TL;DR

• The cannabis freedom we enjoy today was built on the sacrifices of dedicated activists.
• Dennis Peron shifted the narrative from crime to compassion, birthing the medical movement.
• Tommy Chong used comedy to normalize culture and became a martyr for the cause during Operation Pipe Dreams.
• Jack Herer provided the intellectual foundation for legalization with The Emperor Wears No Clothes.
• Tim Martin gave the movement a voice through John Doe Radio, where I cut my teeth as a broadcaster.
• Mickey Martin was a fearless innovator, mentor, and the catalyst behind Get Seeds Right Here.

The shoulders we stand on

It’s easy to walk into a dispensary today, buy a pack of pre-rolls, and forget that not so long ago, this simple act could land you in handcuffs. When I look back at my early days in the cannabis community—around 2010—the air was thick with a different kind of energy. It wasn't just about getting high; it was about civil disobedience. It was a movement.

We were fighting a war on two fronts: the legal battle against the government and the cultural battle against stigma.

I’ve been lucky enough to stand in the trenches with some of the best to ever do it. While there are thousands of unsung heroes in this space, five people stand out to me. Three are global icons I admired from afar, and two are personal friends and mentors who changed the trajectory of my life. These are the giants of cannabis activism.

#5 Dennis Peron – The Father of Medical Cannabis

If you are smoking legal weed in America today, you owe a debt of gratitude to Dennis Peron. I never had the privilege of shaking his hand, but his philosophy is the bedrock of everything we do. He is the man who looked the government in the eye and said, "Compassion is not a crime."

Dennis Peron reflecting on the fight for compassion. He shifted the paradigm.

Dennis was born in the Bronx and served in Vietnam, where he saw firsthand how soldiers used cannabis to cope with the horrors of war. But it was the AIDS crisis in San Francisco during the 80s and 90s that turned him into a revolutionary. He watched his partner, Jonathan West, and countless friends suffer. He saw that cannabis was the only thing that gave them relief, appetite, and dignity in their final days.

He founded the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club—the first public dispensary in the US. It wasn't about profit; it was a safe haven. His crowning achievement was co-authoring Proposition 215 in 1996, the law that made California the first medical marijuana state.

Legends united: Dennis Peron sharing a smoke with Jack Herer.

Dennis famously said, "All use is medical." He understood that whether you are fighting cancer or fighting stress, this plant heals. He passed away in 2018, but his legacy is written into the laws of nearly every state in the union.

#4 Tommy Chong – The OG Icon of Culture

Before legalization had suits and ties, it had Cheech and Chong. For decades, Tommy Chong was the face of cannabis for the average person. But don't let the "stoner" persona fool you—Tommy is a warrior who went to prison for our culture.

Left: The 2003 mugshot from Operation Pipe Dreams. Right: Tommy surrounded by the glass art that the government tried to demonize.

Growing up, Up in Smoke was our Bible. Tommy used comedy to humanize us. He showed the world that cannabis users weren't dangerous criminals; we were musicians, thinkers, and peace-lovers. He disarmed the critics with laughter.

But the government didn't find it funny. In 2003, during "Operation Pipe Dreams," the Feds spent millions of dollars to raid his glass company, Chong's Bongs. They made an example of him. He served nine months in federal prison for selling glass.

That conviction backfired on the government beautifully. It didn't silence him; it galvanized the movement. "Free Tommy Chong" became a rallying cry. He came out stronger, beating cancer twice with the help of the plant he loves, and remains the grandfather of the industry.

#3 Jack Herer – The Emperor of Hemp

If Dennis provided the heart and Tommy provided the humor, Jack Herer provided the brain. Before the internet, we had Jack.

Jack Herer delivering a powerful speech. He taught us that hemp could save the world.

Jack wasn't always a believer. He was a Goldwater Republican who hated weed until he tried it. Once he woke up, he went all in. He spent years digging through Library of Congress archives to uncover the suppressed history of hemp.

The result was The Emperor Wears No Clothes. That book blew the lid off the conspiracy. He connected the dots between DuPont, Hearst, racial bias, and prohibition. He taught us that cannabis wasn't just for getting high—it was for fuel, fiber, food, and medicine.

