Opinion - By Monte Styles: Celebrities Continue to "Popularize" Drug Abuse, Especially Marijuana and in Miley Cyrus Case "Molly" as in Ecstasy

Monte Styles
Motivational Speaker, Trainer, Educator
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney

It seems that a new celebrity joins the "Pot is Fun" campaign on a daily basis. This is contributing greatly to the fiction that marijuana is harmless and therefore should be legalized. If you are unaware of this phenomenon, simply look at the current media frenzy over Miley Cyrus' revelations about her own drug use and her wildly popular and bizarre music video entitled "We Can't Stop" (with numerous drug references and over 36 MILLION views on YouTube). 

Anyone who has watched her transformation from Hannah Montana to a druggie has to be frightened for her and all of the young people who idolize her. Last night, Cyrus discussed her marijuana-based friendship with Snoop Dogg on the Jimmy Kimmel show (a confessed pot smoker himself). "We're more alike than you think . . .  we're very similar," she said, to which Kimmel quipped, "That's because he's so high, he doesn't know what his name is." "Me too, so it’s fine. We both are," she responded, laughing. "That’s why we get along so well, I guess." 

The audience went wild with enthusiasm. 

Last week I had the opportunity to speak at the annual conference of the Association of Idaho Cities on the topic of "The Impacts of Marijuana Legalization" which included a summary of all of the cultural influences inflicted upon our young people by the pot lobbyists and other lovers of weed. 

In a question/answer session at the end, one public official mentioned the success of "shock and awe" messages used in the fight against methamphetamine and tobacco (proving that drug education really works when we do enough of it). I wholeheartedly agreed with this and noted that, in my experience, ADULTS are often overwhelmed when presented with all of the cultural influences surrounding their children. Although each of these can viewed as "relatively harmless" by themselves, the effect is shocking when viewed as a whole. 

My opinion is that the "shock and awe" part of the drug legalization fight is to show people what is actually happening in our culture through books, magazines, fashion, pot products, social media, cultural icons, celebrity endorsements, movies, television (even cartoons), music, websites, games, and blatant advertising by those who stand to make billions off of the pot culture. When adults are shown the real world of their children, they are often motivated to act (meaning fight against legalization through increased prevention and education). 

In the book, The Heart of Change, the author points out that change doesn't occur in society unless there is a sense of urgency. Like the pictures of meth addicts and lung cancer victims, popular culture can be used to identify a sense of urgency in communities that are otherwise prone to apathy on the subject. But they must first be made aware of what is happening.

Several decades ago, our country fought back against the popular culture of the 60s and 70s, and we had success in reducing overall drug use in America until pro-pot billionaires and national pro-drug lobbying organizations began a system-wide destruction of drug education - along with the abrogation of duty by our elected officials. 

Someday, when we come to our senses, the proponents of pot will be vilified like the tobacco industry, but not before we lose additional citizens in a stupefied haze of high THC content marijuana smoke. Until then, let’s do everything we can to wake America up before it is too late.

Monte Stiles is a  Motivational Speaker/Trainer/Educator


Former Assistant U.S. Attorney

Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force 

Coalition for Drug Free California (CDFC) Advisory Board Member Alexandra Datig releases video showing the direct impact marijuana growing has on the environment, public health and public safety.

FOR RELEASE
 CONTACT: media@drugfreecalifornia.org  909.457.4229



Los Angeles, CA - February 27, 2013 Marijuana-Grows Harm the Environment and Public Health

Coalition for Drug Free California (CDFC) Advisory Board Member Alexandra Datig releases video showing the direct impact marijuana growing has on the environment, public health and public safety.

 

Datig states, "California’s central valley is in a state of crisis and Californians must come to understand it is time to repeal Proposition 215.  Criminal networks are trespassing onto our farmlands, stealing water allocated for our nation’s food crops, to illegally grow doctor-recommended medical marijuana plants by the tens of thousands.  Landowners, some aware, some unaware, have illegal cultivators, Mexican cartel members and drug gangs living in squalor, waiting to harvest marijuana on our farm lands.  While using dangerous pesticides contaminating water and the so-called medical marijuana, as well contaminating organic food crops with fungus and THC, the government must take action to immediately remove this threat to our nation’s food supply. According to Lieutenant Ko, of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department, conflicts between drug gangs have brought the body count from three in 2012 to six in 2013."


Alexandra Datig, CDFC Board Member, is also the President of Highroad LA, a business and government relations firm based in California.

www.DrugFreeCalifornia.org


California's largest anti-drug coalition

CBS Denver: Sheriff In California Says Coloradans Will Regret Legalizing Marijuana

MENDOCINO, Calif. (CBS4) – The sheriff of Mendocino, Calif. is warning Colorado about the dangers of legalizing marijuana.

