[UPDATE: I have made a revision to the Activist of the Year nominations. I made a mistake in listing Eugene Davidovich from San Diego. I had a conversation a while back with a friend who mentioned recognizing the person fighting Operation Green RX and DA Bonnie Dumanis in San Diego. I put up Eugene's name when my friend had really meant Donna Lambert. I apologize for my confusion; my sleep patterns have been wrecked this week and I made a mistake. -- "R"R]
2009 was a banner year in marijuana activism. The following people were nominated by myself and our readers as the most influential and important movers and shakers in marijuana law reform for 2009. (Note: my name is added only because I was nominated by readers. I quote William Tecumseh Sherman in saying “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected.” Thanks for the compliment, but seriously, I’m just a guy who talks about weed… these people are the real heroes. Please vote for them and spare me the embarrassment of winning a prize from my own blog!)
2009 Stashies: Activist of the Year (Choose Top 5)
- Donna Lambert (San Diego medical marijuana victim of Operation Green Rx) (37%, 165 Votes)
- Jacki Rickert (Madison NORML, namesake of Wisconsin medical marijuana bill) (23%, 102 Votes)
- Dr. Sunil Aggarwal (AMA medical students group, pushed for AMA reversal on medical marijuana) (18%, 82 Votes)
- Madeline Martinez (Oregon NORML, opened up Cannabis Café in Portland and defended Oregon medical marijuana law) (17%, 74 Votes)
- Dr. Julie Holland, MD (spoke on "Stiletto Stoners" issue on Today Show, defended medical marijuana as well) (15%, 69 Votes)
- Jessica Corry (so-called "Republican Mom for Marijuana", numerous articles and TV appearances) (15%, 66 Votes)
- Chris Goldstein (NORML NJ, lobbying for medical marijuana, Active Voice Radio) (14%, 64 Votes)
- "Radical" Russ Belville (only here because I was nominated by readers!) (14%, 63 Votes)
- David Bronner (industrial hemp activist arrested for planting on DEA lawn) (13%, 60 Votes)
- Richard Lee (Oaksterdam U., TaxCannabis2010.org in California) (13%, 58 Votes)
- Dr. Mitch Earleywine (drug and alcohol researcher from SUNY Albany) (12%, 54 Votes)
- Eric Brenner (California Marijuana Report producer) (10%, 46 Votes)
- Vivian McPeak (Seattle Hempfest) (9%, 40 Votes)
- Meiko Hester-Perez (mom using medical marijuana to treat autistic son) (8%, 36 Votes)
- Alan Carruthers (NORML of Waco, Texas, medical marijuana activist) (5%, 24 Votes)
- Rob Van Dam (professional wrestler, outspoken legalization advocate) (5%, 24 Votes)
- Toby "Tigerheart" Grear (outspoken proponent of medical marijuana for pro athletes) (5%, 24 Votes)
- Georgine DiMaria (Miss New Jersey 2006, medical marijuana proponent) (4%, 19 Votes)
- Keith Saunders (Boston Freedom Rally) (3%, 13 Votes)
- Degé Coutee (Patients Advocacy Network in Southern California) (2%, 7 Votes)
Total Voters: 448
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Hi this is Dale I would like to update my info my ranting website is now called the Holyherb.org check it out I promise to stop using the phising software
No, voting ended at 18:00 on 12/31/09. Next year there will be a much bigger announcement and longer nominating and voting periods than this year.
“we must distance ourselfs from persons that have guns and the holy herb together”
Not a chance… I fight for all our rights… including our 2nd ammendment rights to keep and bear arms, which I keep and bear. All our rights are sacred. I believe smoking the holy herb to be one of my rights, hence… I fight for that too.
Not only am I am member and support Norml, but I also am a member and support the NRA. If you don’t like guns… don’t have any.
Is the voting still going on for this? Great to see Jacki Rickert so close to the top. Jacki has been an advocate for medical cannabis for decades and suffers every day with sevee pain. Her efforts have finally paid off in Wisconsin with a bill named in her honor, The Jacki Rickert MMJ act. While this list has many deserving folks, Jacki really deserves to be number one! She was at it when many activists were still in short pants, gaining approval for the IND program in 1991-92, but never being supplied her federal pot. Jacki is the real deal!
