Latest news with #Caulkins
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Contrary to Trump's claims, Canadian border is not major source of fentanyl, U.S. report says
Most of the fentanyl entering the United States continues to come from the southern border, not the northern one, according to a recent report by an American think-tank, despite President Donald Trump's statement on Thursday that Canadian authorities have failed 'to stop the drugs from pouring into our country.' 'Countering supply effectively depends on understanding what the dominant drug-trafficking routes are,' says the report by the Manhattan Institute, which was published July 1. 'New data on fentanyl seizures presented here largely reinforce previous understanding that most IMF (illegally manufactured fentanyl) enters the U.S. from the south. These data call into question tariffs and other policies and policy justifications that treat the threat from the northern border as comparably severe.' Donald J. Trump Truth Social 07.10.25 08:15 PM EST The report used new data regarding fentanyl seizures, which challenges public pronouncements made by Trump and the White House about the threats posed by the Canadian border. Authors Jon Caulkins and Bishu Giri write that such concerns are largely overstated and could even undermine America's ability to prioritize tightening the country's border with Mexico. The report looked at 'large' seizures of fentanyl — defined as over a kilogram of powder or more than 1,000 pills — that would suggest wholesale trafficking as opposed to smuggling for personal use. It found that officials made more large seizures in U.S. counties along the northern and southern borders when compared to the rest of the country. However, far more seizures were made in the south. 'Counties along the Mexican border account for only 2.35 per cent of the U.S. population; but in 2023–24, they hosted about 40 per cent of the nationwide quantity of fentanyl appearing in large seizures, for both powder and pills,' says the executive summary of the Manhattan Institute's report . 'By contrast, counties in the lower 48 states that border Canada account for 3.1 per cent of the U.S. population but only 1.2 per cent of the powder and just 0.5 per cent of the pills obtained in large seizures.' Caulkins, the H. Guyford Stever University professor of operations research and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College in Pittsburgh, told National Post that his findings are 'not terribly complicated or subtle.' He said that cross-border drug flows often mirror where seizures occur, and the data point to an uncontroversial finding. 'The basic punch line of this study is that seizures of fentanyl in the United States are disproportionately at borders: no surprise. It's mostly produced internationally and then shipped in. But the vast majority of that is on the borders of Mexico, not on the borders with Canada.' When asked whether he was surprised by his findings, Caulkins, who has been a drug police researcher for over three decades, laughed and said he wasn't. 'It's what I expected.' One thing that did strike him as overlooked was drug smuggling into Alaska, which he hadn't contemplated deeply before. The report found that certain counties in Alaska could be portals from Canada to the broader Alaska market, 'although those quantities are much too small to be of consequence beyond Alaska.' There were 26 seizures in Alaska counties that border Canada — 'triple what would be expected based on those counties' population' but still small when compared to the rest of the Alaska market. 'Maybe Alaska does get its fentanyl from Canada, because there's not necessarily a large presence of Mexican drug trafficking organizations in Alaska, and you can't easily drive from Mexico to Alaska without crossing several international borders,' he said. 'I didn't know that was coming, and by all means, maybe U.S. and Canadian authorities can put a few more inspectors on those ferries or whatever. But that's not going to move the needle for the country, but it might be useful, right locally.' President Trump has frequently cited the weakness of the nearly 10,000-kilometre long U.S.-Canada border as a threat to national security and a vulnerability that cartels and smugglers actively exploit. 'Gang members, smugglers, human traffickers, and illicit drugs of all kinds have poured across our borders and into our communities,' Trump wrote in a public statement released on February 1, just weeks after returning to the White House. He framed the crisis as having 'profound consequences on our Nation, endangering lives and putting a severe strain on our health-care system, public services, and communities.' 'Canada has played a central role in these challenges, including by failing to devote sufficient attention and resources or meaningfully coordinate with United States law enforcement partners to effectively stem the tide of illicit drugs,' Trump said in February. Two days after Trump's message, then prime minister Justin Trudeau announced the implementation of a new '$1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.' I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly… Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed Trump's claims of a porous Canadian border posing a threat to American national security in a social media message responding to the U.S. president on Thursday night. 'Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America,' the prime minister wrote . 'We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries.' The Manhattan Institute report concluded that it would likely be more useful for the United States to direct more of its focus to the southern border if it wants to reduce the flow of fentanyl. 'Counties along the Canadian border are not an important part of this story,' the report states. 'Whatever the merits or drawbacks of tariffs on imports from Canada — a question of economics and international relations that goes far beyond our analysis — such actions cannot be justified as part of a pragmatic and data-informed response to the threat of fentanyl to the United States.' Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1. Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge… Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Newsweek
