Rudy Reyes (born February 27, 1977) is an American teacher, actor,

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

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

activist, and chef. Reyes was a contestant in the reality television competition, ''MasterChef'', on the show's fourth season. Californian Reyes, known for his bravery during the

Cedar Fire The Cedar Fire was a massive, highly-destructive wildfire, which burned of land in San Diego County, California, during October and November 2003. The fire's rapid growth was driven by the Santa Ana winds, causing the fire to spread at a rat ...

of 2003, volunteers as a mentor for young burn survivors, and spokesperson for

United Way United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit organization, nonprofit fundraising affiliates. Prior to 2015, United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public. Individual Un ...

and the Burn Institute.

Cedar Fire survivor

Heroism during 2003 wildfire A resident of

San Diego County, California San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county (United States), county in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California, north to its Mexico-United States border, border with Mexico. As of the 2020 United States Cen ...

, Reyes became known for his role in the Cedar Fire of 2003. During the fire, he helped others get to safety first, before he was trapped by the fire. Reyes soaked himself in the shower, and ran more than a mile through the fire. He sustained burns over approximately 70 percent of his body, and lost one ear and part of a finger. Reyes has had numerous surgeries and uses cannabis salve to aid healing of his skin. According to Reyes, vaporized marijuana was more effective than other drugs prescribed for pain while he was hospitalized.

Early activism

Rudy Reyes in San Diego California July 2009

After the Witch Creek wildfire burned San Diego County again four years later in 2007, Reyes became critical of his representative on the

San Diego County Board of Supervisors The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is the Board of supervisors, legislative and executive branch of the Government of San Diego County, California, county government of San Diego County, California. Though officially Non-partisan democra ...

, Dianne Jacob, for her vote to spend the county's resources to file a lawsuit against California's medical marijuana law,

Proposition 215 Proposition 215, or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, is a California law permitting the use of medical cannabis despite marijuana's lack of the normal Food and Drug Administration testing for safety and efficacy. It was enacted, on November ...

, which was passed by voters in 1996, rather than using the public's money to build a hospital and for fire prevention. Reyes ran against Jacob and lost, but Reyes received more than 20,000 votes, about 22 percent, in the June 3, 2008, election.

2010s career

''How Weed Won the West'' film appearance

While making the cannabis documentary '' How Weed Won the West'', in 2010, Reyes worked with producer and director Kevin Booth, and was featured portraying himself in the film.

2010—2012 candidacies

Reyes ran for

Santee, California Santee is a city in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 60,037 at the 2020 census. It is a part of the East County region. The city is bisected by the San Diego River, a linear greenbelt that includes parks, trails ...

, City Council in 2010, San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2012, and for Santee Mayor, against 12-year incumbent Randy Voepel, in 2012.

Quail Brush power plant critic

In 2012, archeologist Reyes testified against the Quail Brush power plant proposed in San Diego, near Santee, which was opposed by the Santee City Council.

2013 ''MasterChef'' contestant

Reyes appeared as a contestant in the reality television competition, ''MasterChef'', on the premiere episode of the show's fourth season.

2016 San Diego County Board of Supervisors candidate

Reyes ran for San Diego County Board of Supervisors, District 2, in 2016 and lost. The only Democratic candidate to face Republican incumbent Jacob, Reyes campaigned for increased fire protections and to make medical marijuana more accessible. In the June 7 primary, Reyes received more than 38,000 votes, almost 27 percent.

2018 Santee City Council candidate

In 2018, Reyes ran unsuccessfully for District 2 Santee City Council. He was endorsed by the San Diego Democratic Party. Reyes received 1,510 votes, more than 31 percent, in the November 6 general election.

2020s activism

Vice-presidential campaigns

Reyes, who previously was nominated by the Legal Marijuana Now Party in 2020 to run for

Vice-president of the United States The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest ranking office in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. Th ...

, was a candidate in the 2024

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

Legal Marijuana Now presidential primary held on

Super Tuesday Super Tuesday is the United States presidential primary election day in February or March when the greatest number of U.S. states hold primary elections and caucuses. Approximately one-third of all delegates to the presidential nominatin ...

. Reyes received 365 votes on March 5, approximately fourteen percent, in the 6-way race. Minnesota businessman

Dennis Schuller Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! is a political Third party (United States), third party in the U.S. state of Minnesota established in 1998 to oppose drug prohibition. They are formally recognized as a minor party. Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now! b ...

, the 2024 LMNP presidential nominee, picked Reyes for his running mate, in May, and their November 5 write-in campaign was certified in several states and territories.

Personal life

Rudy Reyes, who belongs to the Barona Band of

Mission Indians Mission Indians was a term used to refer to the Indigenous peoples of California who lived or grew up in the Spanish mission system in California. Today the term is used to refer to their descendants and to specific, contemporary tribal nations ...

, graduated from El Capitan High School in

Lakeside, California Lakeside is a census-designated place (CDP) in the East County region of San Diego County, California. The population was 21,152 at the 2020 census, up from 20,648 as of the 2010 census. History Lakeside was home to the Kumeyaay prior to ...

. He holds degrees in archeology and anthropology from

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...

, and a degree from

California Western School of Law California Western School of Law is a private law school in San Diego, California. It is one of two successor organizations to California Western University, the other being Alliant International University. The school was founded in 1924, app ...

. Reyes serves as national chairperson for the Legal Marijuana Now Party.

Political candidacy

Rudy Reyes has run for public office several times, including: *

in 2008, 2012, and 2016 * Santee, California, City Council in 2008, 2010, and 2018 * Santee Mayor, in 2012

Television and film

Rudy Reyes, who had a role as himself in the 2010 documentary film ''How Weed Won the West'', was a contestant in the television competition, ''MasterChef'', on the first episode in Season 4 of the American reality show, in 2013.

References

External links

Ballotpedia: Rudy Reyes
*April 8, 2006
Medical marijuana patient Rudy Reyes attends the 4th National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics April 8, 2006, in Santa Barbara, California

Getty Images Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (stylized as gettyimages) is a visual media company and supplier of stock images, editorial photography, video, and music for business and consumers, with a library of over 477 million assets. It targets three mark ...

*February 23, 2021
Cannabis Industry/Advocates/Lobbyists: Rudy Reyes (Cedar Wildfire Survivor, Former Board of Supervisors Candidate)

San Diego County San Diego County (), officially the County of San Diego, is a county in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of California, north to its border with Mexico. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,298,634; it is the second-most populous ...

February 21, 2009, Medical Marijuana (Rudy Reyes) San Diego
YouTube
Documentary: "RxCannabis" (September 16, 2012) Rudy Reyes, Medical Cannabis patient
YouTube *May 20, 2013
Rudy Reyes' Inspiring Story (''MasterChef'' Season 4 Episode 1)
YouTube {{DEFAULTSORT:Reyes, Rudy 1977 births Living people 2024 United States vice-presidential candidates 21st-century California politicians 21st-century Native American politicians Activists from California American activists with disabilities American amputees American cannabis activists American male film actors American politicians with disabilities Burn survivors Candidates in the 2008 United States elections Candidates in the 2012 United States elections Candidates in the 2016 United States elections Candidates in the 2018 United States elections Candidates in the 2020 United States presidential election Candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election Chefs from California Contestants on American game shows California Democrats Hispanic and Latino American candidates for President of the United States Hispanic and Latino American people in California politics Hispanic and Latino American teachers Native American anthropologists Native American candidates for Vice President of the United States People from Santee, California Politicians from Sacramento, California Politicians from San Diego San Diego State University alumni Schoolteachers from California