News : Author Eric Metaxas Tells Weed-Smokers They “Smell Like Failure”

Eric Metaxas, a Christian author and radio host, faced severe trolling on Twitter this week. A few days ago, he took to the social media platform to recount an awkward encounter he had experienced. According to his story, he was jogging through Central Park when he spotted four minors smoking weed. Without hesitation, he yelled out to them, “Smells like failure!” However, his self-congratulatory and embarrassing story did not go well with Twitter users, who criticized him for his alleged racism.

As he claimed the incident occurred in the mostly Black neighborhood of Harlem, some people believed that Metaxas’ actions stemmed from bigotry. Following the incident, Justice reform activists, social commentators, and others participated in the roast session and hurled many insults such as “nerd,” “narc,” and “total tool” at Metaxas. Despite the backlash, Metaxas has yet to respond to the trolling directly. However, he did share a link to a Telegraph article that explored the alleged connection between weed use and schizophrenia.

Changing The Conversation Around Weed

Late last year, President Joe Biden announced his plan to pardon all federal marijuana offenses. This was a huge step in the right direction for the US. The government has long been criticized for criminalizing weed to the extent that it has. “No one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana,” Biden said at the time. Many people praised the move, but Eric Metaxas obviously disagreed. Moreover, the Biden administration went as far as to acknowledge the disparate rates at which black and brown individuals are affected by the criminalization of marijuana.

“Criminal records for marijuana possession have led to needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And that’s before you address the racial disparities around who suffers the consequences,” the president said in the announcement. “While white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people are arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates.” Again, while this is a step in the right direction, the conversation around weed clearly hasn’t changed for many. Like Metaxas, many others still see marijuana as something dangerous that should be illegal. What do you think of the tweet? Let us know in the comments below.

Twitter Reacts To Metaxas’ Tweet