Here’s a fact: Throughout human history propaganda has been used to push one political agenda or another. Sadly, much of this propaganda has been done for evil and despicable purposes. Think about the Communist witch hunts during the ’50s and how they blacklisted writers and intellectuals and political “undesirables.” Think about the propaganda Hitler and his goons spread against our Jewish brothers and sisters. Think about the propaganda used by the North Korean government to keep its citizens in check. The list goes on and on.

Sadly the propaganda against marijuana—medical or otherwise—is no different.

I can understand someone disagreeing with me or having a different opinion about medical marijuana—I don’t expect everyone to embrace it like I do. But what I don’t like is when lies and misinformation—that’s what propaganda is, isn’t it?—are used to suggest that marijuana use is inherently harmful or dangerous. Unfortunately, this happens. Despite medical and scientific evidence that says otherwise, our opponents will ignore those facts and push lies and misinformation.

What’s also sad is when the ignorant, pundits or the media seize upon tragic events and link them to cannabis to—what?—suggest marijuana was responsible or played a role.

Bullcrap.

Just a few days after the Miami face-chewer incident, media outlets like USA Today and BBC News posted headlines proclaiming that marijuana had been found in the attacker’s system.

Sadly, the same thing happened in the wake of the dreadful shooting in Aurora as well as the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Gifford in Arizona. In both incidents, people went out of their way to play connect-the-dots between an atrocious event and cannabis.

The use of marijuana is linked to violence and crime? That is definitely not a fact.

Even so-called experts don’t have the facts.

Someone who was quoted in USA Today, Dr. Patricia Junquera from the University of Miami, essentially blamed cannabis for the face-chewing episode—or a mixture of cannabis and mental illness.

“It could have been the strain of marijuana . . . such as sativa,” she said.

Really? Marijuana could cause someone to royally flip out and chew someone’s face off? Really, Dr. Junquera?

Bullcrap. To suggest cannabis could cause someone to go all Dawn of the Dead doesn’t know marijuana from margarita. Backed by years of research and science, marijuana can safely treat and bring legitimate relief to people suffering from many conditions and diseases.

And that’s a fact.

Educate yourself about medical marijuana. Do your homework. Get to the truth. Get the facts.