Paypal No Pal Of Medical Marijuana
October 13th, 2009 By: Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive DirectorShare this Article
California NORML Release – Oct 12, 2009
Paypal, the well-known internet payment company has told California NORML that it will no longer accept payments to our “type of business” because we accept listing payments from cannabis-recommending physicians.
After years of offering free listings to physicians and collectives at our website http://www.canorml.org, CaNORML began charging a yearly listing fee to cover our costs last year.
PayPal froze CaNORML’s account in June, saying that by accepting listing fees fromcollectives, we were violating their Acceptable Use policy, which says, “you may not use PayPal in the purchase or sale of narcotics.” Although narcotics were not being sold over the CaNORML site, we reluctantly agreed to stop accepting listings fees from collectives that dispense medical marijuana, recognizing that even though they are legal under state law, they are illegal under federal law. However, we continued to accept payments online from doctors, attorneys, and members.
Now PayPal has stopped accepting payments from the CaNORML site because we continued to accept listing payments from physicians.
Under a ruling upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court (Conant v. Walters, 2003), physicians have the first amendment right to discuss and recommend medical marijuana for their patients, although they may not distribute it or help patients in finding it. PayPal was informed of this and wrote back, “We are not arguing the legality of this issue; we are simply stating that we have made the business decision to not be involved with this type of business.”
Because of its discriminatory policy and disregard of physicians’ first amendment rights, CaNORML submits that PayPal is not the “type of business” to be used by those who advocate for human rights. We will file a complaint with the federal banking committee over their practices.
Located in San Jose, California, PayPal was founded in 1998 and was acquired by eBay (California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s former company) in 2002.
Complain to: PayPal, 2211 N 1st St, San Jose 95131 (408) 376-7400
Dale Gieringer, CA NORML
[Statement of Paypal's Accceptable Use]
Hello,
We appreciate the fact that you chose PayPal to send and receive payments for your transactions.
Under the Acceptable Use Policy, you may not use PayPal in the purchase or sale of narcotics, steroids, certain controlled substances, products that present a risk to consumer safety or drug paraphernalia. PayPal makes such decisions after reviewing laws, regulations and other actions by governmental agencies, other available evidence, and marketing content related to the product.
The complete Acceptable Use Policy can be found at the following URL:
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside
To learn more about the Acceptable Use Policy, please refer to our Help Center page here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/helpweb?cmd=_help
We are hereby notifying you that, after a recent review of your account activity, it has been determined that you are in violation of PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy regarding your sales at http://www.canorml.org/prop/collectivetips.html. PayPal cannot be used to accept fees for listing information related to marijuana dispensaries, delivery services and cannabis physicians.
Tags: California NORML, Censorship, free speech, Paypal, physicians
October 13th, 2009 at 10:38 am
This is one of those things to not be terribly upset about. It’s a shame, and you’ll have to find another way to transfer funds, but you can’t be too mad about this. They are not being anti-pot or anti-legalization here, the company is just protecting itself. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. Paypal isn’t an advocate for reform, it’s a business with stockholders. They have a duty to those people and if they get involved in a complicated lawsuit then other people with money invested in the company get screwed. There is no reason for NORML to be the cause of that kind of thing.
[Editor's note: Paypal is being short-sighted and too deferential to law enforcement in discriminating against doctors and organizations that LAWFULLY engage in medical cannabis commerce. That the federal government is one of the last holdouts to accept medical cannabis' utility is no good reason why the stockholders at eBay (the parent company of Paypal) should not benefit from the use of Paypal by cannabisbusinesses.
After all, the company's very business model is to facilitate online commercial transactions efficiently and safely, therefore does it not logically follow that the managers and stockholders want to see MORE transactions, not less.
If the managers at eBay and Paypal are dyed-in-the-wool capitalists they'd be arguing for personal freedom, privacy and commerce rather than supporting prohibition, anti-business practices that conflict with their self-interests and government interference in the free market.]
