Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jul 2007
Source: Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, IL)
Copyright: 2007 Daily Southtown
Contact:  http://www.dailysouthtown.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/810
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n779/a04.html?66936
Author: Kirk Muse

WANTING THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT

I'm writing about: "Lawyer wants DARE off vehicle stickers" (7-01-07).

Common sense tells us that the DARE program should deter our youth 
from using illegal drugs.  But it doesn't.  DARE graduates are more 
likely to use illegal drugs -- not less.

Common sense tells us that the Earth is the center of the universe 
and our solar system.  But it's not.

Common sense tells us that prohibiting a product should substantially 
reduce the use of the product that's prohibited.  Actually, 
prohibition tends to substantially increase the desire for the 
product that's prohibited.

Before marijuana was criminalized in the U. S. via the Marijuana Tax 
Act of 1937, the vast majority of Americans had never heard of 
marijuana.  Now everybody in the U.S.  knows what marijuana is and 
the U.S.  government estimates that at least 90 million Americans 
have used it.  About half of all high school students will use 
marijuana before they graduate.

People want what they are told they cannot have -- especially 
children. The lure of the "forbidden fruit" is very powerful.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom