Business
420 Tribute: In Memoriam
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]here are many cannabis activists and community members who have spent their lives celebrating cannabis. From the most passionate signature-gathering volunteers to the strongest representations of grassroots entrepreneurs, these people are the foundation of the cannabis world. Sadly, as time passes, lives are lost, and cannabis advocates pass on. To kickstart our prep for 420, we wanted to start by honoring a few advocates who dedicated much of their lives to the success of cannabis for themselves, and everyone around them.
Decades ago, Peron returned from serving in the Vietnam War, and smuggled two pounds of cannabis back to America. He quickly became immersed in the spirit of San Francisco and the high prevalence of cannabis. Peron became friends with pot-friendly San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk before Milk’s highly-publicized assassination in 1978, which introduced him to politics. He’s go on to co-author Proposition 215, the first successful statewide medical cannabis law in America.
This longtime Washington medical cannabis advocate made a name for herself in her home state. She was well-known both for her unique appearance wearing an eyepatch and often traveling with her service dog companion, but also with her numerous appearance advocating for cannabis policy hearings. McKee was also an important figure in the advocacy scene, having often made a name for herself with local law enforcement.
Well-known for her activism, Laura Kriho had a major impact on the cannabis community. According to The Daily Camera, she was one of the catalysts for the progress of Amendment 20 in Colorado, which allowed for medical cannabis. (Later, she also had a hand in assisting with recreational cannabis through Amendment 64). According to a member of the Cannabis Alliance for Regulation and Education, Rico Garcia, Kriho was a force to be reckoned with. “She was a little ball of fire, and she didn’t care about telling anyone exactly how it was,” Garcia said. “She was activism with no filters, and she was quick to let people know what was unfair and unjust.” Kriho’s most well-known moment was when she served as a juror on a drug case. She alone stood her ground against her other fellow jurors and forced a mistrial of the case, because they couldn’t find the suspect guilty due to disagreeing with laws.
As owner and founder of Pot Luck Events in Anchorage, Alaska, Theresa Collins was a strong proponent of cannabis consumers’ rights. Her business allowed people to consume and share cannabis for those who paid a member’s fee. She was one of the core individuals who helped organize the 2014 recreational cannabis initiative and get on the ballot. Sadly, she received a cease-and-desist letter to close her business, and it ceased operation on April 20, 2017. Collins died one day later from ovarian cancer.
Cameron Smith of Spokane, Washington was kidnapped and killed in late September last year. He was a friendly individual who worked at a local dispensary called LUCID but sadly, when he was confronted by customers who wanted to illegally buy cannabis (without having a valid ID), he became a target. The cannabis community will forever mourn the loss, but at least have positive memories of Smith in life. “He was a father, son, he was a brother, he was a mentor and he was also a grandfather,” said Dennis Turner, co-owner of LUCID. Turner knew Smith for 24 years.
James Bell, founder and executive director of the Georgia CARE Project, spent over 25 years supporting and fighting for cannabis in the southern state. According to an article written by Peachtree NORML’s Executive Director, Tom McCain, he left a lasting impression upon the cannabis community where he lived. “He truly believed that the re-legalization of cannabis could be accomplished here in Georgia,” McCain wrote. “He was a constant presence around the Gold Dome when the Legislature was in session, both testifying on issues and videoing procedures. His easy way, his extensive knowledge, and his passion paved the way for good relationships with lawmakers. He was well-known and respected by many.”
In the medical era of cannabis, for Petty, consumption was everyday business. “I don’t have a prescription card, but I’m certain I’ve smoked some medical marijuana, yeah,” Petty told Rolling Stone in 2013. “It’s everywhere. I don’t smoke as much pot as I did at one point in my life. But I think the cat’s out of the bag, and it’s gonna be legalized.” It’s hard to imaging rock n’ roll without Tom Petty—his absence will undoubtedly scar the music industry and the cannabis industry.
