U.S. REPORT SLAMS OUR DRUG LAWS

WASHINGTON -- An annual White House report on countries with drug
problems says Canada's relatively lax penalties for marijuana
producers and moves toward decriminalizing pot could be an
"invitation" to organized crime that hinders police and prosecutors.
Canada isn't on the president's list of 22 major illicit
drug-producing and transit countries, which includes Mexico and some
South American countries that supply the vast majority of drugs to the
United States.

"We are now working intensively with Canadian authorities to address
the increase in the smuggling of Canadian-produced marijuana into the
U.S.," said a White House release.

The report noted that Canada, in turn, has expressed concern about the
flow of cocaine and other illegal substances from the U.S.