Super Bowl Winner Denied U.S. Entry

[bush_cheney2004]

Now isn't this a shame....a Canadian contest winner will not be able to go to the Super Bowl in New Orleans because of cannabis possession a long time ago:

A Vancouver Island man who won an all-expenses-paid trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans has been refused entry into the U.S. because of a marijuana possession conviction dating back to 1981.

Victoria resident Myles Wilkinson won the trip in a fantasy football league contest, competing against nearly four million other players for the chance to attend the National Football League championship, featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.

But when he got to Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Thursday,

U.S. customs agents learned of a marijuana possession conviction in Vancouver in 1981 and told him he was not allowed to enter the country.

"I had two grams of cannabis. I paid a $50 fine," Wilkinson told CBC news.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/02/03/bc-superbowl-fan-denied-us-entry.html

This guy didn't have much to lose by trying, but surely anybody with a criminal record on either side of the border knows that access is going to be a problem.

U.S. Customs 1, Dopers 0

Edited February 3, 2013 by bush_cheney2004

[Michael Hardner]

And the punchline - the contest was hosted by Bud Light ! (He was caught with only 2 grams of cannibis)

[Shady]

And the punchline - the contest was hosted by Bud Light ! (He was caught with only 2 grams of cannibis)

Doesn't matter. Each country has their own laws and rules.

[Guest American Woman]

I recall Americans being denied access to Canada for the Olympics because of an old DUI. Guess turnabout is fair play?

[bush_cheney2004]

Yes.....misdemeanor DUI convictions for Americans will trigger denied entry into Canada. But each nation can deny entry for any reason or no reason at all. That's why it is called an international border.

I do remember one famous Canadian waiting to commit his crime until after entering the U.S. - Gordon Campbell in Hawaii:

[Guest American Woman]

I remember the Gordon Campbell incident; thought it was kind of ironic in light of Canada's entry laws.

I agree that any country can keep anyone out for any reason, and I don't deny that it is their right to do so, but I think the denial to American Olympic ticket holders over old DUIs was petty and I think this is petty, too.

[Michael Hardner]

Doesn't matter. Each country has their own laws and rules.

Shady - the joke is BUD LIGHT. Get it ?

Laugh it up !

[guyser]

But each nation can deny entry for any reason or no reason at all.

Absolutely but it doesnt stop some from arguing that denial to the country impinges on free speech or some such.

That one can be denied for virtually anything blows but thems the rules .

[bush_cheney2004]

Absolutely but it doesnt stop some from arguing that denial to the country impinges on free speech or some such.

Not sure what you mean here....nobody's speech rights were infringed. One doper from B.C. was denied entry...no big deal. Happens to Americans and Canadians every day.

That one can be denied for virtually anything blows but thems the rules .

Call me a homer, but I kinda like where I live and anything else is just a bonus. Got no convictions, but it wouldn't break my heart to be denied entry into any country. Remember the big fuss that John and Yoko made over denied entry (related to drugs) ? How did that work out for them ?

[guyser]

Not sure what you mean here....nobody's speech rights were infringed. One doper from B.C. was denied entry...no big deal. Happens to Americans and Canadians every day.

Others have been denied and some took the position that it was a denial of (insert clause here) when the argument was made that anyone can be deined for virtually any reason.

Call me a homer, but I kinda like where I live and anything else is just a bonus. Got no convictions, but it wouldn't break my heart to be denied entry into any country. Remember the big fuss that John and Yoko made over denied entry (related to drugs) ? How did that work out for them ?

You're a homer.

Neither do I have any convictions, however I would be upset to be denied on the whim of some border guard. Generally my trips are for fun and to see friends and thats it.

Shopping....meh.

Restaurants...meh...especially because where I go there arent any worth being excited about.

But to make plans in advance, do the drive and get turned around would not make me happy. But as I said, thems the rules.

[bush_cheney2004]

Others have been denied and some took the position that it was a denial of (insert clause here) when the argument was made that anyone can be deined for virtually any reason.

Those two ideas are not mutually exclusive.

You're a homer.

Thank you...I try to be.

Neither do I have any convictions, however I would be upset to be denied on the whim of some border guard. Generally my trips are for fun and to see friends and thats it.

Shopping....meh.

Restaurants...meh...especially because where I go there arent any worth being excited about.

Fun begins at home.....especially for dopers.

But to make plans in advance, do the drive and get turned around would not make me happy. But as I said, thems the rules.

That's on you...not any border guard doing his/her job. Do you think I should a plan a golfing trip to North Korea ?

[Topaz]

Maybe the Canadian could end up thanking the customs person, IF when the game is over and the someone that had big money bet loses, they may bring out their gun and starting shooting. It's just about time for another shooting rage in the US.

