GROUPS SUE FOR MARIJUANA ADS ON METRO

The American Civil Liberties Union and three drug policy reform groups
filed a lawsuit yesterday in U.S. District Court against Metro and the
federal government, challenging a law that bars transit systems from
accepting advertising about legalizing marijuana.

Late last year, Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) said he was angered by
advertising on the Metro that encouraged decriminalization of
marijuana. Istook inserted an amendment into the omnibus bill passed
by Congress that denies federal money to any transit system that
accepts ads promoting "the legalization or medical use" of marijuana
and other controlled substances.

Last week, Change the Climate tried to buy $ 91,875 in ad space on
Metrobuses, but the transit agency refused. "We have no choice but to
follow the law that Congress passed and the president signed," Metro
spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said, noting that Metro does not want to
risk the $170 million it receives in federal money each year.

"Congress is trying to block needed political change by censoring
speech that gives the public the facts about drugs and drug laws,"
said Arthur B. Spitzer, legal director of the ACLU of the National
Capital Area.