Editing Rob Kampia

{{Short description|American activist}}
'''Rob Kampia''' is an American activist who is the co-founder of the [[Marijuana Policy Project]] (MPP), co-founder of Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW), and founder of the Marijuana Leadership Campaign.

In 1988 Rob Kampia was arrested for growing marijuana for personal possession while attending Penn State University and served three months in prison. This experience led him to become a [[marijuana legalization]] activist. In 1993, Kampia moved to Washington D.C. to work with [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws|NORML]] (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). He then formed MPP with Chuck Thomas and Mike Kirshner "when his relationship with NORML director Richard Cowan soured."<ref>{{Cite web |date=1996-11-22 |title=Former Valedictorian Fights to Change Marijuana Laws |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/1996/11/22/former-valedictorian-fights-to-change-marijuana-laws/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=CNS Maryland |language=en-US}}</ref>

He served as MPP's executive director from 1995 until 2017, when he stepped down amid increasing public scrutiny of men accused of sexual misconduct and harassment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/did-past-harassment-allegations-finally-catch-up-to-mpps-rob-kampia|title=Did Past Harassment Allegations Finally Catch Up To MPP's Rob Kampia?|date=2017-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-13 |title=Spotlight on Sexual Misconduct Reopens Old Wound and Reveals New Insight at Marijuana Policy Project |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/20986444/spotlight-on-sexual-misconduct-reopens-old-wound-and-reveals-new-insight-at-marijuana-policy-project |access-date=2022-05-10 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113204657/https://washingtoncitypaper.com/news/article/20986444/spotlight-on-sexual-misconduct-reopens-old-wound-and-reveals-new-insight-at-marijuana-policy-project |archive-date=13 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> After resigning from MPP, in 2018, Kampia founded the Marijuana Leadership Campaign and co-founded DSW.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://decriminalizesex.work/about/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Decriminalize Sex Work |language=en-US}}</ref> Kampia continues to be a director at both organizations. Kampia "came out" as a client of sex workers to the Washington Examiner in 2019, saying "It's important, like the gay rights movement. ... If everyone knows someone who is gay, maybe being gay shouldn't be a hassle or a crime," Kampia said. "With this, anyone who has been engaged in paid sex, on the provider or the client side, should speak up and out themselves. I just outed myself to a reporter for the first time here."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2018-11-22 |title=Rob Kampia Leaves Marijuana Policy Project {{!}} U.S. Marijuana Party |url=https://usmarijuanaparty.net/2017/12/26/rob-kampia-leaves-marijuana-policy-project/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122161119/https://usmarijuanaparty.net/2017/12/26/rob-kampia-leaves-marijuana-policy-project/ |archive-date=2018-11-22 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-04 |title=Pot legalization activist turns sights on prostitution, 'comes out' as client |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/pot-legalization-activist-turns-sights-on-prostitution-comes-out-as-client |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}}</ref>

==Early years and education==
Kampia grew up in [[Harleysville, Pennsylvania]], a small suburban town {{convert|30|mi|km|sigfig=2}} northwest of [[Philadelphia]]. Kampia was valedictorian of his 300-person graduating class at [[Souderton Area High School]] in 1986,<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news
  | title = D.C. Election News and Voters Guide
  | newspaper =The Washington Post
  | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/dc/elections/dcdel/
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120204145811/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/dc/elections/dcdel/
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 2012-02-04
  | accessdate =2007-07-20
| date=2000-11-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
  | last =Burikitt
  | first =Janet
  | title =Former Valedictorian Fights to Change Marijuana Laws
  | publisher =Capital News Service
  | date =November 22, 1996
  | url =http://www.journalism.umd.edu/cns/wire/1996-editions/11-November-editions/961122-Friday/Kampia_CNS-UMCP.html
  | accessdate =2007-12-12}}</ref> served three months in prison from November 1989 to February 1990, for growing cannabis for personal use at [[Penn State University]], and was elected student body president two years later at that same school.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> Three days after graduating with honors from Penn State in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in engineering science (a multidisciplinary honors program)<ref>{{cite web
  | title =Engineering Science: The Discipline, Profession and Curriculum at Penn State
  | publisher =The Pennsylvania State University
  | year =2009
  | url =http://www.esm.psu.edu/about/whatisesci/
  | accessdate =2009-04-20}}</ref> and minor in English, he moved to Washington, D.C., for the purpose of ending the government's war on marijuana users.<ref name="project1">{{cite web|url=http://www.mpp.org/about/management.html|title=Marijuana Policy Project - We Change Laws|website=MPP|accessdate=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706000829/http://www.mpp.org/about/management.html|archive-date=6 July 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Marijuana Policy Project==
Rob Kampia co-founded [[Marijuana Policy Project|MPP]] in 1995.<ref name="project1"/> MPP has a lobbying branch, an educational branch, and a political action committee<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpp.org/about/mission-statement.html|title=Marijuana Policy Project - We Change Laws|website=MPP|accessdate=19 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608022700/http://www.mpp.org/about/mission-statement.html|archive-date=8 June 2012}}</ref> and is based in Washington, D.C. MPP employs approximately 40 staffers, as well as consultants to pass statewide ballot initiatives and lobbyists to pass legislation through state legislatures.

