Yoko Ono and John Lennon at John Sinclair Freedom Rally

Following is a list of

cannabis rights Cannabis rights or marijuana rights (sometimes more specifically cannabis consumer rights or stoner rights) are individual civil and human rights that vary by jurisdiction. The rights of people who consume cannabis include the right to be free f ...

leaders, and activists in the

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternativel ...

legalization movement, including business leaders and celebrities who advocate for ending cannabis

prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...

Cannabis rights leaders

''Cannabis rights leaders, listed by country:''

Argentina

* Matías Faray

Australia

Richard Friar Richard "Ric" Friar is an English-Australian Big wave surfing, big wave surfer, artist, peace activist, film-maker and horticulturist. He is known as a pioneer of commercial cannabis (hemp) cultivation in Australia. Big wave surfing Friar is ...

Nevil Schoenmakers Nevil Martin Schoenmakers (2 February 1956 – 30 March 2019) was an Australian-born cannabis breeder known for founding the first cannabis seedbank, which was called "The Seed Bank of Holland", in the early 1980s in the Netherlands. This wa ...

* Chillinit * Michael Balderstone

Canada

Riley Cote Riley D. Cote (born March 16, 1982) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and formerly an assistant coach with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL). He played eight National Hockey League (NHL) season ...

Jodie Emery Jodie Emery (born January 4, 1985) is a Canadian cannabis rights activist and politician. She is the spouse of fellow activist Marc Emery. Until the business was shut down by police, the couple were co-owners of Cannabis Culture, a business tha ...

Marc Emery Marc Scott Emery (born February 13, 1958) is a Canadian cannabis rights activist, entrepreneur and politician. Often described as the "Prince of Pot", Emery has been a notable advocate of international cannabis policy reform, and has been activ ...

Grant Krieger Grant Wayne Krieger is a prominent Canadian who in May 1996 travelled to Holland to obtain a prescription for Cannabis to help alleviate symptoms from Multiple Sclerosis. Since then he became a prominent cannabis rights advocate. In 1996 he began ...

* Dana Larsen *

Blair Longley Blair Timmothy Longley (born September 25, 1950) is a Canadian politician and activist. Early life Blair Longley was born on September 25, 1950, in Vancouver, British Columbia and grew up in North Vancouver. Career Longley attended the foundin ...

Ron Mann Ronald Mann (born June 13, 1958), credited professionally as Ron Mann, is a Canadian documentary film director. His work includes the films ''Imagine the Sound'' (1981); '' Comic Book Confidential'' (1988); ''Grass'' (1999) and '' Go Further' ...

Marc-Boris St-Maurice Marc-Boris St-Maurice (b. 1969) is an activist, politician and Canadian musician, who has campaigned for many years for the legalization of cannabis, and to facilitate access to the drug for health reasons. He lives in Montreal, Quebec. Music ca ...

Hugô St-Onge Hugô St-Onge is a politician in Quebec, Canada. Since 2002, he has been the leader of the Bloc pot. The Bloc pot is a Quebec political party dedicated to the end of marijuana prohibition. He founded in 1999 along with other Bloc pot activists th ...

* Brian Taylor *

John Turmel John C. Turmel (born February 22, 1951) is a perennial candidate for election in Canada, and according to the ''Guinness World Records'' holds the records for the most elections contested and for the most elections lost, having contested 105 el ...

Val Venis Sean Allen Morley (born March 6, 1971), better known by the ring name Val Venis, is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF/WWE) from ...

Czech Republic

* Bob Hýsek

France

* Jean-Pierre Galland * Safia Lebdi * Michel Sitbon

Germany

Angela Gossow Angela Nathalie Gossow (born 5 November 1974) is a German vocalist, best known as the former lead singer for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her other previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. Early life Angela Gossow was b ...

* Georg Wurth

Hungary

* Juhász Péter

Ireland

* Luke "Ming" Flanagan

Israel

Raphael Mechoulam Raphael Mechoulam ( he, רפאל משולם, bg, Рафаел Мешулам; born 5 November 1930) is an Israeli organic chemist and professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. Mechoulam is best known for ...

Jamaica

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...

* Peter Tosh

Japan

Saya Takagi is a Japanese actress turned activist for the legalization of cannabis in Japan. Biography Saya Takagi started smoking cannabis when she was 17.

* Junichi Takayasu

Netherlands

Frits Bolkestein Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (; born 4 April 1933) is a retired Dutch politician and businessman who served as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 1990 to 1998 and European Commissioner for Internal Market from 199 ...

Dries van Agt Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt (; born 2 February 1931) is a Dutch politician and diplomat of the defunct Catholic People's Party (KVP) and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and jurist who served as Prime Minister of t ...

* Herman George " Armand" van Loenhout *

Simon Vinkenoog Simon Vinkenoog (18 July 1928 – 12 July 2009) was a Dutch poet, spoken word poet and writer. He was the editor of the anthology ''Atonaal'' (Atonal), which launched the Dutch "Fifties Movement". In 2004 he was chosen as Dichter des Vaderland ...

New Zealand

Israel Adesanya Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya (born 22 July 1989) is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines. As a mixed martial artist, h ...

* Abe "Gandalf" Gray * Shai Navot *

Chlöe Swarbrick Chlöe Charlotte Swarbrick (born 26 June 1994) is a New Zealand politician. Following a high-profile but unsuccessful run for the 2016 Auckland mayoral election, she became a parliamentary candidate for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand ...

Nándor Tánczos Nándor Steven Tánczos (, hu, Tánczos Nándor; born 29 May 1966) is a New Zealand social ecologist, researcher, educator, activist and political commentator. He is currently a councillor in the Whakatāne District Council. He is also co-dir ...

Norway

Thorvald Stoltenberg Thorvald Stoltenberg (8 July 1931 – 13 July 2018) was a Norwegian politician and diplomat. He served as Minister of Defence from 1979 to 1981 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1990 to 1993 in two Labour governme ...

South Africa

* Lee Harris

Spain

* Antonio Escohotado

Sweden

Joar Forssell ''Joar'' Nils Arvid Karlsson Forssell (born 17 February 1993) is a Swedish politician and a member of the Swedish parliament. Between 6 August 2016 and 18 August 2019 he was chairperson of LUF, Liberal Youth of Sweden. In the 2018 parliamentar ...

United Kingdom

Stephen Abrams Stephen Irwin Abrams (15 July 1938 in Chicago, Illinois – 21 November 2012) was an American scholar of parapsychology and a cannabis rights activist who was a long-standing resident of the United Kingdom. He is best known for sponsoring and ...

Richard Branson Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is a British billionaire, entrepreneur, and business magnate. In the 1970s he founded the Virgin Group, which today controls more than 400 companies in various fields. Branson expresse ...

* Paul Flynn *

The Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...

Clare Hodges Clare Hodges (6 July 1957 – 23 August 2011), also known as Elizabeth Brice, was an English activist who advanced the medical understanding of cannabis and campaigned for its widespread benefit as a therapeutic medicine in the United Kingdom. ...

Norman Lamb Sir Norman Peter Lamb (born 16 September 1957) is a British politician and solicitor. He was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) for North Norfolk from 2001 to 2019, and was the chair of the Science and Technology Select Committe ...

Howard Marks Dennis Howard Marks (13 August 1945 – 10 April 2016) was a Welsh drug smuggler and author who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases. At his peak he claimed to have been smuggling consignme ...

Don Barry Mason Don Barry Mason (1950–2006) was the founder of the Psychedelic Shamanistic Institute (PSI), a networking organisation that encouraged ethnobotany and scientific research into cannabis and other psychoactive plants while contributing substantially ...

* Dean " Black the Ripper" West * Kevin Williamson

United States

''American cannabis rights leaders, listed by state:'' Dennis Peron Brownie Mary John Entwistle Wayne Justman

Alabama

Loretta Nall Loretta Nall is the founder of the United States Marijuana Party, which calls for the legalization of cannabis. She was a write-in candidate for governor of Alabama in 2006. History Nall founded the USMjParty in 2002. In 2005, she co-founded Al ...

Alaska

Charlo Greene Charlo Greene (born Charlene Egbe in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian-American businesswoman and former reporter/anchor for KTVA television in Anchorage, Alaska. Greene received media notice after she quit her job on-air in September 2014 while cove ...

* Irwin Ravin

Arizona

* Caroline Killeen *

Jake Plummer Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer (born December 19, 1974) is a former professional American football player, a quarterback for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 ...

Arkansas

Joycelyn Elders Minnie Joycelyn Elders (born Minnie Lee Jones; August 13, 1933) is an American pediatrician and public health administrator who served as Surgeon General of the United States from 1993 to 1994. A vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commissi ...

California

Tom Ammiano Tom Ammiano (born December 15, 1941) is an American politician and LGBT rights activist from San Francisco, California. Ammiano, a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, served as a member of the California State Assembly from 2008 to ...

Nicole Aniston Nicole Aniston is an American pornographic actress, model, exotic dancer and actress. Aniston was the 2013 '' Penthouse'' Pet of the Year. Early life Aniston grew up in Escondido and Temecula in Riverside County, California. She attende ...

Paul Armentano Paul Armentano is an American cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', ...

Ngaio Bealum Ngaio Bealum is an American comedian, musician, writer, actor, activist, juggler and publisher. He co-hosted ''Cannabis Planet'' and published ''West Coast Cannabis Magazine''. Bealum hosted a podcast on Cannabis Radio. The podcast was formatted ...

