Controversial Billboard Not Likely to be Shown During Tonight's Broncos/Ravens Game

Are you ready for some football? After many long months of waiting, weeks of training camp, and the necessary evil of the preseason the 2013 NFL regular season kicks off tonight when the Denver Broncos try to take down the defending champions, the Baltimore Ravens.

As is common with national broadcast like this there will be times when the city--be it the skyline or local landmarks--is featured. One thing that fans can count on not seeing during the game will be this new billboard:

Shocker, right?

The Marijuana Policy Project has purchased the billboard in hopes of sparking (no pun intended) debate on marijuana-related suspensions in the NFL:

"For years, the NFL has been punishing players for using marijuana despite the fact that it is far less harmful than alcohol, a substance widely embraced by the league," said Mason Tvert, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, said in a statement. "The league would never punish a player simply for having a couple beers, so why does it penalize them for using a substance that is less toxic, less addictive, and less likely to contribute to violence?..."

Will this make any difference? Probably not. While the Project does have an argument it is hard to imagine the NFL relaxing punishment for anything. If the league was to act it would likely be to stiffen substance abuse related penalties across the board.