Lauren R. Maytin – Colorado Cannabis Advocate
Name: Lauren R. Maytin
Occupation: Attorney; Advocate and Counselor
When and how did you become an advocate for cannabis?
In 1997, while in law school at the University of Denver, I decided to intern with an attorney named Warren Edson, my now law partner at Edson & Maytin, PC. Warren was working on the drafting and passage of Amendment 20, whether a Forward Looking Infrared Devices (FLIR) was a search requiring a warrant and some other really cool cases. I was beyond intrigued: A medicine to help people was a no brainer—who was the government to say people couldn’t have medicine to help them survive and thrive?
After the first go around of Amendment 20, it eventually passed on its second time around. While waiting to see what would happen after passage of Amendment 20, I began my career as a public defender at the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office. I was defending our U.S. Constitutional Rights! Intriguing, but the intrigue of marijuana continued.
In 2001 I won the John Flowers Mark Scholarship to attend the National NORML Conference in Key West and I was hooked again, but this time into a network of those who could and would help me make cannabis a greater reality.
How has cannabis benefited your life?
My life has benefited from cannabis by being able to watch people get to the medicine they need. The issue was a no brainer—I did not want to stand by and watch people suffer who could and would live better lives because of cannabis use. I have also made a living helping those in and around the cannabis industry and movement. This added dimension to my career makes me happy.
What’s your greatest achievement for the cannabis cause?
My greatest achievement is helping to get Amendment 20 passed, or speaking to the Colorado Supreme Court and Office of Attorney Regulation about protecting attorneys who advise cannabis clients and having them actually listen. It is helping the many patients get to the medicine they need by providing them with careful and direct advice and guidance.
Who do you look up to or admire?
My hero: Gerry Goldstein. A fellow Aspenite, fellow NORML member and fellow Criminal Defense Attorney. He exemplifies what it means to be the best at all those things.
If you could change one thing about the way cannabis is viewed and/or treated right now, what would it be?
Whether medical marijuana should be legal is a no brainer! Every state in the United States should legalize medical marijuana now!
