Story Published:
Mar 12, 2010 at 7:10 PM MST
Story Updated:
Mar 12, 2010 at 9:59 PM MST
BILLINGS - There is a battle brewing between television and radio stations and medical marijuana providers nationwide over the selling of advertising space.
It has hit close to home as one Billings grower wants you to boycott KULR-8 Television.
Mark Higgins, Billings medical marijuana caregiver, is protesting the local NBC affiliate KULR because the station's sales department has declined to sell advertising to him. He is also expressing his anger on his website and calling for a boycott.
"It's not fair, it's not right, and I'm trying to help change it," said Higgins as he held a sign outside of the KULR-8 studio.
Greg MacDonald, the president and CEO of the Montana Broadcasters Association, said it is a dilemma all TV and radio stations are facing in the 14 states that have legalized medical marijuana.
"The biggest concern for any radio or television station concerning medical marijuana laws is that despite the fact that Montana has legalized medical marijuana the federal government has not, and all radio and television stations are licensed by the federal government," said MacDonald.
Macdonald said he is not aware of any TV stations that are airing medical marijuana ads. He said some radio stations in Northern California are, and at least one in Montana.
KULR-8's general manager said the decision to hold off on doing so is to protect the station's license and is not representative of the station's stance on medical marijuana.
"Absolutely not," said Bruce Cummings. "We're just trying to have a clear understanding of the guidelines as a business that's regulated by the federal government to be sure that we cross our t's and dot our i's and are doing the right thing."
Higgins said he is just trying to do the right thing too for the people who could benefit from medical marijuana.
"There's a lot of people out there who are suffering with conditions that they're not even aware that they can get help with from medical marijuana, and that's what I wanted to do was to an educational type campaign," he said.
Higgins has opened a dispensary on North 11th street in Billings.
When we spoke with him Wedesday he said he had not approached any other TV stations about buying advertising.
Medical marijuana ads have been printed in newspapers; they are not federally licensed.
In Yellowstone County, Higgins is one of 225 registered caregivers serving about 870 patients.
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