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propaganda

Marijuana Enters New Age, While Propaganda Remains Stuck in Last Century

propaganda

Research into marijuana was almost non existent for the 20th century.  In the 21st century, clinical trials are finally being commissioned, trying to make up for decades of lost research time.  Blatant propaganda had previously been a staple for the criminalization crowd, those who wish to see our jails overcrowded with non violent criminals.  However, as positive patient testimonials, the realization that the war on drugs is a colossal failure, and a desire to regain some individual choices take hold on the American public, wreck less propaganda has begun to fade away.

 

The self righteous criminalization crowd now realizes they have to be more covert when trying to mislead.  They may troll the internet for vulnerable comment sections on blogs, or share exaggerated or factually incorrect articles on social media.  It came as a huge surprise to us to see vintage propaganda prominently featured on the Kansas City Star’s webpage.  Proving that so much deception could not be successfully crafted by one person, both Ravikumar Chockalingam and Dragan Svrakic needed to collaborate to complete a recent article titled “The risks of marijuana are many”.

The article starts with the following:

Imagine the public outrage if a toxic drug was approved without any regulation for “recreational” use in adults and children that suppresses the immune system, causes schizophrenia, mental illness, brain and lung disease including cancer and death. Also, many long-term and frequent users of this toxic drug have lowered IQs, impaired memory, poor judgment and diminished driving ability.

 

It does not exactly improve from there. The authors go on to cite marijuana as a “toxic drug” while ignoring obvious comparisons to legal opiates and alcohol’s “toxic” effect.  Even stranger, they try and scare readers regarding a fictional “nightmare health scenario” that other states outside of Kansas and Missouri are experiencing.  Driving and marijuana is actually a discussion that needs to occur, but there is conflicting evidence to suggest that it causes more accidents.  In fact, in certain states where medical marijuana is legal, DWIs and fatal crashes have actually gone down. The authors also claim there is no medical evidence to support marijuana’s medical efficacy.  That is incorrect as even the U.S. government has commissioned studies that highlight marijuana’s wide array of medical uses, including the potential to fight cancer.

 

Of course the article also uses the standard condescension, where patient testimonials are irrelevant and we should not trust people when they tell us about their improved quality of life and reduction in pain, nausea, PTSD, seizures… the list goes on.  Patients from different walks of life, politically, financially, and ethnically, all have gotten together during times where their health has deteriorated, to fake marijuana’s benefits.  At least this is what the article in the Kansas City Star implying.

 

While (psychiatry resident) and Dragan Svrakic (associate professor) are both part of the Washington University School of Medicine, they seem to be lagging behind the medical leaders in our country.  Even Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN contributor and President Obama’s choice for Surgeon General (Dr. Gupta turned down the offer) has reversed his opposition to medical marijuana, and admitted he was wrong.  When leading physicians, clinical trials, and patients all report the benefits of medical marijuana, we can only hope the two authors of the article will take notice.  We at marijuana.net noticed an unusual amount of blanket statements and a lack of evidence provided for these outrageous claims.  The American public does not seem to be buying the scare tactics of last century as the vast majority (85% according to a Fox News Poll) of residents here support medical marijuana.  It may be time for Ravikumar Chockalingam and Dragan Svrakic to abandon the propaganda, or at least utilize more subtle and modern techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dr. David Sack and Modern Marijuana Propaganda

propaganda dr sackAs scientists provide more solid evidence and a generation of lies is being exposed, a vast majority of Americans now support medical cannabis.  Since the science and the hearts of the people are now on the side of advocates, the propaganda machine has been forced to utilize more subtle but equally misleading tactics. Today’s modern …continue reading

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Could Hemp Save the World?

Farmers along Li River near Guilin, GuangxiMuch of our focus at marijuana.net is on the constantly evolving legalities that is the medical marijuana industry.  Old propaganda dies hard and lazy politicians have taken up the standard talking points of “we need more research” and “what kind of message does this send to children?”.  While talking about propaganda, medical research, patient stories …continue reading

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Marijuana Media Propaganda continues today

propaganda

The line between propaganda and politics can be razor thin.  Laws in this country are often passed only when jobs are on the line and/or the public demands action.  Propaganda has been used throughout history to perpetuate the political and social agendas.  Marijuana in the 20th and 21st century in America is a standout example of this.

