Christian Message Boards: From Pot to Porn to AARP

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Posted by evanoff (Member # 4176) on :

From Pot to Porn to AARP
By Cliff Kincaid |

December 29, 2004 . . . it's not a laughing matter to anti-drug activists who recognize the use of marijuana cigarettes for "health" reasons as a ploy to soften opposition to the legalization of pot.

The American Association for Retired Persons now calls itself simply "AARP" because some members are offended by the term "retired" and it wants to appeal to younger Americans. But the organization is now trying to explain a far more serious and deceptive practice. It hired an admitted former drug user and dealer as an editor of its 22-million circulation magazine. He has emerged as a spokesman on the so-called "medical marijuana" issue, telling America that seniors might benefit from smoking dope.

AARP confirmed AARP magazine editor Ed Dwyer's curious background, saying that he wrote for High Times magazine and Playboy but had also done work for "quality" publications. AARP said his resum頤idn't include a stint as a writer for Penthouse, but there are several references to that in the public record. What's more, AARP magazine top editor Steven Slon also worked for Penthouse. It turns out he and Dwyer are old friends.

High in America, a book taking an inside look at the drug culture, reported that High Times was described by its founder, drug smuggler Tom Forcade, as being like a "sleazy carnival" with "pills in one room, grass in another, coke in another room, nitrous in the next room, glue in another room, and so on down the hall."

Dwyer didn't respond to my emails and telephone calls. But emerging as a national spokesman for the magazine, Dwyer was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that "The use of medical marijuana applies to many older Americans who may benefit from cannabis." An article and poll results on the issue will appear in the March-April issue. Slon says Dwyer helped edit the marijuana article and claims that it is a balanced treatment, but he wouldn't provide an advance copy.

The poll results were released in advance, generating widespread coverage with Tonight Show comedian Jay Leno cracking, "Nearly 75 percent of elderly Americans approve of the legalization of medical marijuana. And you thought grandpa used to forget stuff before!" But it's not a laughing matter to anti-drug activists who recognize the use of marijuana cigarettes for "health" reasons as a ploy to soften opposition to the legalization of pot.

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