Dopey public relations
by David Benzion · 01/31/2008 10:55 amBigJolly’s post below reminded me that I meant to blog about the following CBS Evening News report concerning the debut of a medical-marijuana vending machine in California.
I’m pretty laissez-faire on the whole subject of marijuana.
As for its supposed medicinal benefits, I’m not particular prone to trusting the government or pharmaceutical companies to tell me what works or doesn’t, and don’t see the problem in letting someone wracked with cancer of AIDS decide for their own damn self if they want to smoke a joint or not.
(For that matter, since I’m not a real big fan of casual intoxication in any respect, I fail to get too excited if an adult wants to “responsibly” make pot their intoxicant of choice as opposed to alcohol. Both are stupid ways to spend your time, and I don’t see how one is a greater danger to society than the other.)
So let me be clear– in principle, I don’t particularly care if a store in California is selling pot to people with a prescription through a vending machine.
That said, if medical marijuana (or “decriminalized,” or even fully “legalized” pot) is a particular hobby-horse issue of yours, allow me to offer the following public relations tips.
First– Don’t hang a poster of Tupac Shakur on the wall of your store.
Second– A banner behind your counter that (I’m pretty sure) reads “Different Tokes for Different Folks” is also unlikely to persuade your fellow Americans living in places like Iowa and Texas to take an honest look on its merits at the cause that you champion.
I’m just saying…
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Not to mention the medically trained staff with the cap on backwards. This definitely screams “medical facility” to me. I’m guessing they don’t have black lights and Bob Marley playing at dialysis centers.
NPR did a story on this same thing last night, and they talked to a customer who had been prescibed marijuana for ANGER MANAGEMENT. And it apparently works, because he was all, “Hey, man, I used to be like really angry at people, but now I’m just really happy and people don’t bother me.”
Good point raiderdav, although people probably wouldn’t complain so much about going in for dialysis if there were served better “brownies” upon arrival.
The Doctor will see you now.
Peter Tosh is going to replace Wilford Brimley.
My problem with the argument for medical marijuana is that THC, the active agent in marijuana, is already available in pill and injection form. There’s really no need to allow people to smoke it; the whole issue is just a trojan horse for general legalization.
I also think marijuana is considerably worse than alcohol. Alcohol flushes out of your system fairly quickly; marijuana builds up an lingers, and so do its effects. Consequently, stoners tend to be pretty easy to spot. Also, marijuana tends to be worse for mental health, causing anxiety disorders and even schizophrenia in persons predisposed.
That doesn’t mean marijuana rises over the threshold to where it merits criminalization, but it’s defintely not as innocuous as the legalization crowd would have us believe.
What? Doesn’t everyone’s pharmacy look like that above?
Owen nails it. Synthetic THC is available as a prescription in the U.S. The whole concept of “medical marijuana” is a tactic to mainstream the drug, and make it acceptable, with the eventual goal of total legalization.
Medical MJ = “Smart” Government
Having been a child of the 60’s I can safely say I never got a DUI from Marijuana. I left it behind but I feel it isn’t near the problem people think it is.
If Uncle Sam could figure out a way to control it, tax it, and reap the benefits of the $$$ they would legalize it.
It’s that forbidden fruit thing don’t ya know. Why didn’t you know that George Washington grew hemp? Y’all are suppressin muh freedoms.
Go Ron Paul 2525
Matt/Owen,
I’ve got no dog in this hunt, i.e., I really don’t care about the issue. I’m probably more for legalizing it than I am for maintaining the status quo but that is merely an economic argument for me.
What I have seen, time and again, in holding the hands of the terminally ill as they suffer, is that the clinical version of THC does not relieve their pain while a joint will. That’s just an observation over quite a number of years, dealing with probably a dozen and a half or so people.
No idea why but it is what I have observed.
Ya’ll are just a bunch of buzzkills!
HA
Ok if we have vending machines for purchasing weed, we need snack machines too. Personally, I would like a boutique of papers,pipes, and other things to make the action more fun. I want the snack concession.lol
I saw this on the news and my first thought was, only in the land of valley girls and fruitcakes, which I should know my Ex lives out there. :-J
#14
AW
Yep those munchies will make them spend all their money. I am ordering my vending machine as we speak.
Yeah a snack machine. Some Funyuns and a Mr Pibb, man.
#17
ROFL that was good.
WARNING: NOT FOR WEAK STOMACHS
Here is the picture they should have posted on 2 Pac and his life of crime and drugs:
NO NO NO NO
The Management
Okay David. Sorry.