INTERCITY TRANSIT BUS AD FEATURING MARIJUANA LEAF UPSETS SOME

An advertisement featuring a marijuana leaf that's on the sides of
some Intercity Transit buses has drawn complaints.

Intercity Transit received complaints from two residents and one bus
operator about the content of the Olympia Hempfest ad, which includes
the image of a marijuana leaf and the phrase "Equal Rights are for
Everybody," said Meg Kester, an agency spokeswoman. The Olympian also
received a complaint about the advertisements.

Intercity Transit forbids advertising on its buses that is obscene,
defamatory, racist, sexist or "that is directed at producing imminent
lawless action and is likely to produce such action." The agency does
not endorse any issue or product advertised on its buses, the
exception being self-promotion, according to its policies. All
political and issue advertisements identify who sponsored them.

The quoted language is taken from a landmark 1969 U.S. Supreme Court
case on the limits of free speech, Brandenburg v. Ohio.

For more information, see Page A1 in Monday's Olympian.