Jack died in 2010, right as the wave of legalization was breaking. But his spirit is literally in the air every time someone lights up the legendary Sensi Seeds strain named after him. He was the spark that lit the intellectual fire of this movement.

#2 Tim Martin – The Voice of John Doe Radio

Now we get to the people I actually know. The people I’ve broken bread with and smoked joints with. If you were around the Colorado scene in the early 2010s, you knew Tim Martin.

Tim Martin behind the mic. He didn't just report on the culture; he lived it.

Tim was the founder and host of John Doe Radio. Back in 2009, talking openly about growing and selling weed on the internet was still sketchy territory. We didn't have corporate sponsors; we had grit. Tim created a platform when nobody else would touched the topic.

Tim was a medical patient first. He used cannabis for chronic pain, and his advocacy came from a place of necessity. He was tired of being treated like a criminal for taking his medicine. John Doe Radio was his megaphone.

Me and Tim on an episode of John Doe Radio. We tried to educate, but mostly we just tried to make people laugh while telling the truth.

I had the honor of joining him as a co-host around 2011 on iCannabisRadio.com. Those were some of the best days of my life. We sat in that studio, smoke swirling around the microphones, talking to activists, growers, and patients. We were documenting history in real-time.

Tim had a way of cutting through the noise. He balanced the heavy political stuff with humor and humanity. He paved the way for guys like Adam Dunn (The Adam Dunn Show) and the podcast explosion that followed.

Adam Dunn and Tim Martin in 2014. Titans of the broadcasting game.

John Doe Radio might be off the air, but Tim’s influence is still rippling through the community. He taught me that your voice is the most powerful tool you have—especially when you use it to speak up for others.

#1 Mickey Martin – The Trailblazer Who Changed My Life

And then, there is Mickey.

Mickey Martin wasn't just an activist. He was a force of nature. He was a "New School" pioneer who refused to play by the rules of the "Old Hippies." He was sharp, he was loud, and he was usually right.

Mickey was never afraid to get loud. When the industry was quiet, he picked up a megaphone.

Mickey founded Compassion Edibles (T-Comp), setting the gold standard for what a cannabis brand could be. He didn't just make brownies; he made medicine that tasted good and was dosed correctly. He used legit strains like Sour Diesel and OG Kush in his food. He was lightyears ahead of the industry.

A look back at the Compassion Edibles line. Mickey brought professionalism to the edible game.

But beyond the business, Mickey was a mentor. I can say without a shadow of a doubt: Get Seeds Right Here would not exist without Mickey Martin.

When I was just starting out, unsure of my footing, Mickey was the one in my ear telling me I could do it. He saw something in me that I didn't see in myself yet. He taught me that this industry isn't just about moving product; it's about integrity. It's about protecting the plant and the people.

Mickey leading a protest against DEA interference. He fought for patient rights when they were kicking down doors.

He was brilliant, too. He co-authored Medical Marijuana 101 with Ed Rosenthal. He bridged the gap between the underground and the mainstream, but he never sold out. He respected the history, but he demanded progress.

The book that educated a generation of patients.

We lost Mickey way too soon. But I carry his lessons with me every day. I remember checking Facebook back in 2017 and seeing him post about me, using the hashtag #likesweedgoodperson. That meant more to me than any industry award ever could.

"I taught Bike Hawley to ride a bike..." Classic Mickey.

To those who knew him, Mickey was a friend, a father, and a visionary. He was the movement.

Thank you, Mickey, for everything.
#savethethc #fuckmickey

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the "Father of Medical Cannabis"?

Dennis Peron is widely considered the Father of Medical Cannabis for his work in San Francisco and for co-authoring California's Proposition 215.

What happened to John Doe Radio?

John Doe Radio, hosted by Tim Martin, was a pioneering cannabis podcast/radio show in the early 2010s. While no longer active, its archives remain a snapshot of the legalization movement's history.

Who wrote "The Emperor Wears No Clothes"?

Jack Herer wrote this groundbreaking book, which details the history of hemp and the conspiracy behind its prohibition. It is considered the most important book in the cannabis reform movement.

What is Mickey Martin known for?

Mickey Martin was a prominent activist, the founder of Compassion Edibles (T-Comp), and the author of Medical Marijuana 101. He was a fierce advocate for patient rights and a mentor to many in the modern industry.