Pubdate: Thu, 31 Mar 2016
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2016 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Mary Jane Doe

WEED TV

Vice Media Creates a Buzz With "Weediquette" Show

Krishna Andavolu tackles a controversial issue in the first episode 
of his new show Weediquette: Parents who turn to concentrated 
cannabis oil to fight cancer.

Weediquette, which airs weekly on the Vice Media's new channel 
Viceland, launched a TV segment where Andavolu called his mom to 
share some good news.

"I got the new show," Andavolu told her. "It is about weed."

"Oh no," she replied. "Don't smoke it on camera."

The exchange sets the tone for the show: Andavolu allows the audience 
to witness private moments as he deals with a tough subject matter.

Weediquette, which has been online, works because of Andavolu. He 
appears genuine and treats the sensitive subject of the show with 
respect and the audience benefits from it.

Fans of Vice Media may be familiar with Andavolu and Weediquette, 
which has run as a web series. One of the webisodes featured Andavolu 
smoking a joint with the then-President of Uruguay Jose Mujica as 
they talked about the South American country legalizing marijuana.

In the first episode, "Stoned Kids," Andavolu goes to a family BBQ 
for kids with cancer who medicate with marijuana. This is not a 
typical story about a child and weed. These kids are stoned.

Kids taking highly concentrated doses of cannabis oil is a great 
first episode for a TV show about weed. One of the most often debated 
issues about the legalization of marijuana is the impact on children.

Somewhere out there Helen Lovejoy is screaming, "Won't someone please 
think of the children?"

Andavolu does.

"Seeing stoned kids still weirds me out," Andavolu said.

Weediquette is obviously a show about cannabis, but it feels more 
like a show about people.

The show embraces science. Andavolu's history degree came in handy as 
he thought through cannabis treatment for children.

After reminding viewers that chemotherapy was developed from a WWII 
mustard gas disaster, Andavolu suggested that using marijuana isn't 
that radical an idea.

"If mustard gas, then why not weed?" Andavolu wondered.

Andavolu spoke with Dr. Donald Abrams, the chief of 
Hematology-Oncology Division at San Francisco General Hospital.

"I recommend cannabis to patients on a daily basis," Abrams told Andavolu.

A constant theme throughout the show is how hard it is to do clinical 
studies, leading to a lack of research. One mother acknowledged that 
her child "is a guinea pig." With marijuana being federally illegal, 
there can be no FDA regulation of the medicine.

The show acknowledged the possibility that some may take advantage of 
desperate people and sell them "snake oil." Andavolu even took 
samples to The Werc Shop and their cannabis testing machines.

"I like to think of myself as a cannabis testing machine," Andavolu 
jokes to Mark Raber, co-Founder of The Werc Shop.

That is really all Andavolu could verify until meaningful research 
into the positive effects of marijuana are done.

Andavolu did take his mother's advice and did not smoke in the first 
episode, but he did get high. The episode dealt with cannabis 
concentrate oil and children being treated with it. Andavolu tried a 
small beginner's dose of THC oil. He shared his high with the audience.

"I am being hugged by my highness," Andavolu said.

Must-see TV.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom