[Russ's note: There is some confusion over at the NORML.org comments about what CBS rejected. The "Barry the Drug Criminal" graphic is NOT what they had rejected. That graphic was just a quick doodle I drew up while on conference call with the DC office discussing what the two ads would look like. I was surprised and flattered when I saw it on the NORML front page. The final ad would have been more professional, animated, much tamer, focused on NYC arrest data, and probably not used that language exactly. The ad CBS saw and rejected is the very tame animated ad in the YouTube video - we had not yet shown them any final production of the NYC ad. -- "R"R]
With great regret and chagrin to report, CBS has rejected a contract deal with NORML to place a pro-cannabis law reform advertisement on the biggest electronic billboard in Times Square (The CBS ‘Super Screen’ at 42nd St) claiming that the advertisement is too political. NORML had a contract for the 15 second spot below on the giant billboard (and a second one featuring President Obama and New York City’s high cannabis arrest rate with its shocking racial disparity in enforcement).
High Times breaks the story tonight here.
This of course makes no sense to have CBS reject a non-profit organization like NORML’s pro-cannabis law reform advertisement, when, during the Super Bowl on Sunday–the most watched TV event annually in the United States–CBS is scheduled to air a controversial anti-abortion television advertisement produced by the socially conservative non-profit group Focus on the Family (who, like apparently CBS, is anti-cannabis). Last year, CBS rejected an advertisement from the liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org claiming it was too political as well.
"If you inhaled in New York City, today you might be Barry the Drug Criminal"
The hypocrisy and double standard here is appalling. NORML and MoveOn.org ads are deemed ‘political’ and can’t be purchased and broadcast by CBS, but Focus on the Family can roll a political hand grenade in the form of an anti-abortion TV ad into American households on no less than Super Bowl Sunday for the full and desired effect of creating public discussion.
Worse, beyond the fact that CBS censors political speech, the company has no apparent problems making money off the general public’s strong interest in ‘marijuana’ as the network has established Marijuana Nation, an eye-ball sucking, archive-rich, comprehensive and well done webpage relating to cannabis found on the Internet (Ironically, CBS’ site competes with NORML and High Times’ general content for readers…).
There are numerous reasons why cannabis prohibition has lasted over 72-years, and when huge, mainstream media outlets (who control bill boards, radio and TV, etc…) pick and choose what organization’s free speech they support and those they don’t–recognizing that absent a vibrant and informed public discussion about needed public policy changes, like ending cannabis prohibition, those needed public policy changes take so much longer than they would organically absent the filter of mainstream, corporate-leaning mega media outlets.
Personally, I can only wonder what public discourse, with now even more corporate influence, is going to look like in America post the SCOTUS decision two weeks ago in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission.
[Russ adds: Read more on the refusal of mainstream media to give the same voice to marijuana law reform as they do profit-making marijuana-themed movies and TV at NBC, CBS, ABC, & FOX happy to profit from marijuana, as long as nobody talks about legalizing it.]
Loading ...
[...] CBS has just denied NORML permission to use its Times Square Jumbotron. Too political — that was their excuse. Fear of the government’s displeasure — [...]
Cannabis has for centuries been a helpful resource. If we want to control our citizens, We as a nation must do something in our position for decriminalizing and legalizing the private and public use of this plant. It is with just cause to expand the potential of cannabis. The influx of cannabis taxation can AND WILL compensate for the major industries needing help turning to alternate methods of marketing energy and their companies new products that aim to protect our planets valuable resources and investments of commerce. In order to ensure the safety of our nation and our neighboring countries across the globe, an agreement must be made to initiate such a freedom long awaited for. It is my hope that the commercial interests above and beyond our nations awareness grant us such a freedom.
Cannabis is strong, it is flexible, cannabis brings compliance. A content nature that only comes from the additional euphoria given from proper use of this plant. We as a nation understand the delay. The delay of bringing cannabis back into industrialization are the efforts to mass produce and to give exclusivity to potentially a very expansive marketed american commodity.
It is in favor with the people, in favor with corporate agendas, it is in favor of our lifetime. In order to succeed in this conditioning, we must not promote ones private ideals of cannabis use (such as our President’s smoking opinions), but encourage coming of age tax payers to spend their time and money wisely on recreation. Again this freedom will be able to pay for new world licensing and technologies. The solution must also come, that offenders involved with other drugs or narcotics that are not cannabis, must face harsher penalties.
If this is the global pastime of choice. We must make sure cannabis stays the recreation of choice next to properly handled alcohol and tobacco laws and reinforcement of responsible consumption.
Jobs will be created from cannabis use, Jobs will be enjoyed with cannabis use, Jobs can explore their commercial investments further from having the freedom of cannabis use existing as an apex of interest to our nations public.
For world leaders our interest is in the safety and education of our citizens.
Come up with an add that makes sense to the world we live in today — and bigger organizations will come before the consumers interest with a soon to be taxed product. That Product Is Cannabis.
sorry it didn’t register first. thought i had a long time ago.
Cannabis has for centuries been a helpful resource. If we want to control our citizens, We as a nation must do something in our position for decriminalizing and legalizing the private and public use of this plant. It is with just cause to expand the potential of cannabis. The influx of cannabis taxation can AND WILL compensate for the major industries needing help turning to alternate methods of marketing energy and their companies new products that aim to protect our planets valuable resources and investments of commerce. In order to ensure the safety of our nation and our neighboring countries across the globe, an agreement must be made to initiate such a freedom long awaited for. It is my hope that the commercial interests above and beyond our nations awareness grant us such a freedom.
Cannabis is strong, it is flexible, cannabis brings compliance. A content nature that only comes from the additional euphoria given from proper use of this plant. We as a nation understand the delay. The delay of bringing cannabis back into industrialization are the efforts to mass produce and to give exclusivity to potentially a very expansive marketed american commodity.
It is in favor with the people, in favor with corporate agendas, it is in favor of our lifetime. In order to succeed in this conditioning, we must not promote ones private ideals of cannabis use (such as our President’s smoking opinions), but encourage coming of age tax payers to spend their time and money wisely on recreation. Again this freedom will be able to pay for new world licensing and technologies. The solution must also come, that offenders involved with other drugs or narcotics that are not cannabis, must face harsher penalties.
If this is the global pastime of choice. We must make sure cannabis stays the recreation of choice next to properly handled alcohol and tobacco laws and reinforcement of responsible consumption.
Jobs will be created from cannabis use, Jobs will be enjoyed with cannabis use, Jobs can explore their commercial investments further from having the freedom of cannabis use existing as an apex of interest to our nations public.
For world leaders our interest is in the safety and education of our citizens.
Come up with an add that makes sense to the world we live in today — and bigger organizations will come before the consumers interest with a soon to be taxed product. That Product Is Cannabis.
if large companies have enough money, they can get away with anything it seems (along with billion dollar bailouts while taking huge bonuses *COUGH* GM * COUGH*).
now we will wait to see how much money big pharma will waste suppressing the inevitable…
[...] With great regret and chagrin to report, CBS has rejected a contract deal with NORML to place a pro-cannabis law reform advertisement on the biggest electronic billboard in Times Square (The CBS ‘Super Screen’ at 42nd St) claiming that the advertisement is too political. NORML had a contract for the 15 second spot below on the giant billboard (and a second one featuring President Obama and New York City’s high cannabis arrest rate with its shocking racial disparity in enforcement) READ MORE [...]