MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS WANT TO PAY TAXES

Heat and Smoke: A marijuana advocacy group plans to begin airing a
30-second spot today around the state that indirectly urges Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature to legalize weed - but good
luck seeing it.

Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Washington-based Marijuana Policy
Project, which is behind the ad, said a number of network affiliates
in the Bay Area and Los Angeles rejected the ad over concerns that it
promoted smoking marijuana.

Other stations were still thinking it over.

The spot opens with a woman describing the budget crisis in
Sacramento who then laments: "But the governor and Legislature are
ignoring millions of Californians who want to pay taxes - we're
marijuana users.

"Taxes from California's marijuana users could pay the salaries of
20,000 teachers," she says. "Isn't it time?"

The ad will air some 120 times in the next three days, primarily on
cable outlets - keep an eye out.