The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) released a press release on June 26 as a reminder for people traveling for Canada Day (July 1) or the U.S.’s Independence Day (July 4)—no cannabis across the border.

For those who plan to traverse the border between the U.S. and Canada, CBSA recommends tips such as planning ahead for border wait times, saving time with an Advance Declaration, and having travel documents handy. The topic of cannabis was also shared in this list as well.

The section entitled “Cannabis: Don’t bring it in. Don’t take it out.” refers to the restrictions of cannabis being brought across the border. “Bringing cannabis across the border in any form, including oils containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD), without a permit or exemption authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence subject to arrest and prosecution, despite the legalization of cannabis in Canada. A medical prescription from a doctor does not count as Health Canada authorization.”

In other words, no amount of cannabis for recreational or medical use is allowed. This isn’t a new policy, as Canada has prohibited the transport of cannabis across the country’s border for years.

“If you are entering Canada from another country, remember: if you have cannabis with you in any form, you must declare it to the Canada Border Services Agency. Not declaring cannabis in your possession at the Canadian border could also lead to arrest and prosecution,” CBSA explains on its website. “If you are leaving Canada, remember: you may not take cannabis out of the country either. You may be subject to criminal charges if you attempt to travel to other countries with any amount of cannabis in your possession.”

Technically, Health Canada has the authority to grant exemptions for cannabis import or export, but such circumstances are done for limited purposes including “medical, scientific, or industrial hemp.”

Although the rules are clear, many people still get held up at the border due to cannabis. One of the most recent examples of this was last week when musician Afroman was stopped at the border. According to TMZ, Afroman had given away all of his excess cannabis product at the hotel he had stayed at but forgot to get rid of a bottle of cannabis lotion and infused gummies. As a result, he was detained for five hours and fined $500 for the lotion and his DJ was fined $500 for the gummies.

Also earlier this month, an American driver who had nearly 400 pounds of cannabis in his car, along with $602,985 in cash, claimed that his GPS accidentally directed him through the Rainbow Bridge border crossing in Niagara Falls, Canada. “The safety and security of Canadians is our government’s top priority,” said Canadian Member of Parliament and Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendicino. “This seizure demonstrates the crucial role that the CBSA and the RCMP play in stopping illicit contraband from entering our communities. Outstanding work by both agencies.” Coincidentally, 400 pounds of cannabis was also caught and seized at the Ohio/Canada border, which was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in September 2022.

Even back in March 2023, Rihanna’s tour buses (a total of 10 vehicles) were stopped as they were making their way from Canada to Detroit, Michigan. U.S. Border Patrol officers detected a strong cannabis smell, and found a small amount of cannabis in the possession of one individual, who was issued a “civil penalty.”

In September 2017, musician Todd Rundgren was arrested while traveling from Canada to Fargo, North Dakota. Although drug-sniffing dogs didn’t catch the scent of cannabis, border patrol officers found various joints, glass containers containing THC, and two vapes. 

Just a few months later in November 2017, musician Melissa Etheridge also plead guilty to cannabis possession as she crossed the border from Canada to North Dakota. She was fined $750 and served a one-month period of “unsupervised probation.”

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In September 2022, Afroman’s home residence in Ohio was raided by local law enforcement. While Afroman wasn’t home, his private security camera system recorded them searching his property as they rifled through his clothes and other belongings looking for drugs or other illegal paraphernalia. Afroman posted videos of these law enforcement officers on his social media channels, with commentary making fun of them as they searched his house. He even made two music videos using the footage entitled “Lemon Pound Cake” and “Will You Help Me Repair My Door.”

Now, seven Adams County Sheriff’s Department officers are suing him because of his use of the footage without their consent. According to the lawsuit, exposing people’s faces without consent is a misdemeanor under the Ohio Revised Code. The officers are also suing because their faces were publicly visible, which caused “emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation.”

The plaintiffs claim that they’re entitled to Afroman’s proceeds gained from the songs, as well as music videos and live event tickets, in addition to his brand, which offers beer, cannabis, T-shirts, among other things. In addition to this, they’re asking that Afroman remove all videos and photos that feature them online.

Afroman posted a response to the lawsuit on all of his social media channels. “Essentially a racist judge signed a fictitious false warrant, lying on the warrant, accusing me of kidnapping and drug trafficking,” Afroman wrote. “The warrant put the Adams county sheriff in a position to attempt to kill me. After the Adams County Sheriff. Burglarized vandalized and destroyed my property. They became thieves and stole my money. After they stole my money they became criminals. After they became criminals they lost their right of privacy.”

Afroman’s attorney, Anna Castellini, also issued a statement about their next move. “We are waiting for public records requests from Adam’s county we still have not received,” Castellini said. “We are planning to counter sue for the unlawful raid, money being stolen, and for the undeniable damage this had on my clients family, career and property.”

Law enforcement obtained a warrant to search Afroman’s home in August 2022 with probable cause that they would find drugs and drug paraphernalia. The only items that were allegedly seized were a vape pen, a few roaches, and thousands of dollars in cash. Ultimately they did not find any evidence of drugs or paraphernalia and no charges were filed. 

