The Alaska marijuana club owner and news anchor-turned-activist who quit her job on-air Sunday with a vulgar flourish has released a video detailing her reasoning behind the bold move.
In 'Why I quit' former Anchorage reporter Charlene Ebge AKA Charlo Greene lashes out at marijuana 'prohibitionists' who seek to restrict access to the drug.
Timed to come out just as news of her high-profile stunt began to make headlines Monday, the YouTube video is part of Greene's campaign toward legalization of marijuana in Alaska and, she says, eventually all across America.
'Why differentiate my toke from your beer,' she asks in the over 3 minute explanation of why she confessed her ownership of the Alaska Cannabis Club live on air before making the announcement that has now made her famous.
'And as for this job, well, not that I have a choice but, f*** it, I quit,' she said at the conclusion of her story about Alaska's upcoming marijuana ballot measure that would regulate marijuana.
Greene is moving on to dedicate herself full time to making sure that measure passes and along with the video has posted an Indiegogo fundraising page to help her in the cause.
'As a member of the media, I've seen the dirty campaign tricks and lies that prohibitionists have been using over the past several months to sway Alaskan voters firsthand,' Greene laments.
She's asking for $5,000, which she intends to put toward re-educating voters on the dangers, or lack thereof, of marijuana use.
'We smokers are responsible, contributing members to society,' as she said in her video.
Her plea, thanks in no small part to her career-ending stunt, appears to be helping her cause.
No even a day into her fundraiser, Greene raised over $3,700--74 percent of her goal and still 15 days to go.
Ms Greene had reported on the Alaska Cannabis Club during Sunday night's broadcast, without revealing her connection to it, Alaska Dispatch News reported.
But at the end of the report, during a live shot, she announced that she was the club's owner and would be devoting herself to legalizing the drug in Alaska.
She said: 'Now everything you heard is why I, the actual owner of the Alaska Cannabis Club, will be dedicating all of my energy for fighting for freedom and fairness which begins with legalizing marijuana here in Alaska.'
Ms Greene then announced she was quitting and marched off camera.
Back in the main studio, the anchor looked rather flummoxed as she struggled to decide how to proceed, before glancing up and down, offering an quick apology, and saying: 'We'll be right back.'
The news channel took to Twitter to apologise.
'Viewers, we sincerely apologize for the inappropriate language used by a KTVA reporter on the air tonight,' it wrote. 'The employee has been terminated.'
The Alaska Cannabis Club connects medical marijuana cardholders with other cardholders who are growing cannabis.
On its website, the club bills itself as striking 'a perfect balancing act with Alaska's Medical Marijuana laws'.
Growers are offered 'donations' as reimbursement for the costs of growing the plant, the club said in an interview with Alaska Dispatch News in August.
The club said it hopes to increase access to medical marijuana patients, despite operating in a legal grey area within Alaska's murky medical marijuana laws.
*Rolling Hard On The Ground*
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