Use to ensure that a JSON string (if found) is parsed to the equivalent dict in python.
        If the incoming value is already parsed, do nothing. If a string fails to parse, return None.

def _coerce_json_to_collection(self, json_repr):
        """Use to ensure that a JSON string (if found) is parsed to the equivalent dict in python.
        If the incoming value is already parsed, do nothing. If a string fails to parse, return None."""
        if isinstance(json_repr, dict):
            collection = json_repr
        else:
            try:
                collection = anyjson.loads(json_repr)
            except:
                _LOG.warn('> invalid JSON (failed anyjson parsing)')
                return None
        return collection