Pubdate: Sun, 11 May 2003 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.fyiedmonton.com/htdocs/edmsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135 Author: Harry D. Fisher Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk AMERICAN THREATS A BLUFF CANADA NEED not worry that the U.S. will impede the border traffic if Canada decriminalizes marijuana. That's all bluff. If there's anything that outweighs the drug warriors and their morality concerns, it's the power of American business and its money. It's beyond the reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration to interfere with the billions of dollars in cross-border trade that enrich Canadians and Americans alike. For all their chest-puffing and moralistic posturing, American politicians are keenly attuned to the economy of their constituencies and vigorously defend their businesses. Any attempt to cripple our own economy by hindering trade with Canada because of your marijuana laws is sure to boomerang into the drug warriors' faces. It will not help to put American workers out of jobs and cause businesses to fold because of the fanatical pursuit of a drug-free America that is unattainable. Harry D. Fisher, Woodland Hills, California (All we know is we can't bring oranges across the border.) - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom