WAR ON DRUGS LAYS WASTE TO FACTS

To the editor:

In light of the revelation of the office of the National Drug Control
Policy's regulation of TV content for the "correct drug message," I'd liked to
share the following quote from a member of Partnership For A Drug Free America
(the private organization that the government sponsors to provide its
"correct" message).

During the research for his book, "Hemp: Lifeline to the Future," author
Chris Conrad contacted the PDFA to ask them for facts to support the claims
that they had been making regarding the dangers of drugs. After all, this
group got in trouble for a TV ad showing the brain waves of a comatose
patient and claiming they were the brain waves of someone who had recently
smoked
marijuana.

The PDFA spokeswoman replied, "We don't need facts. We're shaping
attitudes. Facts are not important here. Changing public opinion is what is
important" (page 237).

Thank you very much, but I for one am not the government's mental putty to
be molded as it sees fit.

As Thomas Jefferson said, "The legitimate powers of government reach
actions only and not opinions."

CHRIS KNESTRICK
Blacksburg