After Hyping Colorado's 'Marijuana Munchies,' CBS Belatedly Discovers 'Contaminated' Pot
Weeks after the journalists at CBS This Morning hyped the "cannabis capitalism" taking hold in Colorado, the network has come to the belated realization that pot can be "contaminated." The state became the first in the nation to legalize marijuana, but as co-host Norah O'Donnell noted, "the supply can come with its own surprises." [MP3 audio here.]
Reporter Barry Petersen talked to a biologist who tests pot. After asking her what could be in the newly legalized drug, Gennifer Murray responded, "We have found molds, mildew, e-coli." She informed, "...What you can die from is contaminated cannabis."According to Murray, less than ten percent of legalized marijuana in the state is tested. Yet, on January 24, Petersen offered a light-hearted take on the drug sales, noting that "the pot tour ends at a sub shop where Acapulco gold is a sandwich and they're ready to help with those marijuana munchies."
On that day, Petersen happily narrated, "Call it cannabis capitalism, the latest leaf to sprout from legalized marijuana. Michael Eymer's pot tours costs $240 bucks a person."
As though none of this could be foreseen, Petersen on Wednesday updated:
BARRY PETERSEN: Even though marijuana for recreational use was legal in Colorado the first of this year. But since marijuana is still illegal under federal laws, federal agencies won't test this consumer product like they do for almost everything else we eat or drink. So Colorado is on its own and all consumers get is a warning.
The journalist warned viewers, "It's legal here to get high on pot, but as for what you're literally putting in your body, let the buyer beware."
It's commendable that CBS has caught up to the dangers of legalized marijuana, but it makes the January 24 report look quite embarrassing.
On January 1, ABC promoted the "historic" "pot revolution" in Colorado. On The February 18 World News, the network realized that criminals are targeting the marijuana trade. Reporter Clayton Sandell called this the "dark side" of pot.
— Scott Whitlock is Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Scott Whitlock on Twitter.