October 13th, 2009 at 10:46 am
THIS IS INSANE!!!! Could there be a crueler case of discrimination?!?! Why don’t we all just let the sick suffer and die off then and stop serving doctors, hospitals, pharmacies etc. too? Jesus Christ this is disgusting.
EVERYONE CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m never using Paypal again until this changes.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:47 am
PayPal should focus its efforts on improving its payment system and lowering cost to clients rather than policing the morals of its users. Let’s find examples of businesses using PayPal to sell alcohol and see if PayPal will cut those customers off too.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am
That sucks i love pay-pal when im on ebay. Now im gona havta complain and not use it. MY KINGDOM FOR SOME LOGIC AND UNDERSTANDING. What has pot done to the world to be hated so? You dont see stoners lining the gutters and alleyways with track marks up and down the arm. We dont suck dick to get a joint. We dont even have cold sweats and hallucinations when we quit. Ive seen 3 family members WASTE away literally cuz of cigarettes. I almost wasted away because of meth. Pot is innocent and ive had my fuckin fill of stupidity.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Calling right now.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Papal is now boycotted. I hope they lose a huge revenue stream and that potential goes to the next green entrepreneur. Forget paypal not working with us rather remember the day we began working for ourselves. We can show them the power of the collective people against the tyrannical corporation called government. Don’t wait till we are a single number in a single world bank with imposed servitude to taxation for generations to come. How dare my liberty be restricted by religious ideology, corporate greed or overpowering government control. The time is now more than yesterday to stand up and prevent the destruction of a free tomorrow. Yes we cannabis! (added by Mobile using Mippin)
October 13th, 2009 at 11:18 am
boycott!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:20 am
That phone number is allowing me to get to a customer service rep. Just directs me to their online website. I’ve got a better phone number. Ignore their voice commands and press “0″ twice. 402-935-2050. They will ask for your email, account info. If you don’t have one or don’t want to give it, just let them know you are calling to register a complaint about their terms of service and this issue. Mention NORML.org’s story on it…I’m on hold right now asking for the press department as I’m trying to get a comment from them for a story on examiner.com and my blog on it..
October 13th, 2009 at 11:21 am
That phone number is NOT allowing me to get to a customer service rep. Just directs me to their online website. I’ve got a better phone number. Ignore their voice commands and press “0? twice. 402-935-2050. They will ask for your email, paypal, ebay account info. If you don’t have one or don’t want to give it, just let them know you are calling to register a complaint about their terms of service and this issue. Mention NORML.org’s story on it…I’m on hold right now asking for the press department as I’m trying to get a comment from them for a story on examiner.com and my blog on it..
October 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Your portrayal of paypal as SATAN the DEVIL is right on . While they accept money for sale of prescription drugs or Alcohol ( Wine sales in particular ) which kill more people than anything they will not have anything to do with marijuana .I already stated in a previous post
NOT TO VOTE WITH MEG WHITMAN
because of her ties with , John McCain whose wife made her millions off of drug sales ( alcoholic beverages ) & he wanted to keep up the raids & closures of The Dispensaries.( See the ties here of Alcohol & marijuana ? )Her ads here in , California say she will bring ” NEW ” ideas to California . She is the DEVIL herself with lies and deception and her lust for Power .A vote for her and we will be turning the clock back on cannabis progression .
