There’s an old saying in journalism: “If it bleeds, it leads.” The idea is that sensational stories typically grab the reader’s attention above all else. Looking at how the mainstream media is portraying marijuana, it’s clear that drama and fake news are getting top billing.
Major news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post seemingly love to talk about how poorly the cannabis space is doing while simultaneously fanning the flames of reefer madness 2.0. “Cannabis-induced psychosis” and stories of middle school students sickened by weed gummies are everywhere. However, the media leaves out tons of crucial information that could give folks a more balanced perspective.
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One-sided narratives prevalent in media portrayal of marijuana
Earlier this week, a Newsweek headline caught my eye: America’s Marijuana Legalization Experiment Is Going Up in Smoke. Curious about what this popular publication had to say, I decided to click.
The TLDR: the “promises” of cannabis reform were a sham, states that have legalized are questioning their decisions, and Americans are no safer with legal pot than they were under prohibition.
The article’s author argues that many states have failed to curb the illicit market. And in many cases, they aren’t wrong. But there are reasons why regulated cannabis is having a hard time competing: over-taxation, over-regulation, and lack of consumer access. States are simply not setting cannabis up for success.
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In New York, a painstakingly slow rollout led to a proliferation of unlicensed cannabis stores that authorities are still trying to combat. Once dispensaries started to open, sticker shock forced many consumers back to the grey market—not to mention that legal stores were few and far between (and many illicit shops are dupes for the real thing). But the price of weed is not the brand’s fault: the cost of doing legal business is simply prohibitive. From compliance to aggressive tax rates, legal cannabis can’t compete.
The article also mentioned a recent survey showing an issue with illicit cannabis in California. What was left out was the fact that many of the state’s residents live in communities that have banned retail, leaving them with no other choice but to buy illegally. The Golden State has also struggled to support its legal cannabis operators, dooming them to fail with exorbitant taxes before they could get off the ground.
Scare tactics are sexier than success stories
The topic of potency is another that is frequently called into question by the mainstream media, including the Newsweek piece. Anti-cannabis advocates are claiming modern marijuana is far too strong, leading to mental health problems and psychotic breaks. While there has been some noted correlation for those who are predisposed to conditions like schizophrenia, the science is shaky at best.
Why the scare tactics? What about all of the people finding relief from a litany of health issues thanks to cannabis? There are thousands, if not millions, of medical marijuana patients around the world, all of whom use it because they experience a better quality of life. From cancer to epilepsy, autism to chronic pain, glaucoma to AIDS, the list of conditions research indicates medical marijuana can ease grows all the time.
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Think about it like this: when a plane crashes, it dominates the headlines. No one talks about the thousands of flights that make it safely to their destination every day. An aviation disaster is rare but fascinating. The same could easily be said about the small minority of people who suffer adverse effects from cannabis.
And don’t even get me started on the consequences of America’s favorite legal intoxicant: alcohol.
The final straw
If all this wasn’t enough, the Newsweek piece had another section that really sent me: More Students Getting High. The author referenced a 2023 article from the New York Times, suggesting more high school kids in New York City are showing up to class stoned. Interestingly enough, they failed to mention a 2024 piece from the same publication indicating cannabis use among minors is actually tumbling in states with legal pot.
In fact, several studies have shown a correlation between cannabis reform and a decrease in adolescent consumption. The misinformation put forth in Newsweek is concerning, given all of the data—where were the fact-checkers for this story?
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It’s almost as if the mainstream media has a bias against cannabis. Gee, what a revelation. Why that seems to be fails to make sense, given that the plant offers many benefits (and business opportunities re: ad dollars).
I’m not saying journalists should ignore any potential risks associated with cannabis—they certainly exist. But fear-mongering and misinformation are how the plant became illegal in the first place. Let’s at least give people all the facts and let them decide for themselves.
