Pubdate: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 Source: Advertising Age (US) Website: http://www.adage.com/ Address: 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017-4036 Contact: 2002 Crain Communications Inc. Author: Jason Marrs GARFIELD AND MARIJUANA ADS Dear Editor, Interestingly, in his column, The Violent Side of Marijuana Use: White House Drug Office Spots Aim For Public Conscience, Bob Garfield was able to correctly tie methampetamine and opium to violence, but not marijuana. This is the main problem with the latest ads from the White House. Methamthetamine is a growing problem in this country. This year Afghanistan had its largest poppy crop in history. Both of these drugs and their derivatives can have devastating consequences, and have been tied to violence and terrorism. Despite that, the White House feels it's more important to demonize a drug that the public has a more favorable view of, marijuana. I predict this ad campaign will fail due to its creators' misplaced priorities. Jason Marrs Ossining, N.Y. Mr. Marrs is a marketing communications specialist for a health-care agency. He received his BA in marketing management from New Mexico State University. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens