Are the editors high? Why trendy news features on pot are a bad idea

The legalization of marijuana in several states has sparked a brand-new genre of mainstream media feature reporting: in-depth exploration of all the fun things readers can do while under the influence.

Apparently, the concept of a “family newspaper” has changed.

Many major regional news outlets in the 18 states where marijuana is fully legalized are now packed with upbeat lifestyle articles extolling the virtues of a once-underground cannabis culture. Reviews of retail stores, special smokers’ lounges, and “pot-forward” dinner recipes can be found in newspaper “Entertainment” and “Food” sections.

leading California newspaper recently offered guidance on how to enjoy Disneyland while high; the Space Mountain roller coaster was a particular favorite. Up in the Northwest, a mainstream news outlet suggested glow-in-the-dark mini-golf was much better after some pot ingestion. In Colorado, a paper’s special online section called “The Cannabist” served up ways to “infuse cannabis” into Thanksgiving recipes. One of the largest Midwestern news organizations published advice on “how to throw a marijuana dinner party with tips on dosing, ambiance, and avoiding a buzz kill.”

On one level, there’s no problem with any of this, I suppose. These activities are no longer against the law in those states. And legalization, one can argue, contains some substantial social benefit. The drive to decriminalize cannabis was fueled by one compelling, undeniable fact: Far too many people were crowding jails and prisons on often-minor marijuana charges or convictions. [Read More @ The Hill]