D.A.R.E. knows it's fighting a losing battle against weed, and they're desperate. Poor guys. 

We loved the D.A.R.E. program. There was a sweet lion mascot named Daren, we got candy sometimes, and it completely convinced us not to try drugs (until we hit 6th grade).

Nowadays, in the avalanche of information proving that marijuana is a pretty safe drug, the good folks at D.A.R.E. must be having a hell of a time convincing a whole new generation of ankle-biters not to smoke pot. 

So when the P.R. team caught wind of nearly 20 weed-related fatalities, they probably high-fived each other and posted that shit, pronto. They had proof! Daren the Lion could shake this article in the faces of children, and those children would be saved. Slam dunk, right?

Well, except for the fact that the story was a farce. 

Uh oh. They quickly pulled the article, but once you look like an asshole on the internet for even a second, it's there forever.

It was basically a literary version of "Reefer Madness." Sorry D.A.R.E. — we agree little kids shouldn't get high, but you might want to double-check your sources next time.