Portland, Maine Marijuana ads stir the pot over drug safety, free speech

[Jesus Malverde]

When televangelist Pat Robertson announced his support for legalizing marijuana last year, pot backers wasted no time in putting his picture on an electronic billboard in Colorado.

Marijuana billboards have popped up along busy freeways from Seattle to Florida. In September, one greeted fans going to Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver for the first NFL game of the season. In July, pot supporters tried to get a video ad on a jumbo screen outside a NASCAR event in Indianapolis, but objections forced them to pull it in the last minute.

In the latest twist, pro-pot billboards are emblazoned on city buses in Portland, Maine, aimed at winning votes for a Nov. 5 ballot measure that would make the city the first on the East Coast to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Critics fear that the increased advertising is a sign of things to come as support for legalization continues to grow, reflected by a Gallup poll released last week that found backing from a record high 58 percent of Americans. They see the stepped-up promotion as a dangerous trend that will lead to more drug abuse among children.

While the Greater Portland Transit District has banned tobacco ads, it accepted $2,500 to display the marijuana billboards on the exterior of four of its 32 city buses and in two bus shelters. The ads, which debuted early this month, are set to run until Election Day.

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/10/30/206794/marijuana-ads-stir-the-pot-over.html#storylink=cpy

[Egalitarian Thug]

1. Is there anyone of any age that wants to smoke pot that can't get pot

because of American prohibition?

These fear mongers would be funny if they weren't so harmful to others.

[RedRocco]

4. no problem getting pot

getting good pot is another problem

[immoderate]

2. So they banned tobacco ads. What about beer ads?

--imm

[lame54]

3. Typical librarian pothead...