Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jan 1999
Date: 01/15/1999
Source: Toronto Star (Canada)
Author: Paul M. Bischke
Section: Letters / Page: A23

Your Jan. 8 article about the Canadians arrested in Nicaragua for
growing hemp, a crop that's perfectly legal there, neglected to
mention that it was the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
that ordered the slash-and-burn raid on this legitimate business.

Grant Sanders' comment that "they've changed the rules" really means
that the DEA muscled in and imposed its rules on Nicaragua, violating
Nicaragua's sovereignty and criminalizing legitimate Canadian
businessmen.

Both Canada and Nicaragua should lodge protests against this
outrageous, out-of-control U.S. agency.

Paul M. Bischke,
St. Paul, Minn.