WHEN POT POLICIES COLLIDE

In the new year, Parliament intends to decriminalize simple possession and
cultivation of marijuana. Washington is not happy. John Walters, director
of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, warned Thursday
that the United States may tighten its border to prevent drug smuggling
southward -- a move that would undoubtedly harm Canada's export-dependent
economy and cause delays for U.S.-bound travellers.

On Thursday, Canada's Solicitor-General Wayne Easter shot back: "We make
our laws in this country," not Mr. Walters nor anyone else in the U.S.
government. True. But the United States is also free to make its own laws.
And while the Americans have no right to demand Canada preserve criminal
sanctions against marijuana use, Ottawa, equally, has no right to tell
Washington how to accommodate Canada's proposed new policy.

As we wrote in this space last week, decriminalizing marijuana is sound
policy -- and we would be unhappy to see Ottawa cave in to Mr. Walters'
(somewhat) veiled threat. But at the very least, Ottawa should give
assurances to Washington that Canadian police will be vigilant in the
investigation and prosecution of individuals and syndicates that export
marijuana to the United States. If U.S. border agents come to feel that
they are the only line of defence separating their country from a marijuana
free-for-all north of the border, there is little doubt that crossing into
the United States will become more difficult for all Canadians.