Known for more for apples than ganja, the town of Sebastopol in California's Sonoma County elected an openly pro-marijuana mayor on Dec. 3. Robert Jacob owns two Peace in Medicine dispensaries in the county (Sebastopol and Santa Rosa).
"By addressing social problems such as homelessness, HIV/AIDS and access to medical cannabis we can shape a better world for ourselves," Jacob said in a press release. However, his "2014 Goals and Priorities" fails to mention marijuana.
Jacob, who at 36 was already Vice Mayor, replaces Michael Kyes (the City Council determines who's mayor) for the next two years. Jacobs wrote Sebastopol's medical marijuana ordinance, which has been replicated in San Jose, Sacramento and Stockton.
Sebastopol (population: 7,379) is 50 miles north of San Francisco on Rt. 116 via Highway 101. Sebastopol and Santa Rosa are 10 minutes apart. Jerry Garcia used to live in Sebastopol.
"I'm not personally aware of anyone who first made their living in marijuana medical and then were elected to office," observes Oakland attorney and NORML Board member Bill Panzer about Jacob.
