His Mission

One did not necessarily agree with everything that Ken Gorman did, but one thing for certain you had to respect him because you knew from the intensity of his character that he was a man on a mission. One could say that he was way ahead of his time in dedicating his entire life - 24 hrs a day in attempting to achieve his his goal that marijuana must be ultimately be legalized especially for medical marijuana patients that needed quality medicine. It was those patients that Ken Gorman fought for so that they could enjoy the quality of life that they deserved.

Gorman’s calling of activism came in 1981 when he was employee in Hawaii as a air traffic controller. Ronald Reagan became president and Ken Gorman elected to go on strike August 3, 1981 nearly 13,000 of the 17,500 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) walked off the job, hoping to disrupt the nation’s transportation system to the extent that the federal government would accede to its demands for higher wages, a shorter work week, and better retirement benefits. Ronald Reagan in turn fired all those that did not report back to work including Ken Gorman.

After being fired Ken decided to be adventurous and traveled to Papua New Guinea where he worked as a educational recruiter to bring students to be indoctrinated in Western Style schooling. Gorman became something of a local media celebrity in New Guinea. He wrote newspaper articles and voiced his pro-native opinions via radio, attacking exploitative missionaries, church and corporate land grabs, and the island’s heavy-handed local government. He made comparisons to the history of Hawaii, a history of church and corporate exploitation of friendly natives.

It was in Papua New Guniea that Mr. Gorman met a man who would eventually have have a great impact on his life and activism. Paias Wingti, who ultimately served prime minister of Papua New Guinea between 1985 and 1988, and again from 1992 to 1994 .Wingti, a member of the Jika Tribe, took notice of Mr. Gorman’s interest of making the public aware of that current administration’s injustice towards the aboriginal people of Papua New Guniea. Paias Wingti and Ken Gorman had many conversations about government injustices throughout history. The current administration was so terrified of Mr. Gorman’s grassroots activism that they conjured criminal charges against him and he was eventually deported to the Philippines. Ken Gorman’s friendship with Paias Wingti bonded to such a degree that when Paias Wingti became Prime Minister, by running on a platform promoting tribal rights, he called Ken Gorman and asked him to come back him with help him with governmental negotiations.

In was in 1992 when Gorman’s calling became more clearer. He had returned to Denver to do business-to-business sales for Video Professor. He read the painstakingly detailed history of the war against marijuana titled The Emperor Wears No Clothes, by Jack Herer (who offers a reward to anyone who can disprove his research). For those that knew him he frequently quoted Herer book’s, detailing how the petrochemical industries supported the banning of hemp and how racist propaganda was used by publisher William Randolph Hearst and the original drug czar, Harry Anslinger, to sell marijuana prohibition to the public and to Congress. But more of all Mr Gorman wanted the truth to be know. There was no way to make him stop saying what he knew to be the truth - that marijuana is the most dangerous plant to those industries, And that petroleum and pharmaceutical companies would have to compete with legalized hemp and medical marijuana.

It was the facts published in that book that would have a such profound effect on his life that from 1992 to his death in 2007 Mr. Gorman would dedicate his resources in making the public aware of such coverups and injustices. In 1993, he began his series of smoke-ins on the capitol steps. “These were smoke-ins with emphasis on the smoking of joints in front of politicians’ faces, not hemp rallies,” In 1993 rally featured Jack Herer himself, the most respected man in the legalization movement, and attracted 500 to 1,000 protesters. It was at this rally that Mr. Gorman would declare himself as an activist for truth and that the public will know the truth about marijuana.

On 02-10-2007, 09:10 PM Ken Gorman was a moderator on YaHooka where he would write:

A few weeks ago, Channel 4 CBS, tried to set up a sting on yours truley. They had a hidden camera on me while I explained to a guy that “just wanted to get high” that I could help him to become a caregiver for medical marijuana. I told him that he couldn’t get pot from me unless he was a caregiver for another patient.

I left the resturant with no transaction but as soon as I went thru the door there was a reporter and cameraman and I was being accused of trying to take advantage of the law. I agreed totally and asked what the problem was. He seemed to think there was something wrong with what I do. I invited him to my garden to film and to talk to some of my patients.

The story on the news gave a shot of YaHooka and the fact I’m called “Governor”. They even went to a thread about a duscussion about getting a street hookup where I made the comment, “Why don’t you get legal and get it from me?”.

They didn’t really have a story but they tried to make my actions look suspect. They failed.

On Feb 15th, 2007 CBS 4 News in Denver showed the purported sting. Afterward Ken Gorman would post this message, which would be his last message on YaHooka

My name is Ken Gorman. And you? Let’s see some balls.

You forget; the sting was to get some pot illegally from me. Didn’t happen.

The filming and questions lasted for over an hour. They had plenty of story that would have pointed out the lack of medicine and growers. They could have focused on the history of pot I made them listen to. They could have reported on the devastating prescribed medications my patients have to turn to when they don’t have pot.

They didn’t have a story but tried to put the worst possible light on me. That was a consious choice on their part and had they interviewed you they could make you look as bad as you think it did me.

The only thing I misspoke about was the holes. Our law is actually rock solid and a part of our constitution. The caregiver status is fuzzy but totally usable in court, especially in Denver but we’ve won all over the state (are you going to court with patients?). Our “Affirmative defense” to grow as much as the patient needs is great and determined by the patient and caregiver only! If you’re not trying to get caregivers for the best possible medicine, you’re not doing your job.

This law allows every pot smoker in the state to become legal; I use science for my justification. Marijuana (THC) is good for you at any age as reported by CNN’s report on Alzhiemers. The study proved the extraordinary connection to fat cells that contained endocannaboids surrounding new cellular growth for protection. Marijuana cures cancers and so much more. There are plenty of caregiver jobs available and you don’t have to go thru me. Get someone that needs help and grow some fuckin’ pot. Your patient can have 5 or more caregivers so definately go co-op. I’ll give you all the info you need (PM).

My enthusiasm for this miracle plant extends very much to recreational use. People are doing something good for themselves without knowing it and the kids that came to my rallies in the 90’s voted themselves in a very fine law. We have the #’s to control the state as proved by our vote to legalize so some idiot reporter with a hard on against pot isn’t going to deter me from continuing trying to protect those that need protection.

Two days after the CBS 4 News in Denver report aired. He would be murdered in cold blood in his own house. Nothing was stolen. Not one of his plants, but someone who saw that report wanted Ken Gorman’s mission to be halted.