U.S. Says Easier Canada Pot Laws Could Hit Trade

Yahoo ^ | May 2nd 2003 | Reuters

[CanadianFella]

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The United States is ready to sacrifice the free flow of trade with Canada if necessary to respond to a planned Canadian decriminalization of marijuana, a U.S. official warned on Friday.

"Policies that make drugs more available are counterproductive, and we would have to respond obviously to the integrity of our border," David Murray, assistant to U.S. drug czar John Walters, told CBC television.

The Canadian government plans to introduce legislation by the middle of next month to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of small amounts of marijuana.

"We have a working partnership that has been mutually beneficial with enormous amounts of trade. Eighty-five percent of Canada's exports go into the United States," Murray said.

"That trade is mutually beneficial, but we might have to make sacrifices for the integrity of the border on both sides if we recognize that the drug trade is hurting us."

The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, was slightly more conciliatory in remarks to reporters on Friday, noting that some jurisdictions in the United States had decriminalized pot, but he agreed it could tighten border controls.

He said it was not possible to determine the effect of decriminalization without knowing, for example, if Canada planned simultaneously to strengthen penalties for those who grow marijuana.

"I think it comes down to perception," he said in Ottawa.

"If the perception is that it might be more easy to get marijuana here, then that could lead to some pressure on the border because U.S. customs/immigration officers are law enforcement officers and they would have their antennae up as people were traveling from Canada into the United States."

[marktwain]

It is hard to believe that our (U.S.) government is so enamored of the idiotic "War on some Drugs" that it is willing to sacrifice a major part of the economy just because someone in Canada might get some of the enourmous profits in Cannabis that are now flowing south of the boarder.

This is true insanity.

[steve-b]

we would have to respond obviously to the integrity of our border

"Ok, Mr. Mohammad, let's see what you're carring. A couple AK-47s... platique bunny rabbit... nuclear power plant blueprints... white powder--HANDS UP!"

"It's not cocaine."

"Well, in that case it's OK. Enjoy your visit."

[Grig]

"It is hard to believe that our (U.S.) government is so enamored of the idiotic "War on some Drugs" that it is willing to sacrifice a major part of the economy just because someone in Canada might get some of the enourmous profits in Cannabis that are now flowing south of the boarder. "

No, what is hard to belive is how heck-bent the Liberal government in Canada is to push though legal pot, gay marriage, Kyoto, gun registration and any other idiot idea that pops into their head without taking ONE moment to think about the consequences.

[Mears]

This will be a great bonus for those seniors who go to Canada for cheap prescription drugs,they can smoke a little weed while they're up there.

[Sonny M]

I don't like the idea of legalizing drugs, already we see kids going north of the border in NYS because of the lower drinking age, now, we'd be seeing drug pipelines (yea, like they aren't already there) back to the rest of the country. We can't tell them canucks what to do, but to me, I don't think weed is the major issue behind this, I think its more of canadian spite towards the U.S. government.

[Tokhtamish]

Hey, maybe they'll be so busy looking for drugs they won't notice the Cuban cigars.

[Peter Libra]

Going for the jugular here. Elderly veterans who served Canada well, are concerned in BC, that no smoking laws may deprive them of a quiet smoke and a brew in the Royal Canadian Legion. In some cases, one of the few pleasures left. Talk to the Socialist zealots in Canada about smoking good old honest tabacco- a scream of self righteousness will rent the air.

Now talk about smoking, yes smoking, it ain't anything else but that, this weed. Then they will talk about human rights, medical reasons and so on.

The perversity of these persons, I will now identify. If it is a normal custom- ban it. If it is banned, sanction it.

Now for my own analysis. As a security guard, I had to chase out pot heads from a mall. As for the smell of the stuff, It was if as a giant celestial dog, had urinated from the heavens. It urinated on tobacco, which was then dried out and processed. . I saw on the goverment controlled television yesterday, the supporters of the proposed action on legalising this stuff. Hardly any of them appear employable.

[AAABEST]

lmao at your #5.

[Fee]

Let Canada be the nation to experiment and let the US be the benefactor of the lessons. If Canada decriminalizes small amounts of pot, many US pot users will settle there. That will overwhelm their socialist system. It gives the US an opportunity to see if legal pot will hurt the illegal pot growers and their organized crime sponsors. Pot smuggling into Canada will be the new problem for the Canadian government. Since they have a small military and Customs force, they will have their hands full. Will this create a new crime wave in Canada? Gangs of automatic weapon armed pot growers fighting over turf against a disarmed Canadian society. What a mess!! Time will tell.

[Grig]

"but Kyoto? That's one thing I really disagree with the administration on."

I was refering more to HOW Kyoto was passed up here more than the actuall content of it (although the content of it is not something I favour either.)

Check this out...

---

PM's 'genius' lies in not knowing details
Calgary Herald; Calgary, Alta.; Dec 19, 2002

Prime Minister Jean Chretien's decision to ratify the Kyoto accord was based on a "gut feeling," not detailed knowledge of the international treaty, Environment Minister David Anderson said Wednesday.

"His critics, who frequently denounce this, fail to realize it is one of the signs of his genius that he doesn't want to know too much about certain things," Anderson said in a year-end interview.

---

Likewise the legalizing pot, they just have a 'gut feeling' and run with that. A candidate for the leadership of the Liberal party said yesterday that he REGRETS that he's never done pot!

Would you let a person drive under the influence of pot? Would you ride with them? If you outlaw driving while stoned, what are the standards and how do you enforce them? They don't know, they don't care, they just want to legalize it.

[Arpege92]

Well, I guess when Bubba goes to Canada for another visit, he will get to inhale!

[gcruse]

"That trade is mutually beneficial, but we might have to make sacrifices for the integrity of the border on both sides if we recognize that the drug trade is hurting us."

We might have to punish the US and Iraq if the
creation of an independent Kurdistan in Northern
Iraq causes any unrest among Turkish Kurds.
                             ---Ankara

              Americans and Turks ---  Sovereignty for me but not for thee?

[S.O.S121.500]

""Policies that make drugs more available are counterproductive, and we would have to respond obviously to the integrity of our border," David Murray, assistant to U.S. drug czar John Walters, told CBC television. "

Before or after we keep Mexican dope out of the country..............?