April 2, 2012, the federal raid on Oaksterdam changed my life forever. It was both the worst and ultimately, the best day of my life as I took responsibility for the school, the museum, the gift...
Chancellor’s Chat
Chancellor’s Chat April 2017
Alumni, family and friends, Oaksterdam University is celebrating ten years in 2017! With the fifth anniversary of the federal raid on Oaksterdam over this past weekend, we encourage you to take a...
Chancellor’s Chat March 2017
I am a “bad news first” type, good news after, so here we go... Attorney General Jeff Sessions has now mentioned cannabis twice in the past week, most recently speaking at the National Association...
Chancellor’s Chat: February 2017
The next couple of years will be crucial for the future of legal cannabis businesses, here in California and across the country. Policy wins in 2016 for 8 out of 9 cannabis reform initiatives,...
Chancellor’s Chat: January 2017
Forget all the unpleasant experiences of the previous year and look forward to the happy things in store for you. The New Year is the perfect time to unfold new horizons. Rediscover the strength...
Chancellor’s Chat: December 2016
With Gun-Giving So Popular This Time of Year…Know There is a ‘Cannabis Exception’ to the U.S. Constitution “Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless...
Chancellor’s Chat: November 2016
Why your vote for cannabis is so important this year – a wounded veteran’s perspective 2016 can be the year the tide is turned in the United States against the irrational, wasteful, and frankly...
Chancellor’s Chat: August 2016
To Ask Permission or Beg Forgiveness? Ouch. It looks like Nevada’s medical cannabis reciprocity law could shut out most California medical cannabis patients—that is, if the recommendations from the...
Chancellor’s Chat: July 2016
Oaksterdam is 20 years old this month! Have you been to Oakland recently? Our fair city is thriving and becoming more beautiful each year. The renovated Fox Theater opened in 2009 with OU’s support...
Chancellor’s Chat: June 2016
I recently had the privilege of participating in a debate at the Spring 2016 Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida. My worthy opponent Wanda James, the CEO of Simply Pure...
Chancellor’s Chat: May 2016
Chancellor’s Chat May 2016 As I write this, I can’t help but feel more admiration for the City of Oakland, the home of Oaksterdam University. It was the first city in the country to permit and...
Chancellor’s Chat: April 2016
Oh boy, have the presidential politics been a hot topic in the Jones’ household! Our two-year-old is already babbling on about “Feel the Bern!,” and Cruz, and Trump as well as “oh sh*t” (mommy is...
Chancellor’s Chat: January 2016
Happy New Year! Let’s hit the ground running... This coming year holds much promise for the cannabis industry. Many events happened in 2015 to move the cannabis reform needle in California, and...
Chancellor’s Chat: November 2015
On Tuesday, Ohio’s legalization initiative went down in flames. Despite collecting over 320,000 signatures and spending $25 million, more than 65 percent voted “NO”. The reason? The Ohio...
Chancellor’s Chat: October 2015
Hey California! We've filed your initiative, and I am counting on all of our OU Alumni to help make it happen!!! We engaged in extensive discussions with thousands of stakeholders across California...
Chancellor’s Chat: August 2015
California is the 8th largest economy in the world. It’s also where Oaksterdam was founded, and continues to call home. While Alaska, Colorado, D.C., Oregon and Washington have the led the way,...