Reporter’s Career Goes Up In Smoke For Supporting Marijuana Legalization
KTVA reporter Charlo Greene faces serious criminal charges after publicly admitting she was the owner of a cannabis club in Alaska on live television by declaring “Fuck it!”
During her stint with KTVA, an Alaskan television station, Greene came out of the green closet and revealed that she was indeed the owner of the club which was a topic she was reporting on her news segment. She also admitted she was supporting marijuana legalization in Alaska, a move that had steep consequences for her career – and her life.
On air, Greene’s said, ““Now everything you heard is why I, the actual owner of the Alaska Cannabis Club, will be dedicating all of my energy toward fighting for freedom and fairness which begins with legalizing marijuana here in Alaska.”
Her famous last words were, ““And as for this job, well, not that I have a choice but, f**k it, I quit.” She then walked off-air abruptly last September 22, 2014. The 26-year old reporter’s stunt made her an internet sensation overnight with her clip garnering millions . Greene then dedicated herself to promoting access to legal marijuana in Alaska full-time, after the state became the country’s third to legalize recreational cannabis in 2014.
Before she became an activist for legalization, Greene was inspired to establish the Alaska Cannabis Club after taking trips to Washington and Colorado as part of her job to report on the marijuana industry. Her investigation enabled her to have a deeper understanding of cannabis culture in both states, hoping that it would give her an insight on how legalization would impact Alaska where it was only being considered at the time. The Anchorage native says that her investigation showed first-hand the true benefits of cannabis for people suffering from chronic illnesses.
Even though voters supported the initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Alaska, the state hasn’t given Greene the same support for her to start a legal cannabusiness. Instead, they fought back. Since her episode, Alaska arranged for 6 buy busts as well as 2 raids at the cannabis club owned by Greene. The state is charging her with 8 counts of “misconduct involving a controlled substance.” According to Greene, the Alaska Police Department didn’t subscribe to the warrant’s requirements as they engaged in unlawful body searchers of cannabis patients and even threatened club volunteers as well as patients with the possibility of facing arrest if they did not agree to taking mugshot photographs on the scene. The APD also ruined cameras and seized vehicles, all of which were not included in the warrant. They didn’t even leave a notice behind, which is required by law.
Greene made the news again two years after her legendary resignation on air.
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, she speaks up about her upcoming trial and says ““It’s almost dizzying when you try to make sense of it.” The former reporter’s original indictment was 24 years behind bars if found guilty, although today it has been reported that 8 more offenses have been added, so now Greene faces a total of 54 years in jail - a truly unfortunate outcome for such a young woman who only wanted to provide Alaskans with access to legal bud. Even though Greene wasn’t involved in any of the buy busts, she has to face the charges as the owner of the Alaska Cannabis Club. She adds, ““It could literally cost me the rest of my adult life.”
Greene refers to her case as “modern-day lynching”, and recently expressed her concerns in a blog entry, “More than 100 million people around the world watched me quit.” She also adds, “And of the now 4,000 members of the Alaska Cannabis Club we’ve served to date, there was literally only one person [at the first court date] to support me.”
Greene pleaded not guilty, although her trial is expected to continue in the upcoming months. Greene’s situation is a painful reminder of the consequences advocates face for supporting legalization, yet it is a battle that we must continue to fight day after day.
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