Rob Kampia
Encyclopedia
Rob Kampia is co-founder and executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project
, the largest 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization
in the U.S. that is solely dedicated to ending cannabis prohibition.
, a small suburban town 30 miles (48.3 km) northwest of Philadelphia. Kampia was valedictorian of his 300-person graduating class at Souderton Area High School
in 1986, served three months in prison from November 1989 to February 1990 for growing his own cannabis for personal use at Penn State University, and was elected student body president two years later at that same school. Three days after graduating with honors from Penn State in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science (a multidisciplinary honors program) and minor in English, he moved to Washington, D.C., for the purpose of ending the government’s war on marijuana users.
in 1995. MPP has a lobbying branch, an educational branch, and a political action committee, is based in Washington, D.C., with satellite offices in Arizona and Nevada. MPP employs 36 full-time staffers across these locations, as well as consultants to pass statewide ballot initiatives in Arizona and Michigan, and lobbyists to pass medical cannabis
bills in Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
As executive director, Kampia has been quoted in almost every major newspaper in the U.S., discussed the cannabis issue dozens of times on local and national radio, appeared on national TV more than a dozen times, and has testified before Congress
on two occasions.
did.
on the medical cannabis
case that was pending before the U.S. Supreme Court at the time. As the only witness to advocate for the removal of criminal penalties for cannabis
-using patients, Kampia was grilled mercilessly by all Republican
subcommittee members in attendance, including Chairman Mark Souder
(R-IN), who told Kampia, "You're an articulate advocate for an evil position." The hostile exchange between Kampia, Souder, and other members of Congress made national news.
Again in April 2004 Rob Kampia testified before the U.S. House subcommittee on drug policy, attacking the federal government's medical cannabis policies, as well as subcommittee Chairman Mark Souder (R-Ind.) — one of the House's most vehement opponents of medical cannabis. Kampia was the only anti-prohibitionist to testify at the hearing.
Kampia has debated the cannabis issue on national TV against then White House
Deputy Drug Czar Andrea Barthwell
, then-Congressman Bob Barr
(R-GA) (who subsequently lobbied for MPP), then DEA
Administrator Asa Hutchinson
, then California
Attorney General Dan Lungren
, and other prohibitionists.
Kampia has also discussed the cannabis issue on National Public Radio's “Justice Talking
” with Margot Adler
and—more recently in January 2006—on NPR's “All Things Considered
.”
. He was defeated by Eleanor Holmes Norton
(D-DC). He supported former Congressman Bob Barr
in the 2008 presidential election
, saying that Barr was "the only presidential candidate who is in favor of reducing the size of the federal government while also supporting civil liberties
."
Marijuana Policy Project
The Marijuana Policy Project, or MPP, is the largest organization working solely on marijuana policy reform in the United States in terms of its budget, number of members, and staff...
, the largest 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
in the U.S. that is solely dedicated to ending cannabis prohibition.
Formative years
Kampia grew up in Harleysville, PennsylvaniaHarleysville, Pennsylvania
Harleysville is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,286 at the 2010 census. It is located within Lower Salford Township...
, a small suburban town 30 miles (48.3 km) northwest of Philadelphia. Kampia was valedictorian of his 300-person graduating class at Souderton Area High School
Souderton Area High School
Souderton Area High School is a large, suburban high school located at 625 Lower Road in Souderton, Pennsylvania, United States, and serves residents in Souderton, Telford, Harleysville, and surrounding communities. It is a part of the Souderton Area School District.-Graduation rate:In 2011, the...
in 1986, served three months in prison from November 1989 to February 1990 for growing his own cannabis for personal use at Penn State University, and was elected student body president two years later at that same school. Three days after graduating with honors from Penn State in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science (a multidisciplinary honors program) and minor in English, he moved to Washington, D.C., for the purpose of ending the government’s war on marijuana users.