Doug Benson Douglas Steven Benson (born July 2, 1962) is an American comedian, marijuana rights advocate, television host and actor, best known for hosting the podcasts and TV series ''Doug Loves Movies'' (2006-present), '' The Benson Interruption'' (2010-2 ...

Eddie Bravo Edgar A. Bravo (''né'' Cano; born May 15, 1970) is an American martial arts instructor, podcaster, stand-up comedian, and musician. After earning a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2003, Bravo began teaching his own self-developed style of ...

* Calvin "

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, ...

" Broadus Jr. * Jay Cavanaugh *

Tommy Chong Thomas B. Kin Chong (born May 24, 1938) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, musician, activist. He is known for his marijuana-themed Cheech & Chong comedy albums and movies with Cheech Marin, as well as playing the character Leo on Fox's ' ...

* Chris Conrad * Valerie Corral *

Steve DeAngelo Steve DeAngelo (born June 12, 1958) is an American cannabis rights activist and advocate for cannabis reform in the United States. Career DeAngelo is co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Harborside Inc., a publicly-traded company on the Canadi ...

Nate Diaz Nathan Donald Diaz (born April 16, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist who is currently a free agent. Diaz is most known for his time spent fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought for over 15 year ...

Nick Diaz Nickolas Robert Diaz (born August 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Diaz is a former Strikeforce, WEC and IFC welterweight champion ...

* Lowell Eggemeier *

Scott Feil Scott Feil is an American medical cannabis rights activist, complex aircraft pilot, and businessman. Most known for his involvement in the continuing court case involving Los Angeles Police Department illegal seizure of of medical marijuana, of ...

* Louis "

B-Real Louis Mario Freese (born June 2, 1970), known by his stage name B-Real, is an American rapper. Since 1991, he has been one of two lead rappers in the hip hop group Cypress Hill, along with Sen Dog. He has also been a part of the rap metal band ...

" Freese * Fred Gardner *

James Gray James, Jim, or Jimmy Gray may refer to: Politicians * James Gray (Australian politician) (1820–1889), member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly * James Gray (British politician) (born 1954), British politician * James Gray (mayor) (1862–1916 ...

Al Harrington Albert Harrington (born February 17, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Cape Town Tigers. Selected with the 25th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, Harrington played 16 seasons in the ...

Jack Herer Jack Herer (; June 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010), sometimes called the "Emperor of Hemp", was an American cannabis rights activist and the author of '' The Emperor Wears No Clothes''. Herer founded and served as the director of the organization ...

* Jay Evan "

Laganja Estranja Jay Evan Jackson, known professionally as Laganja Estranja (born December 28, 1988) is an American choreographer and drag queen based in Los Angeles. Laganja competed on the sixth season of '' RuPaul's Drag Race'', finishing in eighth place. Sh ...

" Jackson *

George Clayton Johnson George Clayton Johnson (July 10, 1929 – December 25, 2015) was an American science fiction writer, best known for co-writing with William F. Nolan the novel ''Logan's Run'', the basis for the MGM 1976 film. He was also known for his televisi ...

Paul Kantner Paul Lorin Kantner (March 17, 1941 – January 28, 2016) was an American rock musician. He is best known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist of Jefferson Airplane, a leading psychedelic rock band of the counterculture era. He conti ...

Paul Krassner Paul Krassner (April 9, 1932 – July 21, 2019) was an American author, journalist, and comedian. He was the founder, editor, and a frequent contributor to the freethought magazine '' The Realist'', first published in 1958. Krassner became a ke ...

* Michael Krawitz *

Steve Kubby Steven Wynn "Steve" Kubby (December 28, 1946 – November 20, 2022) was a Libertarian Party activist who played a key role in the drafting and passage of California Proposition 215. The proposition was a ballot initiative to legalize medical m ...

Kyle Kushman Kyle Kushman is the pen name of Adam Orenstein, an American writer, educator, activist and award-winning cannabis cultivator and breeder specializing in veganic cultivation. He is known for his organic farming techniques such as super cropping, pr ...

Barbara Lee Barbara Jean Lee (née Tutt; born July 16, 1946) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for . Now in her 12th term, Lee has served since 1998, and is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, numbered as the 9th d ...

* Richard Lee *

Lucky Lehrer Lucky Lehrer is a drummer from Los Angeles, California associated with several influential LA punk rock bands. He was originally trained in jazz then played in a number of LA punk rock bands, particularly the Circle Jerks, Redd Kross, Bad Religi ...

Charles C. Lynch Charles C. Lynch is the former owner of a city sanctioned medical marijuana dispensary in Morro Bay, California. Lynch obtained a medical marijuana dispensary business license, a medical marijuana nursery permit and was a member of the local c ...

Seth MacFarlane Seth Woodbury MacFarlane (; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, filmmaker, comedian, and singer. He is the creator and star of the television series ''Family Guy'' (since 1999) and '' The Orville'' (since 2017), and co-creato ...

