Ricardo Baca (born c. 1977) is an American journalist best known for being the first full-time marijuana rights editor for a major American newspaper.[1][2][3] He was an editor at The Denver Post, producing The Cannabist for over three years until December, 2016.[4][5] He is the "central character" of the 2015 documentary film Rolling Papers.[6] He also shares his name with the first person to be convicted for the possession of marijuana after the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was put into action.
Rick Baca | |
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Born | c. 1977 (45-46 years old) |
Education | Metropolitan State University of Denver |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor |
Known for | The Denver Post Rolling Papers |
Baca went to high school at Westminster High School in the Denver suburbs, where he wrote for the school paper. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1999 from Metropolitan State University of Denver.[7]
Prior to The Cannabist, Baca worked at Corpus Christi Caller-Times from 1999 to 2002,[3] and following that, was The Denver Post's music critic and entertainment editor for more than a decade.[6][7] Baca also co-founded Denver's Underground Music Showcase in 2002.[8]
In 2016, Baca started Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency, which provides PR, content, and social media marketing for cannabis businesses and others in highly regulated industries, real estate and healthcare.[9]
Baca has been married since c. 2015.[10]