Dennis Peron

Dennis Peron (April 6, 1946 – January 27, 2018) was an American activist and businessman. He was born in New York City. He was an important figure for the legality of cannabis throughout the 1990s. He influenced many in California and led the political debate on marijuana in the United States.
Peron was openly gay and his partner died of AIDS in 1990. Peron sold cannabis and advocated for medical cannabis. In 1991, he cofounded the Cannabis Buyers Club, the first public cannabis dispensary.
In 1996, the Grassroots Party of Minnesota fielded Peron, as their first Presidential nominee, in the U.S. presidential election. Peron won 5,400 votes. In 1998, Peron ran in the Republican primary for Governor of California, but lost to Attorney General Dan Lungren.
Peron died of lung cancer in San Francisco, California on January 27, 2018 at the age of 71.