How Rob Ryan became involved in Marijuana Reform
Why I am interested in this issue
What I have done
1. Salisbury, Maryland received grant to develop community leaders
• Boy scouts nominated me to community leadership training
• Three month long course in variety of topics
• Class assignment - give a controversial but a persuasive speech
• Remainder of class was assigned to oppose speeches
• My group picked the drug war, opposition to
• Group picked me to give speech
• Wrote speech night before, picking items from recent news events
• I gave one of three speeches to class
• Speech titled "What are we willing to pay for this endless War on Drugs"
• Totally unexpected audience reaction
• Class failed to oppose my speech
• Demonstrated very high level of support (Got an A+)
• Salisbury City Police Captain in audience
• Reflection on audience reactions prompted me to write a Letter to the Editor
• Wife protested in me submitting letter and making opinion public
• Letter published in local paper
2. Son Robert (Robby) Ryan arrested 1 month later
• Details of arrest
• Bong "hitters" removed by one of young men, prior to police entry
 Bong hidden behind sofa
• Hint of possible targeting of “Rob Ryan” by police
• Robby not present during police officer initial entry in apartment
• Robby arrived after police found bongs
• Police officer singled out son for arrest by name
3. Robby's Trial
• Public defender wanted son to plead guilty
• Son pleads "not guilty"
• Negative feedback from Public defender
• Son decided to represent himself
• My friend a lawyer coached son
• Trial Convenes
• Robby assembled all those present at arrest to be witnesses
• Police officer' presented testimony and evidence
• Evidence challenged
• Bongs have "hitters"
• Evidence fabricated or tampered with
• Judge declares Robby innocent; wins trial
• State's Attorney extremely very pissed at his loss
 Tries to give Robby fabricated evidence
• Judge's intervenes, bailiff confiscates evidence
• Trial ends
4.
Post Trial Events
• Sent complaint Letter about Prosecutor actions to State Senator w/CC letter to Police Chief
• Prosecutor files second drug charge against son
• Initiated a local mini media campaign
• Son represented self again at trial
• Pleads innocent and ask for a jury trial
• State drops case
6. Personal Investigation into Drug War
• Decided to do a review of Federal documents on Marijuana
• Focused on Schaffer commission detailed studies
• Enlisted friends who were librarians of nearby State University for getting document
• Became aware of larger drug reform efforts and Lindesmith Center in NYC
• Mother in New York City diagnosed with cancer
• Became aware of her very poor pain control treatment
• During visit to my mother in New York city dropped by Lindesmith Center
• Met Executive director Ethan Nadlemann
• Nadeleman gave me brand new book out of unopened box that just arrived at Lindesmith center
• Dr. John Morgan's & Lynne Zimmer's book
• Marijuana Myths : Marijuana Facts : A Review of the Scientific Evidence
• Read book cover to cover, confirmed my own personal investigation with similar references
• Conclusion: Get involved in drug war reform effort with focus on marijuana
• Considered Marijuana to be the Achilles heel of the drug war
• Started writing more Letter to Editor
• Became a MAPINC newshawk
• Began speaking out at Public Officials Events
• Started getting signatures of first “Dear Elected Representative” letter
• Petitioned local medical doctors on Marijuana's Schedule 1validity
What I have done since then
7. Political and Activism Involvement
• Ran for Mayor - Salisbury MD
• Won critical block of votes
• Arranged first online webcast political debate in Maryland
• Lost election but knocked out drug warrior
• Ran for Republican Central Committee party position
• Won election
• Appointed to be Treasurer
• Introduced Maryland Republican State Party Medical Marijuana Resolution
• Failed first time, failed second time, passed third time
• Attended Republican Party function hosted by State Representative Brinkley
• Met MPP Rob Kampia at Maryland Political event
• Joined Congressman Wayne Gilchrest Campaign
• Became John McCain's Presidential Committee County Chairman
• Began personal lobbying of local legislators for Representative Murphy & Brinkley's bill
• Darrel Putman medical marijuana bill
