{"id":2358,"date":"2013-12-10T17:46:27","date_gmt":"2013-12-10T17:46:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/?p=21852"},"modified":"2013-12-10T17:46:27","modified_gmt":"2013-12-10T17:46:27","slug":"marijuana-enters-new-age-while-propaganda-remains-stuck-in-last-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/marijuana-enters-new-age-while-propaganda-remains-stuck-in-last-century\/","title":{"rendered":"Marijuana Enters New Age, While Propaganda Remains Stuck in Last Century"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/marijuana-enters-new-age-while-propaganda-remains-stuck-in-last-century\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"183\" height=\"275\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/propaganda.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"propaganda\" title=\"propaganda\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-21853\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/marijuana-enters-new-age-while-propaganda-remains-stuck-in-last-century\/attachment\/propaganda-3\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-21853\" title=\"propaganda\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/propaganda-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Research into marijuana was almost non existent for the 20<sup>th<\/sup> century.\u00a0 In the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century, clinical trials are finally being commissioned, trying to make up for decades of lost research time.\u00a0 Blatant propaganda had previously been a staple for the criminalization crowd, those who wish to see our jails overcrowded with non violent criminals.\u00a0 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The self righteous criminalization crowd now realizes they have to be more covert when trying to mislead.\u00a0 They may troll the internet for vulnerable comment sections on blogs, or share exaggerated or factually incorrect articles on social media.\u00a0 It came as a huge surprise to us to see vintage propaganda prominently featured on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/2013\/12\/03\/4666927\/the-risks-of-marijuana-are-many.html\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Star\u2019s webpage<\/a>.\u00a0 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 \u201cThe risks of marijuana are many\u201d.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4>The article starts with the following:<\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal;\">Imagine the public outrage if a toxic drug was approved without any regulation for \u201crecreational\u201d 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.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>It does not exactly improve from there. The authors go on to cite marijuana as a \u201ctoxic drug\u201d while ignoring obvious comparisons to legal opiates and alcohol\u2019s \u201ctoxic\u201d effect.\u00a0 Even stranger, they try and scare readers regarding a fictional \u201cnightmare health scenario\u201d that other states outside of Kansas and Missouri are experiencing.\u00a0 Driving and marijuana is actually a discussion that needs to occur, but there is conflicting evidence to suggest that it causes more accidents.\u00a0 In fact, in certain states where medical marijuana is legal, DWIs and fatal crashes have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.seattlemet.com\/news-and-profiles\/publicola\/articles\/fatal-car-accidents-decrease-in-states-where-medical-marijuana-is-legal\" target=\"_blank\">actually <\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.seattlemet.com\/news-and-profiles\/publicola\/articles\/fatal-car-accidents-decrease-in-states-where-medical-marijuana-is-legal\" target=\"_blank\">gone down<\/a>.<\/em> The authors also claim there is no medical evidence to support marijuana\u2019s medical efficacy.\u00a0 That is incorrect as even the U.S. government has commissioned studies that highlight marijuana\u2019s wide array of medical uses, including <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/cancertopics\/pdq\/cam\/cannabis\/patient\/page1\/AllPages\/Print\" target=\"_blank\">the potential to fight cancer<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Of course the article also uses the standard condescension, where <a href=\"http:\/\/norml.org\/about\/item\/testimonials\" target=\"_blank\">patient testimonials <\/a>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\u2026 the list goes on.\u00a0 Patients from different walks of life, politically, financially, and ethnically, all have gotten together during times where their health has deteriorated, to fake marijuana\u2019s benefits.\u00a0 At least this is what the article in the Kansas City Star implying.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>While (psychiatry resident) and Dragan Svrakic (associate professor) are both part of the <a href=\"http:\/\/medschool.wustl.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\">Washington University School of Medicine<\/a>, they seem to be lagging behind the medical leaders in our country.\u00a0 Even Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN contributor and President Obama\u2019s choice for Surgeon General (Dr. Gupta turned down the offer)<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2013\/08\/08\/health\/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\"> has reversed his opposition to medical marijuana,<\/a> and admitted he was wrong.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We at <a href=\"marijuana.net\" target=\"_blank\">marijuana.net<\/a> noticed an unusual amount of blanket statements and a lack of evidence provided for these outrageous claims.\u00a0 The American public does not seem to be buying the scare tactics of last century as the vast majority (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/interactive\/2013\/05\/01\/fox-news-poll-85-percent-voters-favor-medical-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\">85% according to a Fox News Poll<\/a>) of residents here support medical marijuana.