The law enforcement officers claim they’ve become the subject of ridicule by Afroman fans, which has made it “more dangerous” for them to continue working, and have received death threats “by anonymous members of the public who have seen some of Defendant’s above-described postings.” The lawsuit claims that “Defendants’ actions were willful, wanton, malicious, and done with conscious or reckless disregard for the rights of the Plaintiffs.”

In Afroman’s most recent post on TikTok on March 24, he points out how Adams County is home to meth labs, but they chose to raid his home instead.

In December 2022, Afroman announced that he’s running for president in 2024. “My Fellow Americans, there comes a time in the course of human events when change must be affected,” Afroman wrote on Instagram. “That time is now. Americans are suffering, and the status quo is no longer acceptable. Inflation is out of control. The economy is in shambles. The housing market is staggering. Politicians are corrupt. Bad apples are allowed to remain in law enforcement, amongst our noble and brave officers.”

The self-described “Cannabis Commander in Chief” and “Pot Head of State” claims that he would tackle cannabis reform and criminal justice reform, among other top priority issues.

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Hip-hop artist and cannabis community icon Afroman announced over the weekend that he is running for president of the United States in 2024. Afroman, who became a hero of the weed crowd with his song “Because I Got High” in 2000, announced his bid for the White House on Sunday during a concert performance at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, according to a report from TMZ. Two days later, he took to social media to spread his message to a broader audience.

“My Fellow Americans, there comes a time in the course of human events when change must be affected,” Afroman wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “That time is now. Americans are suffering, and the status quo is no longer acceptable. Inflation is out of control. The economy is in shambles. The housing market is staggering. Politicians are corrupt. Bad apples are allowed to remain in law enforcement, amongst our noble and brave officers.”

“It is my immense honor and pleasure to formally announce Afroman as an independent candidate for President of the United States of America,” he added.

Afroman, aka Joseph Edgar Foreman, was born in Los Angeles in 1974 and got an early start in the music business by recording songs and selling them to his classmates by the time he was in eighth grade. He released his first album in 1998 before relocating to Mississippi, where he made contacts in the music business who would eventually produce and perform on “Because I Got High.” The song, which detailed how marijuana could interfere with the chores of modern life, became a hit in 2001, the year the track was featured in films including Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Afroman released his latest album, Lemon Pound Cake, in September.

Afroman Pledges To Be ‘Cannabis Commander in Chief’

Referring to himself as the “Cannabis Commander in Chief” and the “Pot Head of State” in his social media post, Afroman promised to make cannabis reform and other issues a priority of his campaign for president.

“Medicinal plants are criminalized, while pharmaceutical companies enrich themselves on chemicals with unknown side effects,” he wrote. “The media sows the seeds of hatred 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. They attempt to divide based on race, religion, gender, sexual preference, and every other category that they can think of.”

In a separate post on Instagram, Afroman outlined eight priorities for his 2024 presidential campaign. First and foremost was decriminalizing cannabis and “other substances with low harm profiles.” He noted that federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance, the strictest classification under the nation’s drug laws. He promised change, saying he would deschedule and decriminalize cannabis and launch a public service ad campaign to publicize the benefits of the plant.

Afroman also pledged to make criminal justice reforms, noting that more than 40,000 people are incarcerated for cannabis at any given time, at a cost of more than $1.5 billion per year. He committed to commuting the sentences of all nonviolent federal cannabis prisoners and said he would “work hard to right the wrongs of the past, in all areas where Americans have been failed within the criminal justice system.”

He also called for law enforcement reforms, an end to all foreign aid, and reparations for African Americans. Other priorities of the campaign include tax breaks for professional athletes to encourage celebratory displays, the legalization of prostitution, and the “promotion of unity, peace, and love.”

“We need a candidate that is truly elected by the people, and for the people. We need a man that can step up and lead with a firm hand,” wrote Afroman. “The people are starved for a Commander in Chief, that leads from a place of love and not hate. In these dark times, we need a leader that truly embodies the American dream.”

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Afroman recently shared that his home in Ohio was raided on Aug. 21 by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Although he was in Chicago at the time of the raid, his neighbors told him about what was going on.

He also shared multiple security footage videos on Instagram showing law enforcement searching various areas of the house. “This is supposed to be a drug and narcotic warrant I had to pay technical people top dollar to install my camera system there’s no drugs or guns in my computer screen. These are burglars hoodlums breaking into the houses of law-abiding taxpaying citizens destroying property,” he wrote on Aug. 29. “I had to pay the camera people thousands of dollars to install my camera system I don’t need them kicc-ing down my door spreading monkeypox in my clothes and ripping up my camera systems so nobody will see these thieves disguised as law-enforcement officers stealing my money Just like the cops in Saint Charles Missouri.”

Afroman’s social media posts took off in popularity. As of Aug. 30, Afroman said he thanked “Police Officer Poundcake” for helping him gain 13,000 followers on TikTok. As of Sept. 2, the TikTok post has 4.7 million views.

