Scientologists Fund Delusional, Anti-Drug Website
May 6th, 2009 by Russ
Evolving is never an easy thing.
Just when it seemed that our popular culture was finally moving in the direction of reasonability when it came to drug policy, the wingnuts and looney-bins began to craftily come out of the woodwork. The Foundation for a Drug Free World has recently launched a series of snappy video pieces aimed at the horrors of addiction and abuse. Unfortunately, the foundation isn’t very forthright about the fact that it is run and funded by the notorious Scientology cult.
These videos run the gamut from warnings about weed use to Ritalin abuse. And kudos to them for lumping both legal and illegal substances in the same boat when it comes to potential dangers. Unfortunately, the group’s insight abruptly ends there. The videos have the feel of a Guy Ritchie knockoff artist remaking Reefer Madness. My favorite tidbit is the anti-heroin ad, which depicts a young girl caught up in a smack-fueled rage, heaving television sets and clawing the walls in her room. Let’s just say that these videos aren’t heavy on the realism-aspect.
Of course, this would all just be run-of-the-mill Drug Warrior bunkum if it weren’t produced by lunatics. The Scientology affiliation really adds some unintentional comedy value to these pieces. When your entire worldview is based on the drunken ramblings of a science-fiction/fantasy author, perhaps you shouldn’t be the one casting the first stone.
Former Drug Free America Director Flipped It
March 31st, 2009 by Rick
David E. Krahl, Ph.D., former Drug Free America Deputy Director, is now in support of medical marijuana.
There was a point in my professional career as Deputy Director of the Drug Free America Foundation when I supported the prohibition of marijuana as medicine. But then, I experienced a change of heart, if you will; a moment of clarity, an epiphany. After seriously investigating the issue, and getting beyond the rhetorical arguments of both sides, I began to realize that the prohibitionist viewpoint against the use of marijuana as medicine largely ignored three things, which are so embedded in the fabric of American society and reflective of our cultural values that their truth is almost self-evident.
Krahl believes that the issue of marijuana as medicine should be left up to the states.
From a purely Constitutional point of view, individual states are empowered to chart their own legislative courses, and act as autonomous, self-determining governing entities that are best suited to adopt laws regarding the health and welfare of their citizens.
Krahl brings up a good point. After all, 13 states now have already enacted medical marijuana laws either by ballot initiative or legislation. There are even more following suit and pushing medical marijuana bills through their legislation.
Krahl also believes that it’s an issue of the relationship between physician and patient and that the government has no business intruding on a patient’s prescribed or recommended course of treatment.
Based on long-standing tradition, custom, and practice, the relationship between doctor and patient is sacrosanct. Fundamentally, the treatment regimen prescribed or recommended by the physician is a private matter.
Krahl knows that the new Administration’s apparent willingness to change an outdated policy is not enough. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) needs to reverse their 2006 position that “marijuana has no currently accepted medical use.”
In fact, not only has the FDA approved several studies that highlighted the medical efficacy of marijuana, but many other studies conducted abroad have also come to the same conclusion: marijuana, indeed, has therapeutic value.
Krahl says he hopes a new White House policy position means a new thoughtful, more deliberate, compassionate, and rational approach to the issue of medical marijuana. With more people like Krahl, now influencing a possible change in their stance and beliefs on medical marijuana, and more states defying federal law to bring the issue to legislation, it’s become necessary the White House tread lightly when dealing with the American public.
Anti-Drug PSA is Comedy Gold
November 1st, 2006 by Alex
This gem of a PSA was pointed out by a Pitchfork Media staffer, and damn is it funny. It’s a well known fact, even proven scientifically, that the governments massive anti-drug campaign is useless. Well, except for wasting lots of money, it’s great at that.
Here is another in the long line of retarded PSAs. This one is great, because not only does it say weed turns you into a poser, but an indie-rock listening poser. Noooooooooo!
You can download the Poser PSA here or read the full transcript below:
Robotic Voice: Being popular was all I could think about last year. I wanted to, like, be cool with everybody. I listened to music that I didn’t like and laughed at stuff that wasn’t funny. I programmed myself to be a totally different person to everyone.
*computer voice starts to change into a real human voice*
Female Voice: But I wasn’t myself. Now I’m not pretending to like indie rock or anything like that. And people think that’s cool.
Male Narrator: Live above the influence. Above weed. Check out abovetheinfluence.com. Sponsored by the ONDCP and the Partnership For A Drug-Free America.
I don’t know what Partnership for a Drug-Free America has against Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies or Pavement but it seems like they’re the ones living on Shady Lane.
[via PitchFork Media]
