Pubdate: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Canadian Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) U.S. REPORT SLAMS OUR DRUG LAWS WASHINGTON -- An annual White House report on countries with drug problems says Canada's relatively lax penalties for marijuana producers and moves toward decriminalizing pot could be an "invitation" to organized crime that hinders police and prosecutors. Canada isn't on the president's list of 22 major illicit drug-producing and transit countries, which includes Mexico and some South American countries that supply the vast majority of drugs to the United States. "We are now working intensively with Canadian authorities to address the increase in the smuggling of Canadian-produced marijuana into the U.S.," said a White House release. The report noted that Canada, in turn, has expressed concern about the flow of cocaine and other illegal substances from the U.S. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake