The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) recently ruled that cannabis paraphernalia could be imported into the country, breaking the original rule outlined under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
According to a report from Above the Law, the ruling came in Eteros Technologies USA, Inc. v. U.S., in which Eteros had challenged the CSA ban on cannabis paraphernalia importation after Customs and Border Patrol blocked the entry of its cannabis-trimming equipment at the Port of Blaine, Washington.
The definition of drug paraphernalia under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is “any equipment, product, or material that is primarily intended or designed for use in manufacturing, compounding, converting, concealing, producing, processing, preparing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance.”
Washington state legalized adult cannabis use in 2012. At this time, it amended its prohibition on drug paraphernalia to exclude cannabis from its definition. This change allows adults in Washington to possess items like bongs and pipes without fear of being prosecuted.
This ruling could potentially set a national precedent and pave the way for other companies to challenge the federal ban on paraphernalia. It could also help to ease restrictions on the import and export of cannabis-related products.
The ruling still has to survive any appeals that may occur.
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