MARIJUANA INDUSTRY BATTLING STONER STEREOTYPES
DENVER (AP) — Tired of Cheech & Chong pot jokes and ominous anti-drug campaigns, the marijuana industry and activists are starting an ad blitz in Colorado aimed at promoting moderation and the safe consumption of pot.
To get their message across, they are skewering some of the old Drug War-era ads that focused on the fears of marijuana, including the famous “This is your brain on drugs” fried-egg ad from the 1980s.
They are planning posters, brochures, billboards and magazine ads to caution consumers to use the drug responsibly and warn tourists and first-timers about the potential to get sick from accidentally eating too much medical-grade pot.
Folks, in my day I pretty much smoked up Mexico and parts of Hawaii, so I do know of what I speak. And I was a Stoner. No ifs, ands, or buts. I smoked reefer; I was a Stoner. And damn proud of it.
And, ya know what? I listened to music, stoned. I drove my car, stoned. I went to concerts and ballgames, stoned. That was my intention. I smoked dope so I could do those things. I’m not sure I or my friends ever reached the Cheech & Chong stage but we came close, and face it, that was all exaggerated for effect anyway.
Call me a pollyanna, but Ima thinkin’ this whole “change the image of the stoner” thing is doomed from the start… by the way, have you seen that bag of Cheetos anywhere?
What were we talking about?