Setting my DVR for “Weed Wars”

November 27, 2011

As detailed on this official website, the Discovery Channel will begin broadcasting this coming week a new four-part series titled “Weed Wars.” Here is how the website describes the series:

Oakland’s Harborside Health Center is the nation’s largest medicinal cannabis dispensary. Founder and executive director Steve DeAngelo has made twin missions of providing the best possible product to the patients who make up his client base, and educating the rest of the country about the regulation and taxation of those goods. WEED WARS takes an up close and personal look at the reality of running a controversial medicinal cannabis business.

And here is a notable Viewer Advisory for the series:

Weed Wars contains scenes depicting the cultivation, sale and consumption of medical marijuana in California. While selling and using marijuana for medicinal purposes with a valid permit is legal under California law, it is a crime under Federal law and could result in jail time and other penalties. Viewers should not attempt the activities depicted in this program. Viewer discretion is advised.

I wonder if the US Attorney in California who talked about going after media that ran medical marijuana ads (story blogged here) has thought about going after the Discovery Channel for producing and airing this show. US Attorney Laura Duffy said last month that she was troubled by media advertising of the medical marijuana industry, complaining: “It’s gone mainstream. Not only is it inappropriate — one has to wonder what kind of message we’re sending to our children — it’s against the law.” On that theory, she should be especially concerned about the message being sent by the Discovery Channel through this show, and perhaps these is a set of indictments in the works awaiting the airing of this show. I hope not, but one never knows how the feds war against pot will find expression in California these days.

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