My primary question is: Is the MSM waking up to anything? Actually, people make the news. MSM simply reports what they can't afford NOT to report. When ordinary people make enough noise about anything, they simply have to report it. It is, after all, news. Frankly, though, I'd like to know what is "news" about administration lies from our fascist dictatorial oligarchy.
Is The Mainstream Media Finally Beginning To Wake Up To The Drug Czar's Lies?
Dear NORML Supporter,
Drug Czar John Walters believes he can lie with impunity.
He’s wrong.
For years, mainstream media outlets have given the Drug Czar a 'free pass' to lie about cannabis. Then last week something extraordinary happened.
The media -- thanks to NORML's efforts -- finally called John Walters out!
Speaking on the cable news network C-Span, Walters recently alleged, "We didn’t arrest 800,000 marijuana users. ... That’s [a] lie." (Watch the video of Walters’ remarks here.)
The Czar’s nose grew another six inches when he uncorked this whopper: "The fact is today, people don’t go to jail for the possession of marijuana. Finding somebody in jail or prison for possession of marijuana is like finding a unicorn It doesn’t exist." (The video can be seen here.)
NORML has been working overtime to rebuff the Drug Czar's deceit, and the mainstream media is taking notice. Over the past ten days, numerous media outlets -- including Alternet.org , The Huffington Post , the Dr. Drew Pinsky show , and In These Times -- have published guest commentaries from NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano exposing the Walter's lies and emphasizing America's addiction to marijuana law enforcement.
Most recently, Washington DC's influential political newspaper, The Hill, joined the discussion, posting NORML's essay: "How Can We Discuss Marijuana Policy When America’s Top Drug Cop Won’t Even Acknowledge The Facts?"
To date, over 140 readers have weighed in on the subject -- virtually all of them have demanded the Drug Czar either tell the truth or get out.
The Hill is providing reformers with a valuable service by bringing our message prominently to Capitol Hill, and acting as a mediator in a high profile debate with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. For decades the Drug Czar’s office has refused to debate spokespersons from NORML or other marijuana law reform groups, but the office will respond to criticism in The Hill, which remains the paper of record for members of Congress and their staff.
Because The Hill is widely read by lawmakers and by the national media, it is vital that we demonstrate the popularity of this issue by commenting prolifically. Please post your feedback to The Hill and make a point of disseminating this and similar essays to your friends and colleagues.
Previous posts by NORML to The Hill’s blog have received hundreds of readers’ comments — virtually all favorable toward marijuana law reform.
Editors at The Hill inform NORML that it’s the highest volume of readers’ response they’ve ever received on any commentary on any topic!
The media is getting our message; will Congress or the Drug Czar?
Thanks for your help and support,
Allen St. Pierre
Executive Director
NORML / NORML Foundation*There will be a panel at NORML's upcoming national conference addressing the role of the media in cannabis prohibition. Register now here.
