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Down for the Cause
Down for the Cause is Bruce Margolin's memoir, covering his career as the "dean of cannabis law" and as an ardent advocate for the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. He has been "down for the cause" since the heyday of the 1960s in Los Angeles, when he was horrified by teenagers and young adults with no criminal intent being thrown behind bars along with rapists and murderers for enjoying a little weed or hustling to supply their friends with some friendly smoke. He quickly became well known for defending those who didn't "just say no" and for keeping them out of jail and prison.
Bruce struggled to become an attorney—his undiagnosed dyslexia meant he had to study a lot harder than others—but his older brother had wanted to be a lawyer, and when he died at an early age from leukemia, Bruce took up the mantle. His father's untimely death also affected Bruce deeply, making him seek out the answers to the deeper questions of life. To explore his search for meaning, Bruce left his booming law practice to travel, winding up in India where he met Ram Dass (whose book, Be Here Now, had a profound impact on him) and Ram Dass's (and his) guru, Neem Karoli Baba, who touched his heart deeply.
When Bruce returned to the West, he brought to his law practice a yogic outlook, a spirituality based on the Vedic concept of dharma (right living) mixed with the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam (the "repair of the world"), and a regular meditation practice. He was called upon to defend Dr. Timothy Leary, the Pied Piper of LSD, in the trial that followed his escape from prison. Margolin's defense of the man President Nixon labeled as "the most dangerous man in America" was a valiant attempt to bring the concept of the punishment fitting the crime to the forefront of America's attention, as Leary had originally been sentenced to ten years for simple possession of a very small amount of marijuana.
As a prominent voice for those imprisoned for cannabis, and as the founder and director of the Los Angeles chapter of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), Bruce ran for political office a number of times in order to promote the idea of legalization, and came close to winning.
Today, when an overwhelming majority of US adults say marijuana should be legal both for medical and recreational use, Bruce provides an overview of how legalization, in all its complexity, was accomplished in his home state of California. He publishes the The Margolin Guide to Marijuana Laws, used across the country by those in law enforcement, judges, lawyers, and cannabis advocates and users alike to make sure they know the most recent rulings.
Down for the Cause is a slice of history as seen through one man's life and his passionate plea to leave behind the days of "reefer madness" and harsh penalties in the war on drugs..
Bruce struggled to become an attorney—his undiagnosed dyslexia meant he had to study a lot harder than others—but his older brother had wanted to be a lawyer, and when he died at an early age from leukemia, Bruce took up the mantle. His father's untimely death also affected Bruce deeply, making him seek out the answers to the deeper questions of life. To explore his search for meaning, Bruce left his booming law practice to travel, winding up in India where he met Ram Dass (whose book, Be Here Now, had a profound impact on him) and Ram Dass's (and his) guru, Neem Karoli Baba, who touched his heart deeply.
When Bruce returned to the West, he brought to his law practice a yogic outlook, a spirituality based on the Vedic concept of dharma (right living) mixed with the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam (the "repair of the world"), and a regular meditation practice. He was called upon to defend Dr. Timothy Leary, the Pied Piper of LSD, in the trial that followed his escape from prison. Margolin's defense of the man President Nixon labeled as "the most dangerous man in America" was a valiant attempt to bring the concept of the punishment fitting the crime to the forefront of America's attention, as Leary had originally been sentenced to ten years for simple possession of a very small amount of marijuana.
As a prominent voice for those imprisoned for cannabis, and as the founder and director of the Los Angeles chapter of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), Bruce ran for political office a number of times in order to promote the idea of legalization, and came close to winning.
Today, when an overwhelming majority of US adults say marijuana should be legal both for medical and recreational use, Bruce provides an overview of how legalization, in all its complexity, was accomplished in his home state of California. He publishes the The Margolin Guide to Marijuana Laws, used across the country by those in law enforcement, judges, lawyers, and cannabis advocates and users alike to make sure they know the most recent rulings.
Down for the Cause is a slice of history as seen through one man's life and his passionate plea to leave behind the days of "reefer madness" and harsh penalties in the war on drugs..
214 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 2024
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May 18, 2024
Bruce Margolin has been the #1 Cannabis Defense Attorney in the country since the mid-70s. In this book, he discusses how his early life and education, as well as his morals and values, led him to devote his life to this work.
Much of the book is discussing his career as a defense lawyer--- he defended Tim Leary notably, and several THOUSAND marijuana cases through the dark years when pot was illegal everywhere in the US. His dedication to the cause is hugely responsible for the opening up of cannabis as a medicine and light intoxicant, which has brought about legalization or decriminalization in most of the US states, although Federal Legalization still is elusive. There is much talk at the moment about rescheduling marijuana from Schedule 1 (placing it in the category with heroin) to Schedule 3 (like ketamine, being recognized as having significant medical uses). The rescheduling will open up many doors to more research being done to reveal the properties of this plant.
Bruce, in addition to documenting some of his most outstanding cases, writes about his travels through Europe and especially India. Having been introduced to Ram Dass in LA (his hometown) he decided he wanted what Ram Dass had. And thusly, while in India exploring spirituality, his quest to meet Ram Dass and Ram Dass' guru Neem Karoli Baba. He delightfully writes as if in a journal about his exploits traveling. And becomes very immensed in the meditation and guru's ashram and the people committed to spiritual enlightenment.
The one thing I found strange was his brief mention of wives, lovers, and his daughters. Except for the acknowledgements, we learn nothing about his relationships with any of them. For a man so open to exposing his spiritual quest, and his unwavering dedication to a single cause, I had hoped for more regarding his personal relationships- especially raising his children---- the significant women in his life, parenting and his feelings about fathering.
Many thanks to Parvati and Madison for sharing the .pdf with me.
Much of the book is discussing his career as a defense lawyer--- he defended Tim Leary notably, and several THOUSAND marijuana cases through the dark years when pot was illegal everywhere in the US. His dedication to the cause is hugely responsible for the opening up of cannabis as a medicine and light intoxicant, which has brought about legalization or decriminalization in most of the US states, although Federal Legalization still is elusive. There is much talk at the moment about rescheduling marijuana from Schedule 1 (placing it in the category with heroin) to Schedule 3 (like ketamine, being recognized as having significant medical uses). The rescheduling will open up many doors to more research being done to reveal the properties of this plant.
Bruce, in addition to documenting some of his most outstanding cases, writes about his travels through Europe and especially India. Having been introduced to Ram Dass in LA (his hometown) he decided he wanted what Ram Dass had. And thusly, while in India exploring spirituality, his quest to meet Ram Dass and Ram Dass' guru Neem Karoli Baba. He delightfully writes as if in a journal about his exploits traveling. And becomes very immensed in the meditation and guru's ashram and the people committed to spiritual enlightenment.
The one thing I found strange was his brief mention of wives, lovers, and his daughters. Except for the acknowledgements, we learn nothing about his relationships with any of them. For a man so open to exposing his spiritual quest, and his unwavering dedication to a single cause, I had hoped for more regarding his personal relationships- especially raising his children---- the significant women in his life, parenting and his feelings about fathering.
Many thanks to Parvati and Madison for sharing the .pdf with me.
Displaying 1 of 1 review