Nov 11, 2008
A news story from a Bend, Oregon TV station bears the alarming headline, "Medical Marijuana's Link to Crime." As this is becoming a recurring subgenre of local news stories, it bears some comment.
The gist of this and similar stories is that sometimes people who possess or grow medical marijuana get robbed. Well, sure. So do people who possess other items of value -- jewelry, cars, high-end electronics, etc.
For example, 1995 Honda Civics were the most-stolen vehicle in 2007 according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, but we have yet to see any news stories shouting, "Honda Civics Linked to Crime!"
What's happening, of course, is that some in law enforcement are trying to blame the victim in order to discredit medical marijuana, and some in the media are acting as their unwitting accomplices.