The biggest tragedy for medical cannabis in San Jose

The medical cannabis community suffered one of  the(if not the single) biggest tragedies in cannabis history during the last San Jose election on 6/8/10..  and no one knew it!

Many in the San Jose cannabis community have known that Mayor Reed is not the biggest medical cannabis supporter. As an indicator of this, several other collectives as well as the SJCBC were told it would be “inappropriate” for us to donate to his campaign for mayor. One of Mayor Reeds’ opponents during this last election was a man named Bill Chew..

Unfortunately, I did not find this out until a week after the election, but Bill has the most credentials of ANYONE involved with medical cannabis in San Jose. Bill had the first discussion with Susan Hammer (the Mayor of San Jose in 1996), regarding putting together the FIRST medical cannabis permit in SJ. Bill was involved with the first collective operators and is a proponent for FULL cannabis legalization.

Mayor Reed won the election with only one hundred thousand votes.. That’s barely 10% of San Jose’s population. If Bill had won, San Jose would have been the most progressive city in the state on these issues. Even if Bill had not won, with proper promotion and support from the medical cannabis community we could have made our public officials think twice before going against cannabis. This would have been more effective then any Gallup, Pew, or Harris Poll, and cost far less.

I blame myself for not talking to Bill sooner, and vow to not let something like this slip by again. More proof that, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself..

More on Bill:

Bill Chew – Candidate for Mayor; City of San Jose

Biographical Highlights

• Occupation: Television Journalist/Producer
• B. A. Political Science from Cal State Univ. at Long Beach 1974
• I have a web based business composed of a proprietary exercise system. This program is my answer to the health care debate. Take care of yourself.
• I have a cable TV Show on CREATV 15, NeighborNET with Bill Chew Friday at 6:00PM
• I have attended over 2500 meetings at San Jose City Hall since 1988
• I have never solicited or accepted campaign contributions from any person, group, or corporation, ever.
• I am completely independent of special interests and can represent the voters first, last, and always.

Top Priorities if Elected

• The Mayor of San Jose has to stand up to the State Government and put an end the structural budget deficit.
• Candidates should stop collecting cash contributions from individuals, special interest groups, and corporations because it’s THE source of corruption
• The Mayor has to be the needle that pulls the thread of continuity through the fabric of our diverse community.

Questions on Issues

The Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County asked questions on the issues of all candidates for this office.

Read the answers from Bill Chew

Key Endorsements

• The only endorsement I have ever sought is that of the voters

If you lived in San Jose, you may know Bill Chew San Jose’s “Rollerskating Cowboy”, for the roller-skates and white cowboy hat he is often spotted with.