SAN FRANCISCO -- A marijuana advocacy group is set to launch a new television advertisement in California promoting the drug as a solution to the state's budget woes. The 30-second spot calling for legalizing and taxing the drug features a retired state worker who says state leaders "are ignoring millions of Californians who want to pay taxes." She says the state's marijuana consumers are tired of being treated like criminals and should be allowed to pay their "fair share." State lawmakers are debating how to close a $26.3 billion budget deficit that likely means cuts to state services. In February, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco introduced a bill to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. Bill supporters estimate the state's pot industry could bring in more than $1 billion in taxes. ___ On the Web: Marijuana Policy Project: "
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