Drew Carey's Online Pitch for Medical Pot

By SANDY COHEN,

Posted: 2007-11-02 14:51:43

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 2) - Bob Barker famously closed each episode of "The Price Is Right" with a pitch to spay and neuter pets. His successor is taking a stand on a more controversial subject: marijuana. Drew Carey won't tout toking up on "Price," but he defends the use of medical marijuana in a video posted online Thursday on Reason.tv.

"Smell that smell," the 49-year-old comedian says as he walks into a Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary. "That's the smell of freedom."

Photo Gallery: Pot Appreciation

http://reason.tv

Drew Carey has linked up with libertarian-minded think tank Reason Foundation to produce a series of videos that will discuss issues such as eminent domain, immigration and, in their newest offering, medical marijuana.

1 of 11

The video is one of 20 Carey will host for the Reason Foundation, a nonprofit educational group whose ideas "some people call libertarian" and whose mission is to "advance freedom," said president David Nott.

Carey offered to produce brief documentaries on topics ranging from traffic congestion to immigration for the foundation's Web site, Nott said.

'Medical Marijuana' | More at Reason.tv

"Drew Carey connects with regular people. ... He has a regular guy's look at things, and that's why this seems like a great thing," he said. "We're interested in freedom across the spectrum, and good journalism about these subjects is important in the world of ideas."

It's Carey's everyman appeal that likely helped him land the coveted job as host of "The Price Is Right." But executives from CBS and Fremantle Media, which produces "Price," had no comment Thursday about Carey's extracurricular work.

Carey also declined to comment Thursday, but he's not shy about his position on medical marijuana.

"I think it's clear by now that the federal government needs to reclassify marijuana," Carey says in the video. "People who need it should be able to get it - safely and easily."

Though medical marijuana might be controversial, media experts and fans of "The Price Is Right" said Carey's political punditry will have little, if any, effect on the stalwart show or the comedian's career.

"Twenty years ago, this would have been career suicide," said longtime celebrity publicist Michael Levine. "But in the early part of the 21st century, a guy like Drew Carey can come out with his position, and it will not injure him."

Shawn Wells, a 32-year-old office worker from Taylorville, Ill., who has identified himself online as a "Price is Right" fan, said in a telephone interview that Carey's political self-expression is "not going to impact me whatsoever."

"In this day and age, where everything is electronic, everybody knows everything about everyone," he said. "Twenty years ago, Drew Carey could have had the same views and nobody would have known or thought anything of it."

This Week in Pop Culture July 21 - July 27

July 21, 1989: Weird Al Yankovic's cinematic opus 'UHF' opens. The musical satirist leads an all-star cast that includes Michael Richards, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson and Billy Barty. It will gross more than $6 million.

Jeff Kravitz, Film Magic

July 21, 1987: 'Entertainment Tonight' host Mary Hart has her legs insured by Lloyd's of London for $2 million.

Bob Riha Jr, Wire Image

July 22, 1965: Screen legend Cary Grant weds Dyan Cannon in Las Vegas. Things sour quickly and less than three years later they engage in a bitter divorce during which she testifies that he would spank her, lock her in her room and take LSD.

July 23, 1982: Actor Vic Morrow and two child actors are killed by an out of control helicopter on the set of 'Twilight Zone: The Movie.' Following a four-year trial, director John Landis and other crew members are acquitted of responsibility.

Everett Collection

July 23, 1984: Suzette Charles becomes the second black woman to hold the title of Miss America after Vanessa Williams, the first black woman to wear the crown, is forced to abdicate her title amid the uproar over old nude photos of her that are published in Penthouse magazine.

Bettmann, Corbis

July 24, 1990: Judas Priest faces a wrongful death suit brought by parents of two fans who had committed suicide. The families allege the kids were inspired by subliminal messages that can be heard if the band's song 'Better By You, Better Than Me' is played backwards. The band is eventually acquitted.

Paul Natkin, Image Direct / Wire Image

July 25, 1990: Roseanne Barr sparks outrage when she butchers the National Anthem before a San Diego Padres game and caps off her performance by grabbing her crotch and spitting on the ground.

Joan Fahrenthold, AP

July 25, 1980: Just five months after the death of lead singer Bon Scott, AC/DC, with new front man Brian Johnson, release 'Back in Black.' It will sell more than 42 million copies worldwide, making it the second-best selling album of all time, after only 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson.

Chris Walter, Wire Image

July 25, 1995: Legendary singer Nina Simone fires a pellet gun at a pair of noisy teenagers playing next door to her home in France, hitting one of them in the leg. She is given an eight-month suspended sentence and ordered to get psychological treatment.

Michel Gangne, AFP / Getty Images

July 26, 2006: Former *NSYNC member Lance Bass announces to PEOPLE magazine and the world that he's gay. Soon after his coming out, he will start dating 2003 'Amazing Race' winner Reichen Lehmkuhl.

Scott Wintrow, Getty Images

Older "Price" viewers could be turned off by Carey's politics, Wells said, "but I don't think it will make a huge difference."

Since Carey is so new to "Price," he's taking a risk speaking out on such a controversial topic, said Bonnie Diczhazy, who runs a "Price Is Right" fan site. People naturally connect him with the show, said Diczhazy, a 38-year-old artist from Cleveland.

But his outspokenness could also earn him new fans.

"The younger generation could learn something," she said, adding that the medical-marijuana video "doesn't affect whether or not I watch the show at all."

"'Price Is Right' is an icon in and of itself," she said. "I don't think (Carey's videos) would stop people from watching."

