Tag: Media
Is smoking marijuana safe? Why we can’t let Big Weed bury the risks the way Big Tobacco did
2/13/19--Millions of Americans died from smoking-related illnesses before legal and political pressure forced the industry to admit the truth. Now, the risk of history repeating itself, with a different drug and a new generation of conflicts of interest — but, sadly, some of the same companies. According to Alex Berenson, author of "Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence," marijuana is another addictive smoked product, and even as its use rises, we are still trying to figure out exactly how dangerous it might be and how to discourage its use. Read Does marijuana use really cause psychotic disorders?
1/20/19--Scientists with a combined 70-plus years of drug education and research on psychoactive substances believe author Alex Berenson’s assertions in his new book about marijuana causing psychotic disorders leading to violent crimes are misinformed and reckless. According to Carl L. Hart, chairman and Ziff professor of psychology and psychiatry at Columbia University, evidence from research indicates that aggression and violence are highly unlikely outcomes of marijuana use. Read Alex Berenson: Pot is not a cure-all medicine – I told the truth and the backlash has been incredible
1/18/19--Alex Berenson, author of 'Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence,' is taking on his critics and responding to the widespread negative feedback about his book. According to Berenson, marijuana advocates appear unwilling to accept anything less than full national legalization of marijuana – even if they must downplay or hide the drug's very real mental health risks, and overstate its potential medical benefits, to do so. Read Does marijuana use cause schizophrenia?
1/22/19--Currently, there is not enough evidence to support whether or not heavy use of marijuana causes schizophrenia or other syndromes. Even top scientists who specialize in marijuana research are divided, drawing opposite conclusions from the same data. The debate centers on the distinction between correlation and causation. People with psychotic problems often use marijuana regularly; this is a solid correlation, but it is unclear which came first, the marijuana habit or the psychoses. Read Madam Secretary pushes dangerous narrative on CBS
1/10/19--Sandra S. Bennett and William M. Bennett, MD, viewers of the CBS program "Madam Secretary" were stunned and dismayed when the show promoted the use and legalization of marijuana. According to the Bennett's, the alleged “facts” as presented in the program were misleading and/or incorrect. They are urging the network to change the next episode and all future episodes of Madam Secretary to remove any references suggesting that the use of marijuana or marijuana products, not approved by the FDA, are safe or beneficial. Read Film festival aims to reduce marijuana stigma as New York moves closer to legalization
1/13/19--When the first NYC Cannabis Film Festival was held in 2015, organizers hoped to minimize the stigma surrounding marijuana use in the public's perception. Now, with recreational pot already legal in 10 states, this year's festival could be the last before New York becomes the latest state to lift its prohibition on the drug. The films appearing at the NYC Cannabis Film Festival are intended to depict a non-stereotypical view of marijuana culture, with some tackling other topics altogether. Read High Times has some glossy new competition
1/9/19--Marijuana culture is being reframed, in part as a result of independently run magazines with modest press runs but impressive coffee-table presence. They are helping the archetype of stereotypical marijuana smokers evolve into cultured, luxury-designer-wearing members of the creative class. Publishers see an exciting opportunity in a marketplace that could reach $23.4 billion in consumer spending and employ a half-million Americans by 2023, according to the cannabis data firm BDS Analytics. Read
Marijuana education or illegal drug-selling? Instagram’s not sure.
