cannabisnews.com: Pro-Marijuana Group Given Free Ad Space on Buses Pro-Marijuana Group Given Free Ad Space on Buses Posted by CN Staff on November 12, 2003 at 22:21:46 PT By Melanie Hunter, Deputy Managing Editor Source: CNSNews.com A group lobbying for the legalization of marijuana ran ads touting a side benefit to the use of pot - better sex - and posted the ads on buses, at bus shelters and subway stations for several weeks in Washington, D.C., free of charge, courtesy of the local metro transit system. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority receives federal taxpayer money to help keep it operating.Change the Climate's ads were featured on buses and bus shelters throughout the Washington, D.C. area on Sept. 1, with additional ads that were launched Oct. 1 in area subway stations. None of the ads is currently running. The ad featured a man holding a woman, and underneath the picture were the words "Enjoy better sex! Legalize and tax marijuana."U.S. Reps. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), Henry Brown (R-S.C.), Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) who chairs the House Republican Study Committee, and Mark Souder (R-Ind.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, sent a letter last week to Richard White, general manager and chief executive officer of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, demanding accountability."As you know, in recent days there has been a public outcry regarding the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)'s decision to allot free advertising space to Change the Climate, an organization that supports the legalization of marijuana," the House members wrote."It is our understanding that WMATA has decided to review its advertising policy and to require that in the future non-profit organizations pay for the use of WMATA advertising space. While this proposed policy change might address some of the fiscal concerns surrounding lost advertising revenue, the larger concerns regarding overall advertising standards remain unaddressed."As Members of Congress, we are deeply troubled by the Change the Climate advertisements. Not only do these advertisements, some of which were placed near schools, promote illegal behavior. They are also sexually suggestive and violate standards of common decency," the letter stated."As a government entity, WMATA has a responsibility to ensure that its resources are not used in an unseemly manner. In addition, because WMATA is a recipient of federal taxpayer dollars, we in Congress have a responsibility to ensure accountability."In this regard, we would like to know what steps WMATA will be taking in order to ensure that (1) advertisements do not promote illegal behavior; (2) advertisements do not violate local obscenity standards; and (3) advertisements in public places are appropriate for all ages," the letter concluded.When contacted by CNSNews.com, Metro spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said the ads were removed at the end of October, having run for four weeks. She said the ads met the criteria for a public service announcement, but could not provide specifics about the criteria used.The transit authority's public service advertising policy has changed, Farbstein said. Metro will no longer be accepting public service advertising, she said. Instead, that ad space has been turned over to local jurisdictions.The individual counties and cities served by Metro will determine which public service ads are to be posted on buses, at bus shelters and trains in their various jurisdictions, Farbstein said.According to a message on Change the Climate's website, "We believe that sex and marijuana use exist completely in the private realm of consenting and responsible adults. We realize, unfortunately, that many politicians see the bedroom and other private, individual activities as important areas for government legislation."We want to stress that sex and marijuana are for adults - or at least for individuals who have achieved a level of emotional and psychological maturity that is reflected in a balanced, productive life," the message claims.Change the Climate also believes a ban on marijuana use "wastes taxes.""It is common knowledge that U.S. taxpayers pay billions of dollars each year to fund the failed War on Drugs. A simple analysis of the War on Drugs shows that most of the costs borne by taxpayers are for marijuana prohibition."With over 700,000 annual arrests, thousands of prisoners and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on anti-marijuana television ads, the War on Drugs is mostly a War on Marijuana," the website claims.In 2001, Metro officials rejected Change of Climate's ad campaign, but were forced to reconsider after the American Civil Liberties Union protested. The ACLU argued that rejecting the ads would violate the pro-marijuana group's First Amendment rights.Complete Title: Pro-Marijuana Group Given Free Ad Space on DC BusesSource: CNSNews.comAuthor: Melanie Hunter, Deputy Managing EditorPublished: November 12, 2003Copyright: 1998-2003 Cybercast News ServiceContact: letters cnsnews.comWebsite: http://www.cnsnews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:ACLUhttp://www.aclu.org/Change The Climatehttp://www.changetheclimate.org/Panel Asks Metro To Cut Free Public Adshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17702.shtmlLawmaker Shocked at Metro Role in Marijuana Adhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17661.shtmlPro-Pot Ads To Be Posted at 10 Metro Stationshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17456.