When the Denver Broncos face off against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday, they will be representing the only two states in the nation to have legalized recreational marijuana sales—something activists hope to change soon. And they’re renting out big billboards near the event to promote their cause.
Five billboards around New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium will show ads promoting the drug as safer than either football or alcohol, the Marijuana Policy Project, which was deeply involved in getting pot legalized in Colorado, announced in a release.
“Taking a big hit of marijuana poses less potential harm than taking a big hit from an NFL linebacker or a big shot of tequila,” MPP Director of Communications Mason Tvert said. The group also launched a petition calling for the National Football League to reduce penalties for players caught using the drug.
With little hope for federal action, the fight over legalization is currently exclusively focused on states, which have moved ahead on legalizing marijuana with the cautious and tacit approval of the Justice Department. Sales began in Colorado on Jan. 1 and are expected to begin soon in Washington. Alaskans may have their chance to approve sales in their state with a ballot vote this summer, and MPP hopes a handful of states will join the movement over the next few years.
Here are a few images being posted up:
