Carl Olsen Takes Time 4 Hemp
A Relentless Voice for Cannabis Freedom
Written by Casper Leitch
Carl Olsen has spent more than four decades navigating courtrooms, lobbying state lawmakers, challenging federal policies, and invoking constitutional rights, all in pursuit of one goal: cannabis freedom. From fighting for medical marijuana to championing religious rights, Olsen’s name has become synonymous with cannabis reform in Iowa and a symbol of grassroots advocacy across the country.
As the founder of Iowans for Medical Marijuana and a lifelong member of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, Carl Olsen’s activism stretches across legal, political, and spiritual lines. His journey offers vital lessons for anyone committed to ending global hemp prohibition, legalizing medical cannabis, and expanding access to recreational marijuana.
A Seed Planted in the 1970s
Olsen’s story begins in 1978, with a high-profile arrest in West Liberty, Iowa, where police found 129 pounds of marijuana in his car. While the state labeled him a criminal, Olsen saw himself as a constitutional challenger. That early confrontation with the law was just the beginning. Instead of backing down, he leaned into the system, launching a lifelong campaign to reform outdated drug policies.
Despite serving time for the offense, Olsen emerged even more committed to changing laws he saw as unjust. He began filing legal challenges centered around cannabis, its classification under the Controlled Substances Act, and its role as a religious sacrament. In a bold move, he cited his affiliation with the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, where cannabis is used in spiritual practice, arguing that its prohibition violated his First Amendment rights.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court eventually denied protections for religious cannabis use in 1990, Olsen’s efforts opened new legal conversations about the intersection of religious freedom and marijuana.
Founding Iowans for Medical Marijuana
In 1990, Olsen co-founded Iowans for Medical Marijuana, alongside George McMahon and Barbara Douglass, two of the few Americans who were legally receiving medical marijuana from the federal government at the time. This group became a rallying point for medical cannabis advocates, creating awareness and applying pressure on legislators to legalize therapeutic marijuana in Iowa.
Their work gained momentum. In 1993, Senate File 361, a medical cannabis bill, passed unanimously in the Iowa Senate. Unfortunately, last-minute changes removed the provision for home-grown cannabis and instead relied on confiscated marijuana from law enforcement. The bill stalled and ultimately died in the House, partly due to opposition from the Iowa Board of Pharmacy.
Still, Olsen refused to give up. In 2006, he restructured the organization to gather and present legal and medical evidence to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, supporting the argument that cannabis has accepted medical use and therefore should not be classified as a Schedule I substance.
By 2008, even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Patients Out of Time joined Olsen’s campaign, bolstering the legitimacy of his claims and pushing the conversation even further into mainstream political discourse and putting a spotlight on his work.
Challenging the System, One Case at a Time
Olsen’s most recent legal fight stems from Iowa’s Medical Cannabidiol Program, a tightly regulated system that allows qualified “patients” access to limited cannabis-derived products. In 2022, Olsen applied for a registration card under this program, but without a qualifying medical condition. Instead, he cited a religious need to use cannabis as a sacrament, invoking protections under the First Amendment and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
Although the state acknowledged the sincerity of his religious beliefs and his long-standing association with the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, they denied his application on a technicality: the law’s use of the term “patient.” According to state officials, this choice of language strictly defines access to medical cannabis as a health issue, not a spiritual one.
Olsen didn’t take this lightly. He challenged the decision in court, arguing that denying him access based on religious grounds was unconstitutional. As he put it, “I haven’t used marijuana for 40 years, but I am certainly not going to forget that it’s part of my sacrament and that I’m being screwed.”
Impacting National Cannabis Conversations
Though his home base is Iowa, Carl Olsen’s influence extends far beyond the state’s borders. His legal battles and activism have helped shape nationwide conversations on three key fronts:
Religious Cannabis Use and Legal Precedents
Olsen is a leading voice in the fight to protect religious freedoms in cannabis use. His work has sparked crucial debates about whether cannabis, like wine in Christianity or peyote in Native American traditions, should be granted legal protection as a religious sacrament.
Medical Marijuana Advocacy
Olsen’s work with Iowans for Medical Marijuana laid the foundation for the state’s cannabidiol program. Although the law remains narrow, his persistence proves how consistent grassroots advocacy can influence legislation, even when the political environment is resistant to change.
Federal Drug Policy Reform
By petitioning the DEA and challenging cannabis’s classification as a Schedule I drug, Olsen has contributed to ongoing national debates around marijuana rescheduling. His work has influenced how courts, lawmakers, and advocacy groups frame their arguments for reform.
A Voice for Future Generations of Advocates
Carl Olsen is not a figure easily dismissed. He embodies the grit, resolve, and legal acumen needed to reshape policy in a system designed to resist change. Through courtrooms, petitions, and the pulpit of public opinion, Olsen continues to challenge laws that many believe are outdated, unjust, and harmful to public health and need to be changed.
His unwavering commitment reminds us that real change doesn’t happen overnight, it takes decades of dedication, community building, and standing up for what you believe is right. Whether you’re a cannabis patient, an entrepreneur, or an advocate for religious liberty, Carl Olsen’s story is one of courage and strategy.
Why His Work Matters Today
As cannabis laws continue to evolve and more states open their doors to hemp products, medical cannabis, and even recreational marijuana, the groundwork laid by people like Carl Olsen becomes more evident. His willingness to confront injustice, whether through legislation or litigation, paved the way for the discussions we’re now having on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across the country.
Carl Olsen’s life proves that activism, when guided by conviction and bolstered by knowledge of the law, can indeed shift the tide. For those of us working to end global hemp prohibition, legalize medical cannabis, and expand marijuana access, his legacy is more than historical, it’s instructional.
