Cannabis Advertising Campaign

[*Ryno*]

So I was just thinking about Cannabis legalisation (as I often am) and started to wonder if it would be better to promote the positive benefits of Marijuana use medically, and the overall bigger picture when it comes to Marijuana use through an advertising campaign. But this left a few questions lingering.

 

Can you get in trouble for promoting Cannabis on a large scale? TV, Radio, Bilboards at train stations etc? I'm under the impression that it would be OK. I mean if its OK to advertise a treatment for premature ejaculation surely it would be OK to promote the positive outcome of legalising Cannabis?

 

I'm thinking the more we can make it public knowledge, the more chance we have of legalising this beautiful plant. I understand the advertising would have to be crafty, I understand enough about the trade practices act to know what you can and cant say in advertising, but what are the chances of something like this actually making a difference?

 

Would love to hear some thoughts.

 

Cheers.

[daemon]

If it were legal (which I'm not sure is because radio announcers aren't aloud to promote drug use on air and this would constitute 'drug promotion') I would say it may be beneficial.

 

I reckon a good solution might be to get TV stations to re-play good Hemp documentaries (such as Hemplands Conspiracy, The Hemp Revolution and Hemp and the Rule of Law) which detail the history of Hemp, explain why it was prohibited in the first place, lists the industrial benefits of Hemp and advise on the known medical value of Cannabis. Reverse the propaganda. Good luck getting that to happen though since the media is the propaganda machine for the Government.

 

I think before the general public, who for the most part are against Cannabis because they think it's dangerous, will support relaxed Cannabis laws they need to be informed of its history and value.

 

Example: I told my older brother that I started using Cannabis to reduce the benign tumors in my legs (which is working) and explained what I had since learned about the medicinal benefits of Cannabis. His response was "I think someone has lied to you about the benefits of Cannabis". Not "oh, maybe the Government has lie to me".

 

I even e-mailed him links to the Rick Simpson documentary and the scientific report done in 1975/76 regarding the tests which proved Cannabis cured cancer in lab rats and he still believes I've been lied to.

 

It's disappointing, really.

[iatd]

 

I don't think it would be illegal to run advertisments which showed the truth and had some research to back it up. I think the problem with advertising is when its about sales. Showing people using weed and glorifying it would be wrong and send the wrong message.

 

Maybe we need a catchy catch phrase ('...anyhow have another winfield' or '...as a matter a fact i've got it now')

 

If the government was to stop something like this it would surely be a violation of free speech and law suits would insue. Which would be a huge win for the pro-cannabis cause.

 

TD

Edited January 10, 2011 by iatd

[daemon]

I don't think it would be illegal to run advertisments which showed the truth and had some research to back it up. I think the problem with advertising is when its about sales. Showing people using weed and glorifying it would be wrong and send the wrong message.

 

I know someone in radio in Tassie and when I discussed this with him (e.g. talking on the radio about Cannabis and its medical benefits for Cancer) he told me it was illegal for him to discuss it because it still glorifies 'drugs'.

 

/me shrugs

[iatd]

I don't think it would be illegal to run advertisments which showed the truth and had some research to back it up. I think the problem with advertising is when its about sales. Showing people using weed and glorifying it would be wrong and send the wrong message.

 

I know someone in radio in Tassie and when I discussed this with him (e.g. talking on the radio about Cannabis and its medical benefits for Cancer) he told me it was illegal for him to discuss it because it still glorifies 'drugs'.

 

/me shrugs

How about if the Australian Sex Party wanted to run some campaign adverts showing some of the things they stood for before an election. Surly that couldn't be illegal? Its not illlegal to talk about mj. I see mj on the news and aca programs. I saw the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance on the 7pm Project telling Australia we need drug reform. We have documentaries, its in our music. Arn't all these a form of advertising?

 

TD

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4udyFu9FHgo

Edited January 10, 2011 by iatd

[STONEDAJ69]

Remember the don't turn out into a nightmare ads (i dunno, for all I KNOW THEYRE STILL PLAYING, I DONT WATCH LOTS OF TV) f'n shift button,

 

we could do the same thing. show drunk mofos - like in those ads, then show a circle of happy, smiling stoned people.

