Just say No to the Nanny State

The Candy Counter: Georgia Set to Ban Sales of Marijuana-Flavored Lollipops to Kids

Seems incredibly silly to me to outlaw a flavor. The candy does not actually contain any harmful ingredients, so treating it the same as substances that do actually contain items deamed harmful is not a good policy. It should be treated like root beer, another harmless product that simulates drug usage. Don't believe me? just look at all the advertising and the imagery involving foamy mugs of root beer as opposed to glasses of it. No great harm has ever come of this marketing of root beer. Next thing you know a nanny state will seek to ban root beer and toy guns saying that they lead to alcoholism and violent shootings. Barbie will be forced to get breast reduction due to parents being pressured by their teenage daughter that they want breast enhancement surgery. The list could go on and on.

The issue is similar to the complaints about the use of cartoon characters to market to kids. Do kids generally purchase the breakfast cereals on their tables, or the snacks in their lunchboxes? No parents do. The problem isn't with companies advertizing to kids, it with parents who cave into the kids throwing temper tantrums if they can't get the product they want. If parents would actually begin to take responsibility, and take the time to instruct their children about why they do things, lay down the law on who makes the descisions, and discipline the children for improper behavior when they throw tantrums, then and only then will we come anywhere near being able to make a serious impact on these issues.

I don't need the government to protect me from advertising, I'm quite capable of making up my own mind about what I see. Parents should instruct their own kids in morals and good judgement and not rely on the government to do so. They should also be more involved in the lives of their kids and take the time to understand the environment that the kids live in as well as getting together with other parents to collectively address issues in their communities pertaining to the children. There are all sorts of civic and religious groups that can be mobilized for protests and boycotts. If mommy and daddy are too preoccupied with their own lives to do so, they should have thought about that before making babies.

So if your kid buys a pot lollypop and you don't like it, look in the mirror first.