22-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Reveals How Much Money Each State Has Made From Legal Marijuana
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Adult-use cannabis legalization has generated more than $20 billion in tax revenue across different states since sales first began in 2014, according to new data from the Marijuana Policy Project. The latest update, which includes figures through the first quarter of 2024, shows the economic scale of legal marijuana markets and the range of policy models used by different states. Why It Matters As of March 2024, 24 states had legalized and taxed adult-use cannabis sales, with 22 of those states generating tax revenue. Together, the sales brought in $20,068,051,561, according to cumulative tax collections reported between January 1, 2014, and March last year. Legal cannabis states brought in a record-breaking $4 billion in adult-use tax revenue in 2023—the most ever collected in a single year. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, this growing revenue stream has funded public education, substance abuse treatment, law enforcement training, infrastructure projects and social equity initiatives. Several states also use cannabis taxes to support reinvestment in communities "disproportionately affected by the war on cannabis," per the organization, which is dedicated to legalizing cannabis. What To Know California leads all states, with $5.7 billion in adult-use cannabis tax revenue since launching legal sales in 2018. Washington follows with $4.1 billion since 2014. Rahi Abouk, director of Cannabis Research Institute at the William Paterson University, told Newsweek that tax revenue is high in California because of several factors, including the culture and higher population. Washington was the state with the second highest tax revenue most likely because it has a higher tax rate, Caulkins added, and because it has "done better than some other states at preventing illegal sale that does not pay taxes." Dr. Arthur Robin Williams, a professor at the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, told Newsweek that California and Washington also "have higher rates of cannabis use than the rest of the country and were early adopters of medical and adult recreational cannabis sales." "Having more progressive constituents, it is not a surprise that they also have some of the highest tax rates on cannabis products," he added. California is also simply just a "gigantic state," Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, told Newsweek. Meanwhile, Colorado, the first state to open legal cannabis stores in 2014, has collected $2.4 billion in tax revenue. Other states in the top 10 earners of tax revenue from adult-use marijuana include: Illinois: $1.98 billion Michigan: $1.22 billion Nevada: $1.1 billion Oregon: $1 billion Massachusetts: $989 million Arizona: $703 million Alaska: $161 million The report shows that even newer markets have quickly brought in substantial revenue—with Missouri, which began sales on February 6, 2023, earning $136 million through to the first quarter of 2024. Other newer markets that have seen substantial tax revenue from adult-use marijuana include: Maryland (sales began July 1, 2023): $40 million Connecticut (sales began January 10, 2023): $29.5 million New York (sales began December 29, 2022): $21 million Rhode Island (sales began December 1, 2022): $15.7 million Vermont (sales began October 1, 2022): $24 million Smaller states and those with slower rollouts are also reporting steady gains. Montana, for example, has reported $106 million since beginning sales in 2022. Maine, which began sales in October 2020 and has had a more gradual expansion, has taken in $80 million. Two states—Delaware and Ohio—legalized adult-use marijuana in 2023 but had not begun sales by March 2024. States still developing their systems—such as New York, which has faced slow licensing and competition from unregulated sellers—may begin to see larger returns as regulatory frameworks mature. Tax revenue models vary by state, with some levying excise taxes by product weight or potency, and others applying flat retail percentage rates. The Marijuana Policy Project noted in its report that tax figures did not include medical cannabis revenues, business licensing fees or federal taxes, meaning the fiscal footprint of legal cannabis might be even larger. What People Are Saying Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, said: "The most important thing to recognize here is taxes don't represent economic benefit or creation of value. It just transfers money from you to the government." He added that the main impacts of marijuana legalization include that it "moves a bunch of economic activity from off the books to on the books." He said that it also means that economic activity is "much more efficient," as after legalization, "we have people who are much more knowledgeable about plants growing it." Dr Arthur Robin Williams, a professor at Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry, said: "As with nicotine products and beverage alcohol, states and municipalities can layer additional excise taxes on cannabis based products to drive revenue streams. While there has been a lot of hype about how lucrative this can be for states, there is downward pressure on tax rates for cannabis products as higher costs drive consumer behavior to black markets" Rahi Abouk, director of the Cannabis Research Institute at William Paterson University, said: "The tax revenue from [marijuana] legalization may be utilized in several dimensions depending on the state and local laws. For example, in Washington State, the tax revenue is used to fund public schools and healthcare. In Colorado, part of the tax revenue is used to fund the police." Dr. Kevin Hill, director of addiction psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, told Newsweek: "There are pros and cons to legalizing cannabis. While taxes have created a new revenue stream, it is unclear if the economic benefits have outweighed the costs of legalization, particularly from a public health perspective. In many states, only a nominal portion of tax revenues has been invested in cannabis research, making this a missed opportunity." What Happens Next With adult-use markets expanding and more states considering legalization, nationwide cannabis tax revenues are expected to continue rising.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump says Canada tariffs would fight fentanyl, though it's not a major source
President Trump has said part of his motivation for imposing now-paused tariffs on Canada was to force the country to crack down on illicit fentanyl trafficking — but very little of the synthetic opioid enters the U.S. through its northern border. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the tariffs, announced Feb. 1 on Mexico, Canada and China, were "for the illegal fentanyl they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country." Mr. Trump said in a statement that it was "because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl." The 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been paused for at least one month following negotiations, while a 10% tariff on China remains in place. The tariffs were also meant to compel the countries to take further action to stop undocumented immigrants from entering the U.S. and to narrow their trade surplus. Here's what to know about fentanyl and other drug trafficking over the United States' northern border. How much fentanyl is seized at Canadian border? U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized just 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last year, according to statistics released publicly by the agency. Meanwhile, about 21,100 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the Mexican border. Drug policy researcher Jonathan Caulkins conducted an analysis looking at large fentanyl seizures — those of more than a kilogram of powder or of 1,000 pills or more — and found such incidents in just two counties bordering Canada. One county is home to the city of Detroit, and Caulkins said the drug seizures conducted there are proportionate to its population. Only one area —Whatcom County, Washington — had an amount of drug seizures disproportionate to its population, Caulkins said. In general, Canada sees far fewer overdose deaths involving fentanyl than the United States. About 49,100 people died from opioid overdoses in Canada between 2016 and 2024, with most of those deaths involving fentanyl, Canadian officials said. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were more than 74,000 fentanyl-related deaths in 2023 alone. How is fentanyl entering the United States? Most fentanyl enters the United States through Mexico, CBS News has previously reported. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has said Mexican cartels are "at the heart" of the United States' fentanyl crisis. Caulkins' analysis found 21 large fentanyl seizures along the Mexican border for every such seizure along the Canadian border. Often, illicit drugs are transported over the southern border by U.S. citizens passing through CBP checkpoints, Caulkins said. The U.S. citizens are usually hired by smuggler groups, which have in turn been hired by cartels and drug manufacturers. "In general, it's not like it's a Sinaloa cartel employee walking across the border," Caulkins said. U.S. citizens are less likely to be seen as suspicious, he said, and they face fewer obstacles during the actual border crossing. Precursor chemicals at the border Precursor chemicals, or the ingredients used to make illicit drugs, have been seized in both Canada and Mexico, as well as within the United States. Precursor chemicals are largely manufactured in China and shipped overseas, usually to Mexico. The fentanyl is then produced, again typically in Mexico, and brought into the United States for distribution. In recent weeks, Mexican authorities have announced several major seizures of chemical precursors and fentanyl. In November 2024, Canadian police said they had dismantled the most sophisticated drug "super lab" that they had ever seen in the country. They said they seized a "massive" amount of precursor chemicals from the facility in British Columbia, as well as 54 kilograms, or about 110 pounds, of fentanyl, along with other drugs. Police said they believed the lab was a mass production site where fentanyl and methamphetamine were made so they could be distributed in Canada and internationally. Officials did not say what countries the drugs may have been exported to. In December 2024, Canada said its health agency would create a "Chemical Precursor Risk Management Unit" that could "provide better insight into" the chemicals and their distribution channels. The unit would also be able to "enhance monitoring and surveillance" and allow for "timely law enforcement action" in connection to these chemicals. The unit was just one of several ways Canada said it would be fighting the fentanyl crisis. Health Canada is also set to accelerate its regulatory process for banning precursors "so that border and law enforcement can take swift action to prevent their illegal importation and use." Trump's former trade chief on how tariffs affect the economy, why he says the U.S. needs them USAID to merge into State Department with major budget cuts Details on Chinese retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products set to take effect next week
