Pubdate: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Eugene Oscapella Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) WE'RE NOT BIG DOPE EXPORTERS The Province cites a "top Customs official" as saying that Canada is now the largest single supplier of marijuana to the United States. This is utter nonsense. U.S. government officials, and now apparently Canadian government officials, have often made claims that Canada is a major supplier of cannabis to the U.S. However, the available evidence, including reports from the auditor general of Canada, the RCMP and the United Nations, shows just the opposite -- that Canada is, in fact, only a minor supplier of cannabis to the U.S. The most recent report was produced jointly by Canadian- and U.S. government agencies. The report concluded that Canadian-produced marijuana accounts for only two per cent of overall U.S. marijuana seizures at its borders. Eugene Oscapella, Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Beth