Allison Margolin Allison Margolin is an American attorney and author of ''Jury Nullifications and Reasonable Doubt'' and ''Just Dope: A Leading Attorney's Personal Journey Inside the War on Drugs''. Margolin is based in Los Angeles, California, but practices l ...

Terence McKenna Terence Kemp McKenna (November 16, 1946 – April 3, 2000) was an American ethnobotanist and mystic who advocated the responsible use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants. He spoke and wrote about a variety of subjects, including ...

Jim McMahon James Robert McMahon Jr. (born August 21, 1959) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, most notably with the Chicago Bears. McMahon played college football at BYU, where he wa ...

Peter McWilliams Peter Alexander McWilliams (August 5, 1949 – June 14, 2000) was an American self-help author who advocated for the legalization of marijuana.Rosenzweig, David (June 17, 2000"Peter McWilliams; Backed Medical Use of Marijuana"''Los Angeles Times ...

* Steve McWilliams * Christine "Sister Kate" Meeusen *

Tod Mikuriya Tod Hiro Mikuriya (20 September 193320 May 2007) was an American medical doctor and psychiatrist. Known as an outspoken advocate for the use of cannabis for medical purposes and its legalization, he is often regarded as the grandfather of the me ...

Mikki Norris Mikki Norris (born July 18, 1952) is an American drug policy activist, former publisher, and author, known for her work highlighting the human cost of the US War on Drugs. She co-authored, with husband Chris Conrad and Virginia Resner, ''Shatte ...

Dennis Peron Dennis Robert Peron (April 8, 1945 – January 27, 2018) was an American activist and businessman who became a leader in the movement for the legalization of cannabis throughout the 1990s. He influenced many in California and thus change ...

Michelle Phillips Michelle may refer to: People *Michelle (name), a given name and surname, the feminine form of Michael * Michelle Courtens, Dutch singer, performing as "Michelle" * Michelle (German singer) * Michelle (Scottish singer) (born 1980), Scottish w ...

* Mary Jane "

Brownie Mary Mary Jane Rathbun (December 22, 1922 – April 10, 1999), popularly known as Brownie Mary, was an American medical cannabis rights activist. As a hospital volunteer at San Francisco General Hospital, she became known for baking and distr ...

" Rathbun * Rudy Reyes *

Seth Rogen Seth Aaron Rogen (; born April 15, 1982) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian and filmmaker. Originally a stand-up comedian in Vancouver, he moved to Los Angeles for a part in Judd Apatow's series '' Freaks and Geeks'', and then got a part ...

Henry Rollins Henry Lawrence Garfield (born February 13, 1961), known professionally as Henry Rollins, is an American singer, writer, spoken word artist, actor, and presenter. After performing in the short-lived hardcore punk band State of Alert in 1980, Roll ...

Ed Rosenthal Edward "Ed" Rosenthal (born December 2, 1944) is an American horticulturist, author, publisher, and ''Cannabis'' grower known for his advocacy for the legalization of marijuana use. He served as a columnist for ''High Times Magazine'' during the ...

Jerry Rubin Jerry Clyde Rubin (July 14, 1938 – November 28, 1994) was an American social activist, anti-war leader, and counterculture icon during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, he became a successful businessman. He is known for being one of the ...

Frank Shamrock Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez III; December 8, 1972) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship (later renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship) an ...

* Cheryl Shuman *

John Sperling John Glen Sperling (January 9, 1921 – August 22, 2014) was an American billionaire businessman who is credited with having led the contemporary for-profit education movement in the United States The fortune he amassed was based on his founding ...

Kyle Turley Kyle John Turley (born September 24, 1975) is a former American football offensive tackle who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Selected 7th overall in the 1998 NFL draft, Turley played five seasons for the New Orleans ...

Marc Wasserman Marc David Wasserman (born July 25, 1968) is an actor and lawyer best known for being one of the Pot Brothers at Law along with his brother Craig. The Pot Brothers become known as lawyers who assist people in getting their marijuana businesses up ...

George Zimmer George Zimmer (born November 21, 1948) is an American businessman. He is the founder, former executive chairman (1973–2013) and former CEO (1973–2011) of the Men's Wearhouse, a clothing retailer with more than 1,200 stores in the US and Canad ...

Colorado

* William " Wayward Bill" Chengelis *

Krystal Gabel Krystal Gabel (born October 14, 1984) is an American cannabis rights activist, politician, and writer. Gabel, a candidate for governor of Nebraska in the 2018 election, at age 33 was the youngest of a record number of women who ran for governors ...

* Rachel K. Gillette *

Ken Gorman Ken Gorman (July 12, 1946 – February 17, 2007) was a marijuana rights activist who was shot and killed in his home on February 17, 2007 in Colorado. He ran for Colorado state governor as a write-in candidate and supported pro-legalization candi ...

