Public Service Advertisements

Is Truth a Casualty of the Drug War?

The Public Service Advertisements below ran from 1999 to 2007, focusing on misinformation in the drug war.

The Common Sense public information campaign carefully quoted credible research and leading authorities so as to provide the public with reliable information and to better inform the debate on drug policy. CSDP's PSAs ran in Reason, The American Prospect, The National Review, The Nation, The New Republic, and The Progressive.

Please note: These PSAs may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission and with or without attribution provided the meaning is faithfully maintained.

052	Pain management in crisis	Alicia Smith took her own life on March 16 because she couldn't stand the chronic pain any longer. All over the country patients with chronic pain say they are having trouble finding adequate and proper medication. This is a public health catastrophe that cries out for reform. This PSA is also available as a camera-ready PDF for easy reproduction.
051	Mind your own business	Angel McClary Raich told John Ashcroft to mind his own business. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed. They're telling the Attorney General to butt out. This PSA is also available as a camera-ready PDF for easy reproduction.
050	Justice and mercy without relevant information?	Federal prosecutors won't permit court testimony concerning why marijuana was used even though marijuana is permitted as medicine under the laws of California and eight other states. How can judges and jurors dispense "justice and mercy" without relevant information? This PSA also available as a camera-ready PDF for easy reproduction.
049	Urine drug testing fails at school and work.	"Urine drug testing fails at school and work." Let's keep our kids busy, monitor their performance and communicate instead. This PSA also available as a camera-ready PDF for easy reproduction.
048	Isn't rewarding achievement the American way?	"Isn't rewarding achievement the American way?" In the mid 1980s Congress abolished parole and passed harsh drug sentencing laws. Many states followed, creating a tenfold increase in the number of drug offenders incarcerated. If prisoners were able to earn earlier release, it would help with rehabilitation efforts, reduce spending, and ease prison overcrowding. This PSA is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for easy reproduction.
047	Are we addicted to drug war money?	Are we addicted to drug war money? Drug trafficking represents eight percent of the world's trade, an untaxed and unregulated $400 Billion annually. This PSA is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF).
046	Who says we are winning the drug war?	Who says we are winning the drug war? (other than frightened politicians, ideologues, and people who make their living from prohibition? Hard drugs are more cheaper and purer than ever, age of first use dropping, overdose deaths and emergency room mentions increasing -- Prohibition: It Still Doesn't Work. This public service advertisement is also available in printer-ready Portable Document Format (PDF).
045	The Shafer Commission	"The Shafer Commission" issued its report on marijuana policy on March 22, 1972 - 30 years ago. The questions still remain: Is criminalizing marijuana use sensible public policy? Is it time for marijuana to be treated like alcohol? This public service advertisement is also available in printer-ready Portable Document Format (PDF).
044	No More Drug War!	The public is saying "No More Drug War!" Why won't Congress listen? This advertisement is also available in printer-ready Portable Document Format (PDF).
043	Now We're In A Real War . . . Isn't It Time To Abandon The War On Ourselves?	"Now We're In A Real War . . . Isn't It Time To Abandon The War On Ourselves?" Experience teaches that prohibition fails, but that liquor stores and pharmacies succeed in controlling soft and hard drugs. This advertisement is also available in printer-ready Portable Document Format (PDF).