Harry Potter X

January 22, 2003 11:42 AM

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's MDMA Police uncover ecstasy ring in UK targeting children by stamping the image of Harry Potter on the pills. Wonder if Rowling will work X into the next story line? Don't know whether to laugh or cry.
posted by xmutex (25 comments total)

Err, yeah, police in the US.
posted by xmutex at 11:43 AM on January 22, 2003

You drop one of those, you're gonna see little cars flying in the sky, and you'll smack your head against train stations' walls. I don't want to think what you're gonna do with a broom

also, do the pills vibrate?
posted by matteo at 11:47 AM on January 22, 2003

They'll put anything on those hits of X or acid... doesn't mean they're targetting any demographic in particular. I mean, if we go by the photo in the article, does it mean that those pills are targeted towards Mitsubishi enthusiasts and people who wear Rolexes? Puhleeze!
posted by freakystyley at 11:48 AM on January 22, 2003

*fondly remembers Bart Simpson blotter acid"
posted by machaus at 11:53 AM on January 22, 2003

They're not targeting children, adults like Harry Potter too (probably especially e-dropping adults), and as freakystyley said, they'll put anything on hits. It's meant to be cute, not "target children", most tattoo artists put Winnie The Pooh and other kiddie cartoon figures on their flash walls, are they targeting children too?
posted by biscotti at 12:00 PM on January 22, 2003

Damn black markets.
posted by botono9 at 12:02 PM on January 22, 2003

"Bobby, don't take candy from strangers!" Gimme a break.
posted by LouReedsSon at 12:03 PM on January 22, 2003

They'll put anything on those hits of X or acid... doesn't mean they're targetting any demographic in particular.

I agree w/freaky totally. It's also traditional to sometimes put something on a tab that is funny, or funny by way of being incongruous. Harry Potter + drugs = incongruous. Targetting kids? Hype. Makes a good sensationalist story, though.
posted by Shane at 12:06 PM on January 22, 2003

Let's see how you react once the Pancake pills/tabs roll out.
posted by gluechunk at 12:11 PM on January 22, 2003

Forget the penalties for distributing drugs, what's really gonna land these suckers in the clink is the copyright police coming after them for using an unlicensed image.

Kids, just say no to drugs that violate copyright!
posted by rks404 at 12:24 PM on January 22, 2003

rks404, that's an awesome thought, prosecuting drug dealers for violating copywrite infringement! Well played. I agree with most on the thread, this is just hype. Tabs of acid have been using images like this for years. I've, uh, seen heard about acid tabs printed with Beavis and Butthead, Nike swooshes, and particularly amusing, Ronald Reagan' face.
posted by elwoodwiles at 12:49 PM on January 22, 2003

They're not targeting children...

have to chime in here and agree. Also of note in the demythologizing of acid is the "temporary tattoo" story. just because cops don't know what acid looks like doesn't mean people are trying to sell it to kids. Besides, acid's not addictive [thought MDMA can be, and acid can be habit forming], why waste good drugs on children?
posted by jessamyn at 12:58 PM on January 22, 2003

The Harry Potter logos do not mean that they're targeting children. Seriously, the only reason people brand the pills is so that buyers can tell that they're getting a somewhat known product. It's possible to use web sites DanceSafe in conjunction with pill testing kits and be relatively certain that you know not only what drug you're taking, but what dosage.
posted by mosch at 1:11 PM on January 22, 2003

Same probably goes for drug paraphernalia... Otherwise my rolling paper collection would target Ron Jeremy fans, Canadians, pimps and aliens.
posted by freakystyley at 1:52 PM on January 22, 2003

Let's face it, you get a lot more votes (and/or funding, popular support, etc.) decrying "threats to our children" than "threats to our ravers". Despite the obvious overlap between those two categories.

There's also the possibility of misdirection: If you have to argue with someone as to whether (Harry Potter|Teletubbies|Cat in the hat) on a tab of X means it's targetted at children, other questions like "How dangerous IS ecstacy, really?" are more likely to slip by.
posted by Gregoire at 1:54 PM on January 22, 2003

Ahh that's what I like to see, universal aggreement on the ridiculousness of a ridiculous news story. It is hardly like ecstasy pills are going to be marketed in visually in a shop window or somethings. The graphics are clearly chosen for laugh value (or incongruity as Shane so eloquently put it).
posted by john.institution at 1:56 PM on January 22, 2003

drug pusher: psst hey kid want some X? get you high?
kid: no thanks I don't do that stuff
drug pusher: but look! harry potter is stamped on it
kid: oo! oo! gimme gimme! (swallows a whole handful)
posted by Degaz at 2:01 PM on January 22, 2003

This is exactly like the Mickey Mouse Fantasia acid stickers... When I was very little, they handed out flyers saying don't lick them because your tongue would fall off... and that was a hoax...
posted by oninochuck at 2:02 PM on January 22, 2003

the children! won't someone PLEASE think of the children!
posted by jcruelty at 2:03 PM on January 22, 2003

So, let me get this straight. The broomstick, it vibrates?
posted by geekhorde at 2:07 PM on January 22, 2003

*fondly remembers Beavis and Butthead blotter acid*
posted by jennyb at 2:07 PM on January 22, 2003

That girl in the foreground of the second photo looks like she's already had some.
posted by kindall at 2:10 PM on January 22, 2003

Why Harry Potter? Why not the Powerpuff Girls, who after all owe their very existence to the Mysterious Chemical X?
posted by arto at 2:25 AM on January 23, 2003

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's MDMA

Harry Potter and the Stoned Sorcerer

So, let me get this straight. The broomstick, it vibrates?

That would be the caption for the girl in the foreground...
posted by Shane at 6:27 AM on January 23, 2003

A photo of the pill
posted by Orange Goblin at 1:01 PM on January 23, 2003