The "Sushi Dealer" TV commercial for MarijuanaDoctors.com that the company claimed would be airing in New Jersey the first week of March was kiboshed by Comcast.
"The ad has not appeared on Comcast systems and reports and statements to the contrary are incorrect," says Comcast spokesman Steve Restivo. "All commercials are subject to final review by Comcast Spotlight prior to airing and during that process it was determined that the spot did not meet our guidelines."
In documents provided to CelebStoner by Medical Cannabis Network (MCN), MarijuanaDoctor.com's parent company, Comcast Spotlight, which is owned by Verizon, confirmed the ad buy on Feb. 25. However, on Feb. 28, Comcast Spotlight account exec Gene McGuire wrote the agency representing MCN, stating:
"Today an article was released by Ad Age that prompted a flurry of activity around the network approvals. The following list of networks (see below) ban medical marijuana ads from appearing on their networks. We had to amend the schedule to withdraw these networks."
Of the 65 networks that initially approved the spot to run from Mar. 3-9, 17 balked. They are: CBS Sport, CMT, CNN Espanol, ESPN, ESPN2, Galavision, Golf Channel, Hallmark Channel, MSG+, MSG2, MSG+2, NHL Network, Own, SNY, TWC and YES.
Jason Draizin, CEO and founder of MCN, tells CelebStoner: "Medical Cannabis Network paid $21,500 for 800 ads to run between 10 pm and 5 am and announced the campaign. The ads did not run. MarijuanaDoctors.com has been approached directly by several TV stations and cable networks regarding advertising in Massachusetts. We are reviewing these opportunities with great interest."
Watch the ad here.
