POT CLAIMS UTTER NONSENSE

In Canada tops sales to U.S. in pot, speed (Canadian Press, Jan. 26), you
cite a "top customs official" as saying that Canada is now the largest
single supplier of pot 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, the U.S. 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, produced jointly by Canadian and U.S. government
agencies, concluded that Canadian-produced marijuana accounts for only
approximately 2% of overall U.S. marijuana seizures at its borders.

Eugene Oscapella

Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy

Ottawa

(More at www.cfdp.ca/export.htm)