I posted a nominations form on Dec 3. Everyone who reads the blog was eligible to cast a nomination. This was not nominations by NORML, but by the readers of the Stash Blog. No slight is intended, Rudy; you do fantastic work. I’d love to interview you on the new weekday live show; let’s get the buzz going for you in 2010!
why wasnt i nominated as activist of the year? ran for county supervisor, for the mmj cause. then santee council. was front on the city council making a task force, advised them the whole way. both eugene and donna agree i have done more for the cause then anyone this year.
rudy reyes
Thanks so much Ken… you’re way too kind. It is an honor to battle in the trenches when you know these folks have got your back.
her collective dispensary was located at her residence, so yes it is the same.
person we all respect? you mean Dale Rostamo the plea bargin pussy that hides behind his herbfolks keyboard
Again, this fools comments are not from US, the actual herb and peace loving folks…..
We the one and only HERBFOLKS.org and he is not one of us!
He is taking what we say and twisting it, in this instance, for example, Donna is accused of something, stuff that is alleged to have occured from her home, unlike the story referred to in precise detail on our site having to do with A DISPENSARY. What herb folks do in their own homes is not the same as in a storefront. Weak, not relevant, lame…..
ALAN CARUTHERS IS A BRAVE,SMART AND WONDERFUL PERSON. HIS FIGHT FOR THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN OUR STATE OF TEXAS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOWS GREAT COURAGE AND STRENGTH. I KNOW ALAN AND HE IS A VERY DESERVING PERSON AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM HIM AS WELL AS ADMIRE HIS DETERMINATION AND DRIVE FOR THE FIGHT TO CHANGE OUR ANTIQUATED LAWS. FOR THE OTHERS CANDIDATES SUCH AS DONNA LAMBERT AND THE OTHERS, YOU ALL ARE THE REASONS WHY WE KNOW HAVE 14 STATES ALONGSIDE US. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW THE GRATITUDE I AND OTHERS LIKE MYSELF HAVE FOR YOU. KEEP UP THE FIGHT!!!!!!WE ARE BEHIND YOU AND WE WILL WIN OUR FIGHT………..
KEN THOMAS
NORML OF WACO INC
EVENT DIRECTOR
So, ‘herbfolks’ (who is NOT the Herbfolks dot org person we all respect), ANONYMOUSLY posts hearsay from a ‘reliable source’…. about a woman who deserves nothig but our support.
PLEASE stop this! This is a cruel, sad post by a pissant who unfortunately gets kicks from kicking a woman in fragile health when SHE is down. SHAME on you ‘herb-whoeveryouare’.
NEWS FLASH!guns and the holy herb do not mix,we just learned from a reliable source,one of our herb warriors, Donna Lambert/Richardson,which ever one is your real name,had 4 guns siezed from her collective when it was raided last feb.,we must distance ourselfs from persons that have guns and the holy herb together,that is the herbfolks policy,live it
hang in there donna. remain strong! legalization is coming this year. enough peoples lives have been ruined by our corrupt government.
excellent! peace from San Diego :)
You are a loser…Donna Lambert is the furthest thing from a snitch…she’s awesome…and I bet I know who you are, just a pathetic loser…good luck in jail snitch boy
once again some lame ass is using the herbfolks nomenclature to divert attention from our real task: safe access to medical cannabis for all. WE DID NOT WRITE the second note above posted at 2:03pm either. Besides not writing it, do you notice the nonsensical nature of what the fool is saying? no matter. happy 2010 herb folks!
Happy New year to all. Everyone involved in ending the draconian war on us should be commended. Be great to see several groups with a common cause all work together more.
Though there are many many people deadacated for years that have been fighting to end this war, Donna has fought hard and would be my choice. We are wining.
Love Peace Pot & FREEDOM
Mark Printz XPOW# 19499-039
I know Donna, and she’s just as scared as anyone would be in her position. I really doubt if she’s working with Bonnie Dumanis’s office. Remember Rumors and propaganda are what we are trying to stop , not prolifilrate. Be kind to your fellow man and remember we can only win as a team, we must “COME TOGETHER” to end the problems that exist in our world. Time for some New Year Cheer, don’t you think.
“Lead, follow, or get out of the way, but do something compassionate for your fellow man in 2010″. – Clif Deuvall
“Can you Smell the Freedom? If not, you’re not working at it hard enough”. – Clif Deuvall
“Smell the Freedom,”
Clif Deuvall
Founding Executive Director
NORML of Waco Inc.
Okay, I just want to say a great shout out to everyone who made it on the list! Just the fact that there are even symbolistic awards out here like this is so awesome! I can’t wait to see who wins! But no matter what everyone wins!
Go Vivian, Sunil, Dr. Bronner, Meiko and everyone!
Also, if there is any room for nominations, or even if there isn’t, I’d also like to give a shout out to some of my favorite Hemp Activist this year!
Every Core Staff and Volunteer who was part of 2009 Seattle Hempfest! Go Hardcore Hempfest!
Jack Herer! For going through everything he has and being such a light and symbol of truth for us all.
David Pillar! For dropping everything to travel the states and bring us the Hempy news and views from all over.
Dennis Peron! For standing up for what he believes in, even in the face of adversity.
Steve Lavine! For planting seeds of inspiration along with Doc. Bronner!
Woody Harrelson! For standing up for those who need their voices lifted just a little higher and for strengthening the call to Legal Hemp all over!
There are so many people I can think that have been absolutely great Hempy Activists! Everyone deserves to celebrate, for this is the last year of the fear, the last year of hiding!
May all Hemp and Vitaflora come out in droves this year to show our pride for Cannabis world wide!
Great job to everyone! Especially the voters on this poll! Happy New Year!
Donna Lambert is no snitch, especially not to Bonnie Dumanis. I have known Donna for years. She has really thrown herself into this fight for MMJ and against the outrageous tyranny that Bonnie and her servile followers are imposing on the good people of San Diego.
Donna needs MMJ for multiple medical problems and tires easily. Before the raid from Bonnie, Donna needed and was getting many hours of rest every day. She still needs to but has been pushing herself very hard to help fight the terrible oppression by Bonnie and her cabal of Deputy DA’s, narcotics officers, undercover agents and the several judges who were not allowing use of the medical marijuana defense in court.
Donna is no snitch, but she is tired and overstressed and may have made a few inappropriate remarks recently. Pray that she will get rested and have strength to continue the fight with vigor. Pray that her case will get dropped for her health problems are serious and made worse by the increased stress and lack of enough rest. But if it is not dropped, pray that she and her attorneys are allowed to present all their defenses and win her case with a quick not guilty on all charges.
Pray (or think positive thoughts if you don’t pray) to provide encouragement and support for Eugene Davidovich and his attorneys to win a clear not guilty verdict of all charges at trial in about two weeks into January.
Wow, all of my fellow noms are really movin’ and shakin’ things up. What an exciting time in the struggle, and how humbled am I to find myself tossed in with a bunch of my own heroes.
If I had to break it down, I may say that Hempfest’s own Sunil did a lot this year to initiate the AMA’a reversal on medical marijuana. That seems pretty noteworthy to me. Yet, look at that list.
I demand a re-roll.
OUTRAGEOUS!!!
Curley, how DARE you anonomyously post something like that. You’re a weak pissant… f-o-a-d.
Thanks for all you do Radical Russ – a more relentless voice for truth there could not be!
Make sure to nominate Rev. Cody next year, I’m making this an annual thing.
hello, sorry, this is embaressing to me but would you mine voting for me,sure I will Donna
we already voted, but can we nominate Rev. Paul Cody from Hillcrest Compassion Center too? Paul is the buddha.
FYI, he is the brother who was taken from his legit herb spot on University in the county formerly known as San Diego, on 9 9 2009 and tossed like a sack of potatoes in the back of one of Bonnie Dumanis’s squad cars. This is for real folks, the video is widely available, as are the facts surrounding that dark day in New Berlin.
Rev. Cody is one of the folks who like Eddy Lepp before him, a true leader of men.
This is from the one and only herb folks dot org located in the county formerly known as new berlin. I did not post the above referencing Mr. Davidovich. Although I have a lot of respect for ASA National, and some for ASA San Diego, I do not endorse Eugene for activist of the year or anything like that.
I was voter number ’2′ on the little poll here, and I voted for Donna Lambert, a true herb warrior diplomat. She is the real deal.
For precise information about Medical Cannabis Information and News, and from time to time VERY STRONG opinions backed up with facts, cruise on over and consider what you find there, in total, not some random junk posted under the HERBFOLKS name.
peace out from New Berlin!
Southern California NORML fully supports Donna and she has shown by her actions that she is a full on activist. I am very proud to have worked with here. She has helped give direction and support to all who need it. My vote is with her!
Donna, you got my vote!
Nice. Why don’t you put your real name?
Yes you can(nabis)Donna!!
I voted for Jacki Rickert! She is an awesome activist and a medical marijuana patient.