[bush_cheney2004]

.... It's just about time for another shooting rage in the US.

No, the US has an agreement with Canada to delay mass shootings by at least 48 hrs after mass stabbings in Canada. This prevents overlap in news cycle bandwidth and gives each mass killing the most coverage. It also gives everybody enough time to buy more ammo and reload.

[Guest Derek L]

No, the US has an agreement with Canada to delay mass shootings by at least 48 hrs after mass stabbings in Canada. This prevents overlap in news cycle bandwidth and gives each mass killing the most coverage. It also gives everybody enough time to buy more ammo and reload.

I noticed you referenced our local knife nutter………and we just had another such incident a short while ago………..As we speak, I’m penning a proposed knife control law, complete with registry, licensing and full ban on military style assault knifes………In all actuality, why do Canadians even need knives, when clearly the little plastic jobbies you get at Dennys would suffice……….If it saves just one person.

Edited February 4, 2013 by Derek L

[The_Squid]

I recall Americans being denied access to Canada for the Olympics because of an old DUI. Guess turnabout is fair play?

No, it's just as stupid.

[BubberMiley]

I remember I went to the Winnipeg Folk Festival just to see Wayne "The Train" Hancock, and he was a no-show because the idiots at the border denied him entry because of a DUI. I had to drive all the way to Minneapolis to see him at Lee's Liquor Lounge. It was worth it though.

But, naturally, I didn't have any trouble at the border.

Edited February 4, 2013 by BubberMiley

[Topaz]

Why does governments feel they can make a double standard on this topic? If a leader of a country has the same offense as a regular person, the former leader can get in through special permit by the country's leader. Either the rule is the rule and no one should get special treatment just because they were a memeber of government.

[jbg]

I do remember one famous Canadian waiting to commit his crime until after entering the U.S. - Gordon Campbell in Hawaii:

I remember telling people that Premiers Klein (of Alberta) and Campbell (of British Columbia) had formed a law firm, Drinkem, Drivem & Drunkem.

Edited February 4, 2013 by jbg

[jbg]

Now isn't this a shame....a Canadian contest winner will not be able to go to the Super Bowl in New Orleans because of cannabis possession a long time ago:

A Vancouver Island man who won an all-expenses-paid trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans has been refused entry into the U.S. because of a marijuana possession conviction dating back to 1981.

This guy didn't have much to lose by trying, but surely anybody with a criminal record on either side of the border knows that access is going to be a problem.

U.S. Customs 1, Dopers 0

This is a pure case of "the law is an @ss." There is no way that someone who possessed what would now be a sub-criminal amount of marijuana (at least in Canada and New York State) should be treated in this manner. This is the kind of event that generates a level of contempt for the law.

I remember I went to the Winnipeg Folk Festival just to see Wayne "The Train" Hancock, and he was a no-show because the idiots at the border denied him entry because of a DUI. I had to drive all the way to Minneapolis to see him at Lee's Liquor Lounge. It was worth it though.

But, naturally, I didn't have any trouble at the border.

One of the few times you and I agree 100%

Edited February 4, 2013 by jbg

[bush_cheney2004]

This is a pure case of "the law is an @ss." There is no way that someone who possessed what would now be a sub-criminal amount of marijuana (at least in Canada and New York State) should be treated in this manner. This is the kind of event that generates a level of contempt for the law.

Seems to me that this guy had "contempt for the law" about 32 years ago. There is a reason it is called "dope".

[eyeball]

...32 years ago...there's a reason why that's anal.

[bush_cheney2004]

...32 years ago...there's a reason why that's anal.

Must have been very important to dopers.....32 years ago....and today. Now that's anal.

[jbg]

Seems to me that this guy had "contempt for the law" about 32 years ago. There is a reason it is called "dope".

...32 years ago...there's a reason why that's anal.

Must have been very important to dopers.....32 years ago....and today. Now that's anal.

New York decriminalized small quantities of marijuana in 1977. In my view that was the trend, and quite properly so. I think also a person usually matures quite a bit over 32 years. There are lots of things I did in 1981 that I would never do now. This result is beyond ridiculous.

[bush_cheney2004]

..... There are lots of things I did in 1981 that I would never do now. This result is beyond ridiculous.

...and if you carried a conviction for such things it may impact your ability to enter Canada. There's nothing special about this guy and his tale of Super Bowl woe, as it happens every day to lots of people. Getting arrested and convicted ain't no joke, and most of us managed to live our lives without running afoul of the law. People who can't / didn't are a red flag for not just border agents, but also employers, contractors, parents, schools, etc.

[jbg]

People who can't / didn't are a red flag for not just border agents, but also employers, contractors, parents, schools, etc.

I think there is a role for common sense here.