Wednesday at 9 a.m. was the dawn of a new era on the Island. People lined up at the three operating Cannabis P.E.I. stores in Charlottetown, Summerside and Montague to purchase their first legal marijuana, pot, cannabis . . . weed, call it what you want.
In Charlottetown, in spite of the long wait, people in the lineup were in a pretty jovial mood. Once inside they were faced with more choices than they ever got from the street dealers. They had to choose from packages priced from $5.65 to $122.96. They could choose between pre-rolled joints, loose leaf, oil or capsules. In boxes or in jars. With the strength and the formula clearly indicated on the label.
And they could put it on their credit card.
A far cry from cash only for a poly bag of, who knows what, from who knows where.
Is it progress? More than likely, but it’s too soon to tell.
The new law does present some policing challenges, especially for people driving while impaired by the effects of marijuana. But, it should be remembered that marijuana didn’t arrive on the Island on Wednesday. It has been here for years, and no doubt there have been people driving under its influence for some time and the police have managed.
Police will find a way to deal with whatever problems the legalization of cannabis has created. Maybe, there won’t be as many as the naysayers believe.
However, there is a problem with cannabis use that many Islanders may want to consider, and it is a problem the federal government is aware of, but can’t t do much about it.
It has to do with our erstwhile friends, the American government. While there are a number of American states that have made the sale of cannabis legal, there are still many that have not. And, the use of, possession, sale and provision of cannabis is still a federal offence, and one the American government intends to enforce.
The Toronto Star recently interviewed a number of American and Canadian officials and experts about cannabis and crossing into the US.
American Border Protection officers can ask anyone if they have used cannabis in the past. According to the Star article “answering ‘yes,’ regardless of how long ago that cannabis use may have occurred, will land a Canadian with a lifetime ban on entry to the U.S.”
Anyone working in the cannabis industry and who is travelling to the U.S. for business purposes is also subject to a lifetime ban. But, if they are travelling on holidays, they can enter the U.S.
If you lie, and the Americans subsequently find out, that is also subject to a lifetime ban. Border Protection officers are authorized to use print, social media, online and other resources to check on drug use.
Global News also reported that people who use a credit card to purchase cannabis should be aware that for most credit cards issued by Canadian banks, the data relating to those cards is stored in the U.S. and is easily accessible by the Border Protection service.
New Brunswick seems aware of this issue. But, as of a few days ago, they had not yet figured out how they will deal with it. However, a spokesman said, “it’s not going to be Cannabis N.B.”
But on the Island, it is ‘Cannabis P.E.I.’ that does the selling. Islanders who travel to the States might want to rethink about how they pay for their cannabis at the store, with cash or a credit card. Online you don’t have a choice, you pay with a credit card.
In Nova Scotia, cannabis is sold in its liquor stores. Its credit card slips simply indicate a purchase made from the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission.
None of this may be a problem. A senior official with U.S. Border Protection, Todd Owen, told Global News he “would not expect that officers would be routinely asking people about their marijuana use.”
But, if they do . . .
- Alan Holman is a freelance journalist living in Charlottetown. He can be reached at: [email protected]
