D.A.R.E. Accidentally Posts Article That Supports Legalization

I’m sure most of you reading this remember attending a few D.A.R.E classes when you were in school. A cop from your local police department would show up once a week or so, and tell you all about the folly of taking drugs, and how to avoid peer pressure. It’s also the same program that statistically speaking, had almost no effect on drug use, and in some cases, actually increased drug use among teens.

That organization recently found itself in the news after their website published an article that advocated the legalization of marijuana. The post was written by former deputy sheriff Carlis McDerment, who basically spelled out the same argument that legalization advocates have been saying for years. “Anyone who suggests we outlaw everything dangerous to children would also have to ban stairs, Tylenol, bleach, forks and outlet sockets and definitely alcohol. Those things harm children every day, but anyone championing that we ban them would be laughed at.” He added that “I support legalization precisely because I want to reduce youths’ drug use. Drug dealers don’t care about a customer’s age. The answer isn’t prohibition and incarceration; the answer is regulation and education.”

D.A.R.E quickly attempted to send the article down the memory hole by deleting it, but not before plenty of internet sources copied and distributed it. D.A.R.E. has since announced that the post was a mistake, and that they are still opposed to legalizing marijuana.