The Advocate Series: NORML KC

Jamie Kacz is the Executive Director of NORML KC. Kacz is also Board Secretary for New Approach Missouri, Affiliate Secretary for MO NORML, and Co-President of the Missouri Cannabis Industry Association. She’s a mother of two, a recognized and revered advocate and activist, and one of the hard working women that propelled NORML KC, as a whole, onto the list for the Greenway Advocate Series.
The rest of the board is made up of those exceptional women. Jessica Kelly serves as Communications Director, Paula Prentice chairs Community Outreach, and Julita Latimer serves as the Event Planner.
Greenway had the opportunity to speak to the women who comprise the board of NORML KC as well as chapter member Candace Baier about advocacy, passion, and what the future holds for Missouri.

Kacz has received her share of recognition; named one of Women Grow’s “Game Changers” in 2017, Freedom Leaf’s 2017 Canna-Women Impact List, featured in High Times magazine as a notable Freedom Fighter, featured in Her Canna Life Publication, and was honored as NORML’s National Advocate of the Year in 2017. But when Greenway asked for nominations for our advocate series several names were submitted time and time again alongside Kacz, those were the names of the ladies who make up the board of NORML KC.
Kacz says her advocacy journey began in 2015, when she founded the Kansas City, Missouri chapter of NORML. “I had been a long time supporter of cannabis legalization, but I was a closet supporter. After seeing people I loved being unable to access cannabis for conditions that could be helped by the plant, I decided that enough was enough. I started talking to friends about cannabis and I started to do research. Information I found brought me to a Missouri NORML/Show Me Cannabis conference in the summer of 2015. Attending this meeting was the moment I knew that I needed to help make a change. I remember hearing Dolores Halbin tell her story about how the war on drugs affected her and her husband, Gene. I was shocked by what happened to them and knew then that I had to get involved. I needed to help be a part of the change across Missouri. Seeing a real need for a central cannabis advocacy group in Kansas City, I started the NORML Kansas City chapter, where I made quick work on affecting change. I saw laws that were unjust and knew I had to do something about it. As a result, we went about changing the laws. We started out locally in Kansas City, MO. We turned possession of 35 grams or less into a $25 ticket. Then we took on the State, with one less prohibition state as a result. It all started with thinking locally.”

For Summer 2019 NORML KC put together a free 3-Part Summer Series for patients and supporters. “We want to provide information for patients to know how to apply for their medical card and how to have a successful home grow, while being compliant. We want our attendees to walk away feeling empowered and confident knowing that they have gained knowledge to assist them. It was important for us to host these events for free, because this should be information that anyone can access,” Kacz said
With Amendment 2 legal, NORML KC is moving forward. Kacz says that the organization, “will continue to advocate for our patients and consumers while remaining the voice of cannabis advocacy in Kansas City. We just helped mobilize the Kansas City effort to reduce the medical marijuana dispensary setback from a proposed 750ft to 300ft. We also have plans to advocate and mobilize support for Parental Rights during the 2020 legislative session. On September 26, we will be hosting “Mary Jane, The Women in Weed“, at the Alamo Drafthouse. NORML KC will also continue to host monthly educational events and socials.”
One of the next big issues facing NORML KC is the fight for parental rights and protections.
“Advocacy does not end after legalization, there is still much work to be done. In legal states, there are few protections in place for medical cannabis patients that are parents. Families are being separated because one or both parents are medical cannabis patients. This is something that is horrifying and no patient should have to endure,” Kacz finishes.
Greenway had the chance to continue the conversation with the ladies of NORML KC, we asked each of them a series of questions in an effort to get to know the individuals as well as the group.

How did you get into cannabis?

Baier: My son Harper was diagnosed with a rare form of intractable Epilepsy. His syndrome and seizures do not respond to pharmaceutical medication. I remember seeing a news story by Sanjay Gupta many years ago discussing cannabis and its medicinal properties. I started to read and research cannabis as much as possible.
Kelly: In 2009 I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Interstitial Cystitis which, for me, included debilitating chronic pain. Over the years I sought out countless therapies and tried around 30 different medications, almost all of which caused devastating side effects. I was incapacitated, overly-medicated, depressed and, despite all of the meds, I was still experiencing severe pain. My life was completely upended. At one point a friend convinced me to try cannabis and I found it incredibly helpful. I began to wean myself off of some of the heavier duty meds I was on and the fog of despair began to slowly lift. Cannabis gave me hope for finding a quality of life, and a life worth living.
Latimer: Four years ago I began researching dispensaries which included going to Denver for my first conference. The first 3 speakers at some point talked about activism and advocacy. I came back to KC looking to get involved when Jamie Kacz asked if I would be interested in joining the board and I said yes.

