Marijuana Legalization Ads Air in Calif.

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is using TV ads to urge California residents to support a plan to legalize and tax marijuana, as the state struggles to close a $23.3-billion budget deficit, the Associated Press reported July 8.

The ad touts legalization legislation introduced by Rep. Tom Ammiano (D-S.F.), which backers say could raise $1 billion in tax revenues annually. “We’re marijuana consumers,’’ said Nadene Herndon, 58, of Fair Oaks, appearing in the ad. “Instead of being treated like criminals for using a substance safer than alcohol, we want to pay our fair share.”

Cable companies and some local network affiliates aired the ads, but KABC-TV in Los Angeles, KGO-TV of San Francisco and KNTV-TV in San Jose refused to do so, according to MPP.