Marlboro M hoax

The Marlboro M Hoax was a false rumor originating from satire news website Abril Uno on April 1, 2016.[1] It was an April Fools prank.

Image of purported Marlboro M appearing in Abril Uno fake news site

Hoax

The article claims that Philip Morris USA, owner of the Marlboro tobacco company, is introducing a new line of marijuana cigarettes called Marlboro M in Colorado and the state of Washington. While fake, the article does have some factual basis, as tobacco companies have shown interest in marijuana since the 1970's.[2] Even though the article was quite obviously satire, the clickbait title was able to make it around the internet before it could be disproved.[3][4] Some users, upon discovering that there were no 'Marlboro M' cigarettes at their local dispensary, claimed that they would be in stock by the end of 2017.[5]

Basis

While the article was proven fake, its claims were able gain widespread belief because of past and current events in cannabis culture, which themselves were true. For example, it is true that tobacco companies, including Phillip Morris, were interested in marijuana as a competing product and potentially investing in the cannabis industry, long before rapid legalization came about.[2][6] Legalization of cannabis in the United States is also a contributing factor to the blind acceptance these claims received, as societal views on marijuana use have largely shifted in recent years.[7] Some tobacco companies have actually began investing in medical marijuana research, as well as joining with marijuana seed investment firms, though they haven't gone as far is to introduce cannabis cigarettes into the market.[8] In 2018 when the hoax appeared, it would be illegal at the US federal level for a large company, such as Philip Morris, to introduce cannabis cigarettes across the country.

References
  1. RapidxHTML. "Phillip Morris Introduces 'Marlboro M' Marijuana Cigarettes". Abril Uno. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  2. BARRY, RACHEL ANN; HIILAMO, HEIKKI; GLANTZ, STANTON A. (June 2014). "Waiting for the Opportune Moment: The Tobacco Industry and Marijuana Legalization". Milbank Quarterly. 92 (2): 207–242. doi:10.1111/1468-0009.12055. ISSN 0887-378X. PMC 4089369. PMID 24890245.
  3. "FACT CHECK: Has Phillip Morris Introduced 'Marlboro M' Marijuana Cigarettes?". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  4. "False: Marlboro Marijuana Cigarettes from Phillip Morris | Leafly". Leafly. 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  5. "r/Cannettes - What are Marijuana Cigarettes Called? (Cannettes)". reddit. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  6. Benson, Thor (2018-09-25). "Big Tobacco Is Already Eyeing Pot". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  7. Carreon, Mary. "New Study Highlights The Social Impacts Of Cannabis Legalization In California". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  8. Williams, Sean (2018-07-22). "Big Tobacco Makes Its First Investment in the Marijuana Industry -- The Motley Fool". The Motley Fool. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
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