2edgy4me
From the Pot Blotter
Medical marijuana has seen some fierce opposition over the years, but few states seem as rabid as Florida lately. Earlier this year, the so-called “Sunshine State” gave medical CBD the go ahead, but for many patients CBD legislation isn’t quite enough. Therefore, Floridians will get to vote this November on Amendment 2, which would make way for broader forms of medical marijuana while also making it easier for patients to get the medicine they so desperately need (and, frankly, deserve.)
But that won’t happen if some folks have their way. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Sheldon Adelson, billionaire gambling mogul and the Republican Party’s biggest donor, pledged $2.5 million to oppose the state’s referendum supporting fully legalized medical marijuana. Somehow it’s OK to gamble, but it’s not OK to use a plant with proven medical properties? Where’s the logic in that?
The state’s largest physician lobby group, the Florida Medical Association has also joined in, saying “the unintended consequences of Amendment 2 are serious and numerous enough for us to believe they constitute a public health risk.” How about risking their jobs when people decide to use cannabis rather than prescription drugs? But I digress.
The “Vote No On 2” initiative is also responsible for some of the most blatant propaganda the drug war has seen in recent times. They are now comparing edible weed to date rape drugs. That’s right. Your weed infused cookies are now comparable to drugs like GHB and Rohypnol. This isn’t just patently absurd, it’s morally irreprehensible slander on par with the Reefer Madness craze.
Now, everyone knows medibles can have a sedative effect, depending on how much is taken, but it’s usually no worse than a little fatigue or a nap. It certainly doesn’t render you completely unconscious or make you completely blackout and forget everything. In fact, edibles, especially the healthy variety, are an incredibly important alternative for many patients who cannot or are uncomfortable with smoking their medication. As an alternative to mainstream painkillers, there couldn’t be a better option than eating a low-fat brownie infused with THC and CBD.
Remember, this propaganda comes from Florida, so the hyperbole isn’t surprising. It is, however, certainly meant to stick those words “date rape” and “marijuana” together in the public’s mind. It’s why throughout history every illicit drug, notably marijuana, has been associated with rape – it makes it that much easier to make illegal.
Ketamine is commonly listed as a date rape drug, and while that may be true that it is used that way, it holds much more promise for medicinal applications, such as treatment for PTSD and extreme depression. The same goes for MDMA, or ‘Ecstasy,’ a drug that is commonly associated with orgies and all night parties, despite being helpful for treating PTSD and anxiety associated with cancer. And of course, don’t forget the lies they were spewing back in the 1930’s (with a bit of added racism) that marijuana was a being used by nonwhite males to seduce white women.
Historically, it’s hard for a drug, even a truly beneficial drug, to overcome labels like “date rape drug.” Despite being far from the truth, those Amendment 2 opponents know exactly what nonsense to spread.
Pot Blotter covers cannabis and medical marijuana news in Arizona and beyond. Read more here.
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