October 13th, 2009 at 11:24 am
This is absolutely unbelievable. Clearly there is some straight edge higher-up in PayPal that called that shot. I will never use PayPal again and I hope that many others are getting this information and reacting the same. Stand up for you rights!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I am so upset to see this. I have been a paypal user for many many many years. I personally am a medical patient protected by amendment 20 in colorado. I am no longer going to continue to use thier services because of this decision. I sent the following email to paypal. I hope many many others will follow. Email is:Hello,
After hearing of paypals decision to disallow donations to norml I am requesting my account with paypal to be closed. I am a medical Patient protected under amendment 20 in the State of Colorado. Your company does not want to be “involved” is just plain sick. Your high paid executives should have enough common sense to read research done by medical professionals around the world proving medical marijuana is in fact an effective medication that can stop and eliminate cancer along with treating numerous other conditions. What a shame your company will allow alcohol business owners to conduct their business through your company. A substance that kills tens of thousands of people each year and yet there is NO documented case of any person being harmed by marijuana. In fact your company specifically stopped norml because of medical marijuana dispensary donations. More than half of the american people feel medical marijuana is needed and more states are backing it up everyday. It is upsetting your company is so blind. I will be spreading this unfortunate news around. I suffer severe nausea and severe pain. All medical patients suffer from a major condition. It is unfortunate paypal does not care how patients feel. Norml is for patient rights and human rights why is it paypal would rather see patients suffer?What happened to people in this world actually caring for one another. I now believe paypal is like any other corporation and has no feelings for its customers. This decision backs up that conclusion and I no longer wish to support a company who honestly doesnt care about my health or my quality of life.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Also leave comments here, this goes directly to the corporate press relations folks at paypal, sure to be read by the folks there that have interest and power to change it.
https://www.paypal-media.com/contactus.cfm
October 13th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I just closed my paypal account with the following message.
———–
Until Pay pay revokes their actions concerning the CaNorml and allows CaNorml to continue operation under Pay pals services, I will no longer have a personal Pay pal account nor will I use Pay pal on my online business.
Pay pal should stand for liberty, human rights, and patient rights. A doctor has the right to decide along with a patient which medications are acceptable and necessary in treating a patients illness.
Sadly, the stance Pay pal has taken undermines true liberty in the same context of the Federal Governments ‘War on Drugs’ that is both nationally unsupported, discriminatory, and destructive to the personal rights one has to their own body.
I advocate that Pay pal reside with the American people and not the Federal Government which has abused and waged war on its own people for the sake of profit and agenda in private prisons, pharmaceuticals, military style policing, and other areas reaching as far as private banking profits from laundering money.
Good day!
October 13th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I am an occasional PayPal user. I think that I will now request all of my funds on deposit to be sent to me by check and quit using the service entirely.
Is this a overreaction?
PS: is Kellogg still under boycott?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am
we needa boybott them screw paypal
October 13th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I’ll be cancelling my PayPal account shortly.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Cool, Give me a good reason to not use their service any longer. Now i dont need to buy Kellogs or use Paypal. In times with no money they are making it easier to save money.
October 13th, 2009 at 11:39 am
… Wow… it amazes me that they took such a stance. I imagine maybe the FEDs must be getting onto them? I don’t understand how they can just deny you like that when all their service does is electronically transfer your money. I mean I understand their policy I just dont understand… why I guess…?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Another thought… how does this affect the other countries surrounding ours that are pot friendly and use paypal?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Fuck PayPal!
Boycott them like we boycotted Kellogg’s !
October 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I am closing my paypal account and never gonna use those prejudice bastards again!
October 13th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Paypal has always sucked….
even for paying for medication……
October 13th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Paypal sucks and the more people who know of their scammy business practices, the better. Inform and educate people. Have them check out CannabisPlanet and CannabisTV.org
October 13th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
They pulled the sane bs with Weed Connection dot com over a year ago. Fuck PayPal! I still have the many emails documented an of you guys sue them which you should since norml has the resources, then I will gladly share my evidence against them. ps we switched to google checkout which is much better (added by Mobile using Mippin)
October 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
As a marijuana consumer I choose to no longer use paypal as a means to make online payments due to their ridiculous approach on handling this situation.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I sent my complaint to PayPal. How about you?
October 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Paypal has lost much of it’s reputation over the past couple of years. I have had a lot of problems with them- they updated their site last month and my site was down for 4 days because they didn’t find a need to let me know. That is 4 days of loss of transactions.
I won’t be using them for much longer after reading this!
