Letter: Time to leave South Lake Tahoe
To the community,
Cannabis is legal in two states. The seeds of legalization, planted and cultivated all these years has finally born fruit. My work is done. Effective immediately I am retiring from marijuana politics, heading for Whistler Blackcomb and taking over as CEO of a publicly traded company.
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve the medical marijuana community over the past two decades. During that time, I have been profoundly moved by the courage, intelligence and integrity shown by my fellow cannabis warriors. Together we have made history, saved lives and established new civil rights for sick, disabled and dying patients.
Steve Kubby
Looking back on all those years, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for everything that cannabis activists have done for me and for our cause. When I was fighting for my life in the Placer County jail, pissing blood, puking my brains out and shivering violently from solitary confinement in a freezing cold cell, they saved my bacon. Sick and disabled patients joined dedicated activists who showed up at my trials, held vigils while I was being tortured by my captors, gave me money and protected me in so many ways. Ultimately, I was cleared of any wrongdoing and my record expunged. Together we defeated these public serpents and their evil plan to felonize, discredit and destroy me and the medical marijuana movement.
Like so many other cannabis activists, I’ve paid some very painful dues in this brutal drug war. For me, the absolute most painful punishment was the loss of my courageous and inspiring wife, Michele. We lived together in loving bliss for ten years without a single argument, disagreement or even a hard word between us. Michele was everything to me. I loved her with all my heart and soul.
All that changed when I was arrested and Michele was threatened by Child Protective Services with the removal of our two young daughters. It was then that the one and only true love of my life was forced to choose between me and our precious children. Michele did what any good mom would do under such terrifying circumstances and acted to protect our kids from being abducted by CPS — she filed for a divorce. Heartbroken, I had no choice but to accept her decision. Despite the divorce, we’ve remained good friends. We’ve accepted what has happened and she has her own life now. Best of all, my kids and I have remained close, sharing many wonderful adventures on the slopes of Heavenly, Squaw and the ‘Wood.
Thus far, I’ve kept my personal feelings hidden, but now that I am preparing to leave the United States, I believe it is appropriate for me to finally disclose publicly what was done to our family by those who used CPS to punish me for my role in the legalization of medical marijuana. Even now, six years after our split, not a day goes by that I don’t think about Michele or how much I still love and miss her.
The last time I held Michele in my arms was when I departed from Vancouver and flew to SFO in January 2006. After the plane landed, it inexplicably stopped in the middle of the runway and we were suddenly surrounded by cop cars with flashing lights. Next came the announcement, “Passenger Steve Kubby please come forward.” My attorney, Bill McPike was with me and went up to the front to explain that he had arranged for me to turn myself in at Placer County and this was only an alleged violation of probation. McPike was ordered by an air marshal to shut up and return to his seat. I was ordered to come forward immediately.
Once outside the aircraft, I was forcibly slammed against the fuselage and handcuffed. I struggled desperately to catch my breath, while I was frogmarched down the stairs and past an army of heavily armed soldiers from the DEA, ICE, FBI, U.S. Customs, Homeland Security and several other agencies. As I was paraded like a trophy past a formidable army of hostile law enforcement, I tried to understand how I had become such a dangerous international criminal. I’ve never harmed anyone, there were never any victims and my only accusers were all government agents. Incredibly, my medicinal use and cultivation of a natural healing herb had become so dangerous and so threatening that all these tentacles of the federal government were now on full alert, determined to destroy me and everything I represented.
We arrived at a waiting cop car and I complained that the cuffs were too tight and my wrists were bleeding. I was told to “shut the f— up and get in the f—ing car.” Without any warning, a big man inside the cop car ordered the officer to remove the cuffs and re-cuff my hands in front of me and make sure I was comfortable.
“You’re famous!” exclaimed the burly sheriff’s deputy as we pulled away in his cruiser. We made eye contact in his rearview mirror. I held up my bleeding wrists next to my eyes, so he could see them and replied, “lucky me.”
“No, you don’t understand,” he pleaded, “All the media and a big crowd of people were there at the airport waiting to greet you. That’s why they arrested you, before you could get in front of Fox and CNN.”
About this time, to my utter astonishment, the officer became very emotional and actually got teary eyed. Then he told me the rest of the story.
“All of us thought this medical marijuana thing was a fraud. A total scam. Then my dad got cancer and we went out and got the marijuana for him. He got better and lived for another two years. We got to spend time together, fishing and talking about all the stuff we’ve shared. We had time to say goodbye and it made all the difference in the world. If it were up to me, I’d take you home right now as a hero to my entire family, but I have to take you in instead.”
Then it hit me, like an angry tidal wave, that we are all suffering from this insane drug war, even the police.
Looking forward, I am embarking upon an extraordinary new opportunity in Whistler Blackcomb, doing something I’ve been dreaming about for years. I can’t tell you what I am up to just yet, but it is what I came here to do and I am thrilled to finally be working with elected officials in BC, on a project that is truly breathtaking in scope and impact. A public announcement about this new project will be forthcoming.
Steve Kubby, South Lake Tahoe
Wow, I am not sure if this was a script for a movie or a huge ego trip of a letter. There may be room for your inflated opinion of yourself in Canada. It reads lime you were taki g a bunch of your own medical marijuana and wrote this self inflating letter back to yourself. All for the cause but didn’t know this guy was ego monger. Maybe he could give Gino a tip or two on how to get through his pot troubles. Don’t let the door hit you on your oversized head on your way out to Canada.
I wish you the best in your new adventure and endeavor in Canada. I am truely sorry for your messed up family situation but glad it worked out for you and your kids. I don’t necessarily agree with your stand on marijuana but admire you for standing up for your belief and cause
Good Luck
I would have thought quitting marijuana, even if I had to do legal RX medication, but allowing me to keep my family together would have been a better choice, but that’s my opinion.
I think this letter will be well received by those who actually give a rat’s a…..
I find this letter to the SLT community somewhat odd. The degree of hubris is mindboggling and rather distasteful, however I do wish Mr. Kubby great success in his future endeavors. I would suggest that a modicum of humility would be an equally worthwhile endeavor with a likely outcome of alienating fewer people.
I don’t see either hubris or ego in Mr. Kubby’s story. He was providing a service to his local community – a service that is legal in the state of California. How much did it cost to stop a plane on the runway, surround it, and remove him? Simply astonishing. It sounds as if by the time CPS was involved, he wasn’t given a choice. This story is tragic in so many ways. There are bigger issues for the police to deal with. And part of this man’s life was stolen from him, and his family was split for such a wrong reason.
I feel more sorry for Canada than your ego
How many of you people who talk shots at Steve have actually met him?
If you are too ignorant to not acknowledge marijuana as medicine, or support the drug war, that is your problem.
‘I would have thought quitting marijuana, even if I had to do legal RX medication, but allowing me to keep my family together would have been a better choice, but that’s my opinion.’
How do you not see that the problem in this case was not Steve, or marijuana? Do you know anything about this situation? The problems here were a flawed legal system, over zealous police, and ignorant marijuana policy. They went after Steve because he was outspoken and actually making a difference, and making them look like the idiots that they are.
Was CPS really necessary? I think it was the only way they could get to Steve and stick it to him. They couldn’t throw him in jail long enough to shut him up, he was already abused in jail and it didn’t work. So like cowards they go after his family. The fictional character Tony Montana showed better judgement and respect than the police, ‘no women, no kids’.
The cops involved in these incidents should be fired. In general it should be easier to fire cops.
You have to have a big ego to stand up to a very powerful and corrupt power structure. He used his ego for good. I am not convinced there even is an ego problem here. More people need to hear his story.
exactly
A true martyr doesn’t point out that he’s a martyr.
how do my comments get moderated and trash like this goes right through:
‘I feel more sorry for Canada than your ego’
my ‘exactly’ was meant to follow cheryl’s comment. i do not agree with farkworth.
This guy is an American hero.
Soooo, Mr.Middlebrook…Do you think you would give a rats a….
if you or someone you loved were diagnosed with cancer, glaucoma or any of the other serious ailments cannabis has been effective in treating? If so, you might have a more enlightened opinion of someone who has fought and suffered for your right to use a non-toxic medicine from natures pharmacopeia.
Hero?
Scoundrel?
Or just a person living their own life AND taking responsibility for that life?
Any way you cut it, I DO admire that he probably doesn’t give a rat’s a…. about what WE think of him!
Good luck Mr. Kubby.
If I were planning to move I would not even think to write a letter to a news entity. Who does that? Neither would I brag in my letter that I chose weed over my wife and little children. I’m with Paul. This man isn’t an advocate for the sick and dying…he is an advocate for social smoking anywhere and anyplace. Including in the presence of children. Clearly by the comments he didn’t have too many in our community snowed.
Lisa,
Are you aware that Mr. Kubby has been living for years with a diagnosis of a rare form of adrenal cancer? At his trial, his UCLA oncologist testified that he was somewhat mystified that Mr. Kubby survives this particularly deadly form of cancer and can only attribute his survival to the use of cannabis. In a Jan 2006 article in the Auburn Joiurnal his wife is quoted as saying:
“”I must confess that I really fear for my husband’s life,” Michelle Kubby said. “He must have cannabis constantly to survive the deadly threat posed by his adrenaline-secreting tumors.”
So maybe you (and Paul) need to check your compassion compass before accusing him of “choosing weed over wife” when he was actually choosing life over death. Sounds to me like YOU’RE the one who’s been snowed.
