Pubdate: Fri, 03 Nov 2000
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Fresno Bee
Contact:  http://www.fresnobee.com/man/opinion/letters.html
Website: http://www.fresnobee.com/
Forum: http://www.fresnobee.com/man/projects/webforums/opinion.html
Author: Vicki Richter
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1619/a03.html

PURE 'PROPAGANDA'

You guys are unbelievable. A recent article was headlined "Crash victim had 
used marijuana, tests reveal." For someone who just scans the headlines, 
the obvious inference would be that marijuana use had caused this crash.

If you actually read the article, however, you would have heard the coroner 
say that "There was no way to tell whether it contributed to the crash. In 
this case, it doesn't mean anything at all."

It is clear that your headline was intended to mislead readers into 
thinking that marijuana causes car crashes. In fact, a recent study done in 
England showed that habitual marijuana users are actually safer drivers. 
But your paper didn't even bother to report on that study.

I am not a marijuana user myself, but I take offense when the media try to 
manipulate my opinions through misleading headlines.

Why don't you just get it over with and change the paper's name to "The 
Government Propaganda Bee"?

Vicki Richter, Fresno
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D