Conviction under any law or regulation of a State, the United States or a foreign country related to a controlled substance will trigger inadmissibility.[158]  Note that the statute does not list local, tribal, or military convictions.  See § 7.26, supra.  There are only a few available means to waive inadmissibility under this ground.[159]

 

                A noncitizen may also be found inadmissible upon admitting[160] committing a CSO or “committing acts which constitute the essential elements of” a controlled substances offense.[161]

[158] INA § 212(A)(2)(a)(i)(II), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II). See § 21.4, infra.

[159] See § 21.16, infra.

[160] See § 18.8, supa.

[161] INA § 212(A)(2)(a)(i)(II), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(II). See § 21.5, infra.

Eighth Circuit

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES " INADMISSIBILITY " 212(h) WAIVER " PARAPHERNALIA
Popescu-Mateffy v. Holder, 678 F.3d 612 (8th Cir. May 2, 2012) (per curiam) (rejecting claim that a South Dakota possession-of-drug-paraphernalia offense relates to a single offen[s]e of 30 grams or less of marijuana[,] making him eligible for ... waiver relief pursuant to 212(h) of the INA.), following Matter of Martinez Espinoza, 25 I&N Dec. 118 (BIA 2009).