The Kenyan court’s push for a broader debate on cannabis policy is a breath of fresh air, but oh, you can bet the corporate media will spin this into another “let’s play nice” narrative. Outfits like CNN and BBC want you to believe it’s all about “health discussions” and “socio-economic benefits.” Spare us the feel-good fluff; this is about control. The establishment can’t let go of the narrative that cannabis is the devil’s lettuce. They’d rather keep the populace in the dark while we all inhale those sweet, fragrant liberties being threatened.

While outlets like Fox News often have their agenda with sensationalized crime reports surrounding drugs, they miss the bigger picture: a potential turning point in a nation’s policies and an economic opportunity ripe for the picking. Meanwhile, the likes of CNN will focus on cautionary tales rather than highlight the economic benefits that could be argued—job creation, revenue from taxation, and, shocker, the demystifying of a plant that’s been vilified for far too long.

Kenya standing at the edge of a pivotal policy change is important, but mainstream media’s job is to control the narrative. Instead of embracing an open debate, they sidestep real issues to maintain the old status quo. The urgent need for dialogue shouldn’t be drowned out by fearmongering or cherry-picked studies showing the ‘dangers’ of cannabis. Time to reclaim the narrative and get real about our cannabis policies.