Pubdate: Thu, 21 Mar 2002
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: The Hamilton Spectator 2002
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Richard Marchese
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n508/a01.html

'THE BIG LIE' IS PERVASIVE

RE: 'New politics of pot emerging' (March 19). The Spectator's Rob 
Faulkner writes: "The drug trade has always had links to organized 
crime." How pervasive the big lie has become.

In fact, criminals only became involved in the natural behaviour of 
humans to enjoy plants and plant extracts after the prohibitionists 
handed them the greatest money-making tool they have ever beheld.

It can even be said that, before prohibition, there was no such thing 
as organized crime.

 From Al Capone to Osama bin Laden, prohibitionists have much to answer for.

Parroting the prohibitionists' party line linking drugs -- instead of 
the real culprit, prohibition -- to crime shows how well their 
propaganda has infected the public's consciousness.

- -- Richard Marchese, Fairfield, N.J.
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MAP posted-by: Josh