W ith Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, receiving royal assent on June 21, 2018, and with the new era of legalized cannabis commencing in Canada on October 17, now is the time for employers to take the necessary steps to ensure their employees are crossing borders in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations regarding cannabis on both sides of the border. The Cannabis Act will authorize adults to legally purchase, grow and use a limited quantity of cannabis for recreational purposes, while leaving medical marijuana largely unaffected. While many are looking forward to Canada’s new permissible stance on the use and possession of cannabis, related issues will undoubtedly surface at the ports of entry to both Canada and the U.S., impacting business travel. The legalization of cannabis, combined with the heightened level of scrutiny that individuals more frequently encounter these days from officers at the border, creates a climate of uncertainty for COVER STORY THE DOPE ON DOPE What we know so far about cross border business travel in an era of legalized cannabis By Janet Bomza & Claire MacLean employers as past use of cannabis or cannabis industry employment can bar entry, past cannabis-related convictions will not be forgiven, and individuals may not cross the border with cannabis or products containing cannabis. Creating company-wide awareness regarding the risks which legalization of cannabis may bring when crossing international borders, together with the development of new policies, will both facilitate successful cross border business travel and mitigate risk exposure. 28 PERSPECTIVES Fall 2018