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by CongressmanSuet on November 14, 2003 at 18:55:51 PT: Gotta agree... with you Kap, we underestimate the "enemy" sometimes, and this ad campaign linking sex and Cannabis just adds tinder to their irrational fires. Now, WE know what the message was, but just think of how the drug warriors are gonna jump on this, twist it all around, its just another excuse to impose THEIR morality on the rest of us. sad thing though is that even with a message that WILL be misconstrued like this one, we are still just glad that we got ANY coverage at all in the ads. Oh, well, we arent perfect, just well intentioned! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Ferre on November 14, 2003 at 14:37:26 PT: tactical mistake, yes... I agree with kaptinemo on this, the most important to get cannabis legal is to get the public opinion behind it. Bringing sex into an issue that is over-moralised as cannabis already is only feeds the opposition.Ferre Amsterdam Cannabis Ministry (boards) [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dark Star on November 13, 2003 at 05:34:43 PT What's Obscene? Prohibition and its fraud, waste, and ruined lives is what's really obscene. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on November 13, 2003 at 05:04:21 PT: First Amendment issues aside. IMHO, that 'better sex' ad was a tactical mistake. A very, very dumb one.Look, we are NOT dealing with a rational, tolerant, wise, enlightened opposition. The view expressed by that ad is literally anathema to the thought processes of many of these incredibly uptight people. It was the equivalent of waving a red cape in front of a bull. In their minds, IT VALIDATED, FOR THEM, PUBLICLY, EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT US. Namely, cannabis use leads to irresponsible sexual promiscuity. That ad hit all their crazy buttons at once.Never mind the fine print. Never mind the message contained in it. Because they won't bother pointing it out; they'll just point to the main script and accuse us - falsely, but they do *that* all the time - of being a bunch of 'bohemians'.Many of the opposition are not bad folks, just misled. But many of their *leadership* is anything but rational; some are...*disturbed* is the kindest way to put it.Many of whom are privately praying for (and working towards!) Armageddon so that they go 'meet the Lord in the air' while mushroom clouds sprout over major cities, like their little cartoon booklets and scary eschatological novels say they can/will. We are dealing with people who, if they could, would lock every teenage male into chastity belts until they were 25. Who would only allow you to read their religious screeds and nothing else. Who would *literally* keep women 'barefoot and pregnant'.And who would *burn* cannabists like you and me at the stake if they thought they could get away with it. THAT'S what we are up against. Don't believe me? Then google for 'Christian Reconstructionism' and read what they have in mind for people like us. I am NOT exaggerating; they mean just what they say. They would kill you and I in a heartbeat if they could. Many of today's politicians are closet adherents of this particular ideology.Here, I'll make it easy for you: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=Christian+Reconstructionism&btnG=Google+SearchI repeat, running that ad was a tactical mistake. It's like handing the idiot with an empty weapon a fresh magazine.That ad played into the hands of these twits. Let's not have any more instances of that, please; it's hard enough fighting with one hand tied behind your back and a foot in a bucket of cement while our opponents have no such restrictions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by RasAric on November 12, 2003 at 23:03:49 PT What do you think about suppressing free speech? Well, here are some "insta links" to let these swine know your views. These people are some "hard core constitution hatin' folk" and they'd love to here from all of us.http://www.house.gov/pitts/service/correspond.htmhttp://www.house.gov/henrybrown/email.htmlhttp://myrick.house.gov/contact.asphttp://www.house.gov/souder/message.htmlOne Love Conquers And Prevails [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Virgil on November 12, 2003 at 22:40:44 PT Why not call officialdom for a Mixed message chant Enjoy better sex! Legalize and tax marijuana.Talked me into it. I'll take two.The government wants to use taxpayer money to turn things upside down. They would spend taxpayer money on "Prison Rape- Take that. Marijuana is a dangerous drug." [ Post Comment ] Post Comment