Most of us at least viewed clips of “Reefer Madness” and while this would be considered absurd by today’s standards, it actually may have helped set marijuana back by decades.  As always, people feared the unknown.  As a result there has been a cultural and generational divide for so long.  It is now only in recent years with global communication now becoming instant, that we are seeing a real difference.  The facts are taking hold and patients are able to share their stories.  However technology often has its drawbacks, and of course the internet is no different.

With marijuana skyrocketing in acceptance and popularity, it no longer is viable for the media to claim that “marijuana is the smoke of hell”.  The media now tries to deceive in a more subtle way.  “Spin” is the common term used in political and campaign circles when describing how to take a singular event and dress it up in a way that is politically self serving.  This week alone we were able to see two high profile examples of this.  We at marijuana.net were not even looking for these stories, but there are so many like this that they basically fell into our laps.

We reported several weeks ago that cannabis was found to help patients deal with the symptoms of MS.  Another study published this week stated that marijuana does not stop the spread.  No one made the claim that marijuana would be curing MS, just that a patient’s quality of life can improve if they use medical marijuana.  The article headlines regarding the study jump on marijuana not being able to cure the condition, placing a negative focus on medical marijuana.  Would we say that aspirin is a failure because it did not cure a migraine but allowed a person to have a pain free afternoon?  In another separate story, media outlets jumped on a poll that showed that California residents were split and even slightly opposed to totally legalizing marijuana.  However, the polls also show that an overwhelming 80% of residents in California want medical marijuana to be permitted.  Many of the articles barely mention this while jumping on the legalization numbers.  However, is it not impressive and newsworthy that such a diverse state has come to a consensus on medical marijuana especially in the midst of the LA City Council trying to shut down dispensaries?

Blatant falsehoods regarding marijuana may be on the decline, but this new propaganda war will be fought much more subtlety.  This is a headline reading culture with many people not taking the time to read what is under the title, and those with an anti cannabis agenda certainly are aware of this.  As creative as the headlines can be, they are often devoid of any charm after the title sentence and we just ask that you read on.

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Anti-Marijuana Propaganda from the Mid-20th Century

marijuana propaganda

For over 70 years Marijuana has been illegal in the United States.  In that time, the powers-that-be have used many forms of propaganda to maintain their control over people’s fear of cannabis in order to prevent the reforms happening today.  Initially, the fear and hatred of marijuana was stirred up by Henry J. Anslinger and his cunning use of racism and bigotry.  Anslinger and William Randolph Hearst (Hearst publishing) preyed upon the feelings of the white majority and ideas of miscegenation (white women + not-white men).  They also made sure people feared a minority uprising, led by unstoppable drugged-out berserker pot-heads.  To this day there are still people who fear this, and push for continuing anti-marijuana legislation.  However, one fear cannot be stoked continuously for 70 years.  As time went by new fears were co-opted and put to use for the war on drugs.

Cannabis and hemp were made illegal in the 1930’s, but hemp was then re-allowed in World War 2 because of its industrial use.  After the war ended the ban was reinstated and something else was needed to enforce it.  Enter the threat to National Security.  That’s right, after the Nazis were defeated and ideas of Superior Races were less popular the country needed something else to unify it.  America had a new enemy… Communism!  After the war, Anslinger continued to consolidate power into the government apparatus that would eventually become the DEA.  With Senator Hale Boggs as his partner, President Harry Truman was convinced that drugs were being utilized by Communist China to subvert Americans and undermine our democracy.  In 1951 Truman signed the Boggs Act which imposed strict penalties for violating the import/export laws pertaining to drugs. Part of these penalties were tough mandatory minimum prison sentences.  In 1961, Anslinger had JFK used the US influence at the UN to push for an anti-drug convention that eventually saw over 100 countries agree to make marijuana illegal.  It would not be the last time that national security would be used as a scapegoat for anti-drug sentiment.  All of this helped build the reaction to the counterculture of the 1960’s and 70’s.

