Recreational marijuana is to be legalised in Canada on October 17, making Canada the first G7 country to allow the drug nationwide and the second in the world after Uruguay.

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 unauthorised cross border movement of cannabis will remain a serious criminal offence.”

This will be the case even if cargo is being shipped from places that have legalised or decriminalised cannabis.

Robertson says: “Through its programs and services, the CBSA will continue to uphold laws governing the illegal cross-border movement of cannabis, while facilitating the free flow of legitimate goods.”