Robert Randall
Important Dates in Marijuana History: November 24, 1976
The famous and brilliant marijuana advocate, Peter McWilliams, often used to cite the fact that the U.S. government does in fact provide marijuana to a handful of people. He would say he just wanted to join the elite group. While the fact that the federal government is providing four people with marijuana is becoming more well known, many of us do not recognize how this contradictory program came to be.
November 24, 1976 is one of the most important dates in medical marijuana’s history. On this date federal Judge James Washington ruled that Robert Randall could legally use marijuana out of legal necessity. Mr. Randall became the first person in the United States to be granted the legal right to use marijuana since 1937. He suffered from glaucoma and cultivated his own supply of marijuana to alleviate symptoms associated with his condition. He was arrested but as stated above, US v. Randall would become a landmark case and launch the medical marijuana movement.
As with successful movements, a superior understanding of the charges, authorities, and legal rights granted can often be the best weapon to bringing about true change. Randall utilized a little known defense at the time called The Common Law Doctrine of Necessity. A judge agreed and thus the government was forced to create a program for distributing medical marijuana. At its peak the program served 14 patients but still provides marijuana to 4 of the remaining participants. The program is rarely covered in the media, but last year an Oregon woman made headlines as she was pulled over with marijuana. Police officers were surprised about her claim that she received marijuana from the federal government, but after a series of phone calls Oregon police were able to verify her story.
Robert Randall passed away in 2001 but NORML founder Keith Stroup has called him “the father of medical marijuana.” Even after his death Robert Randall serves as a reminder that the federal government’s case against marijuana is contradicted by none other than the federal government. They have acknowledged marijuana’s medical benefits and have even proved competent enough to cultivate and distribute it. Although the battle is far from over, on November 24, 1976, we witnessed the end of the government’s ability to suppress one of the greatest healing agents we have ever known.