August 25, 2010 10:27 AM

Facebook Pot Ads Go Up in Smoke: Will it Hurt Medical Marijuana?

By
Neil Katz
Topics
News

Just Say Now hopes to legalize marijuana. Facebook isn't going to help.

"Just Say Now" hopes to legalize marijuana. Facebook isn't going to help. (Just Saw Now)

(CBS) It's not clear what Facebook was smoking, but the world's largest social networking site has snubbed out an effort by pro-marijuana advocates to run ads on the site which promote the legalization of marijuana.

That's according to the Huffington Post's Ryan Grim.

The issue is particularly relevant to medical marijuana supporters. Three of the four ballot initiatives the organization "Just Say Now," hopes to influence, increase access to the drug for medical purposes.

The three states going to the ballot box are Arizona, Oregon and South Dakota. The group also supports a ballot imitative in California that seeks to legalize marijuana outright. Medical marijuana is already legal there.

Studies show that people with HIV, spinal cord injury, and other pain-related disorders can benefit from smoking pot, according to WebMD.

Facebook says their issue is with the group's imagery - the pot leaf in particular.

"The image in question was no long[er] acceptable for use in Facebook ads," spokesperson Andrew Noyes wrote in an email obtained by the Huffington Post. "The image of a pot leaf is classified with all smoking products and therefore is not acceptable under our policies."

Facebook's position on the ads is ironic considering the content found on its site.

One group called "Marihuana, Marijuana, Mariguana" has 369,000 active monthly users who post photos of bikini clad bong smokers and giant piles of weed.

A popular game on Facebook called "Pot Farm" has 740,000 monthly users who enjoy trying grow their own virtual marijuana fields.

Facebook did not return an email request for interview at press time.

The group behind the blocked ads, "Just Say Now," is a coalition of the popular progressive blog Firedoglake.com and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Their campaign argues that legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use would generate billions in tax revenue and reduce crime associated with the drug war. Detractors argue that legalizing the drug would increase abuse.

"Just Say Now," claims they are taking action to get their ads reinstated on Facebook. Their first move? Of course, creating a petition on Facebook.

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Add a Comment See all 11 Comments
by ockham500 August 27, 2010 8:56 AM EDT
If the message is not mean, vicious, negative, etc. Facebook should run it.
Reply to this comment
by Ron_Paul_Fan August 25, 2010 6:19 PM EDT
"Their campaign argues that legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use would generate billions in tax revenue and reduce crime associated with the drug war. Detractors argue that legalizing the drug would increase abuse. "


haha. I think that's great. Prohibitions have been reduced to nothing. They have no argument for keeping marijuana illegal. Just sad, lonely people with little insight to public opinion and who can't quit living in the past. Prohibitions are a desperate people with no argument and little rational thought or common sense.

Reformists on the other hand propose sensible alternatives which will help over-burdened states with their deficit issues and will all but put a knife into the chests of the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for all the carnage along the borders.

Reformists want to fix problems and actually save the lives of tens of thousands of people. Prohibitionists only 'fear' the abuse problems that 'could' arise.

What a sad bunch of people!
Reply to this comment
by Lorin1957 August 25, 2010 3:58 PM EDT
But then again after signing in to make a comment, CBS redirected me away from this story. I had to go through Google to locate and find the story again. Makes people wonder if all media isn't under Government control. Or maybe the 1st amendment dosn't exist in the face of profit.
Reply to this comment
by Lorin1957 August 25, 2010 3:52 PM EDT
Fairly obvious that the U.S. Government runs and controls Facebook.
That's why they allow the advertisment from some and not others.
This is why I cancelled my account with Facebook a year ago.
And highly recommend that others do the same.
It being used to invade our privacy and change the way you think.
I think they call that propaganda.
Reply to this comment
by kesterling2003 August 25, 2010 3:10 PM EDT
Help! Help! I'm being repressed! Now we see the violence inherent in the system! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WQzVJ434

I'm not sure why tauleonardo would be against the 1st Amendment right to free speech. tauleonardo are you under the impression that Facebook is controlled by the government? Facebook is not part of the government. The Free Speech rights in this case belong to Facebook and not those who use their service. There's no government censorship here. Would you have the government force people and private organizations to say things with which they disagree? Another right protected by the US Constitution is the freedom of association. If Facebook doesn't like potheads for whatever reason it's their right to exclude us.

Frankly I could make a reasonable case that FDL and Facebook are conspiring together to create a media event. I'd be willing to wager that 10s of thousands of people have now heard about FDL who were unaware of their existence before this incident. This one action of Facebook has probably informed more people in a day or two as would have been reached in a few months or more if Facebook had just left the ad up and not drawn attention to it. Yes, it is your right to disapprove of Facebook's action. But remember that what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Turn it around and consider how it would work if the FireDogLake was forced to accept the ONDCP and DARE as participants on their website.

There's no such thing as bad publicity.
Reply to this comment
by KittB August 25, 2010 2:41 PM EDT
The best part about this is Facebook loses both dollars and more of its dissipating validity. Just Say Now is getting far more exposure and press from Facebook's refusal to carry their ads than if it accepted the organization's paid advertising. LOL
Reply to this comment
by ElizabethAMR August 25, 2010 2:02 PM EDT
What a perfect example of "talking out of both sides of your mouth" Facebook. There is no reasoning behind allowing Pot Farm, but blocking ads from the same industry. Its a shameful double standard, and one that is sure to change before too long. Especially as the industry continues to spread across the nation, and ultimate legalization is in our future.
Reply to this comment
by JourneyHeaingCeners August 25, 2010 1:06 PM EDT
Based on 30+ years of experience working with clients fighting addictions, Journey Healing Centers? licensed doctors and therapists oppose the Medical Marijuana Propositions on the Arizona (Prop 203), Oregon and South Dakota ballots, along with California?s Prop 19 legalization for 21+ on the November ballot. Without any federal oversight for medical marijuana, there are no FDA approvals or standard regulations. Dr Ravi Chandiramani, Journey Healing Centers Medical Director, explains, "We are concerned about the abuse and addiction potential of cannabis, which has been proven. In California, prescriptions have been provided for a wide variety of reasons, some legitimate and many not so legitimate."

If you have any drug or alcohol addiction questions, call our Free 24-Hour Hotline to speak with an Addiction Specialist: 1-866-774-5119
Reply to this comment
by AttentionDeficit August 25, 2010 2:33 PM EDT
Yep, and with less people seeking "treatment" as an alternative to jail, your revenue would decrease
by sjumpmasterc August 25, 2010 12:13 PM EDT
Apparently having 'hit' lists on Facebook is okay....
Reply to this comment
by tauleonardo August 25, 2010 12:09 PM EDT
This censorship by Facebook is absolutely shameful. When will some people finally realize that censorship and other forms of repression only strengthen people's determination to push harder towards the eventual Victory! These Soviet-style actions by the Facebook will only make people realize with overwhelming acuteness that the time for Cannabis Legalization has come! YES in Medicinal Cannabis all over the Nation! YES to California Proposition 19 on Nov. 2!!
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