Have You Seen the Viral Ad Linking Marijuana to Satanic Cults?
This question above may be shocking to read, but it is an actual situation, and you are about to get all the details!
The ad read:
"Smoke a "doobie?" You're smoking with SATAN. Just a simple take of "devil's lettuce" could make you sacrifice your family to Satan just like Peter did. Marijuana is the leading cause of America's youth joining Satanic Cults, and that's a fact."
The ad was shared on multiple platforms on March 10 with over 900 shares and 700 reactions. Now that is a loaded ad. If you reread the ad, you will observe that specific keywords are used to incite fear and anger such that you don't use marijuana.
Don't panic just yet; that's a fictitious post! This anti-marijuana advertisement became a trending topic on social media. It implied that American youths would join satanic cults by smoking weed, and this is totally inaccurate. The Ad Council denies they created or issued the ad, so it is a big prank or hoax, depending on how you look at it.
Despite its inaccuracy, the thought of a young man getting high on marijuana and being inducted into a cult puts fear in parents' heart. Some concerned mums and dads saw the ad and freaked out because they assumed the worst-case with marijuana and their kids.
But come on mum and dad, do you think that with all the medicinal benefits cannabis has to be an offer, it can make your kids join a cult? Yes, we know that the thought of "Satan" is frightening, and you cannot stand the idea of your precious child being in cahoots with Satan but do you really think such a claim has any credibility?
Marijuana doesn't lead people to satanic cults
Marijuana is a gateway for teens, they rely on it sometimes to escape the issues they have to deal with, but this doesn't mean it leads them into Satanism.
The viral advertisement is a fake and grossly inaccurate portrayal of cannabis. If taken seriously, the ad may prevent you from getting the very best of what cannabis has to offer.
When you view the ad at first, the key terms used to depict cannabis will discourage you from trying it, and that was the aim of the ad. You will hold on to those words mentally such that when you see a cannabis plant, you instantly react aggressively to it.
So why was the ad published?
Please understand that despite the incredible benefits one derives from cannabis, some people are still against it. Do you know why it took so long for some states to legalize cannabis? The answer lies in the skepticism people held about marijuana for a long time. And also, there are some entities with lots to gain if cannabis is scorned at by the populace.
It was hard for cannabis users (even those who use it for medicinal purposes) to get jobs. These people who are unhappy with marijuana will do anything to portray this super plant in a bad light.
Although some parents are genuinely concerned about their kid's exposure to cannabis and don't want them to smoke marijuana, those parents need to have an honest and guided conversation with their young adults by advising them on how to use cannabis safely.
Threatening young people with the idea that cannabis will make them join a cult organization wouldn't stop them from experimenting with marijuana. If you know teenagers and young adults, you know that they are curious beings who will do what they feel like doing.
Does this mean it is okay for my underage kid to take marijuana for recreational purposes? NO! This article seeks to inform and educate you on the proper ways to view cannabis instead of taking all cannabis ads seriously.
An era of misleading information and sensational media
If you have ever gained anything beneficial from cannabis, you will agree that it is a most exciting experience. However, we live in an era of misleading information and a media industry that lives for "trends," so many ridiculous ads are published.
Anyone with a phone in this era can write any content and publish it without consequences, even when it is untrue. People will always push their agenda against things they don't like, and that is what the viral ad represents.
If you believe everything you read from the so-called cannabis "critics," you will never maximize the values marijuana offers. Regardless of how the ad is presented or the kind of words used to portray cannabis, always remember that those who do not like cannabis will never have anything nice to say about it.
The ad was fake and used for clickbait
After the ad went viral, many cannabis companies put pressure on media companies to retract the ad. It turns out the ad was just a means to get attention for something else.
Now below the original ad placement, there was a text calling for people to "rent a tape" by calling a number which means the ad was for click-bait. Not everyone saw the text below, so those people re-shared the ad based on the two keywords "Smoking marijuana" and "Satan."
Now you know that the viral ad wasn't precisely valid; it was meant for clickbait and aimed at discrediting cannabis. What is the lesson from this experience? The lesson to remember is that not everyone is fascinated by cannabis and some will do whatever it takes to discredit it.
There is no truth to the ad; therefore, it shouldn't be taken seriously. Unfortunately, many people quickly reacted to it and shared it without giving it a second look. But, if you think about it, how can cannabis make a person "smoke with Satan?" is it possible? Laughable!
Bottom line
Marijuana has become extremely popular in recent times, and with popularity comes a lot of positive and negative experiences. The viral ad was one of such negative attacks on cannabis aimed at frightening people from getting the benefits of cannabis.
In this era of gross misinformation in the social media space, it is easy to get carried away by sensational news. But through intentional fact-checking, you can avoid believing or assimilating such information.
Lastly, if you are a cannabis enthusiast, always remember why you like marijuana, and understand its benefits. If you do, nothing can dissuade you from using this super plant.
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