HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. (KOIN) — Dr. Phil Leveque, the well-known and somewhat controversial doctor who helped legalize medical marijuana in Oregon, died Saturday afternoon, officials at his care facility said. He was 92.
When KOIN 6 News asked him in February how he wants to be remembered, Dr. Leveque was quick with his answer.
“Pot doc.”
At that time, he said he feels like people are finally catching up to what he’s been advocating for years, and he is proud of that.
“Pretty good for a Hood River farm boy,” he said.
“I have been studying the medical use of marijuana since 1950 and I am very proud of the fact that I essentially introduced medical marijuana to the state of Oregon.”
With a Ph.D in pharmacology and toxicology, Leveque helped legalize medical marijuana in Oregon in 1999. At the time, he granted thousands of medical marijuana cards, which caught the attention of the medical board.
His medical license was revoked in 2004, which ended his career as a doctor.
Asked if it was worth it, he did not hesitate.
“Hell, yes,” he said. “If I hadn’t done this, nobody else would have. You bet, you bet.”