4 ms·

The real story is the fact that mainstream media is ignoring it. The silence is deafening and trumpets their allegiance to big pharma and the criminal injustice

The real story is the fact that mainstream media is ignoring it. The silence is deafening and trumpets their allegiance to big pharma and the criminal injustice complex. Edit: I live in Oregon and voted for this. So yay, we're moving in the right direction.

lipstone 6y ago
Why would pharma not want legalization? At worst, it doesn't affect them. At best, it's another revenue stream.
- pacifist 6y ago
  I typed this into duckduckgo: "big pharma lobbies against drug decriminalization" and got this: https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/the-top-5-industries-lobbying-against-cannabis-legalization-will https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/the-top-5-industries-lo... I wouldn't care to venture a guess as to their thinking but the intent is clear: they don't want drug decriminalization.
- hmsimha 6y ago
  This amazing Ted talk [1] on the potential for ketamine as a miracle anti-depressant presents at least one reason; namely, that they don't own the patents to the drugs and therefore can't monopolize their production. Instead, iterative waves of SSRIs are pushed to the public, as Big Pharma stands to profit more from SSRIs they hold the patent to, even if they're arguably much less effective and more harmful. [1] https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_brachman_could_a_drug_prevent_depression_and_ptsd/transcript?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_brachman_could_a_drug_prev...
nexthash 6y ago
Why would you think the mainstream media isn't covering it? A cursory search on Google for 'oregon drug legalization' revealed these results: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/oregon-1st-state-decriminalize-possession-hard-drugs-75617078 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/oregon-1st-state-d... https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-drugs-oregon-new-jersey/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-dr... https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2020-12-10/oregon-just-decriminalized-all-drugs-heres-why-voters-passed-this-groundbreaking-reform https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2020-12-10/... I would consider these outlets more or less mainstream. I think the 'real story' in this case is not a conspiracy of big pharma and the prison-industrial complex, but the slow change of attitudes and policy in the US. Occam's razor.
- pacifist 6y ago
  "but the slow change of attitudes and policy in the US" as shepherded by the mainstream media. Yes, we disagree as to the complicity of the media and criminal justice system. I believe that they sold their souls for a paycheck a long time ago. We all have our price but I hope I would get a more than that in the bargain.
jonas21 6y ago
There was lots of mainstream coverage when the law was passed. A few examples: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/oregon-decriminalize-drugs-trnd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/oregon-decriminalize... https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-drugs-oregon-new-jersey/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-dr... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/ballot-measures-propositions-2020.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/ballot-measures-propos... In fact, I think you would be hard-pressed to find any news outlet that didn't cover it. That the law goes into effect today is a bit of a technicality, so it's not surprising that most of the coverage was back in November.

lipstone 6y ago

Why would pharma not want legalization? At worst, it doesn't affect them. At best, it's another revenue stream.

pacifist 6y ago
I typed this into duckduckgo: "big pharma lobbies against drug decriminalization" and got this: https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/the-top-5-industries-lobbying-against-cannabis-legalization-will https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/the-top-5-industries-lo... I wouldn't care to venture a guess as to their thinking but the intent is clear: they don't want drug decriminalization.
hmsimha 6y ago
This amazing Ted talk [1] on the potential for ketamine as a miracle anti-depressant presents at least one reason; namely, that they don't own the patents to the drugs and therefore can't monopolize their production. Instead, iterative waves of SSRIs are pushed to the public, as Big Pharma stands to profit more from SSRIs they hold the patent to, even if they're arguably much less effective and more harmful. [1] https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_brachman_could_a_drug_prevent_depression_and_ptsd/transcript?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_brachman_could_a_drug_prev...

nexthash 6y ago

Why would you think the mainstream media isn't covering it? A cursory search on Google for 'oregon drug legalization' revealed these results: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/oregon-1st-state-decriminalize-possession-hard-drugs-75617078 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/oregon-1st-state-d... https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-drugs-oregon-new-jersey/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-dr... https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2020-12-10/oregon-just-decriminalized-all-drugs-heres-why-voters-passed-this-groundbreaking-reform https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2020-12-10/... I would consider these outlets more or less mainstream. I think the 'real story' in this case is not a conspiracy of big pharma and the prison-industrial complex, but the slow change of attitudes and policy in the US. Occam's razor.

pacifist 6y ago
"but the slow change of attitudes and policy in the US" as shepherded by the mainstream media. Yes, we disagree as to the complicity of the media and criminal justice system. I believe that they sold their souls for a paycheck a long time ago. We all have our price but I hope I would get a more than that in the bargain.

jonas21 6y ago

There was lots of mainstream coverage when the law was passed. A few examples: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/oregon-decriminalize-drugs-trnd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/politics/oregon-decriminalize... https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-drugs-oregon-new-jersey/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/election-dr... https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/ballot-measures-propositions-2020.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/ballot-measures-propos... In fact, I think you would be hard-pressed to find any news outlet that didn't cover it. That the law goes into effect today is a bit of a technicality, so it's not surprising that most of the coverage was back in November.