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“The first border guard asked us specifically why we were going to be in Las Vegas, and when we said we would be dropping by at the Marijuana Business Conference, he said ‘I’m going to need you to come with me,’” Elliot told the Financial Post. He and his colleague were then ushered into a large white room — where 10 other individuals traveling to Vegas for the conference were also waiting — and asked to not talk, and not use their cellphones.

“I am a big supporter of secure borders. But these border guards were deliberately slowing down the process. It struck me that this was a fairly unnecessary measure, and they could have dealt with it in a much quicker way,” Elliot said.

Global Public Affairs, the lobbying firm that employs Elliot and his colleague consults for a number of sectors, including cannabis, but neither Elliot nor his colleague invest in the American cannabis industry. “We wanted to make sure the border guards understood that,” he said.

A number of high-level cannabis executives attending the conference, who declined to be named, managed to avoid issues at the border by not flying directly to their destination. One told the Financial Post that in anticipation of problems at the border, he was advised by his lawyers to fly into Los Angeles and then drive to Las Vegas a day later. Another said that he flew into San Diego first, before leaving for Las Vegas — he advised the other executives on his team attending the conference to employ the same tactic.