In the 1980’s and 90’s, most anti-drug PSA’s (Public Service Announcement) were focused on the negative effects of drugs on the mind, body and social ties.  Anybody remember the “This is your brain on drugs” video with the smashed egg?  Well, after the terror attacks of September 11, that type of ad moved to the back burner in favor of a terror and drugs cocktail.  Many drugs are produced and exported by terror-supporting organizations (not going to debate that here) but once again cannabis was also targeted in these ads.  So the teenager buying a bag from his dealer (which was probably grown domestically, in some backwood) is now helping Al-Qaeda to blow up airplanes and shoot marines.  One particular PSA shows two men debating the truth of this.  The skeptic says he doesn’t believe it, and the other guy says “It’s true,” repeatedly until the other man is convinced. There’s no evidence offered, or even a counterargument. He maintains his position and eventually the other guy is converted.  As a 30-second tv spot makes a strong emotional impression, which is the crux of most propaganda.  Facts are distorted in order to evoke an emotional response, which has been proven to create a stronger impression than just a factual argument… so far.

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Propaganda, Hemp’s Enemy

propaganda

“I am not really a chicken, you are a poultry.”  For individuals individuals not of sufficient age to possess observed that Public Service Announcement, individuals closing words were effective inducements towards the youth of the usa to steer clear of Marijuana.  Using the voices and moral support from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, how is the anti-marijuana watch dogs not capture the minds and hearts of countless children?

During the last century, within this country not one person or factor continues to be so consistently and deceitfully assaulted as cannabis.  The assault on cannabis started in early 1900’s because the Mexican Revolution happened and there is mix-border spillover in the unrest.  As People in mexico joined the U . s . States the negativity fomented consequently of racial tensions.  Cannabis have been grown within this country because the Jamestown Colony, and without them, the pay outs couldn’t have become into this proud nation.  Yet, with today, couple of things can provoke such irrational hate as immigration.  Anti-cannabis sentiment taken across the Southwest alongside anti-Mexican slurs.  Many lawmen and political figures noted that People in mexico were smoking marijuana and they stated it triggered these to be violent towards People in america.  Ever since then the thought of violence and marijuana happen to be inextricably linked.  It’s a historical declare that has opposed many efforts to eliminate.  By 1927, nine different states had passed laws and regulations barring Marijuana, mainly as methods for focusing on Mexican-People in america.

As using marijuana spread in the Southwest into other areas, additionally, it grew to become swept up using the development of Jazz in metropolitan areas like Chicago as well as in Harlem.  After that, anxiety about marijuana was associated with even more powerful racial hatreds, this time around towards African-People in america.  At that time, there have been other forces conspiring to operate against Marijuana.  Prohibition had ended, however the government machines remained as in position and needed new things to demonize. Harry Anslinger have been hired “Mind from the Federal Bureau of Drugs,” and that he managed to get his personal pursuit to have cannabis eradicated within this country.  With the aid of some yellow journalism from media mogul William Randolph Hearst, they released a smear campaign formerly not observed in america with the exception of occasions of war.  Anslinger labored relentlessly, gathering and delivering his “Gore Files,” an accumulation of newspaper articles filled with sordid accounts of violence and crime that credited their induce to “Reefer Madness.”

Eventually, the worry-mongering required deep hold in the united states and Anslinger had his previous day Congress. Using mainly anecdotal evidence (from his Gore Files) and completely inverting the testimony from the Ama, Harry convinced these to pass the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.  As time have passed by, the majority of the sentiments used above happen to be scientifically proven to be wrong.  Yet they persist within the American psyche.  They have had many years of reinforcement by other anti-marijuana forces, reinvigorating in the  1960’s and ongoing on.  But individuals is going to be examined later.

