EASIER POT MEANS TIGHTER BORDER - U.S.

DETROIT (AP) - The U.S. drug-enforcement czar on Thursday criticized a
movement to legalize marijuana use in Canada, saying it would force
officials to tighten border security even more.

"In my view, you don't make a major decision involving a dangerous drug
without telling people what the dangers are," said John Walters, director
of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Walters was scheduled to tour the U.S.-Canadian border Friday and meet
local law enforcement and drug-prevention officials.

Walters' trip to Detroit came the same week that Prime Minister Jean
Chretien and U.S. President George W. Bush visited the city to report
progress in tightening security at U.S.-Canadian crossings while keeping
goods flowing between the world's largest trading partners.

The Ambassador Bridge is the busiest crossing point between the United
States and Canada.

Walters' comments came a week after a Canadian parliamentary committee
called for legalizing marijuana use among adults, increasing pressure on
the United States to shift drug laws away from zero-tolerance policies.

The report by the Senate committee on illegal drugs urged Ottawa to
regulate marijuana the same way as alcohol and to expunge criminal records
for possession.

The recommendation is another in a series of moves towards legalization.
Last year, Canada passed laws allowing eligible patients to grow and
possess marijuana for medical use, but has yet to create a distribution
network.

Critics believe the proposal could have widespread ramifications for the
United States. Some are concerned about the amount of Canadian-grown
marijuana crossing the border. If Canada legalizes marijuana, the United
States could be forced to clamp down on cross-border traffic.