Pubdate: Tue, 04 Feb 2014 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Author: Priyanka Dayal McCluskey Page: 9 DPH STEERS CLEAR OF NEW RADIO POT SPOTS The state agency overseeing medical marijuana is steering clear of new ads promoting pot on the radio, saying its regulations apply only to dispensaries licensed to sell the product - but Bay State Republicans said state officials should have seen this coming. "The Department of Public Health's regulations for Registered Marijuana Dispensaries recognize the concerns of the substance abuse prevention community and municipalities, while also taking into account the need for qualifying patients to have access to information about RMDs," said spokesman David Kibbe. "DPH has limited certain advertising materials, including, for example, prohibiting ads that depict or encourage the recreational use of marijuana, or portray youth, or show smoking or smokable products." Kibbe declined to comment on new radio ads from the New England Grass Roots Institute in Quincy, which claim marijuana, when used properly, "adds to a healthy lifestyle." The company runs classes teaching people how to grow and use medical marijuana, but is not a dispensary. Institute president Mike Fitzgerald said his ads follow the law and are introducing marijuana to suffering patients. "It seems that this advertising and this new business are evidence of what opponents warned of, which is that introducing marijuana into Massachusetts for medicinal purposes would create a market and a subculture around marijuana," said Rob Cunningham, executive director of the state GOP. A spokesman for the Attorney General's Office declined to comment yesterday. Spokesmen for the governor, House speaker and Senate president did not respond to requests for comment. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt