MARIJUANA USE CATCHES UP, 20 YEARS ON

Briton's Life In Canada Depends On Evaluation For Lingering Effects Of
Drug's Use

A British computer programmer says his moment of candour about a
youthful dalliance with marijuana is putting his dream of living in
Canada in jeopardy.

Chris Tarttelin says he's been ordered by Citizenship and Immigration
Canada to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to make sure he's not
suffering any lingering effects from having tried cannabis when he was
18.

If he fails to get a psychiatric assessment by Sept. 12, he says, it
could block his application to immigrate.

"You can't see a psychiatrist in Saskatoon in that time frame," said
Tarttelin, 37, who has an appointment with a specialist on Sept. 20.

"I'm a painfully honest person. It doesn't normally occur to me to
answer questions any other way."

Tarttelin moved to Saskatoon in October 2008, with his wife and two
children, after having been recruited by Point2 Technologies under the
Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program. His family's immigration
application is being processed at the Canadian Embassy in London.

In June, Tarttelin attended a mandatory medical examination conducted
by a family doctor approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The
doctor has a checklist that included a question about drug use.

"I tried pot but didn't really take to it particularly. I tried it a
couple of times but that was about it," Tarttelin recalled telling the
doctor.

He said that in July he received a letter from Citizenship and
Immigration Canada directing him back to the doctor. The doctor told
him he had 60 days to submit to a psychiatric exam.

Tarttelin and his family are packing their bags. He is worried that he
will miss his deadline and is frustrated that Citizenship and
Immigration Canada said he can't apply for an extension until just
before the deadline.

An official with Citizenship and Immigration Canada confirmed that
Tarttelin's smoking of marijuana 19 years ago triggered the request
for the psychiatric assessment.

"I see nothing on the file on the notes that I've reviewed to indicate
there's been a past history of any mental problems," said Chris
Gelineau, area director in Saskatchewan for Citizenship and
Immigration Canada.

Applicants are inadmissible to Canada if they have a health condition
that might put the public health or the safety of Canadians in danger
or if they have a condition that might put demand on health or social
services.

"We do not have a policy on medical refusals based on past use of
marijuana," Gelineau said.