January 20, 2021 — The End of An Error
In his last acts as President of the United States, Donald Trump issued pardons and commutations that include twelve people serving time for marijuana convictions.
Lynn Barney, Jonathon Braun, Brian Simmons, Ferrell Damon Scott, John Knock, Anthony DeJohn, Corvain Cooper, Way Quoe Long, Michael Pelletier, Craig Cesal, James Romans, and Noah Kleinman have all been freed. Half of the dozen freed—Knock, Scott, DeJohn, Cooper, Cesal, and Romans—were serving life sentences, and Long at age 58 was still facing over 25 more years imprisonment.
So, Trump did do something positive in his single twice-impeached term.
The Russ Belville Show 2021-01-22
Desperate Idaho Legislator Proposes Constitutional Ban on Marijuana Legalization
“This legislation will ensure illegal drugs stay illegal.” That’s the thrust of C. Scott Grow’s amendment to enshrine drug prohibition forever into the Idaho Constitution.
What Defending the Constitution Means
I was stunned, but not shocked. I’ve grown up among these people. This result was inevitable. I’m only surprised it’s taken until 2021 for this festering boil of unaddressed racism and willful ignorance to finally erupt in open treason.
Marijuana Activists Who Died in 2020
Marijuana activists we lost in 2020 include Subcool, Charlotte Figi, Dr. Lester Grinspoon, Jules Stobbs, Cliff Robinson, Kevin Zeese, and Dan Baum.
Idaho Marijuana Sales Top $100M in Ontario, Oregon
Data from the Oregon Liquor Control Commission show that the legal marijuana shops in the tiny Oregon/Idaho border town of Ontario have topped over $103 million in sales in just over sixteen months of operation.
LDS Church Clarifies Approval of Medical Marijuana Use
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has updated its general handbook to clarify that while it supports its faithful in their physician-approved use of medical marijuana, it “does not approve of vaping marijuana unless the medical provider has authorized it based on medical necessity.”
High School Drug Use Rates Lowest Ever Recorded
This year, high school drug use rates in the United States are the lowest ever recorded. In fact, every year for the past four years has set a record for the lowest monthly drug use rates by high school seniors.
A Life Dedicated to Ending Adult Marijuana Prohibition
“Radical” Russ Belville
“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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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, and its flagship live podcast, The Russ Belville Show.
