Mari was there when NORML received seed funding from an unexpected source.
Episode Summary
Even though there's no national holiday celebration in August, we had plenty to celebrate on this episode! Returning for another entry, South Jersey cannabis attorney and all-around interesting human Mike Hoffman joined Angela and Brandon to read through another one of Mari's writings from the 1970s. Mike shared some insight about what motivated him to get involved in the clean-up of the failed War on Drugs. That proved to be a natural segue to discuss Mari's reflections about her time with NORML founder Keith Stroup and how the Playboy Foundation got involved in cannabis activism by funding the advocacy start-up. Keith, Hugh Hefner, and Bobbie Arnstein were all involved in conversations that ultimately helped to launch one of the most well-known cannabis advocacy organizations in the country. The trio of entry-explorers ended up swimming around in an "emotion ocean" (as described by Mari - "happy tears and giggly sorrow") and learning more about cannabis conversations in the 1970s. The passing of the Controlled Substance Act was a major factor in cannabis at that point in America. Mari reinforced the lesson: The 1970s were a particularly important decade in cannabis history and those who stood up to advocate for the reformation of marijuana laws had to fight hard.
About Mike Hoffman
Mike Hoffman is a true solo attorney, focusing on expungements, cannabis & social equity, and municipal court/DWI impairment. He founded The Hoffman Centers in 2017. According to Mike, "This is a company formed as the labor of my loves. Everything I have ever done and everything I have ever considered will be given an opportunity through this position. I have formed this company, in structure, to allow me to begin practicing law again, on my own terms. It also, as there are multiple "Centers" involved, allows me to pursue the governmental affairs, policy analysis, and legislative opinion services that have intrigued me. Finally, as part and parcel of the "innovation" center, I will have an incubator to help those ideas that have potentially seemed profitable to me, whether mine or others, take those ideas, and bring them to a place where they might achieve the recognition and profitability they deserve."
Podcast Overview for “Use This As You See Fit: The Diary of Mari”
When Angela received an old diary in the mail, she had no idea who sent it or why it was delivered to her. She enlisted the help of her friend Brandon to solve the mystery. From there, the pair set out to explore the intriguing entries in an attempt to discover the identity of the anonymous sender and figure out what they should do with the thick, leather-bound book filled with stories that all seem to have one thing in common...cannabis. Each episode features a fun and interesting investigation of a different entry. In Season 2, a variety of passionate cannabis professionals join the duo to talk history, mystery, and all things marijuana to get some answers about the diary. One thing that Angela and Brandon now know for certain - through each discussion they discover a little more about the mysterious diary author, Ms. Mari Juana. New episodes drop on the 4th and the 20th of each month, April to September.
Interested in staying connected? Follow Mari on IG @diaryofmari.
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