12/7/18--The federal prohibition on buying and selling marijuana puts radio and television ads out of reach, which is why sellers rely on social media to boost their brand. But Facebook and Instagram don't allow the promotion of marijuana sales regardless of state or country. However, Instagram and Facebook do allow marijuana advocacy and education, which leaves room for sellers to communicate with customers. This effort has led to frustration for many. Read
The Boston Globe creates a new section dedicated to marijuana coverage
11/19/18--The Boston Globe launched a new section of Globe.com dedicated to covering the politics, business, use, and impact of marijuana in the Northeast with a primary focus on the New England states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The Globe will bring the resources of New England’s largest newsroom to cover the cultural, business, and legal aspects of marijuanas, and facilitate conversations across the Northeast. Read Content, exposure, and effects of public discourses about marijuana
11/5/18--This review presents a comprehensive picture of research studies about marijuana-related content in news, social media, and advertisements. Studies that examined the extent of people’s exposure to the messages and its effects were also included. Read Scientific quality of health-related articles in specialty marijuana and general newspapers in San Francisco
10/25/18--Recreational marijuana is being legalized in states across the USA, and the public relies on popular media for health information about the drug. An assessment was performed on the accuracy of reporting on health effects of marijuana use in GreenState, a specialty publication on marijuana published by the San Francisco Chronicle and the main newspaper using the Index of Scientific Quality for Health Related News Reports. Seventeen GreenState articles and four San Francisco Chronicle articles were identified for analysis. Read Combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana products in hip-hop music videos
10/15/18--Combustible and electronic tobacco and marijuana use frequently occurred in popular hip-hop music videos from 2013 to 2017. The genre’s broad appeal, use of branded products by influential artists, and rise of electronic product and marijuana use may contribute to a growing public health concern of tobacco and marijuana use. Read High Times parent hustles to lure cannabis investors; here’s what you need to know
9/13/18--High Times Holding Corp., the parent company of the iconic marijuana culture magazine High Times, is looking to attract a large number of small investors as the publication works to go public, bolster its brand, and shore up a balance sheet mired in debt. Read Here are the most and least marijuana-friendly newspapers
7/9/18--A report, published in the journal Preventative Medicine Reports, examining how the press covers cannabis, also revealed which publications have been the most and least weed-friendly. The percentage of marijuana stories with "positive" tones in ten newspapers include, The Columbus Dispatch: 37.1%; The New York Times: 37; The Seattle Times: 35.8%, The Washington Post: 32.4%; The San Francisco Chronicle: 31.9%; Tulsa World: 28.2%; The Tampa Tribune: 21.5%; The Dallas Morning News: 21.2%; The Wall Street Journal: 17.4%; and The Denver Post: 13.8%. Read Netflix’s Marijuana Show ‘Cooking on High’ Draws Jeers
7/5/18--Netflix has hit a low note with “Cooking on High.” The food series, in which competitors cook marijuana-infused dishes for a pair of judges, has been panned by viewers and critics alike. One Washington Post review slammed ineptitude among the show’s judges. Read Ricki Lake-produced film Weed the People argues for marijuana use as a cancer treatment
3/10/18--As marijuana use continues to become decriminalized across the United States, doctors, researchers and patients are pushing to make it an accepted part of cancer treatments. The new film Weed the People, executive-produced by Ricki Lake, follows families as they discover the benefits of marijuana for their child’s cancer and chemotherapy. Read CNN reporter holds joints, lights bong for pot smoker on live New Year’s Eve broadcast
1/2/18--CNN reporter Randi Kaye, sporting large marijuana leaf styled earrings, lit a bong for a pot smoker during a live report from Denver broadcast on CNN’s New Year’s Eve show Sunday night that was hosted from Times Square by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. Read Meet the CEO building a marijuana business news empire
10/16/17--Cassandra Farrington, CEO and co-founder of a brand new marijuana trade newsletter, Marijuana Business Daily, a.k.a., MJBiz Daily, and its mega trade conference, MJBiz Conference and Expo, which was named to Trade Show Executive’s “Fastest 50″ the last two years. With 843% overall growth across its verticals in 2016, MJBiz Daily won accolades as a top media company by Inc., landing on its Inc 5000 list. Farrington says she never dreamed she would be running a company, let alone one in the marijuana industry. Read Why Hollywood’s marijuana portrayals are out of step with the times
9/15/17--According to a Hollywood Reporter editorial by Andy Williams, co-founder and CEO of Colorado-based retail cannabis chain Medicine Man, much of the entertainment industry still treats legal marijuana as forgettable, as opposed to the most significant drug policy shift of our lifetimes. Williams believes Hollywood writers and directors should be more responsible in their depiction of the legal and regulated cannabis business -- especially since most Americans have never experienced this industry first-hand. Therefore, inaccurate televised depictions only enforces the negative stereotypes that have already been moved beyond in post-prohibition markets. Read Netflix partners with dispensary to create marijuana strain collection