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The Shafer Report

shafer

In 1970, the Comprehensive Substance Abuse Prevention and Control Act rewrote the guidelines on drugs, sorting them into five groups, Schedule 1-5.  Additionally, it engendered the Commission on Marijuana and Substance Abuse which targeted to review the results of Marijuana on People in america.  The outcomes of the study were launched in 1972 and therefore are better termed as “The Shafer Report.”  This research was presented before Congress on March 22 1972, titled “Marijuana, An Indication of Misunderstanding.”  It was a landmark presentation because its goal ended up being to locate an honest knowledge of the results of Cannabis on people, without depending around the testimonies from the previous half a century of propaganda that were recognized as truth.  The report is divided into five parts: The Issue of Marijuana, It’s Use and Effects, Its Social Impact, The Social Response, and Social Policy.

During the period of the 2 years the Commission had carried out clinical studies across the nation, in metropolitan areas for example Boston, Philadelphia, Bay Area and much more in it’s efforts to obtain the truth behind Marijuana.  They carried out numerous interviews, had 1000’s of surveys as well as examined many different types of Marijuana to attain their goal.  One conclusion attracted, “The emotions and condition of awareness referred to through the intoxicated appear to become much more interesting compared to objective condition noted by an observer.”  In plain words, the researchers carrying out the experiments had much less fun performing them compared to people taking part in stated experiments.  I believe we are able to all agree with that time.

Much more entered the research than asking people about use and watching intoxication.  They have to know why people switched to Marijuana to begin with.  What social factors brought people into Mary Jane’s hands?  For individuals individuals who did not know, after Cannabis was criminalized and banned in 1937 its use dropped considerably.  It wasn’t before the 1960’s it all of a sudden reemerged like a cultural pressure and it is use was common.  It had been then broadly adopted by America’s youth included in the counterculture.  As the Baby Seniors were busy protesting and becoming high, the relaxation of the nation was very scared of pot’s rebirth and just what it intended for society.  The thing is, “the drug was assumed to become a “narcotic,” to render the consumer psychologically dependent, to impress violent crime, and also to cause madness.”  You will find lots who still believe that it is a gateway drug which permitting its ongoing use would undermine the nation.  Therefore the males behind the report requested important questions like, “Who uses marijuana?” and “When does use start?” “How lengthy do people still smoke marijuana?” “So why do they begin,Inch and “So why do they stop?”  They recognized it needed to be divided for an individual level.  For too lengthy Marijuana had only been talked about in simplification. Which kind of discussion goes nowhere.

Certain conclusions were arrived at, one being that almost all cannabis customers are functional, upstanding people of society.  Many customers can start smoking in an effort to defy authority (ex: teens rebelling against their parents, university students protesting against illegal laws and regulations).  But, they aren’t anarchic delinquents trying to bring lower things as they are.  They’re only crooks since the laws and regulations in position make sure they are so.  To be able to rank the possibility of marijuana, they needed to compare it with other legal and illegal drugs. Apart from not leading to physical dependency, they observed, “A careful search from the literature and testimony from the nation’s health authorities hasn’t revealed just one human fatality within the u . s . states shown to have resulted exclusively in the ingestion of marijuana. Experiments using the drug in apes shown the dose needed for overdose dying was enormous as well as for all logical reasons impossible by humans smoking marijuana. This really is in marked contrast with other substances in keeping use, most particularly alcohol and barbiturate sleep aids.Inch  So, it will not kill you, it will not cause you to kill others.  It does not produce the physical dependency that’s observed in cocaine and alcohol which in turn causes individuals to commit crimes to ensure that they might obtain more drugs.

After causeing this to be report, the Nixon administration quickly overlooked it.  Nixon told Shafer, “What we are likely to do will make your commission just look bad as hell.” And consequently, today we’re still facing exactly the same problems that impeded progress within the Seventies.  Today we’ve a lot more studies to attract upon that demonstrate the numerous benefits of legalizing medicinal marijuana but we’re in an impasse.  This report is going to be 40 years old in a couple of several weeks.  The Fight against Drugs turns forty this season.  Yet a vocal most of people still think that Cannabis is much more destructive than alcohol and tobacco, which it warrants to stay illegal.  Take the time to check out the data for alcohol-related and tobacco-related deaths and you choose which is much more harmful to society.

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