CBS News
04-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Trump says Canada tariffs would fight fentanyl trafficking, but little comes in across northern border, officials say
President Trump has said part of his motivation for imposing now-paused tariffs on Canada was to force the country to crack down on illicit fentanyl trafficking — but very little of the synthetic opioid enters the U.S. through its northern border. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the tariffs, announced Feb. 1 on Mexico, Canada and China, were "for the illegal fentanyl they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country." Mr. Trump said in a statement that it was "because of the major threat of illegal aliens and deadly drugs killing our Citizens, including fentanyl." The 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been paused for at least one month following negotiations, while a 10% tariff on China remains in place. The tariffs were also meant to compel the countries to take further action to stop undocumented immigrants from entering the U.S. and to narrow their trade surplus. Here's what to know about fentanyl and other drug trafficking over the United States' northern border. How much fentanyl is seized at Canadian border? U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized just 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last year, according to statistics released publicly by the agency. Meanwhile, about 21,100 pounds of fentanyl were seized at the Mexican border. Drug policy researcher Jonathan Caulkins conducted an analysis looking at large fentanyl seizures — those of more than a kilogram of powder or of 1,000 pills or more — and found such incidents in just two counties bordering Canada. One county is home to the city of Detroit, and Caulkins said the drug seizures conducted there are proportionate to its population. Only one area —Whatcom County, Washington — had an amount of drug seizures disproportionate to its population, Caulkins said. In general, Canada sees far fewer overdose deaths involving fentanyl than the United States. About 49,100 people died from opioid overdoses in Canada between 2016 and 2024, with most of those deaths involving fentanyl, Canadian officials said. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were more than 74,000 fentanyl-related deaths in 2023 alone. How is fentanyl entering the United States? Most fentanyl enters the United States through Mexico, CBS News has previously reported. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has said Mexican cartels are "at the heart" of the United States' fentanyl crisis. Caulkins' analysis found 21 large fentanyl seizures along the Mexican border for every such seizure along the Canadian border. Often, illicit drugs are transported over the southern border by U.S. citizens passing through CBP checkpoints, Caulkins said. The U.S. citizens are usually hired by smuggler groups, which have in turn been hired by cartels and drug manufacturers. "In general, it's not like it's a Sinaloa cartel employee walking across the border," Caulkins said. U.S. citizens are less likely to be seen as suspicious, he said, and they face fewer obstacles during the actual border crossing. Precursor chemicals at the border Precursor chemicals, or the ingredients used to make illicit drugs, have been seized in both Canada and Mexico, as well as within the United States. Precursor chemicals are largely manufactured in China and shipped overseas, usually to Mexico. The fentanyl is then produced, again typically in Mexico, and brought into the United States for distribution. In recent weeks, Mexican authorities have announced several major seizures of chemical precursors and fentanyl. In November 2024, Canadian police said they had dismantled the most sophisticated drug "super lab" that they had ever seen in the country. They said they seized a "massive" amount of precursor chemicals from the facility in British Columbia, as well as 54 kilograms, or about 110 pounds, of fentanyl, along with other drugs. Police said they believed the lab was a mass production site where fentanyl and methamphetamine were made so they could be distributed in Canada and internationally. Officials did not say what countries the drugs may have been exported to. In December 2024, Canada said its health agency would create a "Chemical Precursor Risk Management Unit" that could "provide better insight into" the chemicals and their distribution channels. The unit would also be able to "enhance monitoring and surveillance" and allow for "timely law enforcement action" in connection to these chemicals. The unit was just one of several ways Canada said it would be fighting the fentanyl crisis. Health Canada is also set to accelerate its regulatory process for banning precursors "so that border and law enforcement can take swift action to prevent their illegal importation and use."
