URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n002/a02.html
Newshawk: puff_tuff
Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jan 2002
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact: letters@guardian.co.uk
Website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Peter Webster
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n2132/a02.html?2377
Note: Title by Newshawk

GOVERNMENT MYTHS ABOUT DRUGS HAVE BEEN ABSURD

The Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth says many young people get their information about illegal drugs from friends, drug dealers or urban myths ( Teenagers targeted in drugs crackdown, December 27 ). The prime reason for this is that for over a half-century, government and prohibitionist myths about drugs have been so absurd that any alternative has seemed believable.

Millions smoke cannabis because it is enjoyable, or medically, socially or artistically useful, and yet the government insists that such people should be "brought to justice" in one way or another. It seems the urban myth that cannabis is totally harmless is far more innocuous than the government myth that prohibition is a logical or effective response to its popularity.

Peter Webster Review editor, International Journal of Drug Policy vignes@monaco.mc