Washington, DC: Representatives from the CBS Corporation and Neutron Media Screen Marketing have rejected a paid advertisement from the NORML Foundation, the educational arm of the National Organization of Marijuana Laws (NORML), that was intended to appear on the CBS Super Screen billboard in New York City's Times Square.
The fifteen-second ad, which asserts that taxing and regulating the adult use and sale of marijuana would raise 'billions of dollars in national revenue, was scheduled to appear on CBS's 42nd Street digital billboard beginning on Monday, February 1, 2010.
Representatives from Neutron Media approached NORML in mid-January about placing the ad, which was scheduled to air 18 times per day for a two-month period. The NORML Foundation entered into a contractual agreement with Neutron Media to air two separate NORML advertisements, and produced an initial ad exclusively for broadcast on the CBS digital billboard.
Days after NORML's submitted the ad, the organization received the following e-mail, dated February 3, from a representative from Neutron Media stated: "I just received word from CBS and they will not approve your ad. If CBS changes their morals we will let you know."
NORML's 15-seond animated advertisement is available online here:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].
Commenting on CBS' last minute rejection of the ad, NORML Foundation Executive Allen St. Pierre said, "Major media corporations like CBS have no problem airing programming that allows them to profit off the public's interest in marijuana and marijuana law reform, such as Showtime's hit series Weeds and the CBSnews.com online series 'Marijuana Nation.' Yet these same corporate entities balk at airing media that calls on reforming America's criminal marijuana policies – policies that have led directly to the arrest of over 20 million Americans since 1965. How can advocates be expected to change these failed policies when those that control America's airwaves refuse to allow them a public forum to voice their point of view?"
According to the results of a December 2009 Angus Reid survey, fifty-three percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana.
St. Pierre continued: "University studies show that regulating the adult use of marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol would raise over $30 billion annually in new tax revenue, while saving an addition $15 billion per year in law enforcement costs. The content of NORML's ad is based on sound, readily identifiable data. Moreover, the message of NORML's advertisement is supported by a majority of the public. CBS' denial of this ad spot is based on the company's political and cultural bias and nothing more."
Last summer NORML entered into negotiations with CBS to launch a live Saturday night radio broadcast on the corporation's ChatAboutIt.com talk radio network. CBS representatives initially agreed to the programming, but then abruptly canceled the contract after NORML had raised the funding to produce its first show.
In 2009, the NORML Foundation launched the first-ever nationwide television ad campaign calling for the regulation of marijuana by adults. The Foundation purchased over 7,500 ad buys on prominent cable networks like CNBC, Fox News, G4, and FX. The ad campaign did not air on CBS-affiliated networks.
Washington: Senate Lawmakers Expand Medical Marijuana Law
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Olympia, WA: Senate lawmakers voted 37 to 11 last week to expand Washington's nearly twelve-year-old medical marijuana law.
Senators approved S.B. 5798, which allows certain health care professionals – including naturopaths, physician's assistants, osteopathic physicians, and advanced registered nurse practitioners – to legally recommend marijuana therapy to their patients.
Under present law, only licensed physicians may legally recommend medicinal cannabis.
The measure now awaits action from House lawmakers. The measure is scheduled to be heard before members of the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Thursday, February 18, 2010.
New Hampshire: Committee Approves Marijuana Decriminalization Measure
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Concord, NH: Members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 16 to 2 on Thursday in favor of legislation to reduce marijuana possession penalties to a civil infraction.
As amended, House Bill 1653 would reduce the penalties for minor marijuana possession offenses (up to 1/4 of one ounce) from a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine to a nominal monetary penalty of no more than $200.00.
The measure now awaits action from the full House.
To date, 13 states have decriminalized the possession of marijuana for personal use.
Subject: Weed Front News 
Thu 11 Feb 2010, 8:55 pm