Chris Martin
Chris Martin discovered therapeutic benefits of cannabis before any state had passed medical marijuana laws. As a young man with a baseball scholarship and bright future in front of him, his life forever changed when he was arrested for having a single joint in his dorm room, convicted on felony marijuana possession charges and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Several decades later, Chris and his wife Andrea (Andy) became victims of the criminal justice system again when a partner in their medical marijuana edibles company was caught conducting shady business on the side without their knowledge. Despite being licensed to cultivate and sell cannabis under Arizona’s then-new medical marijuana program and his copious efforts to comply with state rules, his partner’s testimony catalyzed a “perfect storm” of events, which led to his second conviction on multiple counts of felony marijuana offenses. Due to his prior conviction, Chris received a sentenced of 130 years in a maximum security prison, but that was reduced to two years after a private investigator implicated the arresting officers in a related conspiracy. Since his release from prison, Chris and Andrea have revitalized their company, Hempful Farms & Café and added a new line of supplements for pets called Paw Buddies. As patient advocates and champions for the forgotten victims of unjust drug policy, they devote much of their time educating the public about cannabis and lobbying for change so others won’t have to endure the anguish of prosecution.