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NEW IMPAIRED DRIVING AND MARIJUANA-RELATED PENALTIES

NEW IMPAIRED DRIVING AND MARIJUANA-RELATED PENALTIES COULD AFFECT IMMIGRATION STATUS FOR PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY RESIDENTS

Canada has made marijuana (cannabis) legally available to adults under strict new laws. The new cannabis-related penalties took effect on October 17, 2018. Tough penalties will be imposed on those who:
•drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including cannabis, or
•commit cannabis-related crimes

Most cannabis-related crimes will have a maximum penalty of 14 years.

How this can affect immigrants or candidates for immigration:

If you commit an impaired driving or a cannabis-related crime, you could face a fine, criminal charges or jail.
YOU MAY ALSO BE JUDGED INADMISSIBLE TO CANADA FOR SERIOUS CRIMINALITY.
It doesn’t matter if the crime happened inside or outside Canada.

This means:
• PERMANENT RESIDENTS MAY LOSE THEIR STATUS AND HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY
• TEMPORARY RESIDENTS (INCLUDING VISITORS, INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND FOREIGN WORKERS) MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OR STAY IN CANADA
• REFUGEE CLAIMANTS MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THEIR CLAIM REFERRED FOR A REFUGEE HEARING

Appeal rights for permanent residents and foreign nationals, including sponsored members of the family class, could also be affected.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/impaired-driving-cannabis-penalties-affect-immigration-status.html?fbclid=IwAR3KBdmRqi8lb79TI_-z7FPs93MXi62Sbzngh6avlO2hFMwNiTslJvZACfY

 

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