Pubdate: Sun, 13 Apr 2014
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Section: Travel Talk
Page: D4
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Authors: Barbara Braidwood and Rick Cropp

WATCH DRUGS AT THE BORDER

Canada, U.S. Have Different Laws Governing What Is
Allowable

Smoke And Consequences

The publicity that has accompanied the dramatic relaxing of the
marijuana laws recently in several U.S. states, especially Washington
and Colorado, plus the Canadian government's somewhat confusing but
more liberal attitude toward small amounts of marijuana, has given
many travellers the wrong impression - to their horror.

Crossing the Canada-U.S. border in either direction with even small
amounts of marijuana is illegal.

The U.S. federal government still has "a zero-tolerance policy toward
illegal drugs, which means that very severe penalties are imposed for
the possession of even a small quantity."

In fact, it doesn't even acknowledge any of the new state laws
regarding marijuana. These regulations include drug paraphernalia.
Leave a pipe with a bit of suspect residue in the ashtray and they
will hand you back a severely rearranged car.

Coming back into Canada, even if "you are authorized under Canada's
Marijuana Medical Access Regulations to possess or produce marijuana
for medical purposes in Canada, you are not allowed to carry marijuana
when you enter or leave Canada." See www.travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/

The same website had another interesting fact.

Drug traffickers prey on tourists, especially women, younger
travellers and seniors. As a young man of about 20, Rick remembers a
good friend he made in Mexico asking him to take a gift to a friend in
Canada.

As a nice Canadian, he readily agreed.

He always figured he would recognize drug smugglers by their horns and
tail so it came as a complete shock when a Canadian friend with him
suggested that the "gift" might be drugs.

Since then, he travels with a modicum of suspicion about new
acquaintances and watches bags/pockets/ packs for people taking stuff
out and putting stuff in.

Vacations can just naturally lower our guard just when it needs to be
at its highest. Many over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements
and herbal and homeopathic products that are legally available in
Canada may be illegal in other countries.

When Barbara strained her back, she asked a U.S. pharmacist for a
muscle relaxant that is readily available on the shelves in Canada.

It is a prescription medication in the U.S.

We were surprised the first time we had to buy cold medicines from
behind the counter after producing a driver's licence and signatures
while in the U.S. A chemical in some cold medicines is an essential
ingredient in making methamphetamine.

Needles and syringes can cause problems without a doctor's note or
prescription. We request a prescription for Barbara's non-prescription
EpiPen, an injectable epinephrine for acute allergic reactions, for
ease in border crossings.

Before you travel, ask your pharmacy in Canada to print out your
prescription medication profile and extra stickon labels if you need
them for smaller travel size bottles.

See www.travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/drugs for other
suggestions.  
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D