Mena Star Republishes Pro-Marijuana Puff Piece, Fails to Mention Drug’s Dangers

Earlier this month The Mena Star republished a pro-marijuana news column on its website.

The Mena Star covers state and local news for Polk County. The column originally appeared on the website 247wallst.com.

The column claims that “Besides smoking for pleasure, many use marijuana for medical reasons, including the relief of chronic pain, insomnia, nausea, tremors associated with Parkinson’s Disease, and anxiety.” However, it fails to cite any scientific evidence that marijuana actually helps alleviate these conditions.

The article also claims that marijuana legalization “has been a boon for government coffers” in states where it is legal. However, it fails to mention that legalization has forced states to spend taxpayer dollars on enforcement and that recreational marijuana has actually further fueled illegal drug activity in states like Oregon and California.

The news column also completely fails to mention that marijuana use is linked to deadly heart disease and stroke as well as schizophrenia and psychosis.

The article implies that Arkansas could somehow benefit from legalizing marijuana, but it ignores this basic fact: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Planned Parenthood PAC Reports No Activity in Arkansas This Year

Last week Planned Parenthood’s political action committee filed its quarterly activity report with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office.

Planned Parenthood has long been the nation’s leading abortion provider, and has supported candidates who favor abortion in Arkansas.

Last week’s reports reveal Planned Parenthood’s PAC has conducted virtually no political activity in Arkansas this year.

The PAC currently has $11,966 on hand that it could give to candidates ahead of the 2024 elections.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been reversed and abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, groups like Planned Parenthood are turning their attention toward state elections and legislation.

With that in mind, Planned Parenthood could use its PAC in Arkansas to try to influence public policy or public opinion on abortion in the coming months.