Marijuana is federally considered an illegal substance in the U.S.

Once recreational pot is legalized, Canadians in the industry going stateside for business may be denied entry

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Just days before marijuana is legalized in Canada, the U.S. has made an important clarification about Canadians who work in the marijuana industry and want to travel south of the border.

In the lead-up to legalization, there has been a lot of confusion about what could bar you access to the United States.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency has issued an update on its stance to specifically state that anyone working in the legal pot industry will be considered generally admissible, if their purpose for travel is personal. However, if they are in the industry and going to the states for business, they may be denied entry.

The statement says:

“A Canadian citizen working in or facilitating the proliferation of the legal marijuana industry in Canada, coming to the U.S. for reasons unrelated to the marijuana industry will generally be admissible to the U.S. however, if a traveler is found to be coming to the U.S. for reason related to the marijuana industry, they may be deemed inadmissible.”

While many individual states have legalized marijuana, it is still federally considered an illegal substance in the United States.

For regular users, the statement says border agents will make a determination based on the circumstances at the time.

Both Canadian and U.S. officials point out it is still illegal to cross the border possessing marijuana, even if you’re heading to a state where it is considered legal.

Recreational pot becomes legal in Canada on Wednesday.