• Attended Drug Policy Alliance Conference in New Mexico
• Met Governor Gary Johnson
• Seated at Governor's table (TV news at event - had 1st national news appearance)
o As the only elected republican at conference
• Met Mary Jane Border from Ohio at New Mexico DPA conference
---- Moved back to Ohio----•
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Recruited by Mary Jane Borden to join Ohio Patient Network
• Joined OPN, was appointed Secretary
Initiated a Ohio Congressional District 2 postcard mailing on Medical Marijuana
 Church festivals Medical Marijuana flyers
Joined local chapter of Amnesty International
• Became host for Amnesty International Hour radio show
Authored Amnesty International Mid West & National Resolution
• AUISA Resolution #7 Drug War and Human Rights Abuse [Passed]
Initiated Pot & Gun ownership law change with Miami Valley NORML
o Conducted outreach efforts at Knife & Gun Shows with gun groups
 Law signed by Governor Strickland removing restrictions for minor pot infractions
Ran for Libertarian Central Commitee (Won)
Ran for Ohio State Representative as Libertarian (Lost)
Arranged Editorial Board interview with LEAP speakers Hoard Rahtz & Carlis McDerment with
NORML Ohio participation
 Resulted in full page anti drug war editorial
Initiated Driver license Suspension law dialogue with State Senator Seitz
 Provided info for Legislative resolution use to avoid Federal mandate on highway funds
 Organized witness for Senate hearing (Michael Revercomb & Heather Fitzgerald)
 Testified at State Hearing on SCR27
 Followed Resolution effort into the State Representative branch
 Meet several local representatives several times lobbing for resolution
 Resolution passed Legislation, Governor Kasich signed and sent to Washington DC
Developed NORML Driver’s License Trifold to stop the judge’s effort to change driver’s license
suspension form “SHALL” to “MAY” suspend.
Provided NORML members to write testimony to Governor’s Community Problem Oriented
Policing Task Force.
Was removed from Ohio NORML as President over friction of supporting ResponsibleOhio
legalization effort (Issue 3)
Was selected as President of Ohio Patients Network to revive the 501-C3 organization
 Issued press releases
 Formerly supported Issue 3
Ran for Blue Ash City Council as an Independent
 Won council seat over long term republican former Mayor who was anti-legalization
Participated in talk with Ohio Senate President staff & Republican Caucus concerning medical
marijuana legislation
Initiated & Coordinated speakers for Ohio State Representative Medical Marijuana Task Force
hearings
7. Speaking Engagements/Testimonies
• District Attorney Conference - Drug War Politics (1st Speaking Engagement)
• Maryland Republican Party - Lincoln Day Dinner(s)
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Committee local hearing on Medical Marijuana bill, Worchester MD
• Local State Representative Bozman made Anti medical marijuana presentation
• Requested committee to oppose Medical Marijuana Bill
• I made Pro medical marijuana presentation to same committee
• Committee decided to take no position after my testimony
• Commission on Civil Rights Hearings, Salisbury Maryland
• Ohio State Senate Judiciary – Testimony on zero metabolite D-UID law
• Bill Failed
• Students For Sensible Drug Policy Conference - Iowa State University
• “How to talk to Opposition” with LEAP speaker James Gierach
• Ohio State Representative Hearing(s) Judiciary HB8/SB8 – Testimony on D-UID law
• Cincinnati City Council Law Committee Hearing Testimony
• David Pepper’s Marijuana Re-Criminalization 2005
• Ordinance Failed to pass
• Drug Policy Alliance - Multiple Groups Working Together Panel
• University of Cincinnati -Young Republicans – Medical Marijuana politics
• Substitute speaker for former Drug Czar Bill Bennett
• Cincinnati City Council Hearing(s) Testimony
• Cecil Thomas Marijuana Re-Criminalization 2006, 2007
• Ordinance passed
• Hamilton County Commissioners Jail Expansion hearings
• Cincinnati Marijuana Ordinance made centerpiece of hearings
• Commissioners passed Jail Tax
• Ballot petition drive initiated to defeat Jail Tax
• Ballot petition success
 Selected as Press Conference speaker
• Jail Tax was defeated at polls primarily due to Cincinnati Marijuana law
• University of Cincinnati - Addiction Class - Guest Lecture: Is Addiction a Crime?
