Stoner sloth 'doesn't reflect' researchers' views

Australian medical experts are distancing themselves from a much-ridiculed anti-cannabis campaign featuring a stoned sloth and want their name taken off it.

The New South Wales Government has made international headlines over the weekend over the 'You're worse on weed' campaign.

It's had viewers wondering whether the government might have been smoking themselves when creating it.

The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) will reportedly ask the NSW government to retract the claim it's centre's research is behind the stoner sloth campaign.

"NCPIC was not advised of or consulted about creative concept - the Stoner Sloth idea - and learnt of it at the same point as all other Australians when the campaign was released this week," the centre said in a statement.

The adverts feature a stoned sloth in various situations, including at the family dinner table and in the classroom. There are also gifs to go with it such as: "When you realise you should have hit the books not the bong", "When your mate got blazed but isn't blazing through the exam" and "Stoned at dinner and the struggle is real".

"While we wish the NSW government luck in future cannabis campaigns, the current Stoner Sloth campaign doesn't reflect NCPIC views on how cannabis harms campaigns should be approached, as was implied by the media," the centre said.

The videos have gone viral but not for the right reasons - with gifs, memes and parody videos popping up over the internet taking the mickey.

News outlet headlines have read, "What were these writers smoking?" and "Is this even for real".

Australian Premier Mike Baird even tweeted about the safety of sloths in the campaign.

I've been assured no sloths were harmed in the making of those #StonerSloth ads.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) December 19, 2015

Others have also jumped on the bandwagon:

Where's the rest of the #stonersloth gang? Like 'Alcoholic Ant', 'Meth Meerkat' or 'Ectasy Eagle'? The whole crew needs their own show #420
— Jarryd Watson (@_ultramegaman_) December 20, 2015