Austin-based country singer Charley Crockett has canceled his nine-date Canadian tour after being denied entry into the country twice, a setback stemming from a decade-old felony marijuana conviction. The cancellation impacts fans across Canada and highlights the complexities faced by individuals with past criminal records attempting to cross international borders. This situation underscores how even offenses now legal in some jurisdictions can continue to have lasting consequences.
Crockett, known for his blend of traditional country, blues, and soul, first attempted to enter Canada on February 21st at the Vancouver border crossing, but was turned away. He tried again the following day in Kelowna, British Columbia, with the same result. The singer shared a letter from Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on Instagram, detailing the denial of entry on grounds of “serious criminality.”
A Decade-Old Conviction Haunts the Road
The issue centers around a 2016 conviction in Virginia for felony possession with intent to distribute more than five pounds of marijuana. Crockett was sentenced to a decade of probation. While Canada legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, the country maintains strict rules regarding the admissibility of individuals with criminal records, particularly felony convictions. According to Canadian law, any U.S. Citizen with a felony conviction—regardless of whether it’s marijuana-related—can be deemed criminally inadmissible.
“Everybody’s got a past. Mine’s still haunting me,” Crockett wrote in his Instagram post. He acknowledged the disappointment for his fans and expressed his frustration with the situation. “I tried to cross the Canadian border twice in 24 hours. After they denied me entry in Vancouver, I tried again in Kelowna and was rejected a second time.”
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