cannabisnews.com: Pro-Marijuana Group Responds To US Drug Policy Pro-Marijuana Group Responds To US Drug Policy Posted by CN Staff on January 19, 2003 at 22:30:38 PT By Randy Hall, Evening Editor Source: CNSNews.com A group supporting the legalization of marijuana has begun a new Internet offensive against the Bush administration by countering information listed in an "open letter" from an official at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) started its new "Marijuana Truth" campaign by posting on its website a document entitled, "Your Government Is Lying To You (Again) About Marijuana: A Refutation of the Drug Czar's Open Letter to America's Prosecutors." According to Keith Stroup, executive director of NORML, this campaign seeks to counter federal "rhetoric" with fact-based information and scientific reports "to stimulate an honest public discussion about the minimal risks presented by marijuana and the disproportionate harms associated with criminal pot prohibition."The first report responds to a recent letter from Scott Burns, deputy director for state and local affairs for ONDCP, urging law enforcement officials to aggressively prosecute marijuana violators.Burns' letter further advocated that prosecutors "tell the truth" about marijuana, and then listed more than a dozen statements regarding cannabis, including the allegation that "no drug matches the threat posed by marijuana" and the claim that marijuana is more addictive than "alcohol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and all other illegal drugs combined."But, in response to the statement that there is a serious drug control problem in this country, the NORML report states that "there is a serious drug enforcement problem in this country.""Despite the notion that America's drug war focuses on targeting so-called hard drugs and hard drug dealers, data compiled by the FBI report that nearly half of all drug arrests in American are for marijuana only," the NORML report states."We invite all who are interested in learning the truth about marijuana," Stroup said, "to read the drug czar's letter, and then read NORML's rebuttal, and decide for yourself who is lying about marijuana and why." He added: "We cannot any longer remain silent and permit this taxpayer-funded propaganda to occur without a challenge."Stroup concluded: "It is time for us as a nation to allow the science, as opposed to the rhetoric, dictate our public policy regarding marijuana. Exaggerating the dangers associated with the responsible use of marijuana results in the needless arrest of hundreds for thousands of good, productive citizens in this country and does nothing to promote public safety."Officials at the ONDCP failed to return several calls seeking comment about NORML's Internet report. Source: CNSNews.comAuthor: Randy Hall, Evening EditorPublished: January 20, 2003Copyright: 1998-2003 Cybercast News ServiceContact: shogenson cnsnews.comWebsite: http://www.cnsnews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Truth Campaign - NORMLhttp://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5515 Government Lying To You Again About Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15199.shtmlDrug War Taking a Ridiculous Turn http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15173.shtmlPro-Marijuana Group Mounts New Offensive http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15100.shtmlMarijuana No Gateway To Cocaine and Heroinhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14879.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by The GCW on January 20, 2003 at 06:26:14 PT Note: "The American Medical Association knows of no evidence that marihuana is a dangerous drug. "- Dr. William Woodward of the American Medical Association, in hearings on the 1921 Marihuana Tax Act - [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on January 20, 2003 at 06:00:20 PT One reason We respond: TEEN GETS 26 YEARS FOR SCHOOL DRUG SALE (Marijuana sale actually is what it sounds like.)http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n087/a09.html?397As with the original (extra crispy) prohibition, when We Re-legalize and regulate cannabis, dealers will no longer be in schools.The Bud and Johnny Walker salesman does not sell at the schools... but they used to... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment