan's ability to visit Canada; however, all drugs found at the border crossing will be confiscated. Lisa White, spokesperson for the Canada Border Control Services Agency, said that despite rumors to the contrary, a traveler's enrollment in the Montana's medical marijuana program won't keep anyone out. "In and of itself, it is not a valid reason to deny entrance," she said. Health Canada, the federal department that runs the country's health care system, has a medical marijuana program and the drug is allowed for those suffering from "grave and debilitating illnesses" such as cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis. However, according to White, Health Canada does not recognize the medical marijuana programs of any other country. Therefore, a person could not bring a personal amount of the drug across the border, despite the fact that it was medically prescribed. White said any marijuana found at a border crossing would have to be "abandoned to the crown." She said that officers would not turn the car back, because that would violate the country's drug laws. "They have to confiscate it," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart