Steven Wynn " Steve " Kubby ( born December 28 , 1946 ) is a Libertarian Party activist who played a key role in the drafting and passage of California Proposition 215 . The proposition was a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana which was approved by voters in 1996 . Kubby himself is well-known as a cancer patient who relies on medical cannabis . He has authored two books on drug policy reform : '' The Politics of Consciousness '' , and '' Why Marijuana Should Be Legal '' . He was the Libertarian Party of California candidate for Governor of California in 1998 receiving 0.9 % of the vote . In 2008 , he declared his candidacy for the Libertarian Party 's 2008 presidential nomination and received significant support for the nomination , but was eliminated after the second ballot . Although various media reports have described him as a " felon " and " fugitive " , Kubby 's legal status was resolved on July 3 , 2008 , when California Superior Court Judge , David Nelson , dismissed all charges against Kubby , clearing his name and record of any criminal activity
2008 presidential nomination
2008 Libertarian National Convention
Steve Kubby