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Newsbrief:
MPP
Releases
TV
Ads
on
Harms
of
Marijuana
Prohibition
in
Third
Phase
of
Group's
"War
on
Drug
Czar"
Campaign
2/28/03
The Marijuana Policy Project
this week took its "War on Drug Czar" campaign to a new phase as it began
running TV ads in Washington, DC, lampooning the drug czar's drugs and
terrorism ad campaign. MPP has already asked for inquiries of drug
czar John Walters' campaign against last year's marijuana initiatives at
both the state level in Nevada and the federal level in Washington, DC.
Designed to parody Office
of National Drug Control Policy ads linking marijuana use to terrorism,
gang violence, teen pregnancy, and just about any other social ill the
czar can imagine, the ad features two men -- the famous Nick and Norm of
the ONDCP ads -- conversing in a bar. Nick tells Norm that the marijuana
trade supports violence only because marijuana is illegal. "If I
buy a beer, that doesn't support terror, because beer is legal, right?"
Nick asks. When Norm agrees, Nick concludes, "So what you're saying
is if we make marijuana legal and regulate it like beer, it wouldn't support
violence."
The ads began running Thursday
on ABC, CBS, and FOX affiliates in Washington, DC, and are scheduled to
run through March 7, said MPP Communications Director Bruce Mirken.
They cost $20,000.
Public interest groups that
run issue ad campaigns count on media attention to amplify their message,
and MPP is no exception. "We've managed to get some coverage from
the Associated Press and from a local TV station," he said. "We're
hoping for more, but it's tough these days, it's all Iraq all the time."
Still, the ads were needed
because of ONDCP's anti-marijuana propaganda, said Mirken. "The drug
czar has really gone heavily on the anti-marijuana binge with the campaign
he's running," Mirken said. "The point is really that marijuana doesn't
cause violence, prohibition does."
In response to the ad campaign,
ONDCP spokesman Tom Riley said the ads were flawed because the same logic
would support legalizing heroin or cocaine.
Visit http://www.mpp.org/WarOnDrugCzar/commercials/
to view the ads.
-- END --
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Issue #276, 2/28/03
Peruvian Government Attacks Cocalero Movement -- Leaders Arrested, Others in Hiding as Protests Spread | The Road to Vienna: International Narcotics Control Board Annual Report Attacks Reformers, Reformers Scratch Back | Ashcroft's Pipe Dream, Bongmaker's Nightmare: Feds Arrest 55 in Paraphernalia Crackdown | Parallel Power Flexes Muscle in Brazil: Rio's Drug Commands in Pre-Carnival Show of Force | In Thailand, Clamor for Investigation Grows as Killings of Drug Suspects Continue | Marijuana at the State House 2003:00:00 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly | Alert: HEA Reform Legislation Re-filed, Needs Your Support | Mérida Footage, Photos Now Online | Newsbrief: Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Coop Head Gets Three Months in Jail for Trying to Inform Jurors | Newsbrief: Belgium to Legalize Marijuana Possession, Use | Newsbrief: Switzerland Marijuana Legalization Moving, Opposition Mobilizes | Newsbrief: "Kiddie Meth" Legislation Spreads to Illinois, Missouri | Newsbrief: MPP Releases TV Ads on Harms of Marijuana Prohibition in Third Phase of Group's "War on Drug Czar" Campaign | Newsbrief: Utah Drugged Driving Bill is DOA in House | Newsbrief: This Week's Corrupt Cop Story | The Reformer's Calendar
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