\u00a0 It may be time for Ravikumar Chockalingam and Dragan Svrakic to abandon the propaganda, or at least utilize more subtle and modern techniques.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"183\" height=\"275\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/propaganda.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"propaganda\" title=\"propaganda\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-21853\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/news-and-articles\/marijuana-enters-new-age-while-propaganda-remains-stuck-in-last-century\/attachment\/propaganda-3\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-21853\" title=\"propaganda\" src=\"http:\/\/www.marijuana.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/propaganda-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>Research into marijuana was almost non existent for the 20<sup>th<\/sup> century.\u00a0 In the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century, clinical trials are finally being commissioned, trying to make up for decades of lost research time.\u00a0 Blatant propaganda had previously been a staple for the criminalization crowd, those who wish to see our jails overcrowded with non violent criminals.\u00a0 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><strong>The self righteous criminalization crowd now realizes they have to be more covert when trying to mislead.\u00a0 They may troll the internet for vulnerable comment sections on blogs, or share exaggerated or factually incorrect articles on social media.\u00a0 It came as a huge surprise to us to see vintage propaganda prominently featured on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/2013\/12\/03\/4666927\/the-risks-of-marijuana-are-many.html\" target=\"_blank\">Kansas City Star\u2019s webpage<\/a>.\u00a0 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 \u201cThe risks of marijuana are many\u201d.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4>The article starts with the following:<\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal;\">Imagine the public outrage if a toxic drug was approved without any regulation for \u201crecreational\u201d 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.<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>It does not exactly improve from there. The authors go on to cite marijuana as a \u201ctoxic drug\u201d while ignoring obvious comparisons to legal opiates and alcohol\u2019s \u201ctoxic\u201d effect.\u00a0 Even stranger, they try and scare readers regarding a fictional \u201cnightmare health scenario\u201d that other states outside of Kansas and Missouri are experiencing.\u00a0 Driving and marijuana is actually a discussion that needs to occur, but there is conflicting evidence to suggest that it causes more accidents.\u00a0 In fact, in certain states where medical marijuana is legal, DWIs and fatal crashes have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.seattlemet.com\/news-and-profiles\/publicola\/articles\/fatal-car-accidents-decrease-in-states-where-medical-marijuana-is-legal\" target=\"_blank\">actually <\/a><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.seattlemet.com\/news-and-profiles\/publicola\/articles\/fatal-car-accidents-decrease-in-states-where-medical-marijuana-is-legal\" target=\"_blank\">gone down<\/a>.<\/em> The authors also claim there is no medical evidence to support marijuana\u2019s medical efficacy.\u00a0 That is incorrect as even the U.S. government has commissioned studies that highlight marijuana\u2019s wide array of medical uses, including <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/cancertopics\/pdq\/cam\/cannabis\/patient\/page1\/AllPages\/Print\" target=\"_blank\">the potential to fight cancer<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Of course the article also uses the standard condescension, where <a href=\"http:\/\/norml.org\/about\/item\/testimonials\" target=\"_blank\">patient testimonials <\/a>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\u2026 the list goes on.\u00a0 Patients from different walks of life, politically, financially, and ethnically, all have gotten together during times where their health has deteriorated, to fake marijuana\u2019s benefits.\u00a0 At least this is what the article in the Kansas City Star implying.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>While (psychiatry resident) and Dragan Svrakic (associate professor) are both part of the <a href=\"http:\/\/medschool.wustl.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\">Washington University School of Medicine<\/a>, they seem to be lagging behind the medical leaders in our country.\u00a0 Even Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN contributor and President Obama\u2019s choice for Surgeon General (Dr. Gupta turned down the offer)<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2013\/08\/08\/health\/gupta-changed-mind-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\"> has reversed his opposition to medical marijuana,<\/a> and admitted he was wrong.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We at <a href=\"marijuana.net\" target=\"_blank\">marijuana.net<\/a> noticed an unusual amount of blanket statements and a lack of evidence provided for these outrageous claims.\u00a0 The American public does not seem to be buying the scare tactics of last century as the vast majority (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/interactive\/2013\/05\/01\/fox-news-poll-85-percent-voters-favor-medical-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\">85% according to a Fox News Poll<\/a>) of residents here support medical marijuana.\u00a0 It may be time for Ravikumar Chockalingam and Dragan Svrakic to abandon the propaganda, or at least utilize more subtle and modern techniques.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[52,596,2048,2246,65,2247,56,9,583,51,70,281,59,107,2248,1,3,2249,61],"tags":[2632,3169,4616,4813,2644,4814,2636,3156,2631,5,2859,2639,2685,4815,4816,6],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}