Last Friday, I had the honor of sitting down with a true cannabis pioneer, Farmer Tom Lauerman. We journeyed back to the very beginning of medical cannabis in the U.S., as Tom shared stories from his time co-founding one of the first medical collectives in San Diego in 1997. We learned about the high-profile police raid that shut down his collective in 1999, an event that, for many, would have been the end of the road, but for Farmer Tom, was just one chapter in a lifelong fight.
Farmer Tom and I shared our views on the evolution of the industry, from a patient-first, compassionate care model to the commercialized, adult-use market we see today. Tom spoke with passion about the community-focused approach that’s largely missing in modern cannabis, as well as the erosion of patient rights in the face of big business.
We talked about his current work with Irvine Labs and his advocacy for the "Heroes of the Green" - the activists who risked their lives to ensure safe access for all. Tom’s journey is a testament to the passion and perseverance that has always fueled our cannabis community.
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