Up in Smoke: Medical Marijuana Crusader Paul Stanford Arrested for Tax Fraud

Paul Stanford was pushing two initiatives to legalize recreational marijuana
By JAMES PITKIN

Longtime Portland marijuana activist Paul Stanford has been arrested for tax fraud, according to a news release from the Oregon Department of Justice.

Stanford, who heads a nationwide chain of medical-marijuana clinics, has a reputation as a controversial figure in pot activist circles, and his financial woes were first detailed in a 2007 profile of Stanford we titled "King Bong." The IRS last year revoked the tax-exempt status of Stanford's Portland-based clinic, The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation.

Most recently, Stanford wrote a ballot measure that would have taxed and regulated commercial marijuana sales in Oregon. It failed to gain enough signatures for the 2010 ballot. Stanford, who did not immediately return a phone message today seeking comment, recently filed to put a similar measure on the 2012 ballot.

From today's news release from the Department of Justice:

(Photo credit: Leah Nash)
 

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.