Remembering the Life and Times of Wayward Bill: 1951-2021

Lifelong cannabis warrior William Chengelis – better known as “Wayward Bill” – died on August 7th in a hospital in Colorado. He was 70 years old. As anyone who has been in the cannabis industry for a long time knows, Chengelis was considered a legend.

Chengelis was the past chairman of the U.S. Marijuana Party, among many other roles in cannabis reform, and associates who worked with him expressed grief.

“I am sad to announce the death of Wayward Bill this afternoon,” wrote Sheree Krider, organizer of the US Marijuana Party, on Facebook. “Updates are published by arrangement. We lost our longest-lived and best cannabis guide in our 20 year history. Please post condolences or pictures as I plan to close the group for seven days in his honor. I will announce this in good time. God bless.”

Chengelis personally helped legalize adult cannabis in Colorado in 2012. He also participated in the ACLU, the Democratic Party, SAFER, Sensible Colorado, NORML, and Coloradans 4 Cannabis Patient Rights.

His loss was felt across the country as Chengelis was known abroad. Sharon Ravert, founder of Peachtree NORML, remembered the activist in great detail. “If you can legally smoke a joint where you live, thank Wayward Bill,” said Sharon Ravert, founder of Peachtree NORML. Chengelis “supported Peachtree NORML from the start and was a speaker at our first ever Southern Cannabis Reform Conference in Atlanta. It was an OG with a purpose and will be missed by many. “

Chengelis was reportedly hospitalized for several weeks and has received social media support from locals and people around the country. Tributes continue to pour in on Facebook and Twitter, where he was considered very active.

Chengelis has written for Rolling Stone and Unbroken Chain and has served in many roles as a writer and editor. He has also been an active blogger since 2005 with his personal blog Deadheads United ™.

The news doesn’t come long after beloved hashish and cannabis concentrate teacher, counselor, craftsman, and activist Frenchy Cannoli passed away on July 18.

The life of wayward Bill

Chengelis was born on February 21, 1951. He attended Youngstown State University in Ohio just before becoming a full-time activist and joining Michigan’s White Panther Party in 1969, including efforts to free John Sinclair, his associate White Panther, who was for ten years for two joints. Involvement in White Panther inspired John Lennon to write his song “John Sinclair”.

He also joined the Yippie movement in New York. He was honorably discharged in 1974. After serving in the army, Chengalis fought against PTSD and bipolar disorder. He was also left with a crippled left hand and was considered disabled in the eyes of the law.

Chengalis referred to himself as a “marijuana mercenary” because he knew the unity behind the collective effort to re-legalize, regulate and tax commercial hemp as well as medical and adult marijuana.

According to his website, Chengelis was living on a “meager VA non-service disability pension.” He held a medical cannabis recommendation for severe pain in his left hand for many years. He knew firsthand what veterans of discrimination both VA and HUD faced.

The official website of Chengelis has this wonderful eulogy: “After everything is done, he intended to work on something simpler, like world peace or perhaps feeding the hungry. He regretted having only one life and so little time. He hugged everything that is free. “

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