THE FATHER OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA
IN THE PANTHEON of cannabis activists, two figures tower above all others: Jack Herer and Dennis Peron.
Herer, who passed away in 2010, was a relentless force whose dedication to the plant was otherworldly. Every waking moment was spent challenging the forces of cannabis oppression and pushing everyone in his sphere to become more active. His book The Emperor Wears No Clothes, which laid out the facts about cannabis and its place in human history, inspired millions and made him the superstar of the cannabis movement.
Peron shared this commitment to the plant. But while Herer was a growling, bearish presence—often intimidating—Peron’s personal style was more nuanced and politically astute. Still, the simple truth is this: Their lives changed our world.
Valerie Corral knew Peron well. In 1993, she co-founded Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz, CA, a groundbreaking nonprofit medical-marijuana collective that addressed the needs of severely ill patients. She also was part of the team of activists, spearheaded by Peron, who crafted Proposition 215, California’s historic medical-marijuana initiative that passed in
