Rick Thompson (cannabis activist)
Rick Thompson (born Dale Richard Thompson) is an American social justice reformer, [...] activist, photographer and journalist. Born November 20, 1965 in Flint, Michigan at Flint Osteopathic Hospital to Dale Thomas and Judith Ellen.
Early Life & Education
Thompson grew up on the north side of Flint and attended Johnson Elementary and Lowell Junior High School before graduating in 1983 from Flint Central High School. Thompson was a resident of the Flint Northwestern High School district but received a full-time transfer to Central.
After graduation Thompson moved to Columbus, Ohio at the age of 17 to attend DeVry Institute of Technology. He returned to Michigan and attended the University of Michigan, where he authored a thesis on paleontology in his sophomore year.
Career
Thompson's work history includes manual labor and a variety of sales jobs until the mid-1990s, where he became involved in sales management for American Blind and Wallpaper in Farmington, Michigan. In 2008 Michigan passed the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which provided protections for patients for their use of medicinal [...]. In December 2009 Thompson and his longtime friend, Rick Ferris, published the first EDition of the Michigan Medical [...] Magazine from their Big Daddy's company offices in Oak Park, Michigan.
Resistance to the new medical law from law enforcement began early, and Thompson began testifying to local communities in 2010. He led protests in Lapeer, St. Clair, Oakland counties and at the state capitol in Lansing. The offices of the magazine also contained an unlicensed medical [...] dispensary and a hydroponics manufacturing and sales location called Big Daddy's. In 2010 law enforcement in Michigan began raiding dispensaries the MMMA did not expressly create protective laws for distribution centers. Dispensaries in neighboring communities Ferndale and Waterford were raided, as was a center in Lapeer County's Village of Dryden. In response, Thompson, Ferris and other advocates created a dispensary trade organization: the Michigan Association of Compassion Centers (MACC). Thompson was elected to the Political Committee and was given the role of Spokesperson
MACC was run out of Thompson's office at the Oak Park facility. The group rallied with other advocate organizations, including the Michigan Medical Marijuaan Association, and brought over 8,000 people to the steps of Michigan's Capital Building in September 2010.
In January 2011 MACC sued the Michigan Attorney General to halt the disclosure of protected information. Less than a week later the offices of the Medical [...] Magazine and Big Daddy's were raided by Oakland County narcotics officers. [...], money and business products were seized. During the year-long fight with state government A.G. Schuette instigated the local attorney in Chesterfield Township to attack one of the Big Daddy's franchised dispensaries (there were five total) and then joined in on the resulting Public Nuisance lawsuit. The pro- and anti-[...] groups in Michigan fought a fierce media battle in 2011 which saw officials directly respond to Thompson and the MACC message, including the Oakland County SHERIFF's Department and the state A.G. himself. Thompson squared off with an Oakland County Sheriff Department representative on CMN TV in a town hall-style debate on medical [...].
By the end of the year the Big Daddy's locations in Oak Park and Chesterfield Township were shuttered, the magazine was ended and several MACC principals were facing charges stemming from raids on their facilities. In early 2012 Thompson severed from Big Daddy's, and the MACC organization ended. In September he started an online journalism site called The Compassion Chronicles with Ryan Basore, who was earlier that year convicted of federal [...] crimes for his state-legal medical [...] operation. In 2013 and 2014, he documented the evolution and eventual failure of a package of bills authorizing dispensaries in Michigan.
Activism
Thompson is a longtime board member of statewide groups that favor legalizing the [...]. In 2009 the launch of the Magazine brought Thompson into activism. His history includes partnering in the launch of the MACC; being on the initial Board of the Michigan chapter of Americans for Safe Access. Being on the Board of the Michigan chapter of NORML; a Director of the Repeal Today legalization movement of 2012; the, MILegalize 2016 ballot proposal group and being a Board member of the MILegalize 2018 ballot proposal group, which is a partner in the Coalition to Regulate [...] Like Alcohol.
Thompson is equally well known for his testimony to the Michigan legislature and various Departments since 2009. Thompson was one of three advocates allowed to address a Senate Judiciary Committee in January 2010. He spoke out in favor of or opposed to different bills proposed by Michigan lawmakers even since, including memorable sparring sessions with Republican Senator Randy Richardville, House Representatives Mike Callton, Klint Kesto and Rick Jones while both a Senator and a Representative.
In 2013 Thompson was part of a group who promoted the use of $2 bills to advance awareness of medicinal [...] commerce. As a watchdog against removal of patient protections, he fought against passage of a Pharmaceutical Grade Medical Marihuana Act and VOICED opposition to obstructive passages in [...] legislation.
Questioning of Thompson by the House Judiciary Committee in 2014 contributed to the failure of the Michigan State Police to legislatively create a pilot program featuring an oral swab test for THC presence, to be administered during roadside traffic stops Modified legislation supporting this program was introduced and passed during the following legislative session. He was ejected from a courtroom in 2014 for advocating too hard for a medical [...] patient who had been charged with crimes. He has produced voter's guides to [...]-friendly candidates.
Thompson delivered speeches in a series of meetings of the Licensing Board empowered with authorizing every licensed business under the state's new medical [...] business program, called the MMFLA, and to various House of Representatives Committees.
He was named 2015 Citizen Activist of the Year (United States) by a national industry publication. Thompson has given testimony to local communities regarding the evolution of medical [...] laws, including Royal Oak, Ann Arbor, and to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act Licensing Board. In November 2017, Thompson and the MILegalize organization submitted 360,000 signatures to the Michigan Secretary of State to place a legalization of [...] proposal on the 2018 ballot.
Radio
Thompson first appeared on radio broadcasts in 2010 on CBS radio. In 2011, Thompson began making appearances on Michigan Internet-based radio shows, including the Planet Green Trees Radio Show hosted by attorney Michael Komorn. In 2012, he joined the weekly broadcast of The Medical [...] Radio Show, later known as the Political Twist-Up Show, a syndicated broadcast on the real radio through WDTW, WKTG and WFNT. He maintained that presence through 2015. Thompson has been featured on many other radio broadcasts, including a memorable election night broadcast in 2012 with nationally known broadcaster Russ Belleville. Thompson is also an occasional guest on National Public Radio's Michigan Radio
Journalism
Starting in 2009, Thompson was the principal author behind the Michigan Medical [...] Magazine. During the magazine's run Thompson also authored articles on music including some published in a Detroit weekly. After the magazine folded Thompson began Internet journalism with a columnist spot on the Patch Network which included an occasional feature on the Huffington Post and editorials in major newspapers across the state. He published stories AbOUT the dangers of prescription pills, Dr. Grinspoon and the 'ensemble effect', more dispensary raids and smart cities for High Times Magazine.
Media and Business
Thompson was part of a significant town hall-style broadcast in 2011 on CMTV. He had a live debate with Saginaw County Sheriff and other experts via the MLive network (45). He was the moderator during the Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate's Forum in 2017 and has presented or organized many conferences and engagements in Michigan and other states. Thompson is the founder of the Michigan [...] Business Development Group. In 2015 the MICBD Group featured a Conference in Flint, Michigan; in 2016 there were Conferences in Lansing and Flint; in 2017 the events were Detroit, Traverse City, Ann Arbor and Lansing.
Personal life
Thompson attended Northern Michigan University in 1987, where he met Teresa Ann Jankowski. The Two were married on September 29, 1991. Together they had three children: Matthew Thomas, Melissa Helene and Macon Richard.