BAY AREA TV STATIONS REJECT MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION AD

Most Bay Area television stations rejected or apparently ignored a
new advertisement urging Californians to reconsider legalizing and
taxing marijuana as a way to help close the state's gaping budget
deficit, the ad's sponsors say.

Marijuana Policy Project communications director Bruce Mirken said
NBC affiliate KTVU and ABC affiliate KGO rejected the ad, while CBS
affiliate KPIX and Fox affiliate KTVU "never got back to us with rate
cards." The ad will begin airing today on KRON, on stations in
Sacramento and Los Angeles, and statewide on cable news channels CNN,
Headline News, MSNBC and CNBC.

Mirken said KNTV offered no explanation beyond an e-mail stating,
"Standards rejected the spot." KNTV president and general manager
Rich Cerussi confirmed his station rejected the ad, but wouldn't
comment as to why.

KGO had said it was "not comfortable" with the ad, Mirken said; calls
and e-mails to that station weren't returned Tuesday.

"We are appalled. This is a debate that the governor of California
has said our state should have," Mirken said Tuesday, noting the ad
doesn't promote smoking marijuana or any other illegal act.

"It's just mind-boggling that TV stations would refuse to let this
absolutely legitimate public policy debate be on their airwaves. How
can we have democracy if we can't have open debate?"

The Field Poll in April found 56 percent of California voters favor
legalizing marijuana for recreational use and taxing its proceeds.
Days later, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said "it's time for a debate"
over this, and urged a study including international comparisons to
examine impacts of such a policy.

The 30-second ad notes huge cuts to schools, health care, police and
state parks are in the offing due to the state's budget crisis.

"Instead of being treated like criminals for using a substance safer
than alcohol, we want to pay our fair share," a spokeswoman says in
the ad. "Taxes from California's marijuana industry could pay the
salaries of 20,000 teachers. Isn't it time?"