Lately we have received queries regarding the potential impact of the legalization of medical/recreational marijuana as it relates to secure programs such as Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), Canada Controlled Goods Act (CGG), Nexus programs, Partners in Protection (PIP), FAST, ITAR etc. While the Government of Canada is indicating their will be little or no impact after these changes become law, information coming from the US Attorney General’s office and Customs & Border Protection do not echo this sentiment. Currently marijauna is listed as a Schedule 1 drug, to put this in perspective cocaine is a schedule 2 drug and anabolic steroids are schedule 3 drugs in the USA. Due to the scheduling by the DEA as a schedule 1 drug it is not considered to have any medical value and therefore federally medical marijuana is not recognized by US federal law enforcement agencies. Therefore people crossing the US border who may be in possession of marijuana are still subject to US federal drug laws and may be subject to arrest, prosecution and eventually deportation and a ban for reentry into the USA for at least 5 years. For those firms/Employees who are part of the secure programs they also risk expulsion or suspension from the program, seizure of assets and further detailed inspections. Firms should have a strict policy in place that addresses these programs and the employees who participate in them. As a side note the recent decriminalization laws in Jamaica apply only to citizens, not tourists. Contact us at 226 972 1539 or at steve@ravengroup.ca for help developing these policies or any other of your business security issues.