Richard Lee calls it quits after DEA raid

~Zen~ · Apr 6, 2012

Richard Lee, proprietor of the Oakland-based 'Oaksterdam University' which taught folks how to run dispensaries in California, has thrown in the towel and is giving up.

According to the LA Times today, Mr. Lee has spent more than 20 years being an activist for legalization of cannabis and feels he has 'done his time.'

Richard Lee, whose bid to legalize marijuana in California brought him international attention, plans to give up ownership of his Oakland-based marijuana businesses after a federal raid this week seized many of their assets, including plants, bank accounts, records and computers.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Over 20 years.... I kind of feel like I’ve done my time,” Lee said Thursday. “It’s time for others to take over.”
Lee said he would remain an outspoken marijuana advocate. “I believe that cannabis prohibition is unjust and counterproductive,” he said. “What I’ve done is ethical, and I tried to use the resources that I had to do everything I could to change the laws.”
In some of his most extensive comments since the raid, Lee acknowledged that he was worried he could face major federal drug charges. It’s a risk he has lived with for many years, first as an underground pot grower and then as the leader of a serious legalization effort, which drew vigorous opposition from the federal government.
“I never wanted to be the quote unquote leader of the legalization movement,” he said in a telephone interview. “I saw myself as just one small soldier in a big war. But I look at it as a battlefield promotion.”
The former rock-band roadie and wheelchair-bound paraplegic, Lee, 49, is one of the highest-profile marijuana activists in the nation, if not the world. He became the telegenic spokesman for ending pot prohibition after he spent more than $1.5 million trying to pass Proposition 19 in 2010.
Lee’s Oaksterdam University, the first marijuana trade school in the nation, remains open, although its classes have been scaled back. Lee’s dispensary is also open. He plans to transfer the businesses to new operators but said he will shut down his marijuana nursery because his stock of mother plants, which he had nurtured for years, was confiscated.
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http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...chard-lee.html

skip · Apr 6, 2012

Yet another high-profile victim of America's War on Americans.

arthur itis · Apr 6, 2012

Anyone know what strains of "mother plants" he had?

jo_k_er_man · Apr 12, 2012

Pathetic.. No wonder marijuana legalization gets no where.. when the front runners feel the pressure they tuck tail

pr0ne420 · Apr 20, 2012

^ ya its fucked up and all but its pretty disappointing that hes reacting the way he is.

skip · Apr 21, 2012

I think Lee said he is getting rid of his bizes so he can join the legalization fight full time. I don't think he's given up.

The Feds probably froze his assets so he really can't do anything that requires money.

Ranger · Apr 25, 2012

Ya'll that's puttin' the poor fella down please tell me how much time you've done as a guest of the gov in support of the cause?

Jimmy P · May 17, 2012

I'm amazed someone would keep fighting a war over a principle against an oppressive government for so many years.

And reading this, I'm immensely glad I'm not an american. I've visited, and it's nice and big and all, but holy crap that country sucks. And it's only going to get worse as the government robs its people of more and more of their civil liberties; an attitude that appeared to me to permeate through to anyone wearing a uniform, even down to the freaking meter maids.

I mean, the simple fact that this guy was operating within the law as far his local government was concerned, but the federal government can come and stick their cock up his ass any time they please, illustrates the dysfunction of the USA perfectly.

absentwithin · Aug 2, 2012

Jimmy P said:

I'm amazed someone would keep fighting a war over a principle against an oppressive government for so many years.

And reading this, I'm immensely glad I'm not an american. I've visited, and it's nice and big and all, but holy crap that country sucks. And it's only going to get worse as the government robs its people of more and more of their civil liberties; an attitude that appeared to me to permeate through to anyone wearing a uniform, even down to the freaking meter maids.

I mean, the simple fact that this guy was operating within the law as far his local government was concerned, but the federal government can come and stick their cock up his ass any time they please, illustrates the dysfunction of the USA perfectly.
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And just think you got all that from a mere visit? Personally I give many thanks to Lee for what he has managed to achieve so far. Let's face it without his efforts we would not have the 11 states that currently allow medicinal marijuana. I think if anything this is his way of allowing his interests to be divided and taken care of while still being in the Gestapo Fed spotlight. Getcha Pull

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Richard Lee calls it quits after DEA raid

~Zen~ California Tripper Administrator

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Richard Lee calls it quits after DEA raid

~Zen~ California Tripper Administrator

skip Founder Administrator

arthur itis Senior Member

jo_k_er_man TBD

pr0ne420 Senior Member

skip Founder Administrator

Ranger Hip Forums Supporter HipForums Supporter

Jimmy P bastion of awesomeness

absentwithin Member

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