• Southern Reform Conference panelist
• “How to talk to Opposition” with Walker Chandler
 Democratic Clubs & City Club Medical Marijuana & Legalization Presentations
 Three way Candidate Debate Pillich-Ryan-Wilson 28th State Representative
 Empower University – Marijuana Legalization Forum & Web Broadcast
 Canton College Women Club – Marijuana Legalization
 Debate at Columbus Rotary on Marijuana Legalization Paul Coleman of Maryhaven
 Ohio Task force Community-Police Relations ( SPEAKER & Written Testimony)
 Marijuana Legalization debate with Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine in Beavercreek
 Ohio State Senate Medical Marijuana Listening Tour-Cincinnati UC medical campus
 Ohio State Representative Task Force Medical Marijuana hearing (2nd longest time due to question
by panel members, longest time was Ted Biebart of Benash law firm)
8. Leadership, Coordination, or Assistance in following
• Bryan D. Pinkett Defense Fund Chairman (Salisbury Maryland)
• The Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act (MD) Lobbying
• Bush (Reds Stadium) & Kerry Cincinnati Rally(s) demonstrations
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Stop Arresting Medical Marijuana Patients-ASA & OPN
 Americans for Safe Access & Ohio Patient Network
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - Judge Shockett – Ohio tour coordinator
Cincinnati Re-criminalization Hearings
Generated media materials, academic information & testimony coordination
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition - Detective Howard Wooldridge – Ohio tour(s)
Ohio Health Day Conference(s) - Ohio Patients Network
Ohio Patient Network Webmaster
Ohio Patient Action Network Treasurer, President
Hamilton County Top Petitioner for opposing Jail Tax
LEAP Speaker Coordinator-Greater Cincinnati
Miami Valley NORML ( Founder-> Treasurer-> President)
Ohio NORML Board Representative for Miami Valley NORML
National NORML Conference organized State Chapter Meeting
Assisted Medical Marijuana Petition efforts (i.e. OATA, ORG)
Ohio NORML President (3 terms)
Ohio Patient Network President-(current)
9. Conferences Attendance & Notable Events
• Drug Policy Foundation, Bethesda MD
• Met Canada's Constable Gil Puder & discussed medical marijuana (PRE LEAP)
• See LEAP website about Constable Puder background
• Republican State Convention(s) - MD
• Drug Reform Shadow Convention (Republican National Convention), Philadelphia (DPA)
• National War on Drugs Symposium , Georgetown University, Washington DC - PBS & NPR
• Met Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey: Private conversation about Generals & Sergeants
• Saving Our Children from Drug Treatment Abuse, Bethesda MD
• Drug Policy Alliance, New Mexico, New Jersey, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Arlington
• NORML Conferences (Washington DC, Denver, Portland, San Francisco, Berkeley)
• Harborside Medical Marijuana Center: Given back room and front door tour
• National Sheriff's Association, Louisville, KY ( LEAP Booth )
• Recognized by Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture Magazine
• As one of the Top 100 Cannabis Activist in the World
• Amnesty International, Mid West Regional(s), Cincinnati, Chicago
• Amnesty International Annual General Meeting(s), Portland, Milwaukee
• Cincinnati Neighborhood Summit(s) ( SPEAKER )
• Print/Radio TV Media Appearances
• WNKU, WLW, WLWT, WHIO, WDTN, WMDT, WBOC, PBS, NPR, C-Span, WAIF,
WCIN, Baltimore Sun, Salisbury Daily Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus stations,
Associated Press, Cincinnati Post, Cleveland News media, City Beat, Public Access TV