Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jan 2003
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2003 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact:  http://www.boston.com/globe/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Bruce Mirken
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n065/a07.html

LINKING MARIJUANA AND TERRORISM

Cathy Young's column on insulting ads (op ed, Jan. 13) pointed out the 
absurdity of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's 
television commercials linking drugs and terrorism. The White House 
office's newspaper ads are even sillier.

An ad this week in The Washington Post and The New York Times depicts a 
plastic bag of marijuana with the headline, "Is it okay to support 
terrorism if it's only a little bit?" Oh, please.

The vast majority of marijuana consumed in the United States is grown 
domestically or comes from Canada or Mexico - not exactly Al Qaeda 
strongholds. No doubt some marijuana traffickers engage in unsavory 
activities. But, as Young points out, that is a direct result of 
prohibition that has created an underground criminal market. When was the 
last time you heard of a bloody shoot-out between beer distributors? During 
Prohibition, that's when.

Alcohol prohibition led to violence and terror in this country. Is it any 
surprise that marijuana prohibition has done the same?

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington
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