What Would Jesus Smoke?

Once again, the Office of National Drug Control Policy spent millions of dollars of your money to spread drug war propaganda during the Superbowl.

In one ad, “Ghost Train,” a man on a subway is haunted by ghosts of people killed in the crossfire of the drug war. Why are they harassing this well-dressed commuter? Because he bought drugs (the ghosts explain) and the drug dealers were fighting over drug money. In another ad, “Ghost Office,” a little girl killed in a bomb blast gives a guilt trip to a businesswoman who bought drugs – because the money ended up in the hands of terrorists. Both ads end with the message, “Drug Money Supports Terrible Things.”

This is something like punching holes in your neighbor’s gas line, and then blaming the explosion on your neighbor’s filthy cigarette habit.

There should be a parody of these ads that puts the blame where it really belongs. In the new version of the ads, when the commuter and businesswoman ask why the ghosts are blaming them, the ghosts should respond: “Because you’re a member of Congress, and you voted for the war on drugs. Your laws created huge black-market profits that lead to violence and death.” The ads should end with the message, “The War on Drugs is a War on People.”