Pubdate: Tue, 20 Jan 2004
Source: National Journal (US)
Copyright: 2004 National Journal Group Inc
Contact: http://nationaljournal.com/help/feedback.htm
Website: http://nationaljournal.com/njweekly/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1172
Author: Meg Kinnard
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Cited: Office of National Drug Control Policy ( www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/campaign.htm (ONDCP Media Campaign)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MED MARIJUANA BACKERS HIT WH 2004 DEMS

The Marijuana Policy Project's political arm is on the air in New 
Hampshire, hitting the four Democratic presidential candidates for not 
helping medical marijuana users.

"There was a time when the federal government was arresting very sick 
people, and some Democrats running for president refused to say they would 
stop it," an announcer says in MPP Political Fund's 30-second spot. Grainy 
photographs of former Gov. Howard Dean, D-Vt., Sens. John Edwards, D-N.C., 
and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Rep. Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., appear on 
screen as the announcer says that cancer and AIDS patients, "just trying to 
relieve their pain, were being arrested" while "these Democrats refused to 
say they would stop it."

The commercial also points viewers to the Granite Staters for Medical 
Marijuana's Web site, which, according to a Jan. 19 press release, "is a 
grassroots coalition of patients and activists" that "is organizing during 
the New Hampshire presidential primary campaign to raise awareness of the 
need for federal action to protect medical marijuana patients."

The site notes that GSMM's campaign "is staffed and funded by the Marijuana 
Policy Project."

MPP communications director Bruce Mirken said that "Once Upon A Time" was 
produced in-house and goes on the air today in the parts of New Hampshire 
serviced by Adelphia Communications. Mirken described the buy, which runs 
through next Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, as "meaningful."

GSMM originally tried to buy air time from the Comcast Corporation in 
December, the Jan. 19 release notes, but the network "refused the spot 
without even seeing it, based solely on the political viewpoint MPP and 
GSMM intended to express."

Last February, MPP ran a TV ad in Washington spoofing the White House 
Office of National Drug Control Policy's "Nick and Norm" ads.

Ad Spotlight has the latest commercials from the 2004 campaigns, 
issue/advocacy groups and searchable archives dating back to 1997.

Script of "Once Upon A Time" (TV)

(On screen: Once Upon a Time...)

ANNOUNCER [v/o]: There was a time when the federal government was arresting 
very sick people, and some Democrats running for president refused to say 
they would stop it.

(On screen: Paid for by MPP Political Fund)

Cancer patients, AIDS patients, following state medical marijuana laws, 
just trying to relieve their pain, were being arrested. Arrested for 
following the law.

And these Democrats refused to say they would stop it. There was a time.

(On screen: 2004; Joe Lieberman, John Edwards, Richard Gephardt, Howard 
Dean; audio of sharp clanging sounds; www.GraniteStaters.com)

MPP Political Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman