Richard Lee | |
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Occupation | Cannabis activist |
Richard Lee (born 1964) is a marijuana rights activist who ran various medical marijuana programs throughout downtown Oakland, California.[1] He is regarded as a central figure in Northern California's medical marijuana movement.[2] He also operated a coffee shop.[3] He has been active in working to end cannabis prohibition since 1992.[citation needed]
He was the chief promoter of California Proposition 19, titled the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010", which was a measure to legalize marijuana in California. On December 14, 2009 the secretary of state confirmed receipt of enough signatures to qualify the measure for inclusion on the November 2010 ballot.[4] The initiative failed to pass, with 54% of California voters voting "No", and 46% voting "Yes".[5]
In 2007, Lee founded Oaksterdam University, the United States' first cannabis-oriented "college".[4] The unaccredited educational facility offers classes on politics and legal issues related to marijuana as well as horticulture, business management, extractions, budtending and entrepreneurship.[citation needed] Lee is no longer with the organization according to the website.