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About "Radical" Russ

“Radical” Russ Belville, as he is known online and on air, was born on the day the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War began. A native of Nampa, Idaho, Russ was active in music and drama at Nampa High School, where he graduated with honors and served as the school’s first Bulldog mascot. Russ attended Boise State University, where he studied computer science, education, and served as the school’s last Buster Bronco mascot on green turf. Russ also served our nation in the Idaho National Guard’s 25th Army Band, rising to the rank of SGT.

Red State Refugee

Russ moved to Portland, Oregon, in 2003. At the Global Marijuana March in 2005, Russ joined Oregon NORML and quickly rose to Associate Director of the state’s marijuana reform chapter. He was co-host of the chapter’s Oregon NORML Presents TV program and helped organize dozens of open meetings for medical marijuana patients to acquire seedlings and medicine for free.

National Radio Host

In 2006, Russ began his radio career by winning a nationwide contest, the Search for the Next Great Progressive Talk Radio Star. From that contest he landed a progressive talk radio show that aired on XM Satellite Radio and AM 620 KPOJ for two years.

Russ joined the staff of the NORML headquarters in Washington, DC, in 2008 as the National Outreach Coordinator, helping to found 74 chapters in six countries during his four years in the position. Russ also produced the daily podcast for NORML and traveled the country speaking on the need for marijuana legalization.

Marijuana Journalist

In 2010, Russ was the campaign manager for the OCTA initiative to legalize marijuana. When it failed to make the ballot, Russ lent his skills in support of the Measure 74 effort to establish medical marijuana dispensaries, which lost in the election. That year was also the first of Russ’s famed “Marijuana Election Night” live broadcasts, when he reported from Oaksterdam for California’s ill-fated Prop 19 legalization initiative.

By 2012, Russ had converted the daily podcast to a live radio show, complete with call-ins and guests. He traveled extensively, including a trip to the Baker Institute, where he debated “the quarterback of the anti-legalization movement,” Kevin Sabet, in a video that is still among their highest-rated, and to Seattle to cover the passage of Washington’s I-502 legalization initiative.

Oregon Legalizer

After leaving NORML, Russ established his own media production company and began broadcasting his daily show, The Russ Belville Show, covering all the news and analysis of marijuana politics and science. He was also a large part of the 2014 initiative campaign to legalize marijuana possession and cultivation with Oregon’s Measure 91 by conducting some investigative journalism into an “educational tour” featuring Kevin Sabet in thirteen Oregon cities leading up to the election.

International Livestreamer

Russ has since traveled over 300,000 air miles, visiting 70 cities in 24 states and three foreign countries, reporting on or presenting the latest news and information about cannabis. He has contributed over 1,000 articles published online by HIGH TIMES, Weed News, Marijuana Politics, Alternet, Green State, and Huffington Post. Russ now works full-time producing the RadicalRuss Radio livestream, the 24-hour source for marijuana music and cannabis conversations.

We officially launch with our live Marijuana Election Night 2020 coverage on Tuesday, November 3, starting at 4pm Mountain Time.

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