Mark
You have probably seen the ads on TV encouraging us to vote for cannabis reform “on our terms.”
Putting aside the obvious question of where the money is coming from to pay for these very professionally produced ads and the airtime it runs on, I’d like to critique the content if its ok to do so without being a fascist, bigoted, grumpy old religious boomer.
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“On September 19th, we have the choice to make cannabis legal, but what we are really voting for is to do this our way, and on our terms. Not on Canada’s or The Netherlands’ or wherever, but on New Zealand’s Terms”
Umm… really? “Our way” is not really any different from the same propaganda that justified it in other countries around the world, so this is actually a repeat of the same.
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“Terms that we all feel make sense for us, for our nation.”
Umm… where is the “all” coming from? This is putting words in 5 million people’s mouths which I don’t think is fair. Or accurate! MANY people are objecting to this. Many people believe that increasing police enforcement powers against suppliers and distributors makes sense for our nation.
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“Terms that could give those that could benefit from medicinal treatment much better access.”
People needing treatment already have access to cannabis-based products like Sativex which have the positive chemicals extracted and the negative chemicals removed and is used under qualified doctors supervision. “Better access” will likely end up being open season to bypass doctors which is likely to result in overuse and cause other problems. Not what I call “batter access.” Unless you want to con people and politicians into letting you get high.
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“That will generate funding for nationwide health and education.”
Umm… it seems it didn’t work out that way elsewhere around the world. The promised tax revenues from legitimate weed didn’t eventuate as people took legalisation as licence to grow the underground market a lot cheaper than what’s going at the herb store. By the way, ask any teacher or hospital nurse about the harm cannabis does when it’s illegal. You are going to get a lot more use when it’s legal and a lot more harm than the benefit from the pittance from cannabis taxes most people wont pay.
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“That will give police more time to focus on important things like violent crime.”
Umm… No. Police seem to get busier due to the increased harm of increased cannabis use. Cannabis use is a big driver behind violence and other crimes. Ask any cop.
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“But also on the terms that there will be much safer potency levels.”
Good luck controlling that. Again, as legal herb store weed increases, underworld increases much more. Especially when addicts get used to the low potency and need the Mongrel Mob to supply the real stuff.
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“It won’t be allowed in public spaces.”
Umm… and this is going to be enforced by the police? Who are supposed to have “more time to focus on important things” or security guards in the same way as alcohol, at least within a few metres of the bar they work in? Once scores of people get addicted, good luck.
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“and it will remain absolutely illegal for anyone under 20.”
Again, good luck enforcing that considering how that is working out for alcohol and illegal drugs. Kids have ways and means of sniffing these things out. As do gangs.
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“That’s why I’m voting yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, on our terms, on our terms.”
Repetition to enforce the message and subconsciously manipulate the mind. Someone has a PHD in communication here. As Murphy’s Law said “in case of doubt, make it sound convincing.” Or was it Hitler that said, a “lie repeated often enough will be believed.”
The video then links to their website where the word “control” is highlighted in big pink letters twice within the first page and again at the bottom.
Nice try, the more you liberalise something the more you lose control. Especially if it is something addictive. That is what’s been happening overseas.
Add to that the fact that these conditions are presented as unique to the New Zealand approach when in fact they are regurgitated propaganda from other unfortunately successful liberalisation campaigns.
When you look at how things have worked out overseas you can see that on each point, the exact opposite is happening.
The website then says “our current law is not working.” I disagree. I think our current law has prevented a lot of harm that would otherwise have been there had things been liberalised earlier.
They also want to “treat cannabis use as a health and social issue.” If people need help, fine, help them. But lets focus on prevention rather than cure by putting a few more hundred thousand dollar Harley Davidson riding dealers in jail.
This is all exceptionally good, high quality marketing and some are quite rightly asking where the money to pay for it comes from in the same way they would ask a gangster where the money for the Harley comes from. But marketing it remains.
There is enough bull crap in this advertising campaign to block the toilets on the Titanic!
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