DEA Partners With Anti-Marijuana Group To Spread Memes Claiming Cannabis Is Linked To Suicide, Depression And Low Sperm Count
From toxifillers.com with love
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is teaming up with an anti-marijuana organization to mark “National Prevention Week,” promoting a campaign that encourages people to share memes with dubious claims about the effects of cannabis—including the theory that it is a “gateway drug” to using other substances.
The memes run the gamut, citing certain reports and studies that have been contradicted by other research. One meme claims that cannabis use is associated with a 50 percent decrease in sperm count, which the DEA-promoted meme suggests could contribute to infertility.
The “Just Say Know” campaign isn’t being directly organized by DEA; rather, it’s coordinated by the organization Johnny’s Ambassadors, which was founded parents who say their child died by suicide after consuming high-potency marijuana concentrates. But the federal agency is hosting the memes on two of its taxpayer-funded websites and has sent email blasts to promote them.
Cannabis potency remains an area of concern for certain lawmakers and anti-cannabis advocates. But the claims being published in meme format by DEA’s JustThinkTwice.gov and GetSmartAboutDrugs.gov sites are fairly sensationalized, or at least disputed by conflicting research.
For example, DEA cited a study alleging that the top contributor of future opioid use is consuming marijuana before the age of 18—an assertion that aligns with the gateway drug theory that’s been challenged based on other scientific analyses.
Other claims in the memes include those stating “50 Woodstock Joints = 1 Marijuana Dab,” attributing cannabis use during youth to a “STRONG” likelihood of developing “psychotic symptoms” in adulthood and linking marijuana to increased risk of schizophrenia, depression and suicidal ideation.
“Failing in school? Stop using THC,” another DEA-promoted meme reads.
Via DEA.
Legalization advocates take issue with the claims.
“At best, these are distortions based upon outliers and cherry-picked data,” Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, told Marijuana Moment. “At worst, these memes are misinformation and propaganda.”
“Either way, these messages are unlikely to be taken seriously by the very audience these groups are targeting,” he said. “That’s unfortunate because cannabis, like other mood-alternating substances, is not altogether without risk.”
“Unfortunately, agencies like the DEA no longer have credibility with the public when it comes to providing guidance on these matters because of their longstanding politicization of cannabis and cannabis consumers. They are not honest brokers and the public knows it. So audiences—whether they’re consumers or not—largely reject what they have to say, with good reason.”
In March, DEA separately promoted an “Anti-420 Day” campaign with Johnny’s Ambassadors that recruited students to send short videos warning their peers about marijuana use.
The plan was to “flood” Instagram with the short-form videos that would feature students talking about “why young people should not use THC.”
DEA has developed a reputation for its awkward messaging and educational materials around youth drug use.
For example, in 2023, DEA advised young people that, rather than doing drugs, they should focus on becoming Instagram influencers. The agency promoted tips on how to get a “natural high” as an alternative to drugs, sharing what it said were “7 Better Highs” such as becoming famous on Instagram, playing video games and going to a pet store to look at animals.
DEA is also known for its attempts to decode emojis that it claims are used to buy drugs.
Beyond its youth prevention outreach efforts, DEA is actively considering a proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). But that process has been delayed amid legal challenges by witnesses participating in administrative hearings to finalize the proposed rule.
Recently, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead DEA to commit to rescheduling marijuana, or to say how he’d approach federal enforcement in states that have legalized cannabis.
In written responses to questions from two Democratic senators as part of his confirmation, the nominee for DEA administrator, Terrance Cole, largely demurred on multiple questions around marijuana policy issues, including a pending proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III that was initiated under the Biden administration.
Cole has previously voiced concerns about the dangers of marijuana and linked its use to higher suicide risk among youth.
While he gave noncommittal answers when asked about rescheduling in the written questions, Cole said during an in-person hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month that examining the rescheduling proposal will be “one of my first priorities” if he’s confirmed for the role, saying it’s “time to move forward” on the stalled process—but again without clarifying what end result he would like to see.
Trump initially chose Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead DEA, but the prospective nominee—who strongly advocated for marijuana decriminalization—withdrew from consideration in January amid scrutiny from conservative lawmakers over the sheriff’s record on COVID-related public safety enforcement actions.
As far as the marijuana rescheduling process is concerned, DEA recently notified an agency judge that the proceedings are still on hold—with no future actions currently scheduled as the matter sits before the acting administrator, Derek Maltz, who has called cannabis a “gateway drug” and linked its use to psychosis.
Meanwhile, although shutting down licensed marijuana dispensaries doesn’t “rise to the top” of his priorities, an interim U.S. attorney who recently warned a Washington, D.C. cannabis shop about potential federal law violations says his “instinct is that it shouldn’t be in the community.” He’s since rescinded his consideration for unrelated reasons, however.
Separately, last month, an activist who received a pardon for a marijuana-related conviction during Trump’s first term paid a visit to the White House, discussing future clemency options with the recently appointed “pardon czar.”
A marijuana industry-backed political action committee (PAC) has also released a series of ads over recent weeks that have attacked Biden’s cannabis policy record as well as the nation of Canada, promoting sometimes misleading claims about the last administration while making the case that Trump can deliver on reform.
Its latest ad accused former President Joe Biden and his DEA of waging a “deep state war” against medical cannabis patients—but without mentioning that the former president himself initiated the rescheduling process that marijuana companies want to see completed under Trump.
Trump’s DEA Pick Refuses To Detail Marijuana Rescheduling Stance In Response To Senator’s Questions
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