T
The420Guy
Guest
In the new year, Parliament intends to decriminalize simple possession
and cultivation of marijuana. Washington is not happy. John Walters,
director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy,
warned Thursday that the United States may tighten its border to
prevent drug smuggling southward -- a move that would undoubtedly harm
Canada's export-dependent economy and cause delays for U.S.-bound
travellers.
On Thursday, Canada's Solicitor-General Wayne Easter shot back: "We
make our laws in this country," not Mr. Walters nor anyone else in the
U.S. government. True. But the United States is also free to make its
own laws. And while the Americans have no right to demand Canada
preserve criminal sanctions against marijuana use, Ottawa, equally, has
no right to tell Washington how to accommodate Canada's proposed new
policy.
As we wrote in this space last week, decriminalizing marijuana is sound
policy -- and we would be unhappy to see Ottawa cave in to Mr. Walters'
(somewhat) veiled threat. But at the very least, Ottawa should give
assurances to Washington that Canadian police will be vigilant in the
investigation and prosecution of individuals and syndicates that export
marijuana to the United States. If U.S. border agents come to feel that
they are the only line of defence separating their country from a
marijuana free-for-all north of the border, there is little doubt that
crossing into the United States will become more difficult for all
Canadians.
Pubdate: Mon, 16 Dec 2002
Source: National Post (Canada)
Contact letters@nationalpost.com
Website: National Post
Forum: https://forums.canada.com/~nationalpost
and cultivation of marijuana. Washington is not happy. John Walters,
director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy,
warned Thursday that the United States may tighten its border to
prevent drug smuggling southward -- a move that would undoubtedly harm
Canada's export-dependent economy and cause delays for U.S.-bound
travellers.
On Thursday, Canada's Solicitor-General Wayne Easter shot back: "We
make our laws in this country," not Mr. Walters nor anyone else in the
U.S. government. True. But the United States is also free to make its
own laws. And while the Americans have no right to demand Canada
preserve criminal sanctions against marijuana use, Ottawa, equally, has
no right to tell Washington how to accommodate Canada's proposed new
policy.
As we wrote in this space last week, decriminalizing marijuana is sound
policy -- and we would be unhappy to see Ottawa cave in to Mr. Walters'
(somewhat) veiled threat. But at the very least, Ottawa should give
assurances to Washington that Canadian police will be vigilant in the
investigation and prosecution of individuals and syndicates that export
marijuana to the United States. If U.S. border agents come to feel that
they are the only line of defence separating their country from a
marijuana free-for-all north of the border, there is little doubt that
crossing into the United States will become more difficult for all
Canadians.
Pubdate: Mon, 16 Dec 2002
Source: National Post (Canada)
Contact letters@nationalpost.com
Website: National Post
Forum: https://forums.canada.com/~nationalpost