Why cannabis?
Latimer: Why not cannabis? It’s a healing plant. It’s heartbreaking to know sick children and adults can not get the medicine that could help them have a better quality of life. As I learned more, I realized bringing cannabis to the sick was something I wanted to do.
Baier: Cannabis is a natural medicinal therapy that helps treat many symptoms associated with numerous diseases. Pharmaceutical drugs are not designed to work synergistically with your body, therefore causing kidney failure, liver damage, new and additional symptoms, and even death. There is no research indicating any type of those reactions when a patient uses cannabis.

How did you get connected to cannabis advocacy?
Prentice: I had been involved with cannabis for a long time, but I really got involved in activism when my husband suffered a spinal cord injury and nothing seemed to help with pain issues unless he wanted to live on opioids, which was not an option we wanted. I began searching for answers and I came across NORML KC. I immediately signed up and it opened my eyes to so much more than I ever imagined. It was then I also signed up as a volunteer for New Approach I became involved and never looked back I started petitioning for medical marijuana, it turned out to be the most rewarding experience for me. It was at that point I became an activist.
Kelly: Once I experienced first-hand the benefits of cannabis as medicine I was determined to get involved in reform efforts so that I could medicate legally without fear. I began researching medical cannabis, cannabis reform, and advocacy groups. I came across NORML KC and attended my first meeting in 2015. I soon joined the board of directors as Co-Secretary and then as Communications Director. At the time I was living in Kansas, which is unfortunately limited in its ability to reform laws because there is no citizen ballot initiative process like there is in Missouri. I felt like I had a better chance helping over the state line. At NORML KC we worked on the first New Approach Missouri medical cannabis campaign, successfully organized and passed the ballot measure to decriminalize 35 grams in KCMO, held many educational and social events, and ultimately helped lead the NAM Amendment 2 campaign to victory. Recently we also worked with KC Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council to reduce the buffer zone for medical marijuana facilities.

Do you consider yourself an activist or an advocate?

Prentice: I am an advocate! I want to help as many people as possible. I was able to talk with so many Missouri residents who shared personal stories of family members, or themselves, who could benefit from using medical maurijuana, that is what motivated me even more.
Baier: I consider myself both. I very much support cannabis reform so I consider that advocacy. I also try and be as active in the community as possible in regards to spreading knowledge and speaking out in support of cannabis, therefore I consider that activism.
Latimer: I consider myself both. I have pounded the pavement collecting signatures and I have spoken on behalf of patients.

What does advocacy or activism mean to you?
Latimer: Advocacy and activism means putting in the work, never giving up and giving a voice for those that need it.
Kelly: I consider activism and advocacy to be two sides of the same coin. They go hand-in-hand. At NORML we are taught the tools and techniques for using both methods to be effective in reaching our goals.

   

You were nominated as an advocate to Greenway by someone else, who has helped you get to your position and who inspires you ?
Latimer: Having Jamie Kacz reach out to me about joining KC NORML is what started it all and I will be forever grateful. As far as inspiration Mara Gordon of Aunt Zelda’s Products. She is featured in Weed the People on Netflix, she’s amazing.
Kacz: My NORML KC Board of Directors has helped the chapter accomplish much in just a short time. Our ability to work together, plan and prioritize has helped us make real change happen across Missouri. Dan Viets has also been a tremendous help, especially when I was getting the chapter started and during the process of drafting our decriminalization language. Dan always makes time to help me and the other chapters. There are many that have inspired me. Dolores Halbin’s strong will and passion is something I will always carry close to my heart. Leah Maurer is another person that inspires me. She did an outstanding job of mobilizing moms to support Measure 91 in Oregon. Most importantly, my Mom’s strength and endurance has inspired me my entire life, she is my rock.

Kelly: The women on my NORML KC Board inspire me daily. We have worked incredibly hard together and have been through many high stress ups and downs. We have stuck it out because we believe in this cause, and we believe in each other and our capabilities. These are some of the strongest women I have ever met and I’m grateful to call them my close friends. I’m also thankful for the leadership shown by Dan Viets, John Payne, and Jack Cardetti during the campaigns. Jen Shockley demonstrated what boots on the ground and the power of a grassroots movement can really do. Lisa Sublett of Bleeding Kansas has always been incredibly supportive and is a wealth of knowledge. Every person who helped this cause inspires me because they chose to take a stand and make real change.
Baier: I think my son is my number 1 supporter and inspiration. My fight to get him safe and legal access to a potentially lifesaving medicinal therapy feeds my drive. He deserves the best quality of life possible and I will always advocate for his rights all of those in Missouri who need cannabis. I personally admire and I am so inspired by the strong women who helped Missouri become a legal state. The women on the board of NormlKC and New Approach Missouri are forces to be reckoned with and I hope to someday be as active as they are in the community. I am forever grateful for all of their hard work and effort.

What are some challenges you’ve faced?
Baier: I have faced many challenges while being an activist. I have had little to no support from my family, as well as no support from my son’s physicians. They do not support giving cannabis to a minor, and do not support any type of legalization. During the signature gathering process and the campaign process, I was called numerous unkind names by constituents at the polls who did not agree with my advocacy and position.
Latimer: The biggest challenge I faced, and still do is misinformation. Reefer Madness did a number on this country.

What are you most excited about with medicinal marijuana in Missouri?
Baier: I’m most excited for my son. He can finally receive relief and a better quality of life from cannabis. He and all Missouri patients can finally have safe, legal, and consistent access to a therapy that they have needed for a long time.
Latimer: I am truly over the moon that patients will finally get their medicine. Of course I’m looking forward to being awarded a license to cultivate.
Kelly: I am most excited about sick and suffering people having more medical treatment options. Cannabis is safe and effective. I am truly thankful that others will have the ability to utilize this medicine without fear. I know it will change many lives for the better and that there will be a positive ripple effect. I’m excited to see local cannabis business industry models that put patients and the cannabis community first.
Kacz: I’m most excited to know that patients will have access to medical cannabis in Missouri. Throughout this journey, so many patients have touched my heart. I’m overwhelmed with joy that this is now a reality.

What do you see in the future for Missouri?
Baier: I think once medicinal cannabis is established, I see full legalization in the next 5 or so years for Missouri.
Kelly: I see more crucial work to be done. We couldn’t handle all of the important issues through this amendment alone. I look forward to working with NORML KC and our affiliates on patient parental, employment and tenant protections, expungement of marijuana offenses, and further reform efforts. Ultimately, we must completely end and remedy the harms of Prohibition and the failed War on Drugs.
Latimer: The future of cannabis in Missouri is huge. Adult-use is in the near future and I believe growing hemp will be the next big thing. Research research research, we will learn so much more about this amazing plant.

What is your mission?
Baier: My mission is to spread as much knowledge as I can about how safe and effective cannabis can be for so many diseases. With Missouri now being a medicinally legal state, going forward I would like to be active and supportive for those parents who choose to use cannabis to treat their children. I think initially cannabis use is met with some hesitation for parents who aren’t as informed and/or who don’t have any support. I would like to offer as much help as I can to these parents and their children.
Kacz: I want to help normalize cannabis by sparking the conversation to educate and bring people together to fight for reform while continuing to advocate for patients. I hope to see the prohibition of cannabis ended on a federal level and expungement of non-violent cannabis offenses. I would like to see an industry that works together with the advocates to ensure the needs of patients and consumers are met, while ensuring a positive impact on communities. I want to see opportunities for the areas that have been most negatively impacted by the war on drugs.
Kelly: My mission is to continue in advocacy and activism efforts that make our society a better place for everyone to thrive in.
Latimer: My mission is to continue being an activist and advocating for patients and doing the right thing by providing quality and clean product grown sustainably.
Prentice: Now my mission is to guide patients through the medical marijuana process; from applying for cards to going to a dispensary for their medicine for the first time.

See more of The Advocate Series in the next edition of Greenway.

original photos by Chris Smith