Carey's mini-documentaries will appear every two weeks through the end of the year on Reason.tv, Nott said. Future topics include eminent domain, school choice and immigration.

Meanwhile, "The Price Is Right" host will continue to close daily episodes with Barker's traditional spay-and-neuter refrain.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-11-02 07:13:44

Read Related Blogs and Articles

Bookmark

Recent Comments

Post Your Own

1 - 15 of 2603

2603 comments

huge34735 11:01:52 PM Nov 17 2007

Report This!

I used to smoke weed alot. But then, I got an anoxic brain injury, from a hospital ******* up, so I have not smoked in years. I need it.

chikisses4me 02:53:30 PM Nov 14 2007

Report This!

Things that make you go hmmmmmm................

edwardretusaf 11:26:00 AM Nov 09 2007

Report This!

Cigarette, Alochol, all taxed by our government. Proven Killers. But they're worried about smoking pot.

moerulz4evr 07:51:20 PM Nov 05 2007

Report This!

ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT SAY POT DONT HURT ANYONE READ THIS;THREE THUGS BROKE IN TO A HOUSE IN MY TOWN LOOKING FOR MONEY AND POT,TIED UP AND PISTOL WHIPED A MAN AND WOMAN,THEN HELD A GUN TO THE HEAD OF A 7 MONTH OLD BABY DEMANDING''ALL THE WEED''.POT CAN KILL OTHERS AND DESTORY FAMILYS.IT PUTS MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THUGS AND KILLERS.IT LEADS TO STRONGER DRUGS AND MAKES YOU LAZY AND LOSE YOUR SHORT TEARM MEMORIES.ALL THEM THAT SAY POT IS GOOD ARE JUST FOOLING THEIR SELFS.

moerulz4evr 07:51:16 PM Nov 05 2007

Report This!

wildernesslady61 04:04:52 PM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

I agree 100%, That pot should be legal, I am a 62 year old woman, and I see no reason, at all that pot does harm, pot is a weed, that God put on this Earth for a purpose, and I am Glad that we all have our opions, about the use of pot, this is my statement,its berrter then popping a bunch of pain pills, better then crack cokecaine,better the snorting cokecain, better then all the harmfull stuff that we put into our bodies, face it. I am for Pot. Drew GO fo it, Tell the world, we all ready know that Pot is good for you. thank you Gigi Messick

originallarry 10:43:17 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

Im a 61 yr old man,I love the price is right,Ive never been a drew fan.I smoked in my early 20s as a young man,and never touched marijuana, since then,Dont have any medical reasons to need it,I have three sons all over 21 and all did 4 yrs at major schools,I nor any of my sons have ever been arrested I am now going back to school to work on my Masters, Ive traveled to numerous countrys in South and Cental America along with many countrys in Asia , I say all of this so you will know alittle about me and my life.and undlerstand the nature of the man thats about to say 1)people like Sim 523 get on my last nerves,People like them take no responsibility for raiseing there own kids,they want every famous or rich person in society to set examples that THEY believe in and when that person act or endorse something that is different,that famous or rich person catchs hell. You are the parent,You set the examples,you want your kids to follow.Dont leave those examples for me,Ive set the exampl

slm523 08:49:36 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

I am MORE THAN DISAPPOINTED that Carey has taken this stance while he is still in his infancy of THE PRICE IS RIGHT. I am SURE Bob Barker is as disgusted with the rest of us and if Don Imus can be booted off the RADIO.....I think Carey should be BOOTED OFF THE PRICE IS RIGHT.....This is RIDICULOUS and should be STOPPED IMMEDIATELY.....IF NOT SOONER.

This is NO EXAMPLE TO SET for our children and grandchildren and I will NEVER watch the PRICE AGAIN....UNTIL CAREY IS REMOVED.

slm523 08:49:26 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

knute9 07:47:26 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

The War on Marijuana has be going on now for 70 years. More people smoke pot today, by percentage, than in 1937. The only thing wasted is tax money. We are paying far more taxes today because the prohibition of marijuana. All the wasted money on enforcement, judicial, and prison systems. Also all the lost tax monies by not taxing it. Talk about waste in government. It is well known that Al Capone was a big supporter of the prohibition of alcohol. Why? There's a lot more profit to made in the untaxed market. There's so much profit that Capone bribed numerous politicians and law enforcement officials. Now you see polls where consistently over 80% that the American public agrees with legalization of marijuana. Why isn't the government listening to the citizens of the country? It should be an issue in the presidential debates.

shotzisgirl 07:04:48 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

was that comment meant for me? haha - if it was - I really don't know what you're talking about

Jnjenniferlopez 07:00:40 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

did you ever posted your profile to a celebrity and millioniare dating site called billionairecupid.com? I just saw your profile yesterday on that site.

shotzisgirl 06:50:45 AM Nov 04 2007

Report This!

hi everyone! I am a 50 year old that has ms. There are no drugs that help the sort of pain that I have on a daily basis! Oh yea - there is oxycontin - ugh! I agree with what someone has posted that alcohol is the one that should be illegal - I have seen the effects of alcoholism all around me!
I also know of fellower ms-rs that are in a wheelchair and rely on pot to get them through their day. I know of a woman - She shows up at high schools to find someone that will sell her some because that is the only way that she can find relief!. that is an embarresment to us - neurological disorders are a real thing and should not be pushed under the table because of a few people that refuse to look at the truth!
Who here has the right to tell them they can not have it?