Sheriff Tom Allman says voters in Colorado will regret the decision to legalize marijuana because crime will also increase. Allman says he should know, because for the last 30 years, Mendocino County has been regarded as the marijuana capitol of the U.S.

Scenic Mendocino County is nestled in an area called the Emerald Triangle, three Northern California counties which are considered a safe haven for marijuana growers. But Allman says marijuana has ruined the area’s charm. He says marijuana has led to a spike in violent crime and growers aren’t the only victims.

“Thugs put on masks, they come to your house, they kick in your door. They point guns at you and say, ‘Give me your marijuana, give me your money,’ ” Allman said.

Mendocino County authorities have arrested suspects from 14 foreign countries. Allman says home values soared where drugs could be grown and dropped in surrounding areas.

“Without taking any quantum leaps we’ve said, ‘If you grow marijuana, you’re going to have large amounts of money, greed and violence,’ ” he said.

Marijuana grower Tim Blake says the majority of growers in Mendocino were self-described hippies who have grown pot since the 1960s. Blake let CBS4 onto his farm, but he requested its location stay secret. When he’s ready to harvest his farm looks more like the Wild West. Blake has armed guards and watch dogs to protect himself from an annual rush of drug runners looking to steal his crop.

“The response time for the sheriff is 45 minutes to an hour,” Blake said.

Blake says protecting himself is a necessity.

“It’s not going to take them that long to injure your wife, injure your kids, kill your stuff and be gone,” he said.

The culture of crime in Mendocino County overwhelmed law enforcement agencies who claim they are strapped for resources. Sheriff Allman says the same thing could happen in Colorado. He believes voters will regret legalized marijuana’s impact on the state.

“Mark my words,” Allman said. “Three years from now find out what they think of it. They’ll say, ‘Wait a minute?’ ”

Source:  www.denver.cbslocal.com

California's Medical Marijuana Laws, City of Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensaries

In Case You Missed It: Medical Marijuana Cultivation in California's Central Valley Poses Serious Risk to Public Health

New Monitoring the Future Survey Indicates Marijuana Use Is Increasing Among Teens

FOR RELEASE
CONTACT: media@drugfreecalifornia.org  909.457.4229

Rancho Cucamonga, CA - December 20th, 2012: New Monitoring the Future Survey Indicates Marijuana Use Is Increasing Among Teens

"Coalition for a Drug Free California is alarmed at youth marijuana use not only in California, but around the nation. We have reached an epidemic and there is no end in sight. Elected leaders are failing our children and our communities. States that allow for so-called 'medical-pot' are seeing explosive numbers. The pro-drug legalization lobby poured millions of dollars into pro-marijuana campaigns in Colorado and Washington that now outright permit marijuana use, sale and cultivation. The impact of such reckless campaigns endangers America's most vulnerable; our children. Forget the fiscal cliff -- the bigger problem is the cliff today's children are walking towards," said Dr. Paul Chabot, President of the Coalition for a Drug Free California www.drugfreecalifornia.org

By the numbers: 

• Youth perception of the dangers of marijuana has fallen to the lowest level on record, a new study says. Researchers warn that already high use of pot will increase as states move to legalize.

• The annual survey found that only 41.7 percent of eighth graders believe that occasional use of marijuana is harmful, while 66.9 percent regard it as dangerous when used regularly. Both rates are the lowest since 1991, when the government first began tracking this age group.

• Youth perception of marijuana risks diminished even more as they got older. 20.6 percent of 12th graders believe occasional use of marijuana is harmful while 44.1 percent believed that its regular use was detrimental, the lowest rate since 1979.

• The government-sponsored study said teens' dwindling concerns about the dangers of marijuana, despite the risks, "can signal future increases in use."

• Those who used cannabis heavily in their teens and into their adulthood showed a significant drop in IQ between the ages of 13 and 38, according to the studies.

• Marijuana use among teenagers remained stuck at high levels in 2012.  6.5 percent of 12th graders smoked marijuana daily, up from 5.1 percent in 2007. 23 percent of the high-school seniors said they smoked the drug in the month prior to the survey. 36.4 percent used it in the past year and 45.2 percent said they had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime.

• Daily marijuana use by 10th graders rose dramatically from 2.8 percent to 3.5 percent, and for eighth-grade students it edged up from 0.8 percent to 1.1 percent.

