March 11th, 2011
In This Episode
Rob McNealy interviews cannabis re-legalization activists Kathleen Chippi and Laura Kriho.
Listen Now
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kathleen Chippi’s Bio
Kathleen Chippi has been an advocate for the re-legalization of the cannabis hemp plant for all uses for the last 20 years. In 1993 she was the first person to process hemp seed for nutrition into packaged foods that were sold in over 2,400 stores worldwide under the names One Brown Mouse and Heavenly HempTM.
In 1999 US customs and the DEA banned all hemp imported and Kathleen was threatened with a 10 year mandatory minimum. It took the supreme court almost 5 years to rule that hemp was indeed legal which was too late to save the flourishing hemp industry of the 1990′s.
In 2000, Colorado voters welcomed the newly passed constitutional right to medical marijuana. Kathleen has been a patient and an active participant in the politics of mmj since. In the spring of 2009, Kathleen registered her mmj dispensary with the state of Colorado and was issued one of the first retail sales tax licenses for mmj in CO.
The One Brown Mouse/Cannabis Healing Arts dispensary received rave reviews from the Atlantic monthly, the Westword secret shopper and patients statewide. People drove for hours to sample over 75 stains of grade A mmj and some of the best food and tincture available statewide. The inventory was supplied by patients and caregivers in the area. One Brown Mouse serviced over 2,000 patients by the start of 2010 and help jump start the local economy.
When the CO state legislature passed HB1284 and SB109 in the summer of 2010, Kathleen temporarily closed her doors (voluntarily) to fight the unconstitutional language and regulations in the courts on behalf of all patients, caregivers and physicians, statewide. She currently runs the Patient and Caregiver Rights Litigation Project (PCRLP), the only group in the state actively pursuing court actions on behalf of everyone.
Kathleen also has recorded an extensive video library containing the history of Colorado cannabis meetings, hearings, rallies, actions and events spanning the last 18 years.
Laura Kriho’s Bio
Laura has been involved in cannabis politics and campaigns in Colorado since 1992. Here are some of the highlights of her activism.
1992-94
Cannabis and Hemp Re-legalization Act
Colorado Hemp Initiative Project: First statewide ballot initiative to re-legalize cannabis and hemp
Duties: Helped draft language; collected and verified signatures; trained and organized petitioners
1995 to 1997
Colorado Hemp Production Act
Colorado was the first state to introduce and industrial hemp bill. We coined and popularized the term “industrial hemp.”
- Aide to sponsor Senator Lloyd Casey (D-Northglenn); lobbied legislature (passed Senate in 2nd year and House in 3rd year); produced educational materials
- Achieved endorsement from the conservative Colorado Farm Bureau
- Found a Republican to sponsor the hemp bill in its third year after Sen. Casey retired
1997 – 1998
Compassionate Therapeutic Cannabis Act
Worked with Colorado Citizens for Compassionate Cannabis to write a compassionate alternative ballot initiative that allowed patients to obtain and possess an adequate supply of medicine.
1997 – 2000
Jury Rights Project
Laura became the first juror in over 400 years to be prosecuted based on how she voted in the jury room. The court said that she should have volunteered during jury selection in a methamphetamine case that she was a hemp activist, even though she wasn’t asked any questions on that subject. The case was won on appeal, creating important case law: People v. Kriho, 996 P.2d 158 (Colo. App. 1999)
2008
Come Up to Denver Campaign
Produced a campagin to redo Graham Nash’s song (“Chicago”) that he wrote about the 1968 Democratic National Convention to rally activist to “Come Up to Denver” for the 40th anniversary of the DNC in Denver.
Feb. through August 2009
Free Jason Lauve Campaign
- Wrote press releases, distributed 1200 handouts, got supporters to court for medical marijuana patient Jason Lauve who was prosecuted for having too much evidence.
- Jason and his attorney Rob Corry won an acquittal on all charges
- Rob Corry said the positive publicity was critical in getting Jason’s acquittal
August 6, 2009 to present
Cannabis Therapy Institute
The Cannabis Therapy Institute is a leader in cannabis training, education, advocacy and activism. Our mission is to provide quality training to cannabis health care workers, to educate the public about the benefits and uses of cannabis, to promote laws that protect patient rights, and to advocate for patients in areas including health care, housing, employment and the law. We are the lead organization in the state fighting for patient rights and to overturn unjust and restrictive laws.
Learn More
Mr. Denninger is the former CEO of MCSNet, a regional Chicago area networking and Internet company that operated from 1987 to 1998. MCSNet was proud to offer several “firsts” in the Internet Service space, including integral customer-specified spam filtering for all customers and the first virtual web server available to the general public. Mr. Denninger’s other accomplishments include the design and construction of regional and national IP-based networks and development of electronic conferencing software reaching back to the 1980s.
