From the Washington Post:

SAN FRANCISCO—In numerous communities and jurisdictions around the country, cannabis is now a widely accepted part of the culture, including both the medical and entertainment industries. But as cannabis grows increasingly mainstream, there’s a tendency to forget the pioneers who came before us. Dennis Peron, a marijuana activist who championed the medical benefits of cannabis for AIDS patients, died from lung cancer on Jan. 27, 2018 at the age of 72. He was also a big part of the movement to pass Prop 215 that legalized medical use in the state in 1996.