Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson is the executive director of the National Cannabis Coalition and our parent organization, the American Victory Coalition. He also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the patient advocacy non-profit Oregon Green Free. As President of the University of Missouri Law School ACLU Chapter, Anthony co-authored the measures that legalized medical cannabis possession and decriminalized personal possession for all adults within the city limits of Columbia, Missouri. After passing the Oregon Bar, Anthony practiced criminal defense for two years before working full time in the political field to help improve and protect civil liberties, including as co-author and chief petitioner of Oregon Measure 74, an attempt to legalize licensed and regulated medical cannabis dispensaries.

Oregon Medical Marijuana Raids A Bigger Priority Than Stopping Rapes?

 Posted by at 7:05 AM on May 25, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Medical Marijuana Policy  No Responses »
May 252013
 
Oregon Medical Marijuana Raids A Bigger Priority Than Stopping Rapes?

While many of us are gearing up for our Memorial Holiday weekend filled with fun, friends and family, I can’t help but think about my friend Lori Duckworth and an Oregon woman whose cries for help on a 911 call might as well have fallen on deaf ears.  Lori won’t be enjoying her holiday weekend as she sits in a jail cell because she has provided medicine to Oregon medical marijuana patients that can legally possess up to 24 ounces of medical cannabis.  I only hope that the woman that [Continue Reading]

Cannabis Activists See Democracy Trampled In Springfield, Missouri

 Posted by at 8:34 AM on May 24, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  1 Response »
May 242013
 
Cannabis Activists See Democracy Trampled In Springfield, Missouri

What a long, strange trip it has been helping cannabis law reform activists in Springfield, Missouri.  About a year ago, Springfield activists requested financial help gathering enough signatures to place a  local marijuana decriminalization measure on the November 2012 ballot.  Under the proposed measure, citizens possessing under 35 grams of marijuana would be subjected to a civil infraction, instead of a misdemeanor offense, thus preserving the educational and employment opportunities of those caught with personal amounts of marijuana.  Springfield, the third largest city in the Show-Me State, is home to [Continue Reading]

Despite The Risks, The Cannabis Community Still Speaking The Truth

 Posted by at 7:03 AM on May 17, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Medical Marijuana Policy  1 Response »
May 172013
 
Despite The Risks, The Cannabis Community Still Speaking The Truth

By Doug Fine In September, 2011, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms banned state law-abiding medical cannabis patients from owning firearms. A bureaucratic decider simply swiped away hundreds of thousands of Americans’ Second Amendment rights by way of an added item on a pre-sale questionnaire. Using an ancient herb as recommended by your doctor, one that any law enforcer will tell you makes people less aggressive? Sorry. Whacked on Oxycontin? Fire away. My friend Carl, a Vietnam veteran, concealed handgun permit holder, political conservative of the John Wayne [Continue Reading]

What We Can Learn From Marijuana Legalization And Marriage Equality

 Posted by at 6:57 AM on May 17, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  1 Response »
May 172013
 
What We Can Learn From Marijuana Legalization And Marriage Equality

Marriage equality has a new catchphrase. As the issue is gathering record momentum in the United States, support for the policy is repeatedly referred to as standing on “the right side of history.” Though the idiom wasn’t coined yesterday, it has been trending in the headlines for a year or so, almost consistently referring to advocating for marriage equality. In fact, this trend can be traced back to May 2012, which coincides with Joe Biden’s endorsement of same-sex marriage and his endearing shout-out to Will & Grace. A similar spark in the use of the [Continue Reading]

Call The Plant Cannabis: Doug Fine’s Message To His Media Colleagues

 Posted by at 11:08 AM on May 6, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  5 Responses »
May 062013
 
