AlkireGuardado650
The war being waged for marijuana's legal acceptance in America includes a new battleground these days. Media has decidedly been the tool of prohibitionist because the very earliest times of "The War On Drugs". Who are able to forget Nancy Reagan's unforgettable "Just Say No" campaign of the Reagan era. "This is your brain, here's your brain on drugs" saw the 1990's Clinton administration frying eggs for that desired effect of scaring children straight. In the 21st century, you're "Above the Influence" and asked to not stick to the crowd. What message is mass media sending to the adults of Twenty-first century, the very generations these messages of the past were aimed at?
What do Time Magazine, The country Magazine, The la Times, The brand new York Times and MSNBC all have in keeping? All these pillars of information distribution have dedicated time and space to the issue of legal marijuana in California and other areas of the nation. This news pieces under consideration aren't in Nancy Reagan's words or perspective, however. The main difference in opinion is really as vast as possible since mass media has determined that a legitimate argument can be made for the abolishment of marijuana prohibition as well as for legalization of cannabis.
The country Magazine's December 27th 2010 edition cover features the caption "D.A.R.E. to finish the War on Drugs". While using logo of Substance abuse Resistance Education to accent the point, D.A.R.E. is self described as "giving kids the abilities they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence." The content "Altered State: California's Pot Economy" by Sasha Abramsky, analyzes the way forward for distribution and packaging of legal cannabis in California. The outcome that's possible on tourism for that Golden State later on if recreational marijuana is legalized is discussed in addition to analyses on why Proposition 19 failed and what needs to happen for future referendums to pass.
The New York Times on November 13th 2010 published articles entitled "Backers of Legal Marijuana Find Silver Lining in Defeat of California Measure" that entered great detail on which the problems were that led to the defeat of Proposition 19 on November 2nd. A conflict of ideology amongst the generations and the lack of the predicted large come out of younger voters were the primary issues related to the defeat from the proposition. Based on the NY Times, the main reasons Prop 19 didn't pass were the measure would be a "jumbled, legal nightmare" and questioned estimates from the potential tax revenue that legalization will bring in. The days also acknowledged the Proposition didn't do well in La (47%) or using the older voters, especially that of older Latinos, a heavy voting block in Los angeles.
The la Times, in an article published on December 16, 2010 and entitled "One Toke Over The Line", takes on Federal government policy for legal marijuana especially R. Gil Kerlikowske, the Obama administration's drug czar. Mr Kerlikowske, in reaction to an annual survery that determined that teen marijuana consumption is rising among eighth through 12th-graders, was quoted as saying "Mixed messages about drug legalization, particularly marijuana, may be to blame. Such messages certainly don't help parents who're attempting to prevent kids by using drugs."
The Los Angeles Times editorial continued to argue Kerlikowske's point by citing another survey through the Congressional Research Service whose April 2010 findings examined studies comparing teen pot smoking in states with and without medicinal marijuana laws. No connection between such laws and drug abuse was discovered. "Concerns that medical cannabis laws send the incorrect message to vulnerable groups such as adolescents appear to be unfounded," it stated.
Time Magazine jumped in to the fray with its November 22nd 2010 cover story entitled "The Usa of Amerijuana" including a huge burning joint around the cover from the magazine and the caption "Legalization went up in smoke, but 'medicinal pot' has gone mainstream". The 10 page article, filled with pictures, covers issues for example culinary arts in cannabis and how vernacular in the industry is different from 'smoking pot' to 'medicate', 'dealers' are now 'caregivers' and also the buyers in need are "patients" and not "users". The content goes on to compare marijuana like a hot commodity in some areas of the nation different color leaves as wine, chocolates and artisanal cheese.
Finally, even MSNBC, among the largest cable news outlets in the world, broadcast an hour long documentary on December 8, 2010 entitled "Marijuana USA". The information covered from a few in Colorado who actively promote legal marijuana as their business to some company that labels, brands and distributes seeds for registered growers to plant like a natural herbal fix for what ails you. The documentary goes into detail on how marijuana, in the states where it is legal for medical use, is being regulated, licensed and taxed, as with every other legitimate product.
The prohibition of marijuana in the usa took a firm hold within the 1930's. Richard Nixon declared the Fight against Drugs in 1971 and Ronald Reagan reinforced those efforts within the 1980s. There were times when the only real public advocates for legal marijuana seemed to be comedians for example George Carlin or Cheech and Chong which hardly gave legitimacy to the cause and weren't any match for that United States government's campaign against cannabis.
