Pubdate: Tue, 10 Dec 2002 Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Copyright: 2002 Lexington Herald-Leader Contact: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240 Author: Bill Harper Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/campaign.htm (ONDCP Media Campaign) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/bush.htm (Bush, George) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) CHALLENGE THE DARE LIES Why do you publish more propaganda for the DARE program? The government already spends over $3 billion a year on anti-drug propaganda. Isn't that enough? DARE has been a failure, and studies have shown that drug use has increased among participants. DARE is merely another big-government pork program that allows police to wander around a safe group of children instead of catching real criminals in dangerous situations. President Bush says there are not enough government agents to track terrorism, immigration, anthrax and snipers. Yet we have enough police to waste time on youth-indoctrination programs? Every police hour spent inside the safety and comfort of a school is an hour that's not being spent looking for terrorists. The failed drug war is merely an attempt to suppress marijuana. Last year in the United States, there were more than 700,000 citizens imprisoned for marijuana. While 11 states have already voted to legalize medical marijuana, the government still ignores the will of the voters. Enough big-government, pork-barrel spending. Keep propaganda out of our schools, and let the voters decide the marijuana issue. Put police on the street chasing real crime, instead of playing nanny at elementary schools. Bill Harper, Lexington - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl