[Vision2020] Discussing Marijuana via Social Media (Darrell Keim)

[Tom Hansen]

Mr. Keim's cited article ranks right up there with . . .

"Reefer Madness" (1938)

Considered THE archetypal sensationalized anti-drug movie, but it's really an exploitation film made to capitalize on the hot taboo subject of marijuana use. Like many exploitation films of the time, "Reefer Madness" tried to make a quick buck off of a forbidden subject while skirting the Motion Picture Production Code of 1930. The Code forbade the portrayal of immoral acts like drug use. (The illegal drug traffic must not be portrayed in such a way as to stimulate curiosity concerning the use of, or traffic in, such drugs; nor shall scenes be approved which show the use of illegal drugs, or their effects, in detail.) 

The film toured around the country for many years - often being re-edited and re-titled ("Tell Your Children", "Dope Addict", "Doped Youth", "Love Madness", "The Burning Question"). It was re-discovered in the early 1970s by NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and screened again as an example of the government's demonization of marijuana. NORML may have been confused about the film's sponsorship since one of the film's distributors, Dwain Esper, testified to the Arizona Supreme Court that "Reefer Madness" was not a trashy exploitation film but was actually sponsored by the U.S. Government - a convincing lie, but a lie nonetheless. 

That being said, the film is still quick enjoyable since it dramatizes the "violent narcotic's ... soul destroying" effects on unwary teens, and their hedonistic exploits enroute to the bottom.

-------------------------

But, why take their word for it? 

View, or download and view, Reefer Madness at:



http://archive.org/details/reefer_madness1938

Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still 
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
 


On Sep 4, 2013, at 9:25 AM, Lynn McCollough <lmccollough at gmail.com> wrote:

> Darrell,
> 
> I did not think the article was about substance abuse or the war on drugs at all. As I read it, I thought the article was about the comments that can be left after a posting on social media. The article did not cover how “the pro legalization side react to research” as you attest, it was about dumb comments. The article’s sum up sentence seems to be:  “ Parents need to educate their youngsters so that they know how biased and full of untruths such comment from drug users can be.”
> 
> Thus I found it to be a rather useless article. Has anyone ever told their family members anonymous commenters are what one should read to understand an issue?
> 
> Has anyone here read for instance comments left on YouTube? They are apparently typically misogynistic rantings from teenagers who feel powerful when they post words from their potty mouths, at least imho. The comments are not from music critics, educated seminar attendees or whoever might pertain to the posted video.
> 
> Your article discusses people who go by “WowFolksAreDumb”, JDSalinger, FlyingTooLow, BlowsAgainstTheEmpire, etc. possibly did not post appropriate facts to the topic.
> 
>  Who on earth expected them to?
> 
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