Canadian Denied Entry into US for Superbowl

Seems like there could be more to the story.

Nobody is saying ignore the law.  He was arrested.  Plead guilty.  Paid the fine, which was the penalty, and went on with life.  What I'm questioning is the reasoning/logic behind denying entry for such a minor infraction.  It essentially is a misdemeanor.   I'm saying that it is excessive to deny entry for an instance that occurred 32 years ago to someone what was young and made a mistake. 

Unless you sneak across the wide open southern border.  Then it's pretty much toothless and ridiculous.

We've got enough Candians....we don't need his kind!

The article would have been more informative, but possibly less inflammatory, if it would have stated the policy that resulted in the denial.  Unless it's just arbitrary, and that would have been interesting to know as well.

This actually happened to me about 20 years ago. My wife took our two kids to visit family in Sacramento and I was to join them a week later and then go to Disney together. 

I booked my flight out of Spokane as it was cheaper that way. When I got to the border they asked the usual questions plus one that caught me off guard. "Have you ever been arrested before"?
I had a DUI when I was 19 so I answered yes. It was another 3 hours before I was released and was denied entry. 
I pleaded with the fact that is was almost 20 years ago since the arrest and that I was going to take my family to Disney. The response was (and I quote) "I don't care if your father has died down there, you are not entering the US today"

Long story short, I came back and booked a flight out of Vancouver and made it down with no problem. Cost me a lot but I was not going to miss Disney with my kids.

We don't need no stinkin Canadian Seahawks fans!

This might be the correct answer.  I mean there are Canadians without records trying to get in who we should let in before we let-in someone with a record. 

Yeah yeah, only 2 grams of pot.  But that compared to the man or woman who has no record, it's a tie breaker for me. 

You do realize this was for vacation purposes only and not applying for citizenship, right?

Gateway entry.

Maybe we need to send the northern immigration officials to the south.  Silly me, I thought it was all one organization.

SNERK!

You do realize there are lines of people outside thousands of consulates every day trying to come here for vacation right?

My point is.  A canadian with a record vs anyone without a record. I'm ok with there being some standards. 

He probably could've appealed it if he had applied early. 

So you are perfectly fine with punishing someone, permanently, for a misdemeanor that happened while they were a teenager?

Pot is still a Federally Controlled Substance no matter what cities and states do.  The Feds control immigration (as we learned from the Arizona situation) so I'm sorry that he couldn't come to the super bowl for an old record, but if he applied to have that record expunged, he may be able to get that taken care of and come down for the super bowl next year.   

My husband has a record from 1983 for pot possession.  In the late eighties he was denied entry and told if he tried to cross the border again without a waiver he would be arrested. 

For a Canadian with a record to enter the US they need to apply for a waiver stating the reason they want to go, pay a fee (last time I checked it was about $300) and wait for approval.  This can take up to a year so you have to apply well in advance of your planned entry date.   This applies to anyone with a record, no matter how small the offence.  They of course can choose to deny your application for any reason.   It also makes no difference if you have a canadian pardon, if you have been denied entry before your pardon you will still show up on the border system and will require the waiver.

I will help from the northern side, keep you city slickers out of our pristine wilderness!