October 13th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I never liked using Paypal anyway. They seemed to have a problem everytime I used them and there security is sketchy. Go Norml!!!
October 13th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
where do we complain to?
They run you in a endless loop with their phone system…
October 13th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Just closed my account and let them know why. That credit card was expired anyway… ha.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
paypal has always SUCKED! Amazon has a new payment system JUST LIKE paypal but without all the lame rules. might be worth checking into.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Wow that’s crazy. Look’s like I wont be using PayPal anytime soon!
October 13th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I’ve had problems with them in the past. Freezing account balances for 30+ days after a winning bid (so they can accrue interest!!) and other stuff. I will DEFINATELY cancel my account after hearing this. So Google checkout is a good alternative? Any other suggestions for alternatives (specifically ebay friendly?).
October 13th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
On the line right now with them.
Canceling my account and making sure I let a few people know that I am canceling it SPECIFICALLY because they stopped letting NORML use their service.
Everyone call!!! And cancel your account with them if you have one, and make sure they know why youre canceling it.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Everyone cancel your Paypal account! No more business with Paypal!!!
October 13th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I do several hundred Pay-Pal transactions each month. This will be the last day until further notice.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Actually this is the way paypal is. They are picky, and have burned many people on ebay in the past.
if you like to complain on their dime here is their toll-free 888 number
(888) 221-1161
October 13th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
If everyone that smokes marijuana closed their paypal accounts , I think they’d get a clue. but heck I dont trust paypal myself so there you go
October 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I am also closin my paypal account. I don’t want to deal with a bunch of hypocrites! (added by Mobile using Mippin)
October 13th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I went to my PayPal account website and used the Send Money option and used info@canorml.org and sent in my dues. My Money being sent to who I want. They better just sent it on!
October 13th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Yes we are still boycotting Kelloggs! I also have continued my boycott on Subway regardless of their PR propaganda.
I wish some one with the resources made a website called something like Cannaboycott.com where a list of companies who are giving the cannabis community the cold shoulder can be displayed for boycott. Also, it would be great to have another list on the page of the most cannabis community friendly businesses.
My newest favorite cannabis friendly business is CHeBA HUT @ http://www.chebahut.com/
The site would be a hit and maybe is the buying leverage we need to get companies behind our cause. Why would anyone buy products from a company that discriminates against their kind.
That’s like a black man buying from the KKK or other white supremacists….
October 13th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
paypal just stole 60.22 from me the other day and I keep emailing them telling them to give it back and they won’t reply. now I can’t pay my ebay fees and soon they will suspend my account. I don’t know how the hell they are still in business.
October 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I’ve used Paypal many times over the past few years. I for one, am no longer a user as of today, hope we all do the same!
P.S. call or write!!!!!
October 13th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
This is another fine example of a going out of business plan similar to that of Kelloggs. You would think that people in the corner office might look into this strategy before leaping off that cliff. Maybe someone should send them the phone number to the executives at Kelloggs so they can make plans for the loss of business they have both chosen.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Paypal seems to be very good at pissing off customers, aren’t they?
October 13th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
But Paypal has no problem working with EBAY to facilitate the sale of counterfeit merchandise and illegal CDs, DVDs and books which they are WELL aware of.
October 13th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I am closing my paypal account.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
[...] original post here: Paypal No Pal Of Medical Marijuana Share and [...]
October 13th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Not much of a better option B. I tried using google checkout for my online store but it sucked and was a pain in the butt to use. Don’t keep more than you can afford to lose in the account though – they will steal it if they have a reason. Evil, evil people. Like the fuggin’ IRS – they WILL KEEP YOUR MONEY. Play it safe. I hate ‘em but I need ‘em. Sucks, but that’s how it goes.
October 13th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Want to see how the big lie…the constructive fraud really works? I have not read their book, “They Own It All (Including You) By Means Of Toxic Currency” but in the last week I’ve been listening to past radio interviews with the authors.
