LINKING MARIJUANA AND TERRORISM

Cathy Young's column on insulting ads (op ed, Jan. 13) pointed out the
absurdity of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's
television commercials linking drugs and terrorism. The White House
office's newspaper ads are even sillier.

An ad this week in The Washington Post and The New York Times depicts a
plastic bag of marijuana with the headline, "Is it okay to support
terrorism if it's only a little bit?" Oh, please.

The vast majority of marijuana consumed in the United States is grown
domestically or comes from Canada or Mexico - not exactly Al Qaeda
strongholds. No doubt some marijuana traffickers engage in unsavory
activities. But, as Young points out, that is a direct result of
prohibition that has created an underground criminal market. When was the
last time you heard of a bloody shoot-out between beer distributors? During
Prohibition, that's when.

Alcohol prohibition led to violence and terror in this country. Is it any
surprise that marijuana prohibition has done the same?

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications

Marijuana Policy Project

Washington