According to a release from Drug Free America Foundation, “This report shows that marijuana use has increased among youth and that the attitudes about marijuana’s harmfulness has significantly decreased, which clearly demonstrates what we have known for years - when the perception of the harms of drugs decreases, use rises,” said Calvina Fay, Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs. “Over the years, the ruse that marijuana is a medicine has created a false sense that this addictive, dangerous drug is not harmful, but in fact helpful. Now, this year, two states have legalized marijuana use for any purpose. Unless we aggressively push-back against all marijuana legalization efforts, I am very concerned this negative trend of increased marijuana use will continue!  Perhaps it’s time to withhold federal funds from states that fail to uphold our nation’s drug laws,” Fay added.

Download the government's report here:

http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/

ALL Six California Marijuana Legalization Attempts FAIL for 2012

After the failure of California Proposition 19, proponents acted as if it was by mistake. We tried to explain that by political standards, the more than 700,000 voter difference is not considered a narrow margin. But they didn’t believe us. They said they were cheated out of the election in which all who fought to defeat Prop. 19 were outspent 10 to one. 

And so, they organized a news conference and vowed to come back in 2012. They said California was ready to legalize marijuana, ignored all the warnings and backlash, took the monkey on their back, divided into six groups and attempted to collect signatures to get back on the ballot. 

 Well, as of a few days ago, it’s official. All six attempts to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot have FAILED. A HUGE VICTORY for youth and healthy adults who want drug free communities, so that young people, families, senior citizens and members of California’s communities can enjoy their communities without being subjected to illegal marijuana use, cultivation or sale. Guess they’re just going to have to take the monkey on their back for a walk OUT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. Other states beware. Vote NO, against all legalization and help prevent drug use, while protecting our communities, roads and highways.

Source:  www.nipitinthebudusa.org 

Bill O'Reilly: Points out Marijuana's Hidden Agenda

Councilman Koretz Promotes Potentially Sickening And Deadly Habit

BREAKING NEWS:  L.A. City Council votes to ban pot dispensaries!!!

With his motion in the upcoming vote before the Los Angeles City Council, Councilman Paul Koretz, is asking 100 marijuana dispensaries be left open because closing them all, in his words, “would be heartless.” In 1999, during his tenure on the West Hollywood City Council, Councilman Koretz took great pride in taking down the sign of the Marlboro Man on Sunset Boulevard, saying the sign “personifies the glamorizing of a deadly habit”, (Los Angeles Times, 1999). As the second largest city in the United States, Los Angeles should join the more than 200 cities who have implemented bans on unsightly pot shops and stop this potentially sickening, deadly habit! It is a well-documented fact that the majority of marijuana abusers smoke the intoxicating substance and that Los Angeles has plenty of them. 

 In 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported on a study released by the Society of Addiction Medicine, citing that marijuana smoke, over time, causes pre-cancerous conditions in the lungs and esophagus, similar to cigarette smoke. In 2010, marijuana smoke was also included as a Proposition 65 health hazard to cause cancer. 

 Los Angeles City Council Members should take the responsible approach and support Councilman Jose Huizar’s motion, banning all storefront dispensaries in the City of Los Angeles and Councilman Parks and Councilwoman Perry’s motion, phasing out the existing L.A. ordinance. The council should dismiss the Koretz motion, as it promotes smoking, drug abuse, crime and sends the wrong message to our youth.

Rock Center Investigative Report Shows Pot Laws Being Badly Abused

For the full story click here

Why California Marijuana Laws are the Laughing Stock of the Country

Did you know Frisbee throwing is more dangerous than pot possession in the County of Los Angeles? Yep, it’s true! Last week, the County of Los Angeles created an ordinance on things you could and could not do at L.A. beaches. One of the things that stuck out like a sore thumb was the fine of $1,000 for throwing a Frisbee. This was not to be believed!

Under California state law, marijuana possession of an ounce or less costs a $100 fine and after passage of S.B. 1449, possession no longer goes on the offender’s record, it is now considered an infraction. With all due respect (yes, I am gritting my teeth), thank you Ex-Governor Schwarzenstoner!

Residents quickly saw the Frisbee throwing law as greedy cash hoarding by the County and when the media caught wind of it, the County reconsidered (CBS, 2012). Only a day later, the County announced that now when someone throws a Frisbee on the beach, they could face a fine for $100 for the first offense, a $200 fine for the second offense and a $500 fine for the third offense. That’s five times more than the fine for pot after the third offense! Hey, while we’re at it, why not send Frisbee throwers to jail for a year, on the fourth offense, for felony Frisbee throwing? Might as well!

This is a sad and laughable example of how marijuana, a Schedule I drug, that causes impaired driving and has high potential for abuse, is viewed as so innocent that a Frisbee ends up being the greater threat. If this is not an example of unintended consequences of drug decriminalization in California, I don’t know what is?

Guess if anyone gets caught with a Frisbee, they should just blame their dog and say; “Hey! That’s not my Frisbee! I don’t know how that ended up here? Ask my dog, maybe it’s his!”