Laws are constantly in flux. Laws are also different from state-to-state and from country-to-country. Some states here in the U.S. are still unsure of whether selling a Hemp tincture 1000mg product is legally permissible even though hemp and its derivatives have been legalized federally. In Canada, not only isHempD legal, but so is the sale and recreational consumption of cannabis. That is not true here in the U.S. though, and so the border patrol has had its problems.
Last year, the border patrol along the Canadian border issued warnings to Canadians that so much as work in the cannabis industry that they may be issued lifetime bans to travel into the U.S. Since then, border patrol authorities have stepped back on enforcing such rules, but not when it comes to possession. When it comes to something like Hemp gummies or a simple unflavored pure Hemp oil, one would think that the border patrol would be alright with that since Hemp is legal in the U.S.
After the passage of 2018 Farm Bill, hemp oil, hemp rope and all hemp derivatives became legal on the federal level here in the U.S. It leaves the border patrol a little confused since hemp and its derivatives look a lot like still illegal cannabis products. One unfortunate woman who frequently visits the U.S. from Canada was stopped by the border patrol and may face a lifetime ban just for having a bottle of Hemp oil in her bag that she had failed to claim. The Border Patrol is still trying to figure out what rules to enforce when it comes to Hemp products.
"In light of these changes, (Customs and Border Protection) is working closely with its Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) that have regulatory purview over Cannabis Sativa L. and its by-products to assess the policy and regulatory changes and verify all importation requirements that will be necessary as a result of the 2018 Farm Bill," the spokesperson for the U.S. border agency said.
"(Customs and Border Protection) administers and enforces importation laws and regulations on behalf of its PGAs, and coordinates with them actively at the border," said the agency spokesperson. "Until this interagency regulatory process is complete, and updated requirements are finalized and disseminated, existing importation protocols and trade filing guidance will remain in place."
Unfortunately the Canadian resident may be issued a lifetime ban, and even if she isn't, she will face additional scrutiny each time she tries to enter the U.S. Not only is research still ongoing trying to understand any benefits of CBD, but low enforcement and lawmakers are still assessing the best ways to implement rules.
Read more at CBC.ca.