According to a TMZ Live interview with Afroman, law enforcement didn’t find what they were looking for. “They took, like, some roaches, and a vape pen, and a jar of CBD. I think they thought I had like hundreds and thousands of pounds or something like that,” he said. “They didn’t have to run up my driveway with AR-15s and all kind of assault weapons. I would have gladly just given that to them.” Afroman also mentioned he has footage of cops pulling cash out of the pocket of his clothing.

“They said they want me to come down and make a statement. I need a lawyer, I don’t know why they came here like this,” he said.

TMZ also asked Afroman about a previous burglary that had occurred in the past as well. He said it took three days for police to visit his home and write a report on the incident. He continued to follow up with the local police station about the report. “I was following up with the progress of the case, and I guess the consistency of my calls was irritating them. They told me ‘If you keep calling up it will get addressed.’ I got a funny vibe, so I fell back, you know.”

Interviewers asked him to elaborate on the “funny vibe,” and inquired if that statement felt like a threat. “You know, a cop speaks politically correct…” Afroman started, but said that he felt like the police station told him to stop calling. 

On Sept. 1, a local news channel covering the incident claimed that the search warrant listed “possession of drugs, drug trafficking, and kidnapping.” “No kidnapping victims, no pounds of marijuana (especially in my suit pocc-ets) or narcotics. No charges. No warrant for my arrest,” Afroman wrote. Just A few roaches in my ash tray them on camera destroying my property, stealing my money like the cops in Saint Charles Missouri, and disconnecting my cameras so no one sees them stealing my money.”

Ohio legalized medical cannabis in 2016, but recreational cannabis is not allowed. Although there was a legalization ballot initiative in the works, it has been postponed until the 2023 election.

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Today Grammy Award-nominated artist Afroman announced tours in Mississippi and Oklahoma, and a new single to boot. Be on the lookout for Afroman Cannabis at dispensaries dispersed throughout Oklahoma.

Last year, Palmdale, California-based star Afroman appeared on the single “WHOLEthing” for his Cosmic Wire debut with BLAZAR. This year, the duo is back with the funk-driven track, “Step it UP” on Cosmic Wire. Jerad Finck aka BLAZAR is an electronic music producer currently signed to AntiFragile Music. BLAZAR produced Afroman, Daxsen and Corey Feldman, while working alongside production team members of the Pixies, U2, Collective Soul and Pink.

Afroman’s recent 2021 tour was appropriately named “This Ain’t No Joke, This Ain’t No Gimmick, I Got to Get Paid in the Middle of a Pandemic” Tour—sharing the frustrations of many Americans. He also recently released the music video for the single, “Cuz I’m High,” the official remix of his classic “Because I Got High” that brought the rapper Kid Lennon into the public eye, also featuring YHK Destin. 

Before rapping about smoking, Afroman was rapping about sagging. “The first tape I made was about my eighth-grade teacher,” Afroman said. “She got me kicked out of school for sagging my pants, which was a big deal back then. So I wrote this song about her and it sold about 400 copies: it was selling to teachers, students, just about everybody. And I realized that, even though I wasn’t at school, my song was at school, so in a way I was still there. All these people would come by my house just to give me comments about how cool they thought the song was.”

Afroman’s classic “Because I Got High” was a smash hit, and gained notoriety after its appearance on The Howard Stern Show and the Jay & Silent Bob soundtrack. Not long after, Afroman joined the lineup of Cypress Hill’s “Smoke Out” festival with the Deftones, Method Man and others, not to mention his gig headlining The Gathering of the Juggalos in 2010. 

He made numerous appearances at festivals like the Pacific Festival with Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki,  and the Snowball Music Festival 2014 alongside Pretty Lights, Griz, Rüfüs Du Sol, Busta Rhymes and J. Phlip. During 2018 Afroman shared the stage with Snoop Dogg and Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony on the notorious PUFF PUFF Pass tour, which also included legends such as E-40 and Warren G. Snoop Dogg is a frequent guest on Afroman tracks, and also frequently in the smoke circle.

Alongside the tours in Mississippi and Oklahoma, Afroman also is behind numerous strains and various other cannabis-related events and projects.

Afroman Cannabis is on the market, notably in dispensaries found throughout Oklahoma. In the past, Palmdale Purp is a cannabis strain brought to the market by Afroman. His strains Fro-G Kush and Blue Magic were released earlier. He also put his name behind a malt liquor beer  “Cold Fro T5.”

After launching Afroman Cannabis he will tour, beginning in Mississippi and Oklahoma, aka “Smokelahoma”.   

Afroman Tour Dates: 

• 10/31: Martin’s – Jackson, MS 
• 11/1: Harrison’s – Oxford, MS
• 11/2: Dave’s Dark Horse – Starkville, MS
• 11/3: Brewski’s – Hattiesburg, MS
• 11/4: Locust Alley – Nanchez, MS
• 11/5: Specator’s Pub -Greenville, MS
• 11/6: Country Trails RV Park – Wikerson, MS
• 11/15: Vice’s Nightclub – Reno, OK
• 11/16: Red Brick Bar – Norman, OK
• 11/17: Castle Row Studios – Del City, OK
• 11/18: Platinum Nights – Oklahoma City, OK
• 11/19: The Shrine – Tulsa, OK

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