Steven Hager Steven Hager (born May 25, 1951, Illinois) is an American writer, journalist, filmmaker, and counterculture and cannabis rights activist. He is known for his long association with ''High Times'' magazine. Biography Early life and education Hag ...

* Christian Hageseth * Nate Jackson *

Wanda James Wanda L. James is the first African American woman to own a marijuana dispensary in the United States. In 2022, James was elected to represent Congressional District 1 on the University of Colorado Board of Regents. She is the first Black woma ...

Laura Kriho Laura Jean Kriho (July 23, 1964 – January 30, 2017) was an American cannabis legalization advocate and was also known for her part in a jury nullification trial in the mid-1990s. Kriho was also involved in the Cannabis Therapy Institute and in ...

* Sal Pace * Jessica Peck *

Jared Polis Jared Schutz Polis (; born May 12, 1975) is an American politician, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado since January 2019. He served one term on the Colorado State Board of Education from 2 ...

Mason Tvert Mason Tvert is an American marijuana rights activist, founder of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation, and current communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project in Colorado. He has been described as the " Don Draper of Pot" by ...

Brian Vicente Brian Vicente is an American attorney and marijuana rights advocate. He is a partner and founding member of Vicente LLP, which Rolling Stone has labeled the “the country’s first powerhouse marijuana law firm.” Vicente is the co-founder an ...

Marvin Washington Marvin Andrew Washington (born October 22, 1965) is a former American football defensive end who played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Selected in the sixth round of the 1989 NFL draft, he played eight seasons for the New ...

Jane West Jane West (born Iliffe, 1758–1852), was an English novelist who published as Prudentia Homespun and Mrs. West. She also wrote conduct literature, poetry and educational tracts. Life Jane West was born to Jane and John Iliffe in London, but th ...

Florida

Steve Berke Steve Ryan Berke (born 5 May 1981) is a co-founder of the International Church of Cannabis, two-time candidate for mayor of Miami Beach, cannabis activist, rapper, YouTuber, entrepreneur, and former All-American tennis player. As a college tenn ...

Eben Britton Eben Britton (born October 14, 1987) is a former American football offensive tackle who played six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Selected 39th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft, he spent four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars fo ...

* Mike James *

Norm Kent Norman Elliott Kent. (born 18 October 1949 in Brooklyn, New York) is a South Florida criminal defense attorney, publisher and radio talk show host. The founder and publisher of '' The Express'', in 1999, and ''South Florida Gay News'' in 2 ...

Peter B. Lewis Peter Benjamin Lewis (November 11, 1933 – November 23, 2013) was an American businessman who was the chairman of Progressive Insurance Company. Early life and education Lewis was raised in a Jewish

* John Morgan * Robert Randall

Georgia

Sanjay Gupta Sanjay Gupta (born October 23, 1969) is an American neurosurgeon, medical reporter, and writer. He serves as associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, associate professor of neurosurgery at ...

Cheryl Miller Cheryl D. Miller (born January 3, 1964) is an American former basketball player. She was formerly a sideline reporter for NBA games on TNT Sports and also works for NBA TV as a reporter and analyst, having worked previously as a sportscaster ...

Asher Roth Asher Paul Roth (born August 11, 1985) is an American rapper. He is best known for his debut single " I Love College". Roth released his debut studio album '' Asleep in the Bread Aisle'', on April 20, 2009, by Universal Motown, SRC, and Schoo ...

Hawaii

Roger Christie Roger Christie (born June 15, 1949) is an American ordained minister in the Religion of Jesus Church, which regards marijuana as a "sacramental herb." In 2000, he founded the THC Ministry, which offered cannabis as a part of its services. On Jul ...

Woody Harrelson Woodrow Tracy Harrelson (born July 23, 1961) is an American actor and playwright. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards ...

Andrew Simmons Andrew Simmons (born 21 May 1984), better known by his ring name Andy Boy Simmonz, is a British professional wrestler. He is currently working in the independent circuit in the United Kingdom for several promotions. Simmons' most high-profile ...

Illinois

Mezz Mezzrow Milton Mesirow (November 9, 1899 – August 5, 1972), better known as Mezz Mezzrow, was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist from Chicago, Illinois. He is remembered for organizing and financing recording sessions with Tommy Ladnie ...

* Jim "

Chef Ra Chef Ra (October 10, 1950 – December 26, 2006), born Jim Wilson Jr., was a long-time cannabis rights advocate and cannabis foods writer in the United States. After gaining notoriety as a ganja gourmet and appearing on the November 1987 cover ...

" Wilson Jr.

