I received some outstanding news and some very sad news today while I was at work. The good news is Oregon’s marijuana legalization initiative ran by New Approach Oregon has surpassed the 100,000 signature mark. The sad news is my good friend Jim Greig has passed away and won’t get to see the initiative on the 2014 Oregon ballot. Jim Greig is one of the hardest working activists I have ever met, and the marijuana reform community will never be the same without him.
I first met Jim Greig during the 2012 Election, during which he led the campaign against Oregon Attorney General candidate Dwight Holton. I received an e-mail from Jim Greig roughly 60 days before the primary election which would decide the Attorney General race (there were only Democrat candidates, so the primary was for all the marbles). Jim asked if I could help him fight Dwight Holton, who was seeking to destroy the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) if elected. Because of Jim Greig’s efforts, Dwight Holton went from being up in the polls by an estimated 7 percent, to losing by well over 20 percent on the day of the primary.
Jim Greig literally saved medical marijuana in Oregon, and in my opinion, nationwide. Had Dwight Holton won during the 2012 Election, similar candidates would have ran in other medical marijuana states, and those candidates would have shut down medical marijuana in their states. So many people fail to recognize the ramifications of Jim Greig’s efforts. He truly is a hero.
Jim Greig suffered from poor health well before I met him. I’m sad to see him go, but I’m glad that his pain is finally gone. Rest in peace my friend, you can now get the rest you truly deserve. My heart and prayers go out to his family. He will truly be missed.
I have been meaning to start ‘The Weed Blog Hall of Fame’ for quite awhile now, and I can’t think of a better time to launch it than now. And I can’t think of anyone I would rather make the first member of The Weed Blog Hall of Fame than Jim Greig. Jim’s activist friends will continue to fight for reform, and I’m confident that Oregon will finally legalize marijuana this year, which would make Jim very, very happy. I expect Jim to be looking down on Oregon on Election Day, with a smile on his face, and a doobie in his hand. Rock on Jim, you will be missed!
