cannabisnews.com: U.S. Fears Drug Spillover from Canada





U.S. Fears Drug Spillover from Canada
Posted by CN Staff on May 17, 2002 at 07:23:09 PT
By Jan Cienski and Carl Hanlon, National Post
Source: National Post
A dramatic increase in drug seizures along the U.S.-Canadian border, coupled with an increasingly tolerant attitude in Canada toward narcotics, is fuelling U.S. concerns that Canada is becoming a source of drug problems for the United States.If Canada does not halt what Washington perceives as a slide toward the legalization of drugs and act more vigorously to stamp out drug smuggling, the United States is prepared to retaliate by using the stick of tougher customs regulation, something which could have disastrous effects on Canada's U.S.-dependent economy.
"Canada is a sovereign country, but there are consequences when neighbours cannot co-operate on serious issues and this is a very serious issue," said Robert Maginnis, an advisor to White House drug czar John Walters. "It appears as if it's a trend going in the wrong direction and it is incumbent on the U.S. administration and the U.S. Congress to communicate that this is a key concern."In recent years, U.S. authorities have been intercepting growing amounts of drugs being smuggled south from Canada, particularly the potent form of marijuana cultivated in British Columbia hydroponic grow houses known as B.C. bud.But after border controls were tightened following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, drug seizures skyrocketed. Two years ago, the Americans seized 2,648 kilograms of marijuana coming in from British Columbia. In 2001 that figure jumped to over 3,400 kilograms. So far this year U.S. Customs has confiscated 3,100 kilograms and expects to hit 7,300 kilograms by the end of the year.In Buffalo, N.Y., U.S. Customs has seized 350 kilograms of B.C. bud this year, three times more than last year, said Mark MacVittie, a chief inspector there.U.S. officials attribute part of the increase to tighter border security following the Sept. 11 attacks and part to the criminal gangs which are taking over the trade and shipping drugs to the United States in larger amounts.Corporal Scott Rintoul of the RCMP estimated that 70% of the marijuana grown in Canada ends up in the United States.The potent B.C. bud, which has a THC content as high as 25%, compared to the 2% typical in the 1970s, is also leading to health concerns in the United States. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.Admissions for marijuana drug treatment in Washington state now exceed the rate for treatment of alcoholism. Cannabis admissions in Cook County, Ill., have risen by 400% in the last four years.That is causing increasing anger south of the border. "One of the areas of growth has actually been through Canada," Mr. Walters told Congress recently when testifying about the U.S. drug problem.The United States is also worried that Canada could turn into a North American version of the Netherlands, attracting pot-seeking tourists and leading to pressure in surrounding countries to ease their drug laws in turn.A recent report from the Canadian Senate that drug control was not working raised alarms in Washington, which fears it heralds a move toward legalization.Mr. Maginnis and other administration officials are already lobbying the Canadian government to go no further on the path toward legalization. They intend to make their case at a drug policy conference next month in Quebec, where Mr. Walters is expected to make a strong argument against legalization.The U.S. government has already helped delay Canada's medical marijuana program by refusing to supply standardized marijuana seeds from a U.S. government marijuana farm in Mississippi.Although several states have approved medical marijuana, the federal government has blocked any attempt to find legitimate uses for the drug.Note: Border seizures soar.Source: National Post (Canada)Author: Jan Cienski and Carl Hanlon, National Post, Global TelevisionPublished: May 17, 2002Copyright: 2002 Southam Inc.Contact: letters nationalpost.comWebsite: http://www.nationalpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Links http://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanadian Marijuana Reform Concern to U.S.http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12829.shtmlZeroing in on Border Pot Smugglers http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12645.shtml
END SNIP -->
Snipped
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #18 posted by Tigress58 on May 18, 2002 at 18:37:15 PT
It would be interesting
to see Canada legalize, and I hope they do. I'll be the first over the border and I'm headed that way any how. Imagine all the US citizens that would move to Canada and create new industries, business, and world trade. I would appreciate seeing the US government fall flat on its face. The US economy would really go to hell, manufacturers wouldn't have enough workers - no productivity results, then the Mexicans would really move in and take over, bringing all their MJ with them, and this government would have to give them citizenship in order to get votes.... ah, dream on... sounds so good. Then Mexico would legalize, to supply the brothers. And the US narca-hips would reguritate in front of the smelly situation that they caused and can't clean up because they are to mentally incompacitated by the shock and disbelief they the lost control, and realize that they had their middle finger up their inferior alimentary canals all along, and fell flat on their faces; the bigger they are the harder they fall.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 18, 2002 at 15:43:16 PT
You can bet your Maple Leaf...