8/26/17--Netflix has partnered with a dispensary in California to create marijuana strains based on 10 of its original series, including “Orange is the New Black” and “Arrested Development.” According to a press release, each strain was cultivated with the specific shows in mind, designed to complement each title based on their tone. Read New ‘Potcast’ to dive into how marijuana legalization is changing America
7/25/17--In a new podcast called the "Potcast," a group of journalists will look at how Americans' lives and their communities are being affected by cannabis legalization. The podcast is set to debut in fall 2017 and is hosted and produced by Jenny Kane and Brian Duggan. Based out of Reno, Nev., the Potcast will tell the stories of dealers, doctors, pastors, and grandmothers as they all come to terms with how legal ganja is changing American culture, for better or worse. Read
Americans don’t like the media, but they’re cool with reporters getting high
6/22/17--Drug testing is fairly common for media positions. Yet, drug tests in media strike many observers as odd, given that reporters typically don't do the things traditionally associated with workplace drug testing, like operating heavy machinery or driving buses full of schoolchildren. According to a national survey administered by SurveyUSA, half of Americans said that journalists should be able to use marijuana where it's legal to do so. Thirty-five percent, on the other hand, said newspapers should “punish” journalists who use pot. Read High Times is sold to group that includes son of Bob Marley
6/1/17--High Times has been acquired by a group of investors that includes Damian Marley, son of the reggae star Bob Marley. The group, led by Adam Levin, the founder of the investment firm Oreva Capital, bought a controlling interest at a price that values the magazine at $70 million. Read Vox uses Times Square death as attack on alcohol, turns out driver was on drugs
5/24/17--Soon after an impaired driver killed an 18-year-old-girl in Times Square May 18, Vox writer and pro-marijuana supporter German Lopez wrote a think piece condemning drunken driving and criticizing the media for disproportionately covering terrorism. But, after the story was published, the driver told police he was high on PCP-laced marijuana, not drunk. Lopez’s story was updated to report this fact but Vox has yet to publish a follow-up article highlighting the dangers of driving high. Read The Cannabist honored with journalism awards for health, business coverage
4/24/17--The Cannabist reporter Alicia Wallace, who covers national business and policy matters along with Colorado-based topics, was recognized for her in-depth reporting, including PTSD in Colorado and lawn-and-garden giant Scotts Miracle-Gro expanding into cannabis sector. The Denver Post, which oversees The Cannabist, also picked up a number of awards for topical marijuana coverage. Read Canada, but not Jeff Sessions, moves boldly on marijuana
4/15/17--Although many Americans and Canadians believe marijuana should be legal, the governments of the two countries appear to be moving in very different directions. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who is a staunch opponent of legalization, recently ordered a review of an Obama-era policy under which the federal government agreed not to interfere with state laws on marijuana, as long as the states took steps to regulate its distribution and use. Sessions’s apparent goal is to make Washington the ultimate authority. Read Ganjapreneur podcast host transitions to new show
2/14/17--Shango Los, host of the podcast Ganjapreneur, is recording a new show in his home studio. Although he loved working with Ganjapreneur, after 54 episodes Los decided to start his own podcast called Shaping Fire. The new show focuses on cannabis innovation and disruption, something Los has been particularly passionate about and has followed since the early days of Washington’s legal recreational market. Read Big Pot: The commercial takeover of marijuana
11/6/16--CBS News set out to travel to five states and Canada to interview people on all sides of the issues -- from consumers to sellers, lobbyists to elected representatives to address questions about how legal pot should be marketed, sold, and regulated, in addition to what kind of businesses will dominate, how the product will be changed, and above all, how anyone can be sure the dream of legal marijuana won’t turn into a nightmare. Read Cannabist surpasses High Times in unique visitors for first time
10/12/16--The Denver Post’s digital properties in August continued their pattern of month-over-month and year-over-year gains, according to digital analytics firm comScore. The organization attracted 6.739 million unique visitors for the month, up 52.8 percent year-over-year and the third consecutive month of growth. Read Reporter who quit job to focus on marijuana advocacy faces jail time
10/3/16--Former Alaska television reporter Charlo Green, who became a viral sensation in 2014 after quitting her job to advocate for the legal use of marijuana, faces 14 offenses and 54 years in prison for allegedly running an illegal marijuana shop. Read Former Daily News gossip columnist launches all-marijuana website
9/27/16--Former Philadelphia Daily News gossip columnist Dan Gross launched ElevatedNation.com, the first website to focus on the region’s nascent marijuana industry. Read Why legalizing marijuana could solve some of America’s problems
9/8/16--According to an Alternet article, both the Republican and Democrat parties have recognized the value of cannabis, at least medically. However, there is bigger picture. Legalizing cannabis could be the solution to America’s social, economic and even some foreign problems. Read High Times makes major move into marijuana media, signs with UTA
8/24/16--High Times, the print and digital magazine that has been covering cannabis for more than 40 years, recently signed an agreement with United Talent Agency. The partnership is a first for both High Times and UTA. Never has a major Hollywood talent agency teamed up with a business in the cannabis industry. Read