Grinspoon's Marihuana Reconsidered printed a revolutionary essay by Mr. X, a 40-something professor at a leading American university. The author articulated how green bud increases creativity, heightens sensitivity and provides insight in ways unavailable to sobriety.

 

This essay, now featured on Grinspoon's website, marijuana-uses.com, laid the foundation for the concept of cannabis as an enhancement.

 

For more than two decades, Grinspoon held Mr. X's secret. In 1999, four years after Mr. X succumbed to cancer, Grinspoon courted controversy by outing Mr. X as the brilliant professor Carl Sagan, the astronomer renowned for the book Cosmos.

 

Grinspoon and Sagan became friends after meeting at a Boston dinner party in 1967. Among two dozen Ivy Leaguers, Grinspoon, another friend, and Sagan, then a faculty adviser for Cornell’s Students for a Democratic Society, stood alone in denouncing the Vietnam War.

 

"We were these people, and they're all mostly Harvard professors defending the United States and the Vietnam War," Grinspoon says. "We were backed into this corner." Their mutual commitment to pacifism forged a bond that lasted until before Sagan's death.

 

As NORML board chairman, Grinspoon recruited Sagan's wife, Ann Druyan, to the NORML board of directors in 1994. Although they're not great friends now, Druyan acknowledges that Grinspoon "has worked long and hard to change public policy on marijuana."

 

NORML founder Keith Stroup invited Grinspoon as the keynote speaker for NORML's inaugural gathering in 1972. Called the First Annual People’s Pot Conference, Stroup herded about 50 potheads into an old church in one of Washington, D.C.’s poorest neighborhoods.

 

"They were very hip people," Grinspoon recalls. "I was still a marijuana virgin. Here I am in my suit, a Harvard professor with a tie and I'm addressing these guys and I thought to myself, 'This is ridiculous. These people know a hell of a lot more about marijuana than I do and I'm giving them a talk on marijuana.'"

 

When Grinspoon boldly predicted pot's legalization within 10 years, Stroup was so impressed he asked Grinspoon to join NORML's board of directors.

 

NORML built a credible public image and power base around Grinspoon. He was looking like a prophet for legalization until the NORML schism of 1978 stopped everything. At a NORML Christmas party, one of President Jimmy Carter's aides got high with Stroup. After Stroup outed the aide, Carter changed his legalization stance and Stroup resigned under pressure.

 

Grinspoon left the board, but his byline consistently appeared in NORML publications until he rejoined as the chairman of NORML's board of directors in 1994.

 

Then-executive director Cowan sought Grinspoon's assistance during the second great NORML schism when NORML was broke, being sued by outgoing board members and in debt to the IRS. Grinspoon immediately faced personal attacks by people who allegedly shared the goal of legal grass.

 

"It took a great deal of nerve going on board in 1994 and dealing with the irresponsible lawsuit," Cowan says.

 

NORML seemed headed for destruction. Grinspoon sought Stroup's help to lead NORML again, and Grinspoon handpicked the next crop of board members. Together, this team guided NORML to stability. Grinspoon resigned in January 2001 with NORML ready to mount an offensive.

 

"It is hard to think of NORML without thinking of Lester," Stroup says. "Was there anyone who has had a more profound effect on marijuana policy in the 30 years NORML has been around? I don't know."

 

Lester Grinspoon Revisited: Part IV