...that the thrust of the U.S. advisers to the RCMP is all about the benefits of hooking into the river of money that Prohibition precipitates. Once law enforcement gets a taste of the cash (through added manpower, asset seizure, etc.), they'll fight doubly hard to see that the government does not carry out any reforms.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by jack on May 18, 2002 at 05:20:20 PT
Canada
Here is when we'll see if canada is a nation onto it's own or the"51st" state.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by hempity on May 18, 2002 at 00:56:29 PT
Canada Flips off US
You may be not so crazy WolfgangWylde, The problem we are going to have is with the american advisers that come up here to train rcmp to be better thieves and murderers, they may be able to turn them against the people for enough money, the tactic has worked for them before. 
Trying to tell canuks what to do is even pissing off the rednecks, keep it up, it may even help all the American drug refugees if you piss off enough canuks.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by qqqq on May 18, 2002 at 00:47:26 PT
..The Empire of Influence...
.....I'm sorry,,but I'm afraid my dimestore prediction concerning this matter,,is not very pretty. ,,...I like Canada,,and I like the way the Canadian government is making progress in reforming drug laws,and Marijuana prohibition....but,,I'm afraid that the empire will go to great lengths,in an attempt to obstruct Canadian drug law reforms...
..Notice,,in the article,Marijuana is referred to as "drugs"...and the ploy of the US drugpigs,will be to continue to avoid any seperation of Marijuana,and "drugs".....News reports will be released that tell of Canadians "legalizing drugs"... . 
"Admissions for marijuana drug treatment in Washington state now exceed the rate for treatment of alcoholism.
      Cannabis admissions in Cook County, Ill., have risen by 400% in the last four years.      That is causing increasing anger south of the border. "One of the areas of growth has actually been through
      Canada," Mr. Walters told Congress recently when testifying about the U.S. drug problem..."
...Such utter bullshit "news",like this will infest the media.....The empire will make many more idiotic threats towards Canada...The empire is the big bully of the globe.It will continue to offend the rest of the world with its' new imperial arrogance!...I hope for the best,,,but I expect the worst....
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by WolfgangWylde on May 17, 2002 at 16:28:59 PT
TroutMask: vis-a-vis the Canadian Supreme Court
Call me a nut (everybody else does), but I think letting the Supreme Court legalize marijuana is what the Canadian government has had in mind all along. They are clearly refusing to implement the Court's order regarding the medical marijuana exemption. I think its their way of letting legalization happen, while being able to say the the U.S., "Hey, don't blame us, it was the Court. Our hands are tied". There is a precedent: this exact scenario resulted in Canada legalizing abortion.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by boppy on May 17, 2002 at 13:55:02 PT
emergency treatments??
They only time I take in too much cannabis results in my not being able to stay awake to watch Bill Maher. Is this what happens in these so called emergency room visits? People falling asleep from too much cannabis? Now, that I would believe!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by Floyd on May 17, 2002 at 13:47:16 PT:
What the US government is forgetting....
Is that if we(Canada) do go to legalization, the industry generated could potentially make up for any losses to American trade restrictions, meaning the states would be hurt much more by the restrictions, not having a newborn industry to fall back on for compensation.
