cannabisnews.com: 138 Million in Savings from Marijuana Legalization 138 Million in Savings from Marijuana Legalization Posted by CN Staff on September 29, 2003 at 09:40:57 PT Press Release Source: U.S. Newswire Greenfield, Mass. -- Marijuana legalization could save the jobs of 3,450 police, firefighters and teachers according to a new billboard campaign launched on major eastern Massachusetts' highways. The advertisements are located in Boston, Cambridge, Westboro and Lowell. The ads were placed by Change the Climate to educate taxpayers about the true cost of marijuana law enforcement in Massachusetts. The four billboards announce that $138 million could be freed up to pay for local services if marijuana was legalized and taxed in Massachusetts. This campaign is one of two that Change the Climate has launched this September as part of its "Legalize Marijuana" advertising effort. The other campaign is in Washington, DC. The billboards show pictures of a fire fighter, a teacher and a nurse and reads "$138 million to save local services . . . Legalize and Tax Marijuana. Details at -- http://www.changetheclimate.org/ " Joseph White, founder and executive director of Change the Climate explains, "Thousands of teachers, police and fire fighters are being laid off across the state when we need them the most. We have the opportunity to fund many essential services if we legalize marijuana - and we will make it less accessible to our teenagers as well."The billboards are located in Boston on the I-93 Central Artery, west of Blackstone Street, in Cambridge on Msg. O'Brien Highway, north of Land Blvd., in Westboro on Route 9, near Interstate 495, and on Interstate 495 in Lowell. Exact locations can be obtained through Clear Channel Outdoor in Stoneham, Mass.The advertising campaign uses information from a major economic study conducted by Boston University Economics Professor Jeffery Miron. Change the Climate commissioned the study that shows $121 million could be saved if Massachusetts legalized marijuana, and an additional $17 million could be raised if marijuana sales were regulated and taxed for adult purchase."Massachusetts voters have choices that affect the quality of life in our communities. One of those choices is whether taxpayers pay for quality local services like police and fire protection or for arresting and prosecuting people for marijuana violations," continues White, a father of three who lives in Greenfield.White explains, "Our campaign gives voice to this colossal waste of money. The economic downturn in Massachusetts has taken a huge toll in local communities so we need new ways of thinking to pay for the services we value most. Most taxpayers would chose educating their children over arresting, prosecuting and jailing people for marijuana violations."Change the Climate is a national organization of parents and business people who believe that restrictive marijuana laws endanger our children and squander our tax dollars. Change the Climate has conducted advertising campaigns in Washington DC, California and Nevada. It has also sued the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) for denying advertising space to the organization in a much-watched First Amendment case. More information on other advertising campaigns, including downloadable ads and Professor Miron's report, is available at: http://www.changetheclimate.org/Complete Title: Billboard Campaign Highlights $138 Million in Local Services Savings from Marijuana LegalizationContact: Joseph White of Change the Climate, 413-773-0555 (cell) or 413-774-4080, or Bob Schaeffer, 239-395-6773Source: U.S. NewswirePublished: September 29, 2003Copyright 2003 U.S. Newswire Website: http://www.usnewswire.com/ Contact: http://www.usnewswire.com/contactusn.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Change The Climatehttp://www.changetheclimate.org/Good Riddance To Sex-and-Marijuana Ads http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17419.shtmlTrooper Made Poster Boy For Marijuana Billboardhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17279.shtmlMetro Ad Campaign Features Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17255.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Had Enough on September 29, 2003 at 17:52:49 PT Are we looking at a Silver Bullet Hmmm, While talking in the past to some wealthy businessmen, the comment has come up, If you want my time talk to me about money. Hmmm, maybe this Change the Climate organization is on to something. With bad economic times, people seeing themselves, relatives & neighbors losing jobs, or working for less pay, and government from Mayberry RFD. to New York City, and all the way to San Francisco, keep raising, property tax, sales tax in some instances creating new taxes and other taxes disguised as fees (the car tax in California comes to mind, street light fees in others, and on and on etc..), to help bail them out of financial trouble. Maybe, just maybe this issue will become clearer & clearer to the voting folks that pay these taxes and fees, and do not know the real truth about how much this bureaucracy is costing them Hmmm. More campaigns like this might very well be effective and help push the issue over the top of the hill. Think about it. The best part of it, it is the real truth, no lies needed. It can't be disputed as long as the proper figures are used. This might be the silver bullet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on September 29, 2003 at 10:37:49 PT lack of money will help legalize cannabis Minds can be changed, although it is a difficult task."Faced with the choice between changeing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy with the proof." John Kenneth Galbraith."http://www.jimloy.com/pseudo/pseudo.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 29, 2003 at 10:29:47 PT: Protect Our Children - Regulate Marijuana I would like to see the ads, that ONDCP runs, turned against them. Parents are very conscious of alcohol and cigarettes laying around the house and teach their children that they have to be of legal age to indulge in these products. Simply legalize and regualte marijuana if you truly care about our adolescents. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment