Peter Alexander McWilliams ( August 5 , 1949 -- June 14 , 2000 ) was a writer of best - selling self - help books and , in his later years , a cannabis activist .
Peter Alexander McWilliams ( August 5 , 1949 -- June 14 , 2000 ) was a writer and self - publisher of best - selling self - help books . 
 And , in his later years , he was a cannabis activist .