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 [[United States Congress|Congress]] on two occasions.<ref name="Marijuana Policy Project Management">{{cite web|url=http://www.mpp.org/about/management.html#Rob_Kampia|title=Marijuana Policy Project - We Change Laws|website=MPP|accessdate=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706000829/http://www.mpp.org/about/management.html#Rob_Kampia|archive-date=6 July 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.mpp.org/misc/why-you-should-donate-to-mpp/ |title=Why You Should Donate to MPP &#124; MPP TV |accessdate=2008-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701220918/http://tv.mpp.org/misc/why-you-should-donate-to-mpp/ |archive-date=2008-07-01 }}</ref>

===Sexual misconduct allegations (2009)===
In August 2009, seven MPP staffers quit over an alleged incident of sexual misconduct<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hightimes.com/news/bean/6133 |title=High Times > Scandal at the Marijuana Policy Project |accessdate=2010-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118123239/http://hightimes.com/news/bean/6133 |archive-date=2010-01-18 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Scandal lights up the Marijuana Policy Project|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/394932/scandal-lights-up-the-marijuana-policy-project/|first=Tara|last=Palmeri|date=15 January 2010|newspaper=Washington Examiner}}</ref> Following his statement that he was "hypersexualized,"<ref name="washingtoncitypaper.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/sexist/2010/02/10/marijuana-policy-project-cancels-playboy-mansion-fundraiser-citing-obvious-reasons/|title=Marijuana Policy Project Cancels Playboy Mansion Fundraiser, Citing Obvious Reasons|date=10 February 2010 |accessdate=19 December 2017}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/01/mpps_rob_kampia_taking_three-m.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919233718/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/01/mpps_rob_kampia_taking_three-m.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 19, 2012 | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Marijuana Policy Project's Rob Kampia takes therapy leave after sexual misconduct | accessdate=2010-05-22}}</ref> 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."<ref name="washingtoncitypaper.com"/> Kampia likened the incident to the [[Monica Lewinsky scandal]], saying he could remain in charge just as [[Bill Clinton]] did.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hightimes.com/legal/ht_admin/6322 |title=High Times > the HIGH TIMES Interview with Rob Kampia |accessdate=2010-03-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401073917/http://hightimes.com/legal/ht_admin/6322 |archive-date=2010-04-01 }}</ref>

In February 2018, "NCIA's Board of Directors voted to remove Rob Kampia in accordance with our bylaws after an ethics committee review surfaced a pattern of behavior unbecoming of a board member." Kampia labeled his ouster as a "coup" in an attempt to save face and spin some sort of public sympathy.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 2018 |title=Rob Kampia removed from National Cannabis Industry Association board |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/rob-kampia-no-longer-ncia-board-directors/ |accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref> This occurred soon after prominent NCIA board member Kayvan Khalatbari had resigned, in part, because the organization hadn't moved to reject Kampia sooner.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-01-18 |title=NCIA board member departs early, rips group's direction and handling of sexual misconduct accusations |url=https://mjbizdaily.com/ncia-board-member-exits-marijuana-organization-sounds-off-groups-direction-leadership/ |accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>

===Arizona controversy===
In March 2015, Rob Kampia threatened Gina Berman, an emergency room doctor and operator of The Giving Tree Wellness Center, a licensed medical [[marijuana dispensary]] in Phoenix.  A leaked email stated that he would spend $10,000 to pay people for 1,000 hours of time to distribute literature outside of her front door that would not portray her favorably.  This was triggered by philosophical differences regarding the 2016 legalization campaign between Kampia's organization and [[marijuana dispensary]] operators in Arizona.  Berman issued a public response stating that if Kampia pursues the threat, "it is very likely that both MPP as an organization and you as an individual will be liable for tortuously interfering with business expectancies."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/04/01/marijuana-group-executive-says-will-target-rival-group/70757272/|title=Marijuana group executive says he will target rival group|accessdate=19 December 2017}}</ref>

