In 1968, at the age of 23, Kubby was diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma, a rare, fatal form of adrenal cancer. He had tumors surgically removed in 1968, 1975, and 1976, by which time the cancer had metastasized to his liver and beyond, and he was given less than five years to live.

After continuing chemotherapy, and another surgery at the Mayo Clinic in 1981, Kubby began treating his cancer solely with medical cannabis, and by maintaining a healthy diet.

From 1981-1986, he ran a property management company in Lake Tahoe, and from 1986-1991 he founded and published "Ski West," the number one selling ski magazine in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Italy, Australia, and Japan.

Kubby authored "The Politics of Consciousness" in 1995, and co-authored "Why Marijuana Should be Legal" in 1996. He was instrumental in the drafting and passage of Proposition 215, "The Compassionate Use Act of 1996," which led to the legalization of medical cannabis in California and 11 other states.

Two months after his 1998 Libertarian campaign for California Governor concluded, the Sheriff of Placer County raided Kubby's home and found 265 cannabis plants that were being grown in compliance with California state law. In a guest's room the sheriff also found some peyote and a mushroom stem for which Kubby and his wife were arrested and charged with possession of controlled substances.

Kubby's wife was acquitted of all charges while Kubby's jury hung 11-1 in favor of acquittal, resulting in the cannabis charges being dismissed. However, the jury convicted Kubby of possession for the peyote and the mushroom stem and he was sentenced to 120 days in jail.

Fearing that his cancer would kill him if he was denied medical cannabis by his jailers, Kubby and his family moved to Canada where he fought extradition for five years.

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