One of 10 candidates running for mayor of Los Angeles, Craig X Rubin hoped to knock off the incumbent in the Mar. 3 election. The pro-pot pastor placed seventh with 3,484 (2%) votes.

Rubin counted on support from marijuana-toking voters. "Craig is the man to lead Los Angeles," said Dennis Peron, who spirited the fight for Prop 215 in 1996. "Seniors and stoners can win this election for him and I am encouraging both to get out and vote Rubin for Mayor."

On his website, Rubin explains:

"Prior to working as a pastor I authored a hardback book, 9021GROW, about my personal experiences at UCLA founding and running a Free Speech Club, owning a hemp store on Melrose called 2000BC and working to end the Prohibition of cannabis. I know that 85% of all drug arrests are for marijuana and that marijuana is not only benign, it is benevolent. Therefore, the Drug War is a big waste of tax payer dollars that damages minority communities more than it helps them."

The candidate favors proposed legislation that would legalize marijuana in California:

"When AB 390 passes, this bill will generate billions in much-needed revenue for the state and people know that California's number one cash crop, needs to be taxed and regulated."

Rubin adds:

"Many people don't know marijuana makes gasoline without going to war in the Middle East, paper without cutting down trees, clothing without polluting the ground water and without destroying the topsoil."

And further:

"For the medical marijuana clubs, the mayor (Antonio Villaraigosa) has not once stood up for the medical marijuana industry. This could help our economy and provide thousands of jobs to California. It could bring revenue to the city."

Just in case you think Rubin's a one-issue one-issue candidate, he notes:

"In terms of jobs, we need desalination plants. We need to work with start-up companies. We need jobs for people without college degrees and to keep a middle class in Los Angeles.... We need clean air, clean water and a stable food supply."

Rubin currently ministers at The Family Church in Pasadena. He appeared in two episodes of Weeds in 2005 and 2006 as a medi-pot shop owner, and founded Temple 420 in Los Angeles in 2006, but police shut it down and arrested him for possessing marijuana. That case is still pending.


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