Iowa

* George McMahon

Kansas

Shona Banda Shona Banda (1978 or 1979) is a Kansas resident of Garden City and medical cannabis rights advocate who was arrested for possession of cannabis in 2015. Her arrest and seizure of her child sparked a debate regarding cannabis in Kansas. Arrest Sh ...

Kentucky

Dan Jack Combs Dan Jack Combs (August 22, 1924 – May 25, 2002) was a justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals from 1983 to 1989 and the Kentucky Supreme Court from 1989 to 1993. Combs rose to national prominence by successfully defending Appalachian Voluntee ...

Gatewood Galbraith Louis Gatewood Galbraith (January 23, 1947 – January 4, 2012) was an American author and attorney from the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. He was a five-time political candidate for governor of Kentucky. Early life and education Born in Carli ...

Dakota Meyer Dakota Louis Meyer (born June 26, 1988) is a former United States Marine. A veteran of the War in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. M ...

Maryland

Montel Williams Montel Brian Anthony Williams (born July 3, 1956) is an American television host, actor and motivational speaker. He is known for hosting the long-running daytime tabloid talk show '' The Montel Williams Show'', which ran in syndication from 1991 ...

Kevin Zeese Kevin Bruce Zeese (October 28, 1955 – September 6, 2020) was an American lawyer, U.S. Senate candidate and political activist. He worked to end the war on drugs and mass incarceration, and was instrumental in organizing the 2011 Occupy encam ...

Massachusetts

Constance Bumgarner Gee Constance Bumgarner Gee is an American scholar, memoirist, animal rights activist, and advocate of the medical use of cannabis. She was the founder and director of the Arts Policy and Administration Program at The Ohio State University, and late ...

Jack A. Cole Jack A. Cole (born October 9, 1938) is a retired Detective Lieutenant who worked for the New Jersey State Police for 26 years. For twelve of those years, he worked as an undercover narcotics officer. Cole was the first executive director of Law ...

* Greta Gaines *

Lester Grinspoon Lester Grinspoon (June 24, 1928 – June 25, 2020) was an American psychiatrist and long-standing associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School best known for his groundbreaking works on the science and social policy of cannabi ...

* Daniel "

Danny Danko Danny Danko (born Daniel Vinkovetsky on July 4, 1972) is a writer, marijuana enthusiast and former Senior Cultivation Editor of ''High Times'' magazine. Early life He was born in Leningrad, USSR Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт ...

" Vinkovetsky

Michigan

* Tom Crosslin * John Sinclair

Minnesota

John Birrenbach John “Sparky” Birrenbach (born May 17, 1961) is an American businessman, marketing consultant, writer, filmmaker, and marijuana rights activist. Birrenbach, who founded the Institute for Hemp, was named ''High Times'' magazine's 1993 Freedom ...

* Jim Carlson * Tim Davis * James "

Jesse Ventura Jesse Ventura (born James George Janos; July 15, 1951) is an American politician, actor, and retired professional wrestler. After achieving fame in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), he served as the 38th governor of Minnesota from 1999 to ...

" Janos * Chris Wright

Nebraska

Mark Elworth Jr. Mark Gerald Elworth Jr. (born August 6, 1976) is an American freelance musician, businessman, cannabis rights activist, perennial candidate for public office, and rockhound. Elworth was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of Nebraska in ...

Donald Fiedler Donald Bruce Fiedler (February 2, 1943 - May 15, 2008) was an American cannabis rights activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with t ...

New Hampshire

Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Saeed (born May 18, 1984) is a Pakistani-American producer, composer, journalist, host, writer, and comic. He produced and hosted several TV shows and documentaries for Vice. Personal life Saeed was born in New Hampshire to a Pakistani ...

New Jersey

Cory Booker Cory Anthony Booker (born April 27, 1969) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the junior United States senator from New Jersey since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Booker is the first African-American U.S. sen ...

* Edward " NJWeedman" Forchion *

David L. Nathan David L. Nathan (born 1968) is an American psychiatrist, writer, and founder and past president of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation. Best known for his advocacy of cannabis legalization, he has also published research in the academic and lay press o ...

Ken Wolski Kenneth Wolski (born September 16, 1948) is an American activist from New Jersey. Wolski resides in Trenton, New Jersey and is the executive director of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey and a registered nurse. In 2012, Wolski ran fo ...

New Mexico

Gary Johnson Gary Earl Johnson (born January 1, 1953) is an American businessman, author, and politician. He served as the 29th governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003 as a member of the Republican Party. He was the Libertarian Party nominee for Presid ...

New York

Dana Beal Irvin Dana Beal (born January 9, 1947 in Ravenna, Ohio) is an American social and political activist, best known for his efforts to legalize marijuana and to promote the benefits of Ibogaine as an addiction treatment. He is a founder and long-ter ...

Kristin M. Davis Kristin M. Davis, previously known as the Manhattan Madam, is a former madam who was known for running a high-end prostitution ring in New York City which claimed to have offered its services to several high-profile clients, including Eliot Spitz ...