== Decriminalize Sex Work ==
Kampia co-founded DSW in 2018 with lawyer Melissa Broudo, social worker Crystal DeBoise, and activist and comedian Kaytlin Bailey. Initial funding was provided by Scott and Cyan Banister.  In 2019, DSW filed a ballot initiative to decriminalize prostitution in Washington D.C., but pulled the initiative after push back from local [[sex worker activists]] who objected to collaborating with DSW and Kampia. "We know that this ballot initiative can be won, but we cannot and do not want to do it when local activists are not interested in collaborating with our organization," DSW said in a statement.
In 2021, DSW supported the city initiative to remove prostitution related language from Burlington, Vermont's city charter, and funded the Ishtar Collective, a local sex worker activist organization. In New York state, DSW supported two legislative actions that were signed into law. One expands the ability of survivors of human trafficking to expunge their criminal records. The other abolished the "Walking While Trans" law. People can no longer be arrested for "loitering for the purpose of engaging in a prostitution offense," which DSW says "was used by police overwhelmingly to target trans persons of color." With support from DSW, New Hampshire and Vermont both enacted so-called "Good Samaritan" laws, which protect sex workers from arrest should they seek police protection from assault. In Rhode Island, DSW encouraged the House of Representatives to create a legislative study commission to review how laws impact sex workers.

==Notable appearances==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Today.gif|left]] -->In March 2001, Kampia testified before a subcommittee of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] 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 (drug)|cannabis]]-using patients, Kampia was questioned intensely by all [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] subcommittee members in attendance, including Chairman [[Mark Souder]] (R-IN), who told Kampia, "You're an articulate advocate for an evil position."<ref>{{cite web
  | title =Civility In Congress Update
  | url = http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/2001/2001-March/005941.html
  | accessdate =2007-09-25  }}</ref> The hostile exchange between Kampia, Souder, and other members of Congress made national news.

On April 1, 2004, as an expert witness, Kampia testified before the US House Government Reform Subcommittee on "Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources". The hearing was titled "Marijuana and Medicine: The Need for a Science Based Approach". Kampia told congress "...current federal policies are not based on science; rather, they are based on myths and lies. Worse yet, the federal government is currently blocking scientific inquiry into the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. This collusion in support of delusion is an outrage and must be stopped. State medical marijuana laws must be respected, and research into the therapeutic benefits of marijuana must be allowed to proceed expeditiously."  Kampia attacked 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpp.org/about/history.html|title=Marijuana Policy Project – We Change Laws|website=MPP|accessdate=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514071658/http://www.mpp.org/about/history.html|archive-date=14 May 2008|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=H. Rept. 107-805 - ACTIVITIES of the HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST AND SECOND SESSIONS 2001-2002 (Pursuant to House Rule XI, 1(d)) |url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/107th-congress/house-report/805/1 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2004 |title=Testimony of Mr. Rob Kampia Executive Director, Marijuana Policy Project Before the Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources |url=https://maps.org/research-archive/mmj/rk_040104.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324162413/https://maps.org/research-archive/mmj/rk_040104.pdf |archive-date=2021-03-24 |access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref>

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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mpp.org/bob-barr-joins-mpp.html|title=Marijuana Policy Project – We Change Laws|website=MPP|accessdate=19 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517155644/http://www.mpp.org/bob-barr-joins-mpp.html|archive-date=17 May 2008}}</ref>), then [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] administrator [[Asa Hutchinson]], then [[California]] Attorney General [[Dan Lungren]], and other prohibitionists.<ref name="Marijuana Policy Project Management"/>

Kampia has also discussed the cannabis issue on [[National Public Radio]]'s ''[[Justice Talking]]'' with [[Margot Adler]] and{{snd}}more recently in January 2006{{snd}}on NPR's ''[[All Things Considered]]''.

==Electoral politics==
Kampia ran for [[Washington D.C.'s congressional seat]] in 2000, as a member of the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]].  He was defeated by [[Eleanor Holmes Norton]] (D-DC).<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> He supported former Congressman [[Bob Barr]] in the [[United States Presidential election, 2008|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]]."<ref name=vote>[http://reason.com/archives/2008/10/29/whos-getting-your-vote/singlepage Who's Getting Your Vote?], ''[[Reason magazine|Reason]]''</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.mpp.org Official MPP Website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UitU_pVXPXQ Kampia's appearance on MSNBC to discuss marijuana's status as the U.S. number 1 cash crop]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtk11vXI0EQ Kampia's appearance at the Austin Freedom Fest]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r29gmpqZx0 Kampia discusses MPP for the organization's year end review]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kampia, Rob}}
[[Category:American cannabis activists]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni]]
[[Category:Washington, D.C., Libertarians]]