Posters warning against the perils of pot are popping up in Camden Town, as a London group launches a scare tactic campaign against cannabis. At first glance, the posters look like a relic of the past. “Just Say No” and Reefer Madness come to mind. But are the posters rooted in any truth?
The Posters
The Camden London Borough Council began hanging the posters at bus stops earlier this month. They tell the story of a presumably real youth named Ricky. Apparently, a “bit of weed” ruined Ricky’s life.
In the poster, a photograph depicts a young man enjoying a party while blowing a cloud of smoke at the camera. The text explains that Ricky is a high school dropout and outcast. He is now working at a Camden cannabis farm against his will, with no way out,
Town Councillor Georgia Gould told local media that the posters were not meant to judge cannabis users. But, she said, the public awareness campaign was attempting to establish a link between social cannabis use and the illegal drug trade.
“We have seen a big rise in youth violence with young people being groomed for the drugs trade,” she said. “The campaign is about raising awareness and starting a debate. We all live in one community and it’s important to know what’s happening on our streets.”
Some Basis In Fact
The poster campaign is loosely based on reality. Camden has had a strong cannabis culture for years. Police admitted as much in a letter they sent to local shops during a campaign to rid the area of drug paraphernalia. In it, they claimed some success in removing traffickers from the streets.
“However, the drug dealers are shortly replaced by more