White House Anti-Drug Ads Backfiring

[DdC]

White House anti-drug ads released after September 11, 2001 - the ones alleging that recreational drug use aids terrorism - may actually increase use among teens, according to an evaluation released last month by Westat Inc. and the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania for the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

The review found "little evidence" that the federal Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, which recently spent more than than $4 million dollars to air a pair of anti-drug public service announcements (PSAs) during January's Super Bowl broadcast, is having any favorable effects on youth's attitudes toward marijuana or other drugs.

"There is no statistically significant decline in marijuana use to date, and some evidence for an increase in use from 2000 to 2001, authors determined. "Nor are there improvements in beliefs and attitudes about marijuana use between 2000 and the first half of 2002. Contrarily, there are some unfavorable trends in youth anti-marijuana beliefs.

For example, authors noted, "Those who were more exposed to the Campaign (from November 1999 to January 2001) tended to move more markedly in a 'pro-drug' direction as they aged than those who were exposed less.

The Westat and Annenberg review is their second straight evaluation criticizing the White House ad campaign. A previous review released last spring reported similar results, which prompted Drug Czar John Walters to modify the ad campaign to focus primarily on marijuana and the alleged link between illicit drugs and terrorism. Last June, Walters promised members of the US Senate that he could turn the ad campaign around by the fall of 2002.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Executive Director Keith Stroup said that despite Walters' promises, the White House ad campaign continues to have the opposite effect on teens than the one lawmakers intended. "This is a colossal waste of taxpayer's dollars, Stroup said, noting that the ad campaign costs an estimated $195 million per year. "The more often teens see these ads, the less likely they are to say no to marijuana and other drugs. Clearly, teens are dismissing these ads and their message as nothing more than government propaganda."

Stroup concluded, "By overstating marijuana's potential harm, our policy-makers undermine their credibility, and their ability to effectively educate the public of the legitimate harms associated with more dangerous drugs."

To read the full text of the NIDA report, visit <a href="http://www.nida.nih.gov/despr/westat" target="_blank">http ://www.nida.nih.gov/despr/westat</A>

White House Anti-Drug Ads Backfiring
<a href="http://substanceabuse.about .com/library/weekly/aa022103.htm" target="_blank">http ://substanceabuse.about .com/library/weekly/aa022103.htm</A>
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. ,.,

"They say you can't legislate morality. Well, you certainly can."
John Ashcroft Chicago Tribune May 25, 1998

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"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it. Therefore, the intellectual level of the propaganda must be lower the larger the number of people who are to be influenced by it."
Just Say No!
Mussolini/Nancy Reagan

"You know, it's a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish. What the Christ is the matter with the Jews, Bob? <a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread12302.shtml" target="_blank">Rich ard Nixon missing tapes</a>

"Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise."
From Benito Mussolini contributing to the "London Sunday Express," December 8, 1935

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others."
Harry Anslinger, U.S. Commissioner of Narcotics, testifying to Congress on why marijuana should be made illegal, 1937.
(Marijuana Tax Act, signed Aug. 2, 1937; effective Oct. 1, 1937.)

"They that start by burning books will end by burning men."
(German) "Dort, wo man BŸcher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen."
--Heinrich Heine (1797-1856), from his play Almansor (1821)

"Certain American industrialists had a great deal to do with bringing fascist regimes into being in both Germany and Italy. They extended aid to help Fascism occupy the seat of power, and they are helping to keep it there." - William E. Dodd, U.S. Ambassador to Germany, 1937.
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A Pitch for Pot's Power To Ease Pain
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Medical Hierarchy is Ignorant and Misguided ...

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I am abundantly tired of supposedly representative medical bodies promulgating ignorance and untruths. Any C-News followers from Maryland may be effective in pointing out these items to their representatives or physicians.
Ethan Russo MD on March 03, 2003

Marijuana Medicinal Properties Confirmed, Again
Scientists concluded that "cannabis medicinal extracts can improve neurogenic symptoms unresponsive to standard treatments. Unwanted side effects are predictable and generally well tolerated." Continued ...
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Cannabis Shrinks Tumors: Government Knew in 74
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Webster's Dictionary 1952
Bhang-(bang). n [Hind.from Sans.. bhanga,hemp]
An Indian variety of the common hemp, the resin of which is highly narcotic and intoxicant, and a popular Oriental stimulant, otherwise called hashish. Also employed in medicine, for its anodyne, hyponotic, and anti-spasmodic qualities; also spelled bang, beng.

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JP Waldo the Terrorist
<a href="http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/39/39850.jpg" target="_blank">http ://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/39/39850.jpg</A>
Group Spoofs Marijuana-Terrorism Link Ad
<a href="http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15574.shtml" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15574.shtml</A>
The direct link to see the ad is here:
<a href="http://www.mpp.org/WarOnDrugCzar/commercials" target="_blank">http ://www.mpp.org/WarOnDrugCzar/commercials</A>
DEAth Flunky
<a href="http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/culture/media/4/4237.gif" target="_blank">http ://boards.marihemp.com/boards/culture/media/4/4237.gif</A>
D.E.A.th Deceptions
<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/ca7/ddc/DEAth.html" target="_blank">http ://www.angelfire.com/ca7/ddc/DEAth.html</A>
U.S.Al Qaeda
<a href="http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/39/39670.gif" target="_blank">http ://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/39/39670.gif</A>

TOTAL POLICE STATE TAKEOVER
Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex) told the Washington Times that no member of Congress was allowed to read the first Patriot Act that was passed by the House on October 27, 2001... The American people were shocked by the despotic nature of the first Patriot Act. The second Patriot Act dwarfs all police state legislation in modern world history. Continued ...
<a href="http://www.infowars.com/print_patriotact2_an alysis.htm" target="_blank">http ://www.infowars.com/print_patriotact2_an alysis.htm</A>

A Brief Analysis of the Domestic Security Enhancement Act 2003
Also Known as Patriot Act II
By Alex Jones
<a href="http://www.infowars.com" target="_blank">http ://www.infowars.com</A>

U.S. law enforcement spends $7.5 to $10 billion annually enforcing marijuana laws. According to the FBI, 720,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges in 2001.
Keith Stroup, <a href="http://www.norml.org" target="_blank">(NOR ML)</a>

<a href="http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohi bitionprohibitionist wodjunkies.showMessa ge?topicID=58.topic" target="_blank">The Ganjawar is a Product Sold by D.E.A.th to Profit Fascist ... DdC</a>
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<a href="http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohi bitionprohibitionist wodjunkies.showMessa ge?topicID=53.topic" target="_blank">Bush it Cheneynagans D.E.A.th & Oil!</a>

[The Rev]

For example, authors noted, "Those who were more exposed to the Campaign (from November 1999 to January 2001) tended to move more markedly in a 'pro-drug' direction as they aged than those who were exposed less."



The Rev