* Jacqueline "

Coca Crystal Coca Crystal (December 21, 1947 – March 1, 2016) was an American television personality, anarchist and political activist, connected with 1960s counterculture. She was best known for her weekly cable-access variety show ''The Coca Crystal Show: ...

" Diamond *

Ann Druyan Ann Druyan ( ; born June 13, 1949) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning American documentary producer and director specializing in the communication of science. She co-wrote the 1980 PBS documentary series ''Cosmos'', hosted by Carl Sagan, w ...

Abby Epstein Abby Epstein is a film director and producer most known for working in the field of the documentary. Her film ''The Business of Being Born'', which deals with the birth process in American hospitals, is one of her most widely known and acclaimed ...

Allen Ginsberg Irwin Allen Ginsberg (; June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) was an American poet and writer. As a student at Columbia University in the 1940s, he began friendships with William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, forming the core of the Beat Genera ...

* Gary " Tom Forçade" Goodson *

Abbie Hoffman Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman (November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989) was an American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies") and was a member of the Chicago Seven. He was also a leading propone ...

* Thomas K. Leighton *

Bill Maher William Maher (; born January 20, 1956) is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is known for the HBO political talk show '' Real Time with Bill Maher'' (2003–present) and the similar ...

Ethan Nadelmann Ethan A. Nadelmann (born March 13, 1957) is the founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, a New York City-based non-profit organization working to end the War on Drugs. He is a supporter of the legalization of marijuana in America. Early life Nadelma ...

* Anthony Papa * David Peel *

Carl Sagan Carl Edward Sagan (; ; November 9, 1934December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, planetary scientist, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist, author, and science communicator. His best known scientific contribution is research on ...

Ed Sanders Edward Sanders (born August 17, 1939) is an American poet, singer, activist, author, publisher and longtime member of the rock band the Fugs. He has been called a bridge between the Beat and hippie generations. Sanders is considered to have be ...

* Larry Sharpe * PJ Bakes

Nevada

Joseph N. Crowley Joseph Neil Crowley (July 9, 1933 – November 28, 2017) was the 13th president of the University of Nevada, Reno from 1978 to 2001 and interim president from 2005 to 2006 and was the longest-serving president at the university and cannabis ...

North Carolina

Sean Haugh Sean Newton Haugh (born November 17, 1960) is an American politician and pizza delivery man who has run for Senate in North Carolina under the Libertarian Party nomination in 2002, 2014 and 2016. He currently resides in Durham, North Carolina. ...

Ohio

* John Boehner *

Steve Conliff Steven Conliff (November 24, 1949 – June 1, 2006) was a Midwestern-based Native American writer, historian, social satirist, alternative-media publisher and political activist in the 1960s and 1970s. Conliff is chiefly remembered for throwing ...

Oregon

Earl Blumenauer Earl Francis Blumenauer ( ; born August 16, 1948) is an American lawyer, author, and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 1996. The district includes most of Portland east of the Willamette River. A member of the Democratic ...

* Madeline Martinez * Elvy Musikka * Clifford Robinson *

Malcom Gregory Scott Malcom Gregory Scott (born January 26, 1962) also known as Greg Scott, is an American writer, activist, and AIDS survivor. In 1987, the United States Navy (USN) discharged him for homosexuality, after which Scott worked to overturn the Department ...

* Allen St. Pierre *

Paul Stanford Paul Stanford is the founder of The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF), THCF Medical Clinics, and the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH). Stanford founded the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation in 1999 in Portland, Oregon. The g ...

* George " Jorge Cervantes" Van Patten

Pennsylvania

* Gisele Fetterman *

Kiyoshi Kuromiya Kiyoshi Kuromiya (May 9, 1943 – May 10, 2000) was a Japanese-American author and civil rights, anti-war, gay liberation, and HIV/AIDS activist. Born in Wyoming at the World War II–era Japanese American internment camp known as Heart ...

Maj Toure Maj Toure (born Martin Anthony Jones) is an American libertarian political activist and rapper. Toure is closely associated with the Mises Caucus wing of the American Libertarian Party. A native of North Philadelphia, Toure founded the educat ...

South Dakota

Alex White Plume Alex White Plume (born 1952) is the former vice president and president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, located on South Dakota of the United States. He served as president from June 30, 2006 to November 2006 after Ceci ...

Tennessee

Stephen Gaskin Stephen Gaskin (February 16, 1935 – July 1, 2014) was an American counterculture Hippie icon best known for his presence in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco in the 1960s and for co-founding " The Farm", a spiritual commune in 1970. ...

Derrick Morgan Derrick Morgan (born 27 March 1940)Walters, Basil (2012)A New Day – Songs heralding JA’s Independence", ''Jamaica Observer'', 3 June 2012, retrieved 3 June 2012 is a Jamaican musical artist who was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. He work ...

Texas

* Barry Cooper *

Brian Cuban Brian Cuban (born January 11, 1961) is an American attorney, author, speaker, and activist. He is an authority on male eating disorders, drug addiction, drug rehabilitation, and alcoholism. He is a lawyer and activist in the areas of First Amend ...

* Joe Gaddy *

Larry Hagman Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera, ''Dall ...

Ann Lee Ann Lee (29 February 1736 – 8 September 1784), commonly known as Mother Ann Lee, was the founding leader of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, or the Shakers. After nearly two decades of participation in a r ...

Willie Nelson Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American country musician. The critical success of the album ''Shotgun Willie'' (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of '' Red Headed Stranger'' (1975) and ''Stardust'' (1978 ...

* Joe Ptak * Brett Stahl * Jeffrey "Zeal" Stefanoff *

Mark Stepnoski Mark Matthew Stepnoski (born January 20, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and went on t ...

Vermont

Cris Ericson Cris Ericson (born May 16, 1952) is an American marijuana legalization activist and perennial candidate for public office in Vermont. She has unsuccessfully run for the governorship of Vermont nine times and for a seat in the United States ...

Virginia

Arthur Kleps Arthur John Kleps (April 17, 1928 – July 17, 1999) was a psychologist turned drug legalization advocate whose Neo-American Church defended use of marijuana and hallucinogens such as LSD and peyote for spiritual enlightenment and exploration. E ...

Eugene Monroe Eugene Christopher Monroe (born April 18, 1987) is a former American football offensive tackle who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Selected eighth overall in the 2009 NFL draft, he spent the early years of his pro ca ...

Washington

* Alison Holcomb *

Vivian McPeak Vivian McPeak (born 1958) is an American peace, social justice activist, cannabis rights activist, and musician. In Seattle, Washington. Mcpeak founded the Peace Heathens in 1988, a Seattle community action group. McPeak and Gary Cooke organize ...

Norm Stamper Norman Harvey Stamper (born 1944) is an American former chief of police, writer, law enforcement consultant, and advocate for criminal justice reform. Biography Stamper is known for his role as Chief of the Seattle Police Department (1994-2000) r ...

Rick Steves Richard John Steves Jr. (born May 10, 1955), known professionally as Rick Steves, is an American travel writer, author, activist, and television personality. His travel philosophy encourages people to explore less-touristy areas of destination ...

Karen Stratton Karen Stratton (born ) is an American politician, cannabis farmer, and businessperson in the cannabis industry. She served as a Spokane City Councilperson. from 2014 to December 31, 2023. She graduated from Marycliff High School in Spokane, a ...

Washington, D.C.

Erik Altieri Erik Altieri is the executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML ) is a social welfare organization based in Washington, D.C., that advocates f ...

* Richard Cowan *

Adam Eidinger Adam Eidinger (born 1973) is a Washington D.C. businessman and cannabis rights activist, known for his role in spearheading Initiative 71, which legalized cannabis in the District of Columbia in 2015. Early life Eidinger was born in Pittsburgh ...

* George Farnham *

Rob Kampia Rob Kampia is an American activist who is the co-founder of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), co-founder of Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW), and founder of the Marijuana Leadership Campaign. In 1988 Rob Kampia was arrested for growing marijuana for ...

Nikolas Schiller Nikolas Schiller (born October 10, 1980) is an American blogger and drug policy reform activist who lives in Washington, DC. He is primarily known for developing ''Geospatial Art'', which is the name he gave to his collection of abstract fantasy ...

Keith Stroup Keith Stroup is an attorney and founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Biography After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1965, he enrolled in Georgetown Law School and worked in the office of Illinois S ...

William Creighton Woodward William Creighton Woodward M.D., (December 11, 1867 – December 22, 1949) was a medical doctor and a lawyer who was the legislative counsel for the American Medical Association from 1922 to 1939. He was an early proponent of medical marijuana. ...

West Virginia

Jon Gettman Jon B. Gettman (born August 20, 1957) is a marijuana rights activist, a leader of the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, and a former head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He has a PhD in public policy and regional ...

Wisconsin

Ben Masel Bennett A. “Ben” Masel (October 17, 1954 – April 30, 2011) was an American writer, publisher, cannabis rights and free speech activist, expert witness for marijuana defendants, and frequent candidate for public office. A skilled chess play ...

Jacki Rickert Jacki Rickert (May 13, 1951 – December 26, 2017) was founder and executive director of the medical marijuana patients advocacy group Is My Medicine Legal Yet? (IMMLY). Rickert lived with connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and a ...

Sources

External links

Cannabis Culture Awards

History of NORML Awards (1998-2017)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannabis rights leaders * Rights leaders Lists of social activists