Check out http://www.newpeopleorder.com Wowwwwwwwwwwwww…have we ever been manipulated…are being manipulated…
October 13th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I just closed my paypal account and left a message (you can leave one when you close your account online) explaining why I am leaving. I made sure to mention Prop. 215, SB420 and CANORML.
October 13th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Wow, this makes me wish that I had used Paypay just so I could quit out of protest. Bastards.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Is there an alternative to PayPal? If not, I’d be surprised that they have the market all to themselves. I only used PayPal once. How about PotPal?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Yes that a good idea, it is right like in the south when we stop using the buses. We set up people with cars to get us from point a to point b. Great idea just wish I knew how to create a supportive site like that.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:46 am
ANd Yet, I can buy bongs at amazon.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:41 am
aye, boycott those bastards
October 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
BIG Alcohol along with the Drug Companies said we will not do business with you if you work with Norml . They use the name of ” narcotic ” to justify there reason to make marijuana look terrible . This is about their Greed and lust for money and not what’s right .
October 14th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I am disgusted but not surprised. PayPal recently did the same thing to electronic cigarette vendors. E-cigs were the only thing that help me quit smoking cigarettes. I wonder if you looked on the Board of PayPal if you wouldn’t find at least 1 big pharmaceutical person. I will be canceling my paypal account.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
PotPal…..I like the sound of that. Maybe NORML should start that online business. Then use a small sum of the proceeds to help with the movement….or something??
October 14th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I am so PROUD to see other commenters finally!!! use the term BOYCOTT(sniffle). And as I recall my last visit to the grocery store….those poptarts weren’t flying off the shelf as fast as they did……fuck Kellogg’s.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Fuck paypal, my account is closed with those yahoos
October 14th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
#53 hey queen, you were readin my mind.damn, wish i used it before. id a cancelled in a micro second.ha…good day to you!
October 14th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Paypal is owned by E-Bay.
Boycott or call them on this.
October 14th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I hope PayEnemy prohibits purchases of Tylenol, being that it kills thousands every year. I hope that anything related to alcohol is not tolerated. Free Market my @ss.
Ebay has already gone overboard on their fees and policies and lost my business long ago. Now, it seems PayPal is no longer a viable option. More and more, I just use CASH. Why give the government a paper trail on the everyday activities of our lives via the banks and their evil web of unjust interest rates? How long until you can no longer use cash? Are microchips that far off?
October 14th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Well its ubsurd. First off there is a way around that by just sending
a gift or funds in a different way but for them to refuse customers is ignorant.
I wonder if everyone right now that partakes just boycotted them
what would happen if even for a month or 6.
If everyone went back to sending postal money orders it would
help the post offices anyway.
Not to mention you only pay once there. Not at both ends
they have us coming and going.
Makes me ponder if the fences these guys want to build on the borders are not in fact to keep us in vs others out.
I can easily not use paypal by using money order or cc#.
FEE BAY AND PAIN PAL ARE owned by the same company
which seems as though its borderline monopoly anyway.
I think they demand you have paynpal on ebay now anyway
people can still communicate though and work around that too.
which what I plan on doing.
Feebay is to high as is paynpal.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Just closed my account with PayPal and ask them to change their policy about dealing with NORML and other MMJ activists organizations.
October 15th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Told ebay and paypal to shove it months ago when they conspired to steal my money glad to see other people taking the time to tell them off as well. Lets see if the people really have the power in this society boycotting these companys is a very good way to start. POWER TO THE PEOPLE
October 15th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Boycotted Pay Pal today.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
NORML has officially become a cult.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:04 am
What a double standard.
Ebay who owns Paypal has on their site terms & conditions in which they do not accept listings for drug products. However there is an abundance of Penis Enlargement Drugs being sold on ebay using paypal.