Call The Plant Cannabis: Doug Fine's Message To His Media Colleagues

The Drug Peace Bumblebee We’re Almost There And We’re Just Starting: The Drug Peace Bumblebee’s Message To His Media Colleagues “Smells like the art teacher’s room.” -Lisa Simpson Stigma, the final front in the Drug War, was on my mind as I addressed my colleagues at the Society of Professional Journalists’ Southwest Regional Conference in Santa Fe on a recent brisk spring afternoon. I assumed, since 80% of Americans want the Drug War to end, that I was of like mind with the news anchors, radio hosts and newspaper editors [Continue Reading]

Global Cannabis Marchin’ In 2013, Why We Still March

 Posted by at 12:05 PM on May 5, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  6 Responses »
May 052013
 
Global Cannabis Marchin' In 2013, Why We Still March

The SWAT raid of the Harte family is just one of the very few reasons that we still march for our civil rights. We are not only standing up for the cannabis community, but for the rights of all citizens. An unwinnable war is being waged against nonviolent, amazing people. Family and great friends of mine. And also people like Adlynn and Robert Harte, two former CIA employees who served the government faithfully. The Harte’s had to endure an armed invasion of their home because they were growing tomatoes and melons.  Family [Continue Reading]

Happy Birthday To Marijuana Hero Willie Nelson

 Posted by at 5:35 PM on April 30, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition, Major Events  4 Responses »
Apr 302013
 
Happy Birthday To Marijuana Hero Willie Nelson

Outlaw country music icon Willie Nelson turned eighty years young today and the National Cannabis Coalition wishes the legend a happy birthday and a toast to many, many more.  Willie has accomplished so much in the music world and has been a tremendous ambassador for the cannabis community. Willie Nelson’s prolific musical career has spanned more than 70 years now, as he first started writing songs when he was only 7!  Always touring and recording more than sixty studio albums, ten live albums and thirty-seven compilations, Mr. Nelson has shattered the lazy stoner stereotype.  Several [Continue Reading]

Happy 4/20!

 Posted by at 2:19 PM on April 20, 2013  Guest Post  2 Responses »
Apr 202013
 
Happy 4/20!

April 20th is certainly a date near and dear to the cannabis community, filled with celebrations of freedom as well as calls to action from coast to coast, across the globe even.  This April 20th also marks the first anniversary of the National Cannabis Coalition.  So many positive developments have occurred since our launch and we are so happy to have played a small part in this ongoing civil rights battle. Shortly after our launch, anti-marijuana Oregon Attorney General candidate Dwight Holton called out the National Cannabis Coalition by name in his final [Continue Reading]

St. Louis Decreases Penalties For Marijuana Possession

 Posted by at 5:19 PM on April 15, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  1 Response »
Apr 152013
 
St. Louis Decreases Penalties For Marijuana Possession

Some more great work from Show-Me Cannabis, our partners in Missouri!  St. Louis has joined Columbia in reducing the penalty for possessing personal amounts of marijuana, setting the stage, hopefully, for decriminalization measures passing in Springfield (finally), Kansas City and statewide.  Show-Me Cannabis Director John Payne was instrumental in lobbying the St. Louis Board of Alderman to pass this measure, that had to go thru a few revisions to form together a winning coalition.   Missouri law allows for a $1,000 fine and a year in jail for possession of under 35 grams, while the new St. [Continue Reading]

Former Parole And Probation Officer Working To Legalize Marijuana

 Posted by at 7:07 AM on April 10, 2013  Ending Marijuana Prohibition  2 Responses »
Apr 102013
 
Former Parole And Probation Officer Working To Legalize Marijuana

When I had the honor of testifying before the Oregon House Judiciary Committee in support of House Bill 3371, a measure that would regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol, I was pleased to have a former parole and probation officer there supporting the measure as well.  Shelley Fox-Loken represented Law Enforcement Against Prohibition in submitting written testimony in support of HB 3371. Ms. Loken also had a guest column published by The Oregonian: People are sometimes surprised to hear that someone who dedicated her life to public safety would favor the legalization [Continue Reading]

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