Yes, Karen, I am sure that therapy was quite effective, especially since 1-2 months into it he was contacting an ex-staffer for a booty call.

I can't believe the puritannical hysteria in this movement. I support Rob. Sounds like a private matter, and probably something to do with morning after regrets, and you all are throwing stones but we've all been there.

Focus, people.

If you are just looking for and excuse to bash MPP, this is a good place to start. If you actually want to make a difference, you might notice that MPP is the most effective advocacy group that this cause has ever had. Rob is not MPP, he is just a guy who will probably never live this down and probably deserves a lot more scrutiny, but the organization is vital for the success of the legalization movement.

Sounds like the whole ethics at MPP have run amok. There needs to be a whole house cleaning. The Executive Director is in charge of creating the climate at a workplace. This ED created a climate of immaturity, illegality and immorality. That is just the truth of the situation.

It's unfortunate that this organization, and their leading donor Peter Lewis, Chairman and CEO of Progressive Insurance has chosen money and greed over standing a firm line for the movement. I get it in one sense. I live and work here in DC. I understand the temptations that this climate offers that are unlike any place else. This is a city all about power. The irony is that true power is not developed by oppression whether to subordinates or citizens (this is merely a facade, oppression is ALWAYS overthrown eventually). Rather, TRUE POWER is built from Respect and Honesty. But the MPP organization as a whole had a chance to separate itself and serve as an example of how to run a nationally based legalization-movement organization. However, they have consciously chosen to instead cater to the easy and immoral way out.

This movement is larger than one organization or one cause. This movement will change the face of the world as we know it. For the better or for the worse. If the movement is lost at this time, there's no coming back. Not ever. If those who want to destroy this movement are given the power, they are never going to rescind it. It's just the reality of the situation.

You're either on the side of those who are fighting for truth, freedom, justice and equality or you are on the side of those looking only to fill their greedy pockets and f*ck their interns. Looks like we know where the MPP stands. So unfortunate...

the last 3 positions on that list aren't even right.

The statement from the department heads should have said "a new grievance policy." MPP did have a grievance policy in place long before August 2009.

-Karen O'Keefe
Director of State Policies
Marijuana Policy Project

I believe Rob's return to MPP is good news for the 800,000+ people who are arrested each year for marijuana and who are counting on our movement to end marijuana prohibition and I welcome Rob back. Rob's leadership (and the work of many other people) resulted in passing medical marijuana laws in Michigan, Montana, Rhode Island, and Vermont, adding dispensaries in Rhode Island, and passing decrim in Massachusetts. Without Rob's leadership — including setting strategy and raising the vast majority of MPP's funds from a variety of major donors — more than 25,000 patients who are now state-legal would still be criminals.

Of course, Rob has made some mistakes and showed bad judgment. There was a need for some corrective action and new policies at MPP. Those happened back in August, and if anything similar happened again, he would be fired. (I should note, the person who had sex with Rob spoke to an MPP board member and at least one fellow MPP staffer about that night and did not make any allegation it was not consensual, nor has she made any public statements questioning consent.)

Rob has shown he can change and I believe the three-month unpaid leave and therapy were sufficient punishment. All of MPP's department heads and our chief of staff signed a statement to the ARO and DPFCA listservs in February that noted MPP's continued work and explained that, "Six months ago, MPP put strong new policies into place that are working well -- a strict harassment policy and non-fraternization policy, training everyone at MPP in harassment prevention, training all managers on their obligation to report harassment, and instituting a grievance policy for staff. These new policies have been in place for six months, during which time there have been no problems, and clear disciplinary action would be taken if there were. We are confident that whatever the board's final decision about our executive director, MPP will continue to be a professional, harassment- free environment for all employees."

This has been a difficult several months, and Rob's poor judgment (and related press) caused that disruption. But I am firmly convinced that a) what he did was not so extreme that it would warrant a summary dismissal without even a warning and opportunity to change (no one brought any complaints to the board or raised them in annual evaluations pre-August 7, despite a grievance process and a very open atmosphere to raise complaints); and b) Rob is the best person for the job, and that while Rob alone is not MPP, without Rob, MPP would be a much smaller and less effective organization.

We are at a turning point in public opinion, and I don't want this opportunity to slip by. I am tired of people being murdered in Mexico by cartels. I know someone serving out a 15 year sentence for a modest amount of marijuana that was not even his, who is not seeing his child grow up. I support Rob's return because, based on my over six years of work at MPP, I believe we have the best shot to win with him at the helm of MPP.

-Karen O'Keefe
Director of State Policies
Marijuana Policy Project