Below is just a sampling, there are hundreds of listings like these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-pack-Male-Sex-Enhancer-Erectile-Dysfunction-Pills_W0QQitemZ310173939200QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4837ceb600#ht_7259wt_737
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-VIGRX-PLUS-Male-Sex-Enhancer-Tabs-Penis-Enlarger_W0QQitemZ370133152967QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item562da7b4c7#ht_1450wt_754
http://cgi.ebay.com/ENZYTE-1-Year-Supply-SEX-ENHANCEMENT-PENIS-ENLARGEMENT_W0QQitemZ370274508568QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5636149f18#ht_5598wt_737
http://cgi.ebay.com/OGOPLEX-1-Year-Supply-Sex-Orgasm-Enhancer-NEW-FORMULA_W0QQitemZ370274508658QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5636149f72#ht_5413wt_737
November 10th, 2009 at 9:51 am
dearest Felicia: thanks for the insight!
Paypal and eBay obviously know their client base: they cater to a buncha uptight dudes with small penises!
No wonder I did not fit in!
January 24th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Paypal refuses to acknowledge our movement and therefore will not service an industry with such unlimited potential! NORML – call me! This is a booming industry and we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface! I own GUARDIAN DATA SYSTEMS, INC. We offer a complete line of compassionate payment services to the cannabis community! I have personally negotiated with several friendly banks and processors to bring Merchant Services, POS Sales & Leasing, Gift & Loyalty Cards, ATMs, Creative Financing, Check Verification & Guarantee, & more to our community. Safe, secure, and reliable financial solutions for all.
GUARDIAN DATA SYSTEMS,INC
Lance Ott – CEO
888-900-0420/310-430-3093/LANCE@GUARDIANDATASYSTEMS.COM
January 24th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Smut Peddler, Guv Hopeful Meg Whitman Waffles on Porn Subsidies
By Matt Smith in Politics
Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, who as eBay CEO proved her mettle as a hardcore fetish pornography entrepreneur, did not respond to an inquiry Wednesday about whether as governor she would seek to continue a California program that, until recently, subsidized the production of smut.
Next week’s SF Weekly includes an exclusive report about a California economic development program that has routed tens of thousands of dollars in subsidies to an Internet pornography producer. Continuing — or even bolstering — this practice would seem a tailor-made campaign issue for Whitman, who bills herself as a business whiz ready to revive the California economy. She backs her economic talk with real chops: In 1998, just as eBay was preparing an initial stock offering, Whitman oversaw the creation of a special eBay site exclusively for the sale of pornography. The move was prescient — though much porn consumption has shifted to streaming Internet video, there’s still a market for specialized fetish material best sold in DVD — or otherwise physically-shippable form.
In this spirit, Whitman’s “eBay Adults Only” brainchild is a place where, on April 15, $5.94 got one into the bidding for a DVD titled Redneck Trailer Torture. With $12 one could vie for “porn star Brianna Ryder’s personal g-string,” and $7.99 put one in the running for the DVD Grandma Has Sex With Everybody! Anal, Oral, Group!
By mid-day on April 15, Whitman’s adults-only Web-auction brainchild had more than 87,000 items for sale, with prices the $5-$20 range. If this is typical, a back-of-the-used-thong calculation suggests an eBay porno-based income of several million dollars per year, potentially funding dozens of California jobs.
On Wednesday SF Weekly asked Whitman spokesman Mitch Zak whether, given Whitman’s smut-peddling success, the porn-industry could count on her support as governor. Zak had not responded by press time.
Tags: eBay, fetish, Meg Whitman, pornography
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Be sure you read the last sentence .
Next week’s SF Weekly includes an exclusive report about a California economic development program that has routed tens of thousands of dollars in subsidies to an Internet pornography producer. Continuing — or even bolstering — this practice would seem a tailor-made campaign issue for Whitman, who bills herself as a business whiz ready to revive the California economy. She backs her economic talk with real chops: In 1998, just as eBay was preparing an initial stock offering, Whitman oversaw the creation of a special eBay site exclusively for the sale of pornography.