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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPaul Stanford \u2013 Cannabis Industry Pioneer, Activist, and Educator<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Paul Stanford is an internationally recognized entrepreneur, political activist, and pioneer in the medical cannabis industry. With a career spanning over four decades, he has played a pivotal role in advancing cannabis legalization, education, and patient access both in the United States and globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical Cannabis Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stanford is best known for founding THCF Medical Clinics<\/strong>, the largest network of its kind, which since 1999 has helped over 270,000 Americans<\/strong> become legal medical marijuana patients. Operating across eight U.S. states<\/strong>\u2014including Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Arizona, and Michigan\u2014his clinics were often the first cannabis businesses<\/strong> to operate in those regions. At its peak, THCF worked with over 50 doctors in 60 cities<\/strong>, and employed up to 100 staff<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A long-time organic cannabis cultivator<\/strong>, Stanford has won numerous awards for the quality of his medical marijuana. In 2008, he received national recognition after sweeping all categories at the Oregon Medical Marijuana Awards<\/strong>. He has donated over 7,000 pounds<\/strong> of free medical cannabis to terminally ill patients and is also recognized for producing Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO)<\/strong> for cancer and other illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Education & Media Influence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 1996, Stanford has produced and hosted Cannabis Common Sense<\/strong>, a weekly cable and web TV program based in Portland, Oregon. With over 1,200 episodes<\/strong>, it remains one of the longest-running cannabis-focused media productions in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He is also the founder of Hemp News<\/strong>, one of the earliest electronic publications covering cannabis policy and industry news, first launched online in 1991<\/strong> and periodically printed in traditional newsprint. His website, www.crrh.org<\/strong><\/a>, received multiple awards throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including recognition from Netscape’s What’s Cool<\/strong>, DevX\u2019s Project Cool<\/strong>, and the British Medical Journal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stanford has contributed to High Times magazine<\/strong>, Hemp Today<\/strong> (edited by Ed Rosenthal), and is listed in Jorge Cervantes’ Cannabis Encyclopedia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International Speaker & Legal Advocate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As an international speaker, Stanford has presented at major cannabis conferences such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Domestically, he has been a featured speaker at Seattle Hempfest<\/strong>, the Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Fest<\/strong>, the NYC Cannabis Parade<\/strong>, the NoCo Hemp Expo<\/strong>, the Texas Hemp Convention<\/strong>, the Boston Freedom Rally<\/strong> and more. In 2022, Stanford testified before Mexico’s national legislature<\/strong> and has lectured at academic institutions including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n He has also presented Continuing Legal Education (CLE)<\/strong> sessions for the American Bar Association<\/strong>, focusing on international cannabis treaties and legalization strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stanford has served as a cannabis judge at numerous competitions, including the High Times Cannabis Cup<\/strong> and the Oregon Growers Cup<\/strong> in the United States, as well as various events in Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Political Activism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stanford\u2019s activism began in 1978<\/strong>, when he attended his first cannabis policy event in Washington, D.C., as a teenager. He played a central role in the 1986 Oregon marijuana initiative<\/strong>\u2014only the second statewide vote on marijuana legalization in U.S. history. In 2012, he served as director and spokesperson<\/strong> for Oregon\u2019s Ballot Measure 80<\/strong>, a statewide campaign to legalize marijuana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1988<\/strong>, Stanford founded Tree Free EcoPaper<\/strong>, importing and distributing hemp paper and textiles from China across North America and Europe. The company received international acclaim and collaborated with environmental groups including Greenpeace<\/strong>, the Sierra Club<\/strong>, and the Rainforest Action Network<\/strong>. In March 2025, Stanford was honored with the Legacy Award<\/strong> at the NoCo Hemp Expo<\/strong> in Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media Coverage & Recognition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stanford has been widely featured in the media since the 1980s, with appearances on CNN<\/strong>, CNBC<\/strong>, and in hundreds of print and online publications. Most recently, he was profiled in the April 20, 2023<\/strong> edition of the Washington Post<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ongoing Work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, Paul Stanford continues to operate medical cannabis clinics, grow award-winning organic cannabis in Oregon, and speak at conferences and universities worldwide. His lifelong commitment to cannabis access, education, and legalization has made him one of the most respected and enduring figures in the global cannabis movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact Paul at: dpaulstanford@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or at his website: THC-Foundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n
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