Prohibition gone wild

By Libby

Under the heading don't these people have something better to do, the latest crisis taking up your tax dollars in the statehouses of America is Cocaine. No, not the drug, a new energy drink that contains nothing illegal. Connecticut's finest legal minds are on the case and intimidated the manufacturer into pulling the product off the shelves.

Redux negotiated the agreement under threat of legal action by DCP and the Attorney General's Office.

"This step flushes 'Cocaine' down the drain," Blumenthal said. "This supposed 'legal alternative' - glorifying and glamorizing illegal drug use - will be off shelves in our state. We are kicking 'Cocaine' out of Connecticut. Both Texas and Illinois have worked with us to achieve the same result, under threat of coordinated legal action. Now we will push for a nationwide ban - pulling this product off shelves everywhere.

What does he mean by supposedly legal? They wouldn't be allowed to manufacture the stuff if actually contained drugs. In fact, he doesn't even know what's in it.

"This strong partnership between DCP and my office will assure that 'Cocaine' is permanently banned, and we will be vigorous and vigilant in enforcing it. I also will demand that Redux disclose all ingredients in company beverages sold in Connecticut.

..."I'm happy to announce that we have reached agreement to take this product off Connecticut store shelves," Farrell said. "We were very troubled by the misleading and provocative nature of this product's advertising and the message it sent. As commissioner of consumer protection, I have responsibilities not only for food but also prescription drugs and liquor; I will continue to take a strong stand against products that seek to promote or glamorize illicit drug use or intoxication.

Like for instance Budweiser? And what about that nefarious slogan - Things go better with Coke? Shouldn't they be pulling that off the shelves too? After all, rumor has it that Coke really does have neutralized cocaine in it and I've seen some pretty credible evidence that they purchase coca leaf in bulk.

Worse yet this idiocy has spread nationwide and they're prepared to take it to the highest courts if interfering with free trade and the First Amendment becomes an issue. They're willing to spend your last tax dollar to protect the kids from drinking some benign beverage that sounds pretty god-awful and probably wouldn't last past the initial novelty stage anyway.

But the true irony of this whole misguided vendetta is that coca leaf based products are actually really good for you. The nanny regulators should be pursuing the company for not including coca in the ingredients.