Any doctor who would suggest, from ONE annecdotal instance, that marijuana use is the thing that is keeping adrenal cancer from killing someone, is a quack. Or being misquoted. Either way, I had cancer, and did not use marijuana and survived. It’s a miracle!
Dogula….you can change your fake name but you can’t hide that ole’ Dog Woman propensity for constantly putting your paw in your mouth can you?. I am seriously concerned with the ever declining level of reading comprehension in this country and particularly on this site.
Quacks you say? A quick Google search yielded the following:
In 1968, at the age of 23, he began experiencing symptoms of hypertension and palpitations. He was diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma, a rare, fatal form of adrenal cancer. Kubby underwent surgery to remove a tumor in 1968, 1975 and 1976. This last time, his medical records show that the cancer had metastasised to his liver and beyond. All other patients with this diagnosis have had a 100% mortality rate within five years. His physician, Dr. Vincent DeQuattro, a specialist from theUSC School of Medicine, monitored his condition and treated him with conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, until referring him to the Mayo Clinic in 1981 for yet another surgery and radiation. For the next 25 years, Kubby claimed to control the symptoms of his disease solely by smoking medical marijuana and by maintaining a healthy diet. His original doctor, an expert on this condition shocked to learn he was still alive, said, “In some amazing fashion, this medication has not only controlled the symptoms of the pheochromocytoma, but in my view, has arrested its growth.” Kubby’s oncologist in Canada expressed worries Friday that his rare form of cancer, pheochromocytoma, could threaten his life if he isn’t allowed to continue using cannabis. Since the cancer was diagnosed a quarter century ago, Kubby, 59, has smoked up to a dozen marijuana cigarettes a day. “The possibilities of what might happen are of a wide range, either from nothing much at all to that he might become sick and die,” said Dr. Joseph Connors, an oncologist and University of British Columbia clinical professor. Connors said there was no reason to subject Kubby to that risk. The cancer specialist has examined Kubby extensively and said he believed marijuana has kept the worst symptoms of his cancer in check. “There’s no other reasonable explanation for how he’s done so well for so many years,” Connors said.
Soooo, Dog, what have you got to say now? A specialist from the USC school of Medicine, an oncologist and U of B C clinical professor, and another unnamed oncologist are ALL quacks?
Once again, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
So, you corrected yourself. It wasn’t just one doctor, it wasn’t just smoking marijuana either. Your second post mentions healthy lifestyle as well.
And just fyi, it still doesn’t qualify as a proper blind study.
I believe marijuana should be legal for any adult who wants to indulge in a responsible manner. I believe it has some medical benefits.
Can it cure cancer? Questionable.
Well it’s about time. Let’s see, since your lies, distortions and scare tactics failed and you were unable to brain wash this community into buying your bogus argument for cannabis, you are no longer relevant here. You and the collective owners who have chosen to lie and play by a different set of rules are the ones who have truly harmed the legit medical marijuana patients, not me or the City or the government. Your imagination and enormous ego never ceases to amaze me. Marijuana may be legal in two states, but not this state and I’m fairly confident in saying you had nothing to do with those states.
Steve you are a legend, a legend in your own mind…. I find it ridiculous you write a letter such as this explaining your life and why you must leave Lake Tahoe, as few people actually care. What bothers us is you move into our community in an attempt to carpet bag an election only to push your agenda, you could care less about this community or its citizens. Some have commented as to why I am so angry or hateful. Caring about this community and having watched you tactics and antics these past two years has made me very angry. Happy trials!!!
Mr. Davis, I’m glad that you feel strongly about OUR community, and that you have a forum to speak out openly about your feelings of OUR community.
I’m also quite relieved that you do not speak FOR our community!
lol @ kenny
Bigger picture,
You are correct I am not the community spokesperson, but judging by the other posts and the majority of people in this community that agree with me, I can say with confidence my statements and views are not to far off. Steve’s grand attempt to get a local initative on the ballot to regulate marijuana like wine, or something to that effect failed miserably. He was unable to secure enough votes to validate the measure for the ballot, humm would you say that maybe the majority of this community doesn’t want that garbage here?? We are also down to 1 collective because the owners/ operators were either arrested or engaged in less than ethical behavior thus harming the legit users of medical marijuana.
Dougla and all other “Do gooders ” why do you care so much and why do you find the need to put down what anyone chooses to do for their health if it’s helping them and not hurting you? I agree with what Tom W. said, how would you feel if someone you loved was diagnosed with Cancer, wouldn’t you want whatever it took to make them better aviliable to them? Smile, count your blessings and review your gratitude list. I say this in the nicest way I can, mind your own business and even though it’s so very hard for all of us, don’t judge others so harshly.