US Border Officials Seizing Cannabis from Canada Post
Residents of Campobello Island are Effectively Cut Off from Canada in the Winter – LPC
Residents of Campobello Island, NB are speaking out about privacy concerns. They say US Customs and Border Protection agents regulalry search their mail. Canada Post confirms their trucks must briefly pass through the US to get to the island. The number of trucks being stopped is growing — with US border officials seizing cannabis packages.
Understandably, this upsets the Canadian islanders.
“Residents on Campobello are distressed and unhappy that their mail that’s delivered by Canada Post is being searched by U.S. border officials,” said John Williamson, the MP who represents the riding.
During the summer, the island is accessible by ferry without having to pass through the US. The trip through the land border in the winter has always meant residents – and their mail – could be stopped at the border. However, according to the article, residents claim there’s been an increase in the last year. Cannabis legalization is the suspected reason. (Please click on the link below for the full article.) That’s pretty much confirmed with US border officials seizing cannabis from Canada Post.
For its part, Canada Post did try to make an arrangement with the US to “seal” mail trucks. However, border officials in the US aren’t following that arrangement for some reason.
“Given the sanctity that we view the mail service as a way to communicate with our physicians, our banks and our families, this is distressing,” Williamson said.
Is US Border Officials Seizing Cannabis from Canada Post Legal? – LPC
It may not be right, but US border officials seizing cannabis from anyone crossing their border is legal. Part of the problem is, of course, the fact that although cannabis is legal in Maine (where the border is for Campobello Island), cannabis is illegal federally in the US. Even Canadian rules state that leaving the country with cannabis is technically illegal. Recently, Canada Post sent out a notification letter asking licensed producers (LPs) to stop shipping to Portobello Island. The hope is that over time, US border officials will lessen their stops of Canada Post trucks.
In a similar situation, a domestic Air Canada flight was diverted to the US last November. Several passengers worried they could be arrested for cannabis possession.
The mayor of Campobello Island, Brett Newman, wants the Canadian government to do more to protect residents’ privacy.
“The Canadian government has made very little effort to fix this problem and seems to be alright with United States doing as they wish with Canadians’ mail.”
Year-round access seems to be the answer to avoiding mail searches and ultimately US border officials seizing cannabis packages. At least that’s how Kathleen Case, a postmaster at a local post office, feels.
“The only way for us to receive unimpeded access to Canadian goods and services is to have a link to Canada. We don’t have one.”
This editorial content from the LPC News Team provides analysis, insight, and perspective on current news articles. To read the source article this commentary is based upon, please click on the link below.
