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Entertainment Portrayal Of Marijuana Raising Some Eyebrows, Rolling Some Eyes
Greg Piper | The Moderate Voice | 08/02/2005

Hollywood's use of marijuana in plot lines seems to be increasing, used regularly in several shows on basic and premium cable, and less so on Fox. There's a groundswell of opposition from middle America on this issue...er, kinda:

Hollywood's embellishment of marijuana use is "irresponsible," says Tom Riley of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Shows that tacitly approve of pot-smoking, particularly comedies, may exacerbate its use, says Steve Dnistrian of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. "These are trendsetting shows. They affect behavior and attitudes, particularly teens. When glamorization of drugs has climbed, changes in teen attitudes followed."

I'm trying to think of more than an hour of continuous TV I've seen that didn't contain at least one anti-drug ad. These very well-funded, government-approved groups aren't hurting for lack of visibility. I think the shows' producers and actors make a good argument:

But actor Jerry Ferrara, Entourage's pot-loving Turtle, says it's the drug of choice among twentysomethings. "The show doesn't condone it, but there's definitely a lot of accuracy in how it's used," he says.

Over There co-creator and executive producer Chris Gerolmo says the show's depiction of pot use is not an endorsement. Still, Gerolmo says "drug use is certainly part of life in the Army."

Weeds creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan says the series won't advocate drug use and doubts it will influence marijuana consumption. "We're presenting this as something that's everywhere and cuts across political, ethnic and religious lines."

Critics are also missing a salient factor: All but one or two of these shows are not broadcast, restricted to those paying $35-100 a month for the privilege of watching violence, sex and coarse language, sometimes with their kids. Part of their appeal is surely that it reminds both parents and kids of their real lives. A very traditional but "hip" mother of a friend told me once she didn't want to see reality in entertainment, preferring the make-believe world of cartoons with her kids. Fine with me. But feds, please don't assume we're all like her.

Oh, and how clueless do you have to be to call Bob Saget "squeaky clean," as some copy editor captioned the story pic? If you've ever heard his stand-up or appearances on talk shows - basically, anything not "Full House" and "America's Funniest Home Videos" - you'd know he's the "filthiest comic in America," as Penn Jillette of "Penn & Teller" fame told NPR in an interview on the new stand-up documentary "The Aristocrats."

(By the way, my blog isn't called "The Smoking Room" because I puff the wacky, or any other kind of, tobaccy. Frankly I can't stand the smell of pot, which is overpowering at concerts I attend.)

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Cassius

Someone needs to explain to Steve the difference between correlational and causal relationships.

I think Johnny Depp said it best in Blow:

I say, more power to 'em!

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{ Cassius, Your Humble Narrator }
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SkyTripper

Just goes to show.....that despite what some people may think or not wish to be reminded.......MARIJUANA USE IS MAINSTREAM IN AMERICA!!

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SkyTripper

nacrypt

Yes marijuana is mainstream, atleast among the people of Generation-X. Just about all the smart people from my high school graduating class of 2000 have ended up smoking down with me at some point. Not to mention the hundreds of new people I've toked with at my local college. I love to see it on TV. Just think of the examples: American Beauty, That 70s Show, Dave Chapelle, etc...

SkyTripper

Marijuana truly went "mainstream" in America a very long time ago.
By the mid 70s this entire nation was very much a stoned one.
The "Baby Boomers" were at the forefront of marijuana use and NO other generation since them has had even close to the vast amount of people in that age group.
So....despite what you may believe, there are a huge number of people in America today who are well into their 50s, 60s and even their 70s who have smoked a lot of weed. Many still do but now feel that the futility of fighting for legalization has probably become pointless....or at least not nearly as important to them as it may have been years ago.
This is why I am sure there are a lot of people out there who really don't have an issue with marijuana or its legalization anymore.
They either no longer use it anymore....or they do but feel they have way to much to lose if they come out of the closet with it at their age or potentially jeopardizing their social status and job security if they did.
MANY people along the way just gave up in the fight for the justice that is needed in giving weed legitimacy and the credibility it truly deserves.
As long as its still available to them.....they just don't care whether it ever becomes legal or not.....OR...they gave it up a long time ago and don't care either....but fewer still....NEVER touched it in the first place.....Those people probably ARE in the minority or are very old by now....or dead already.

 

Basically Baked

I recently visited two of my uncles in toronto. One of them is a successful architect and the other works in the trades. When i was talking to them, they both mentioned that they believed marijuana should be legalized even though neither of them smoked it.

One concern mentioned was that there needed to be a reliable system to detect stoned drivers. In Canada a majority probably do favor at least some kind of legalization, too bad this wont happen till the States come round.

Mamabudz

Basically Baked:

Don't sell Canada short. Despite what the naysaying naybobs of negativity may say -- Canada does NOT automatically kow tow to its neighbor to the South. But it is a very deliberate population that will decide in its own time and its own way and they aren't swayed by silly stunts and clown trickery. Keep on keeping on with the rest of your crowd getting the real facts out about cannabis, it's use, it's safety for recreational purposes when compared to alcohol and tobacco, and learn everything you can.

Stay cool, stay smart, stay focused ---

...and have a cookie

Mama Budz

Hypchronic

Embellishment? Hah! If the suits in the White House only knew...


I'm also a big fan of Entourage and it silently warms my heart to see the main characters passing around a bong in almost every episode. Embellishment? REALITY.

SacredJellybean

That's funny, I always thought the ONDCP and DEAs' embellishment of marijuana abuse was irresponsible.

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"Every age has its peculiar folly and if Charles Mackay, the author of the 19th century classic, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds were alive today he would surely see 'cannabinophobia' as a popular delusion along with the 'tulipmania' and 'witch hunts' of earlier ages. ... I also believe that future historians will look at this epoch and recognize it as another instance of the 'madness of crowds.'"
~Dr. Lester Grinspoon