I also would have voted for Rob Robinson from NY Harvest Fest and NY NORML and Jim Miller from NJ, a medical marijuana activist, both who I have met and admire.
I had the “post your nominations” request up since Thursday, Dec 3. Nobody entered Gary’s name. I added more names to fill out the roster of 20 and I’m sorry I didn’t think to add Gary, because you’re right, he really should have been added.
Remind me for the 2010 Stashies, OK Jim?
Donna Lambert is a snitch. She’s working with the DA’s office now. Beware.
How could I not vote for Jacki Rickert? She doesn’t just react. She ACTS. She SHOWS UP…and it hurts her to do so…a lot, although she never complains. She and Gary Storck (an activist conspicuously absent from the list) have led the way in Wisconsin, helping the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act to look like it may well pass into law this year, without any financial input from any national reform groups. A real dark horse bill that would never have made it this far without her (and Gary).
I still vote for Eugene Davidovich even if you took him off the list, show us some proof norma
I love you, Tony, and I love your Brooklyn accent!
[...] by NORML as one of the many “Activists of the Year”. To vote for Alan, go to the NORML.org site and put in your [...]
It was a pleasure to do so. If I helped you fight Dumanis in any way, it was an effort worth making.
I vote for Donna Lambert who has been to hell and back fighting for the rights of others while fending off the overzealous fuckin San Diego DA that wants to put her in the slammer for nothing more then Donna following State law in regards to medical marijuana.
These folks, and others making a difference in the cannabis movement are my heros….
Actually Russ, you are more than that. You are an “includer”. When I came up to San Francisco you went out of your way to make me feel welcome, I felt as I had been taken under your wing. It confirmed that my whole fight down here was noticed and apreciated by NORML. I gained new energy because of you. Thank You, Russ!
In the lead so far Russ, hope you get it.
Don’t underestimate your part in this whole big scheme, if not for you, I know that I would probably not be as exposed to details of our struggle as I am today.
Keep it up buddy!
Current standings:
Russ
Madeline
Dr. Earleywine
Couldn’t Imagine a better top 3 frankly!
Aw, shucks. I’m just a guy who blogs in his basement in a robe and underwear smokin’ weed and talkin’ ’bout freedom. I’m glad it brings something valuable to y’all, but I never forget I’m just a storyteller, and it’s all these other nominees’ stories that make a movement for me to voice. I mean, really, I have a career I love that makes optimum use of every skill I ever learned in all the other jobs I ever had. I make just enough money to survive and put my wife through nursing school. Weed is free and plentiful and I get to fly around the country with backstage passes to meet the coolest people on the planet. I already won; vote for somebody facing down indictments and imprisonment.
Yes, thanks to Amanda and of course all of you who send in your Politicians on Pot emails. Just go to NORML’s Take Action Center (http://capwiz.com/norml2/dbq/officials/) and you can write your rep and send the reply back to stash@norml.org.
For me Russ should get it because for so many of us stuck in states where even speaking out can land us under a microscope and possible arrest, I say he opens the door to the movement for people that don’t have any other way to get involved. Again my personal quest has lead me to The NORML Stash/Russ and in turn I have been able to get active and be a part of the movement that we have online, its given me the chance to help to get the Norml Live Show up and running and for the first time I was able to put my money, effort and heart into marijuana reform.
So choose whom you must but for me Russ has given me the only avenue to work with this movement and feel like a part of a larger group. So Russ you should let us vote for you and if we feel your the the first place winner, well for me and all whom feel the same, you deserve it and believe me we want you to have the honor even if you don’t think you should or its right.
Russ Beleville for going out of his way to make people feel welcome at the SF NORML conference!
Madeline Martinez is a genuine real person who is actually working to provide FREE meds, Alan Carruthers for having the courage to speak out in a state like Texas, David Bronner for devoting his life to his beliefs and doing the most patriotic thing by confronting is his government, Meiko Hester-Perez for speaking out on an issue that would sure to be controversial. Thank you NORML!
I voted for my favorites :)
Good luck everyone!
Cheryl Shuman
Executive Director
NORML90210.org
Beverly Hills, California
I think Amanda should be #1 because she is telling use the truth about what the congressmen, governors, and all the other liars are saying. Thank you for doing that. Someone should give Amanda a ring or another ring for all the posts she has shown us (the ones who really can change things). Amanda started a group of these on thanksgiving and my congressman’s response was the one she started with. Stashers be sure to send is your responses from anyone it feels great when they use it in a powerful way by showing people. Norml you’re awesome.