While a recent story from WJBK-TV attempts to paint a humorous picture surrounding the burning of an illegal marijuana grow operation in Michigan, the reporting of this unfortunate event reveals just how far we must go before we fully change the public opinion of cannabis.

According to the story, Detroit firefighters were called out over the weekend to put out a house fire on the city’s west side. However, while fighting the blaze, several firemen smelled the odor of weed burning, which led to the discovery of around 30 pot plants in the house.

During the televised report, firefighters joked about having the munchies after putting out the fire, which is exactly the type of statement we have come to expect after an incident such as this. Unfortunately, a pastor for an alcohol and addiction ministry, located across the street from where the fire occurred, felt the need to offer his misguided insight into the situation. When the reporter asked if he was surprised that marijuana was found in his neighborhood, he said no, but “that’s why were are in this community to help with issues like that."

The reporter goes on to explain that the marijuana had been destroyed by the fire, "and so has an apparent drug house."

It seems that WJBK-TV has forgotten that marijuana is legal in Michigan for medical use, and there is both legislation and a voter initiative currently being run through the system in an effort to legalize a statewide cannabis industry. So to insist that a marijuana grow operation is a drug house is simply bad reporting, which is just one of the reasons it has been so difficult to sway public opinion across the nation to consistently side with the legalization of a plant that is far less harmful than house fires or cut rate journalists.

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