 The Americans might not be able to use their tough talk to win this time =) 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by Tigress58 on May 17, 2002 at 11:41:57 PT
Thumbs UP To Canada
I hope Canada is a big enough country to stand up to the threats and intimdation tacts of US tyranny. I have lost respect for the US government, and have plans to leave this country. How many people total are in the congress, senate, and houses? Do these people raise to the standard of the moral majority? I feel that they are a very slight percentage compared to the actual moral population of this nation. The following writing was done by me as a college assignment on 01/24/1993.The Ox Bow IncidentIt is apparent that Mr. Davis believes that any action taken should first be analized in a reasonable and legitimate manner. Mr. Davis as a man of moral resolve firmly believes taking a stand against the moral majority rule is correct when there is not circumstancial evidence to support an allegation of offense.As one person institutes an allegation of misguided personal belief or opinion, the moral majority rule comes to believe that allegation as fact without first examining such allegation for proof of evidence. The moral majority exemplified by strength in numbers - whether right or wrong - act in defiance and complete disregard, without immediate social conscience and awareness, to over power the innocent not yet proven guilty.The moral majority has in its crowd, the coward who sneaks or follows behind to consume its leavings or is just willing to associate with it in an effort to belong to something they are not willing to take a stand in from any direction; the lowly complainer who has the energy to complain privately but not the courage to complain publicly; the indecisive who find themselves in a moral dilemma and can't make up their mind, they being opposed to an idea or act, willing to undermine authority, but unwilling to take a stand to stop the act or idea.The moral majority in thinking itself right, even when wrong, is cruel, inconsiderate, spiteful, aggressive, arrogant, self-righteous, and defiant. True facts turn fraudulent through twisted rumors, gossip, and murmurings.An individual of good moral character in an attempt to stop the act may offer a bargaining chip as an incentive to distraction also making negative observations concerning the act committed in a convincing manner. However, a straight forward and well said speech, may leave the adversary feeling intimidated, speechless, and angry.Hysteria, caused by a legitimate fear, allows the moral majority to lose its sense of proportion, which contributes to its suspicions. Members that fear the moral majority will not stand alone. An individual of strong moral character is not ruled by hysteria, fear, or the moral majority, and is courageous enough to stand apart also swaying the weak members to stand beside them. This number may not be enough to sway the moral majority, but the stepping over will cleanse them of personal regret without guilt.The moral majority feeling itself void of error, is always willing to transfer blame to a scapegoat, one who is usually innocent and is defenseless. If the moral majority rule is in error, they always have an excuse to cover the truth. The truth can at times be found in the last words of the accused. Truth is not created, it is received.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by project419 on May 17, 2002 at 09:43:53 PT
bull....
Admissions for marijuana drug treatment in Washington state now exceed the rate for treatment of alcoholism.
   Cannabis admissions in Cook County, Ill., have risen by 400% in the last four years.that is fucking bullshit and everyone knows this....the only reason why people even go into treatment for cannabis is because they got busted and they are forced to seek treatment. there is no way marijuana treatment exceeds the alchohol treatment...I will not believe it...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on May 17, 2002 at 09:11:44 PT:
Oh, PUH-LEEZE!
Here we go again...and again...and again.Dammit, I wanna laser! I'm gonna look like mutant Popeye with these huge forearms from carving all this turkey!The potent B.C. bud, which has a THC content as high as 25%, compared to the 2% typical in the 1970s, is also leading to health concerns in the United States. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana..From the following link:
http://www.drugtext.org/sub/marmyt1.html8. Marijuana is more potent today than in the past
This myth is the result of bad data. The researchers who made the claim of increased potency used as their baseline the THC content of marijuana seized by police in the early 1970s. Poor storage of this marijuana in un-air conditioned evidence rooms caused it to deteriorate and decline in potency before any chemical assay was performed. Contemporaneous, independent assays of unseized "street" marijuana from the early 1970s showed a potency equivalent to that of modern "street" marijuana. Actually, the most potent form of this drug that was generally available was sold legally in the 1920s and 1930s by the pharmaceutical company Smith-Klein under the name, "American Cannabis".Then we have this perpetually regurgitated jewel of wisdom:Admissions for marijuana drug treatment in Washington state now exceed the rate for treatment of alcoholism. Cannabis admissions in Cook County, Ill., have risen by 400% in the last four years.Let's go over this again: the figures are collected and processed by a government (read: prohibitionist) organization called Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Every time 'marijauna' (God, I hate that word) is mentioned at all in an emergency room visit, it is automatically considered as the contributing factor. (Swill booze to toxic levels, smoke one joint, wrap your car around a telephone pole, and the cannabis gets the blame. How convenient.) Hence this wildly improbable rise in the percentages. More journalistic laziness.But there's one - and only one - bright ray of truth in this morass of lies:The United States is also worried that Canada could turn into a North American version of the Netherlands, attracting pot-seeking tourists and leading to pressure in surrounding countries to ease their drug laws in turn. A recent report from the Canadian Senate that drug control was not working raised alarms in Washington, which fears it heralds a move toward legalization. (Emphasis mine -k.)Oh, yes, they are having a hard time holding their bladders at DEA; Americans are not exactly welcome up there after we killed their servicemen in a totally stupid and inexcusable attack by a US fighterplane in Afghanistan. There's a lot of anti-American sentiment quite openly displayed right now - and honestly, I can't say as I blame them, given the disgraceful way Bush and Toadies shrugged it off and didn't attend the funerals. (As a former American soldier who served with Canucks, I can only offer personal apologies.) This domestic anti-American sentiment could prove costly for the Washington-fawning Chretien Regime to ignore. If the Grits are not careful, their arse-kissing of Washington could prove to be their political undoing. Yes, indeed, Walters and company are sweating hard, cold bullets about that. As Richard Cowan has put it: "Canada is to white to invade, and too close to ignore." The US military might be fond of "bombing n*gg*rs" in Afghanistan as the famous British Prime Minister Lloyd George put it...but Canada is another kettle of fish, entirely. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 17, 2002 at 09:06:49 PT
p4me 
Do you mean Bill Maher at the NORML Conference? I got to see it on tape last night and it was great!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by p4me on May 17, 2002 at 08:59:32 PT
Colin Davies
Colin Davies, the owner of the Dutch Experience, has been released from Strangeways prison on bail. He is not to visit his home town of Stockport or comment on the case. He will be on television tonight catching up on his desired cannabanoid level.I just cannot get over how asleep the American people are. I wrote a brief e-letter to the editor of our little local paper. It was brief and included the thought that the 73% of Americans that believe marijuana is medicine would be 97% like in the UK if the conglomerate media covered the subject. It was short and said it was mainly to see if the site was sensored. We are all part of the media with the internet and they cannot keep the truth from spreading.It is impossible to have any kind of understanding of what is going on in America without understanding the insane view of our federal government towards marijuana and the corresponding lack of coverage in the media. This reality will eventually penetrate the majority of Americans and things will change. If relegalization happened yesterday that was not fast enough.If you have not seen the 25 minute segment of Bill Maher at pot-tv.net you are missing a great show.Be sure and take your vacation in Canada and tell the people we will get rid of these traitors that run the country. Think of how great life would be if we could grow us some good MJ and we could straighten out the crooked political system with some new blood.Busch is a dickhead. VAAI
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Lehder on May 17, 2002 at 08:30:20 PT
trade war - good news
I'm with Dankhank here: Do it! The war on drugs will end not in isolation from other problems, but when its disastrous effects have hurt enough people badly enough to force them to realize the source of their problems is not people smoking cannabis. When people are living in their mortgaged cars instead of their mortgaged homes of Canadian lumber, then the drug war will end. The whole world is lining up against the terrorist moralizers in D.C.Last month’s tour by Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Germany, Nigeria,
          Tunisia, Libya and Iran, and the visit of Premier Zhu Rongji to Turkey,
          Egypt and Kenya, highlighted Beijing’s concerns over the Bush
          administration’s “war on terrorism”. While ostensibly trade missions, the
          tours indicated that Chinese leaders are seeking to develop alliances with
          the European Union and others to resist American domination over the
          resources of Central Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/may2002/chin-m17.shtmlThe US economy is in no shape for a trade war, and, exactly as with the Cuban embargo, it will not find a single ally. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by MikeEEEEE on May 17, 2002 at 08:17:35 PT
The big problem
Canada is becoming a source of drug problems for the United States.The United States isn't looking at itself and its own policies as the problem.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by TroutMask on May 17, 2002 at 08:15:59 PT
A thought...
Here's a thought: What will the US do if the Canadian Supreme Court determines that Canadian MJ laws are unconstitutional? Will they try to pressure the Canadian government to alter their constitution? I really don't think that would play well with the Canadian people.-TM
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Dankhank on May 17, 2002 at 08:12:06 PT:
Do It, stupid American polititions
Yes, trade war, if you dare .... and are dim enough ...one more nail in the prohibition coffin ....
Hemp N Stuff ...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by TroutMask on May 17, 2002 at 07:53:40 PT
cU.S.ter's Last Stand
"The United States is also worried that Canada could turn into a North American version of the Netherlands, attracting pot-seeking tourists and leading to pressure in surrounding countries to ease their drug laws in turn."Yep! You can slow it down, but you can't stop it. So might as well figure out how to live with it. This cat ain't goin back in the bag!-TM
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment