Pubdate: Tue, 08 Sep 2015
Source: Manteca Bulletin (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.mantecabulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3670

CAPED SUPERHERO IS PUSHING POT LEGALIZATION; DOES IT IMPACT KIDS?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A caped green superhero stumping for marijuana 
legalization votes at college campuses and bars in Ohio has sparked 
debate over its impact on children.

"Buddie" is a fuzzy, eversmiling pot bud in a bulging white muscle 
suit with green trunks, gloves and boots. He arrives in a truck 
painted with marijuana leaves declaring: "Yes on legalization."

Children's health advocates opposed to legalization said Buddie is 
reminiscent of Joe Camel, the cartoon dromedary proven so effective 
at marketing cigarettes to teenagers in the 1990s that R.J. Reynolds 
was forced to retire his image. They said the pot mascot makes light 
of a dangerous illegal drug in a manner appealing to kids.

"We didn't believe it when we saw the photos. We were pretty 
shocked," said Nick Lashutka, president of the Ohio Children's 
Hospitals Association that's involved in fighting the legalization 
effort. "This is nothing less than a ploy to market to children."

Responsible Ohio, the campaign seeking in November to legalize 
marijuana for medical and recreational use, said Buddie is nothing 
like Joe Camel. Executive Director Ian James said the mascot is not 
marketing marijuana but asking for votes - and speaking exclusively 
to voting-age students.

"Buddie only addresses people that are 18 and older, and Buddie works 
specifically with voters," James said. "Buddie has no connection with 
anybody under 18 because anybody under 18 can't vote."

Also, James said, Joe Camel's tobacco product was legal whereas 
anyone selling marijuana in Ohio today "would go to jail."

Lashutka said he has children, and it is the younger ones who find 
superheroes most appealing.

"As someone who has a recent college graduate in the family, he's not 
playing with superheroes or watching cartoons, but my younger kids 
are," Lashutka said.

The legalization question is fiercely dividing the state. It would 
make Ohio a rare state to move from total prohibition to total 
legality for those 21 and older. The measure also sets up a network 
of 10 authorized growing sites in the state.

Republicans who control the state Legislature believe the growing 
network to be a monopoly, oligopoly or cartel. They've placed a 
separate issue on the ballot barring such economic arrangements from 
Ohio's constitution without two separate votes of the people.

Amid the intense and expensive fight emerged Buddie.

"They need an attention grabber," said Casey Newmeyer, an assistant 
marketing professor at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead 
School of Management.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom