Florida Anti-Cannabis Group: “Medical Marijuana Leads to Date Rape”

Anti-cannabis proponents in Florida have reached a new low, with an ad campaign that likens cannabis to a date rape drug. “No On Amendment 2“, an anti-legalization group, released an ad which insinuates that medical cannabis will be used as a date rape drug if legalized. It is clear that the main strategy of these anti-cannabis groups is to use whatever absurd fear tactics they think will work to scare Floridians into voting against the upcoming Amendment 2, which will allow for the legal use of medical cannabis.

“Will the new face of ‘Date Rape’  look like a cookie?” the ad asks, over a picture of a man who has a photo-shopped bag of “Marijuana Cookies” in his back pocket. The idea that cannabis could become a date rape drug is simply absurd to any weedist who regularly enjoys the herb.

“I absolutely thought it was fake. I thought it was a joke,” said cannabis legalization proponent Florida State Senator Jeff Clemens. “The website and video are both filled with half-truths, distortions and outright lies. Floridians deserve a debate based on the facts, not disingenuous scare tactics,” said Ben Pollara, campaign manager of United for Care. United For Care released a point by point debunking of the “No On Amendment 2” arguments against legalization on their website.

The Department of Health and Human Services does not classify cannabis as a date rape drug like rohypnol (roofies) or ketamine (special K), which have far more debilitating effects. These drugs are odorless and colorless, causing dizziness, disorientation, loss of inhibition and a loss of consciousness. They can also cause memory problems, leaving a victim unclear as to what, if any, crime was committed. Dr. Jorge Bordenave of Larkin Community Hospital contends that cannabis is not like these dangerous date rape drugs. “There has been no incidents of date rape with the pot [people] are smoking currently,” said Dr. Bordenave, “So what they are saying is trying to scare the people; trying to lie to the people.”

Not to mention that alcohol, the most used date rape drug, is still completely legal, clearly demonstrating the flawed thinking of the campaign, if the prevention of sexual assault really is their concern.

The implication of cannabis as a date rape drug also trivializes the frequent occurrences of actual drug-facilitated rapes. “I think any woman should find that offensive to somehow suggest that if you use medical marijuana [for] a health issue that you’re trying to deal with, that somehow that’s going to make you more susceptible to rape. It’s really beyond the pale.” says Senator Jeff Clemins.” The claim becomes even more outlandish when taken into account that cannabis can actually help recovering sexual assault survivors. Cannabis has been shown to help treat PTSD, a disorder which occurs in 31% of sexual assault survivors.

According to the National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, one in six women will be victims of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. Fifty-five percent of female students and 75% of male students involved in acquaintance rape admit to having been drinking or using drugs when the incident occurred, and 90% of all campus rapes occur when alcohol has been used by either the assailant or the victim.

If “No On Amendment 2” group members were really concerned about the prevalence of date rape, one would think their efforts would be better spent promoting the regulation of alcohol or spreading awareness of rape culture. Countless men and women stand to benefit from the medicinal effects of cannabis to treat chronic pain and debilitating disease. It is revolting that anti-cannabis proponents would paint a picture of unsuspecting victims being lured away by pot cookies and sexually assaulted, just to push their agenda.