Reader: DEA's equating of marijuana and heroin responsible for smack's new popularity

Yesterday, we featured a video in which Drug Enforcement Administrator Michele Leonhart refused to say marijuana was less harmful than heroin while under questioning from Representative Jared Polis at a U.S. House subcommittee. The clip, and Leonhart's bizarre responses, frustrated a number of commentators, including this one...

By Michael Roberts

June 22, 2012

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Yesterday, we featured a video in which Drug Enforcement Administrator Michele Leonhart refused to say marijuana was less harmful than heroin while under questioning from Representative Jared Polis at a U.S. House subcommittee. The clip, and Leonhart's bizarre responses, frustrated a number of commentators, including this one.

Lawrence Herbert writes:

NBC is running a series on Heroin's popularity -- obviously the DEA's misinformation and misdirected enforcement has been a major cause of the current epidemic. DEA's Leonhart is unfit for Public Service, especially in the Justice Department.

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For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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Reader: DEA's equating of marijuana and heroin responsible for smack's new popularity

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