 

More than anything, I feel that this would send the right message

[daemon]

iatd:

 

I understand what you're saying but I'm really not sure of the laws. It might be worth contacting the ASP to find out where they are with their policies and if there are enough donations would they run advertisements for the decriminalization of Cannabis? They probably won't run ads until it's election time though (edit: sorry, just read your post again and seen you already said this .

 

Regarding the ASP, as much as I love their policies and will vote for them, I honestly can't see them winning any power simply because they are the "Australian Sex Party". There are way too many conservative people in this country and they'll see the whole 'Sex' thing as a discredit to the party - I think, anyway.

Edited January 10, 2011 by rjw

[iatd]

I wasn't speaking literally, and in no way throwing my weight behind the ASP. I was just using ASP as an example.

 

Just wanted to get the straight.

 

TD

Edited January 10, 2011 by iatd

[*Ryno*]

If it were legal (which I'm not sure is because radio announcers aren't aloud to promote drug use on air and this would constitute 'drug promotion') I would say it may be beneficial.

 

I reckon a good solution might be to get TV stations to re-play good Hemp documentaries (such as Hemplands Conspiracy, The Hemp Revolution and Hemp and the Rule of Law) which detail the history of Hemp, explain why it was prohibited in the first place, lists the industrial benefits of Hemp and advise on the known medical value of Cannabis. Reverse the propaganda. Good luck getting that to happen though since the media is the propaganda machine for the Government.

 

I think before the general public, who for the most part are against Cannabis because they think it's dangerous, will support relaxed Cannabis laws they need to be informed of its history and value.

 

Example: I told my older brother that I started using Cannabis to reduce the benign tumors in my legs (which is working) and explained what I had since learned about the medicinal benefits of Cannabis. His response was "I think someone has lied to you about the benefits of Cannabis". Not "oh, maybe the Government has lie to me".

 

I even e-mailed him links to the Rick Simpson documentary and the scientific report done in 1975/76 regarding the tests which proved Cannabis cured cancer in lab rats and he still believes I've been lied to.

 

It's disappointing, really.

 

I'm not surprised you presented your brother with hard scientific evidence and he would still deny the positive benefits or Cannabis. The government has sheeple brainwashed so much that the truth, even when backed up with evidence is too much for them to handle. This is in my opinion where Cannabis has the capacity to turn world governments on their heads, because if they can create a lie so huge about a little plant, what else are they lying about? That was another question I had wether the reversing of this massive lie the government has created, would cause a disruption to this "democracy" we live in to the point the ads would be pulled down? or mythical cases put against the promoters to try put them in jail or draw negative attention to the campaign?

 

I haven't watched Hemplands Conspiracy or The Hemp Revolution, but I've seen Grass - The history of Marijuana which I thought was straight to the point. Ive seen the Rick Simpson story and alot of other related material I started researching when I realised that Hemp / Hash oil could be the answer to my Seronegative Arthritis.

 

I can understand (although I don't think its fair) radio announcers not being about to talk about / promote drug use, but if say for example a rep from our community was to do a radio interview with a neutral announcer surely that would be ok?

 

I think as long as the ads and all 100% backed up by factual scientific research there's not alot the government can do about it, the problem is there's so much data it may be better to run a mini-series outlining the data and truths and instead use the advertising campaign to direct attention to the series. I just think we need to flood the public with as much truth as possible especially on this subject, maybe even start a new digital TV channel called The Cannabis Channel or something , Im sure with our collective brain power something like that would be possible. Look how much the government has accomplished with very little...

 

And "disappointing" is an understatement IMO.

Edited January 10, 2011 by *Ryno*

[*Ryno*]

Maybe we need a catchy catch phrase ('...anyhow have another winfield' or '...as a matter a fact i've got it now')

 

you have me thinking now "STONED - and saving lives" haha