Cannabis Blog

Readers emailed that Texas native Richard Lee the force behind California's Proposition 19 which would have legalized marijuanause, should be recognized as Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year

Suzanne Wills of Dallas Wrote:

“Richard grew up in Houston. He had a happy, active lifestyle until he was 27. Then, while working as a lighting technician, he fell off a scaffold and broke his back The injury left him paralyzed below the waist. Suffering from sleeplessness, spasms and other complications, Richard told his parents he was considering suicide. Then he learned that cannabis relieved his pain and quieted his spasms.” “Since cannabis was illegal in his home state, Richard moved to Oakland after passage of Proposition 215, which legalized marijuana as a medicinal herb in California. ... Soon afterwards, he opened two dispensaries then, his most famous venture, Oaksterdam University. It has trained nearly 10,000 students in marijuana cultivation, law and advocacy”

The proposition lost last week with 46 percent of the vote in support. Still, 1.6 million Californians cast their ballots for the right to use marijuana without violating state law.