Marijuana Policy Project
Rob Kampia co-founded MPPMarijuana Policy Project
The Marijuana Policy Project, or MPP, is the largest organization working solely on marijuana policy reform in the United States in terms of its budget, number of members, and staff...
in 1995. MPP has a lobbying branch, an educational branch, and a political action committee, is based in Washington, D.C., with satellite offices in Arizona and Nevada. MPP employs 36 full-time staffers across these locations, as well as consultants to pass statewide ballot initiatives in Arizona and Michigan, and lobbyists to pass medical cannabis
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
bills in Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
As executive director, Kampia has been quoted in almost every major newspaper in the U.S., discussed the cannabis issue dozens of times on local and national radio, appeared on national TV more than a dozen times, and has testified before Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
on two occasions.
Sex scandal
In August 2009, seven MPP staffers quit over an alleged incident of sexual misconduct by Kampia involving a female subordinate after an office happy hour. According to former employees, department heads at the organization unanimously asked Kampia to move into a different position than executive director over the incident. Following his statement that he was "hypersexualized,", Kampia was "encouraged" by the MPP Board of Directors to take a three-month leave of absence and his return is subject to "convincing the board he has dealt with his issues." This reportedly resulted in a cancellation of the MPP's annual fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion, with MPP's acting director indicating that "the PR ramifications of holding the event right now are probably obvious" Kampia likened the incident to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, saying he could remain in charge just as Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
did.
Notable appearances
In March 2001, Kampia testified before a subcommittee of the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
on the medical cannabis
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
case that was pending before the U.S. Supreme Court at the time. As the only witness to advocate for the removal of criminal penalties for cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
-using patients, Kampia was grilled mercilessly by all Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
subcommittee members in attendance, including Chairman Mark Souder
Mark Souder
Mark Edward Souder is an American Republican politician who was a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1995 to 2010.During the 1980s and early 1990s, he worked as a congressional aide to Dan Coats and committee staff director. He was elected to his congressional seat in 1994...
(R-IN), who told Kampia, "You're an articulate advocate for an evil position." The hostile exchange between Kampia, Souder, and other members of Congress made national news.
Again in April 2004 Rob Kampia testified before the U.S. House subcommittee on drug policy, attacking the federal government's medical cannabis policies, as well as subcommittee Chairman Mark Souder (R-Ind.) — one of the House's most vehement opponents of medical cannabis. Kampia was the only anti-prohibitionist to testify at the hearing.
Kampia has debated the cannabis issue on national TV against then White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Deputy Drug Czar Andrea Barthwell
Andrea Barthwell
Andrea Grubb Barthwell, M.D., worked in the White House under President of the United States George W. Bush as Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the Office of National Drug Control Policy....
, then-Congressman Bob Barr
Bob Barr
Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. is a former federal prosecutorand a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of...
(R-GA) (who subsequently lobbied for MPP), then DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
Administrator Asa Hutchinson
Asa Hutchinson
William Asa Hutchinson is a former U.S. Attorney for the Fort Smith-based Western District of Arkansas, U.S. Congressman from the Third District of Arkansas, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the first-ever Under Secretary for Border & Transportation Security at the U.S...
, then California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Attorney General Dan Lungren
Dan Lungren
Daniel Edward "Dan" Lungren is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. The district covers most of Sacramento County and part of Solano County, as well as all of Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties...
, and other prohibitionists.
Kampia has also discussed the cannabis issue on National Public Radio's “Justice Talking
Justice Talking
Justice Talking was a weekly radio show, syndicated on National Public Radio and hosted by Margot Adler, that tackled the law and public policy. A signature element of the program was its debate segment....
” with Margot Adler
Margot Adler
Margot Adler is an author, journalist, lecturer, Wiccan priestess and radio journalist and correspondent for National Public Radio .- Early life :Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Adler grew up mostly in New York City...
and—more recently in January 2006—on NPR's “All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
.”
Electoral politics
Kampia ran for Washington D.C.'s congressional seat in 2000, as a member of the Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
. He was defeated by Eleanor Holmes Norton
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Eleanor Holmes Norton is a Delegate to Congress representing the District of Columbia. In her position she is able to serve on and vote with committees, as well as speak from the House floor...
(D-DC). He supported former Congressman Bob Barr
Bob Barr
Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. is a former federal prosecutorand a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of...
in the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, saying that Barr was "the only presidential candidate who is in favor of reducing the size of the federal government while also supporting civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
."