July 11, 2018 – Recreational marijuana is to be legalized in Canada on October 17. However, shippers aiming to take advantage of the change in the law by airfreighting marijuana into the country are warned by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials that, under the Cannabis Act, laws around importing and exporting cannabis will not change.

CBSA spokesperson Jayden Robertson says: “It will remain illegal to import into Canada, or export from Canada, cannabis and cannabis products without a valid permit, issued by the Government of Canada. As is the case today, permits may only be issued for limited purposes: medical, scientific or industrial hemp. The unauthorized cross-border movement of cannabis will remain a serious criminal offence.”