I have long admired United States Representative Earl Blumenauer. I am a lifelong Oregonian, and since 1996 I have been very proud to say, and even brag, that Earl Blumenauer is from Oregon. You will be hard pressed to find a federal politician that has stood up for the marijuana community as much as Earl Blumenauer has over the years, which is why I gave him back to back ‘Politician of the Year’ awards for the annual Weed Blog awards (started in 2013).
I remember when Jay Smoker got to go to the NORML annual conference in 2010 and got to hear Earl Blumenauer speak. I was so jealous at the time, but we were only given one ticket to cover the event, and I had to work that day, so Jay got to attend. If there was one thing that I can remember Jay talking about after the event, it’s how support Earl Blumenauer was of the marijuana reform movement. Keep in mind, this is back in 2010, when almost all federal politicians would not even whisper the word marijuana, let alone publicly support reform.
Since then Earl Blumenauer has led the charge in Washington D.C. for marijuana reform. He has pushed for medical marijuana for veterans, 280e reform, marijuana banking, hemp, fought for legalization in Oregon, urged the feds to not interfere with states that have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana, and has been at the forefront of just about every other reform effort on Capital Hill. He is a true champion of the marijuana movement, and I can’t thank him enough for what he has done over the years.
Earl Blumenauer will be speaking at the Cannabis Creative Conference, which is taking place in Portland, Oregon on July 29th and 30th, via a video presentation. I have to work those days, so I won’t be in attendance, but the rest of the TWB team should be in attendance. I know all of them are pumped up for the event, and are particularly excited to hear what Earl has to say. Below is more about Earl Blumenauer, courtesy of the event’s website:
A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) has devoted his entire career to public service. Elected to the US House of Representatives in 1996, Mr. Blumenauer has created a unique role as Congress’ chief spokesperson for Livable Communities: places where people are safe, healthy and economically secure. From 1996 to 2007, he served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he was a strong advocate for federal policies that address transportation alternatives, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies and improve the environment. He was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2001 to 2007, and vice-chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2010. He is currently a member of the Ways and Means Committee and the subcommittees on Health, Social Security and Trade.
You can find out more about the Cannabis Creative Conference from their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter. The event is much more affordable than other industry events, which is something that I love to see. If you are serious about the marijuana industry, you should attend. Whether you have been in the industry for years, or are exploring the industry to see if it’s a good fit for you, you should get your tickets quickly before the sell out.
