A NORML Contest Gets A Treatment

June 11, 1998 - The Mountain Eagle

When Walter F. Wouk, president of the Schoharie County Chapter of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), began submitting ads to local newspapers and shopper's guides announcing a high school essay contest on the theme, "How does the war on marijuana threaten America's constitutional democracy?" his intent was to call attention to the U.S. Constitution.

Wouk said, "I was stunned when the ad was rejected by the My Shopper." According to Wouk, Rick Brightman, general manager of the Norwich and Sidney Pennysaver Corporation, My Shopper's parent company, refused to accept the ad and told Wouk "to refrain from submitting ads for NORML to any of our publications, as we cannot accept them."

In a letter dated June 2, 1998, Brightman told Wouk that "You are, at the core of the matter, advocating the legalization of a currently illegal drug, and in this case promoting the concept among teenagers."

Wouk is concerned by the growing disregard for the U.S. Constitution in our schools. He said, "The sight of police officers, with drug sniffing dogs, roaming the halls of local schools does little to instill the spirit of liberty in our children." According to Wouk, "the goal of this essay contest is to make young people aware of the growing threat to the freedom that they take for granted," he said.

Wouk acknowledged that Brightman has a legal right to reject NORML ads, but questions his selective values. Wouk said, "he has no problem accepting ads from organizations that promote alcohol use." Wouk pointed out that alcohol is an illegal drug for teenagers and it's also their drug of choice. "Brightman's goal is to suppress information that deals with the marijuana issue in a truthful manner," said Wouk

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