AAMC: Ryan Landers

Ryan Landers

Contact Ryan Landers

I was there the day we filed what has now become known as Prop 215. I was then named Sacramento County Director for Californians for Compassionate Use. I headed the signature gathering for the State Capital region of the State and immediately started public speaking to all forms of media and other forums. I became the "poster boy" for medicinal marijuana for this area during the campaign to pass prop 215. I was the "yes on 215 spokesperson."

During the campaign I was the first to smile on the news with my completely illegal marijuana plants and explaining why the law should be changed. I continued public speaking for enforcement of the law on not only the media side but then political as well. I became even more well known with my arrest in Aug 1997 for smoking in public in downtown Sacramento, which became the first case filed and dropped by Sacramento officials. I attempted to open the Capitol City Cannabis Buyers Club, but stopped my efforts when political road blocks as well as financial hardships became a never ending story. Through several years of growing I have become an expert, giving advise and testimony. I started a "support group" for medicinal marijuana patients who had been arrested and tried in several counties, including Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, San Joaquin, and others. I attended as many court hearings as I could and referred patients to doctors, attorneys, and experts. In my local county I was able to achieve high quality pro-bono legal help for patients being harassed. Joseph F. Farina has been the biggest contributor in Sacramento for pro-bono legal representation including for me. Joe has represented me since Feb. 1997 at no cost to me what so ever.

In September 1998 Sacramento police and sheriffs departments woke me up beating on my door and yelling for me to open the door. They attempted to do a quick search for logo a supposed escaped man who climbed out of a cop car window in handcuffs at a stoplight. They quickly realized I was growing marijuana and one officer reached for her gun. I told them it was medicinal and offered a letter from the DA's office. After reading the notice they realized they were at my apartment and shouldn't be. They quickly told me to have a nice day and all the officers left. In the May 1999 issue of High Times magazine I was named "Freedom Fighter of the Month."

In November 1999 I became the recipient of the quickest insurance settlement I have ever heard of after the second home invasion robbery at my home in thirteen months netted 1 & 1/2 - 2 lbs. of marijuana. Travelers Insurance in SIX days from the date I reported the robbery signed a check for $5,000 per lb. X 2 lbs. -- my $250 deductible for a total settlement of $9750.00. The claims adjuster told me I would have to send in the police report as soon as I received it which I did three weeks later. Through testimony at State Capital hearings and private meetings with politicians and law enforcement I have managed to amend SB 535 Vasconcellos research bill which obtained one million dollars for medicinal marijuana research for the state of California. I was able to kill a horrible bill by Senator Johannessen (R) Redding SB 2089 which attempted to limit patients to two plants and a maximum of 1/4 oz. marijuana use per week, which is about half of what I use per day on bad days. Then thru intense lobbing, I was asked by the Department of Justice to join the Attorney General's task force on medicinal marijuana and helped secure sweeping amendments to SB 187 all of which ensured patient protection and privacy. In a Narcotics Task Force Raid on my home in late June 2000, Agents asked me how many marijuana plants I could have legally under the law while staring at eighteen plants in my back yard. They were gone in ten minutes, with no searching or asking questions of anyone but myself, and no police checks run on anyone. They didn't even ask the names of the other people in my home. In the middle of October 2000 a County helicopter lit my house up for fifteen minuets while I dealt with disgusting, rude, and viscous ground unit deputies, once again nothing was searched and NO plants taken. Media interviews include but not limited to, Tokyo Television, NBC News, Good Morning America, Discovery News, High Times magazine, Cannabis Culture magazine, Associated Press, local news, local talk radio, community access cable shows.

While attending the trial of a MMJ patient in Placer County I was able to obtain permission from Placer deputies I approached to smoke my medicine. They just said "go ahead we know what you're going to do." I replied, "But I" and they said "NO, we know who you are and we know what you're going to do, just go ahead," so I smoked a bowl in front of the historic Auburn courthouse. Then they went and told the judge and he kept the jury out of the courtroom and told the entire audience, "He understood that there was someone smoking medicinal marijuana during the recess." He stated that "he did not have a problem with that, he only had a problem with the jury seeing me smoke." He then told me "To smoke by the staff entrance or parking lot or the grand stair ways which rise on two sides of the courthouse and are no longer used," several places in which the jury would probably not see me.

I am currently the California State Director for AAMC and continue to lobby strongly for implementation of Proposition 215.