Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign is already a unique endeavor that will hopefully allow our nation to more honestly debate a whole host of issues, particularly on the Democratic side. Sanders will definitely push Hillary Clinton on many progressive issues and the Republicans likely will have to deal with the consequences […]

The National Football League finished up the 2015 draft, bringing in new players that will go on to make millions of dollars and win Super Bowls while others will fade out of the league or never make a roster at all. Some of these players are big and strong, others […]

Despite the best efforts of Congressman Earl Blumenauer, the United States House of Representatives narrowly voted against a measure that would have allowed Veterans Administration doctors to recommend medical cannabis in states where the medicine is legal. When there is an epidemic of veteran suicides, it is shameful that Congress […]

After learning about an amendment that includes harmful limits on patient gardens, to go along with intrusive home-inspections and burdensome record-keeping, the Oregon cannabis community made their voices heard, bombarding the Measure 91 Implementation Committee with phone calls and emails. These phone calls and emails have been working! While we […]

There has been a complaint I’ve read lately that I believe originated with the estimable Michelle Alexander and her book “The New Jim Crow”, but I’m reading it echoed elsewhere. The complaint, in one form or another, is that African-Americans (and Hispanics) bore the brunt of marijuana prohibition, and when […]

I heard a rumor today, to add to the plethora of ones circulating around July 2015. It has to do with High Times Cannabis Cup. Not news to many at this point, the Cannabis Cup is coming to Portland, Oregon, this July in celebration of the implementation of Measure 91, […]

The joint legislative committee overseeing implementation of voter-approved marijuana legalization seems to have have found a new policy framework in the least democratic of places: OPEC. Apparently the 12 member states that comprise the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries — Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi […]

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) had been a great success that has helped thousands upon thousands of patients and generated millions of dollars for the state.  As a medical cannabis clinic owner, I have personally seen the medical program improve the lives of thousands of patients. When the Oregon Measure […]

  One of the Zombie Lies (thanks, Bill Maher) about marijuana that just will not die is this idea that marijuana smoking will make you turn schizophrenic. While there are studies purporting to show an exacerbation of one’s already present schizophrenia by using cannabis, no study shows a causal relationship between using […]

As a businessman myself, I usually don’t begrudge people for making a profit. But as an activist, brought up under the apprenticeship of cannabis icon Jack Herer, I have to speak my mind when money and profits are put ahead of the people, the voters and disabled patients; especially under […]

Modern-day generations can always look back and admire their superiority of past generations in a number of fields. We can deem many practices as “barbaric” and can be thankful that we live in better times. I remember being horrified as a child about the fact that people actually enslaved other people, […]

While most marijuana law reform advocates have an antagonistic relationship with their US Attorney, Oregon’s cannabis community has been fortunate to have Amanda Marshall at the helm since October 7, 2011. Marshall succeeded Dwight Holton, who was not supported by the cannabis community, to say the least, as his anti-marijuana […]

Once upon a time, marijuana legalization was proposed in a state. Most of the people saw it, and it was good. But the police, the prison guards, the drug testers, and the rehabbers saw it, and it was a vision heralding the demise of their way of life. And one […]

Oftentimes, I like to reflect upon how and why the cannabis community has made such great strides in recent years. Authors, chief petitioners, spokespeople, funders and advocates associated with prominent reforms capture the headlines and media attention, but the truth is that we all stand upon the shoulders of giants […]

The plight of Shona Banda and her family in Kansas illustrates just how far we have to go to end the harmful and futile War on Marijuana. While people were celebrating newly-won freedoms on April 20th, Shona Banda had to attend a child custody hearing because here son spoke out […]