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