Richard Lee (activist)
Richard Lee is a marijuana rights activist who runs various medical marijuana programs throughout the "Oaksterdam" area of downtown Oakland, California. He is regarded as a central figure in Northern California's medical marijuana movement. He also operates a coffee shop. He has been active in working to end cannabis prohibition since 1992.He was the chief promoter of California Proposition 19, titled the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010", which was a measure to legalize marijuana in California. On December 14, 2009 the secretary of state confirmed receipt of enough signatures to qualify the measure for inclusion on the November 2010 ballot. The initiative failed to pass, with 54% of California voters voting "No", and 46% voting "Yes".In 2007, Lee founded Oaksterdam University, the United States' first cannabis-oriented "college". The unaccredited educational facility has 1 campus in Oakland, Ca and offers classes on politics and legal issues related to marijuana as well as horticulture, cooking with cannabis, business management, and entrepreneurship. Lee is no longer with the organization according to the website.
