Quid Pro Quo: Barring U.S. Citizens From Canada For DUI Offenses

Last month, the Canadian media reported on several instances of Canadian citizens being barred from the United States because they admitted to smoking marijuana, even if they had never been charged with or convicted of controlled substance possession.  Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale described the banning of Canadians as a "ridiculous situation" that needed to be addressed.  However, in order to examine this issue in the proper context, we should consider how the Government of Canada treats United States citizens who seek entry into our country. 

It is true that U.S. citizens (and other foreign nationals) who have a single conviction for (or who have committed the act of) simple possession of thirty grams or less of cannabis (marijuana) or one gram of cannabis resin will not be barred from Canada.  This is because, under the current Canadian Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, such an offense may only be punished by summary conviction (roughly