With the Cannabis Act taking effect October 17, 2018, the Government of Canada has passed legislation that creates a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada.

TIAC members should be aware of this legislation and how it affects cross-border travel.

Under the Act, the import and export of cannabis remains prohibited unless authorized by Health Canada. Taking cannabis or products containing cannabis across the border without authorization from the Government of Canada remains a serious criminal offence. In addition, foreign nationals who commit, on entering Canada, certain cannabis-related offences continue to be inadmissible to Canada when the new legislation comes into force.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is undertaking a number of key measures to raise awareness of the new laws

• They are installing signage at its ports of entry, and will ask all travellers entering Canada if they are bringing cannabis into Canada.

• They are deploying a comprehensive digital communications strategy informing travellers of the continued prohibition of importation or exportation of cannabis and reminding of the continued obligation to declare it.

For more information on the legalisation of cannabis in Canada, visit www.canada.ca/cannabis and the CBSA website at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.