A Republican strategist on Fox News apparently thought that individuals who use marijuana inject the drug into their bodies.
During a segment of the Fox News program Outnumbered on Thursday, David Avella, the president of GOPAC, discussed a new resolution put forward by San Francisco officials to refer to former prisoners as "formerly incarcerated person" or former "justice-involved" person or "returning resident" when they complete their sentences. Avella suggested that this kind of approach was somehow leading to other issues, such as people pooping in the streets of the California city.
"California has tried to clear out their prisons and yet every year they continue to have overcrowded prisons," the Republican strategist said. "And the focus ought to be on a society that follows the law, not allowing people to defecate in the streets, not allowing individuals to lay on the street having just shot up with marijuana – or heroin and having a needle sticking out of them."
Although it's unclear whether Avella simply misspoke or actually believes that individuals inject themselves with marijuana, some were quick to point out the gaffe on Twitter. Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is generally ingested through smoking or eating edibles that have been prepared with cannabis oil. It is not "shot up" or injected into the bloodstream.
On Fox News, Republican strategist David Avella indicates he thinks people inject themselves with marijuana ðð pic.twitter.com/ALOlQAZV3Y — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 22, 2019
"On Fox News, Republican strategist David Avella indicates he thinks people inject themselves with marijuana," Vox journalist Aaron Rupar wrote in a Twitter post, including a clip of the gaffe and two emojis, one laughing with tears and the other weeping.
Mediaite reporter Caleb Ecarma also posted the clip, writing: "fox news is very worried about homeless people laying 'in the street having just shot up with marijuana'"
"People forget that weed is always done intravenously," he added.
fox news is very worried about homeless people laying "in the street having just shot up with marijuana"
people forget that weed is always done intravenously pic.twitter.com/RE9Ag9iLPe — Caleb Ecarma (@calebecarma) August 22, 2019
Cannabis is recreationally legal in California, along with 10 other states, although users are not generally permitted to consume it in public. Individuals in California can go to designated cannabis shops and buy a variety of marijuana and marijuana-infused products, including pre-rolled joints to smoke and many different kinds of edibles. Meanwhile, cannabis remains completely illegal under U.S. Federal Law.
Avella's reference to people defecating in the streets in San Francisco is a real issue, however. Reports of city resident's pooping on sidewalks and public areas around the city have increased significantly over the past several years. Back in 2011, there were 5,500 incidents reported in the year, which steadily increased to 28,084 in 2018. Analysts believe the issue is directly related to San Francisco's homeless problem, which has gotten worse as rent prices have rapidly increased.
sh1nes on August 23rd, 2019 at 13:11 UTC »
In the video everyone in the room and them he immediately says er... heroin, clearly the guy just misspoke. But the overall premise of the what he was saying was idiotic, he starts off by saying how the prisons are full and then goes on to say the solution is to put more people in prison for shooting up and making artisanal trump dolls in the middle of the sidewalks. Like pick a lane for your argument, bro.
Fariic on August 23rd, 2019 at 12:57 UTC »
I really hate myself for pointing this out, he did mean to say heroin.
He’s still an absolute moron for the stupid shit he was spewing, and for misspeaking even briefly.
Early80sAholeGuy on August 23rd, 2019 at 12:32 UTC »
As a lifetime pot user, I am SO glad my veins are easy to find.