An Interview With Waxy Brown
Photos Courtesy of Daniel Jones AKA Waxy Brown
I’ve waited for months for the opportunity to do this interview. When it happened I may or may not have cried, I was so happy. Daniel Jones AKA Waxy Brown is someone I see as an absolute rockstar of the cannabis world. His story is incredible, he embodies everything it means to be an activist. I’m so proud to introduce you all to Waxy Brown.
When we go back to childhood, he described a very typical home life where both parents worked. Admittedly they were just a little out of the box, “We were feral, as feral as my dad's weed plants, there were a lot of trailer parks, woods, good people, and a lot of good cannabis”, he shared. Growing up with parents who used cannabis doesn't mean it was normal though.
“Just like anybody else, my dad was paranoid. I think the fight for normalization means having cannabis in our cars, and out in public whereas my parents had to leave it stashed in the underwear drawer. Normal for us– was still understanding that they didn’t want us to have it. My parents were warriors either way, but normal just wasn't a thing for cannabis.” When I heard him talk about his experience with navigating cannabis growing up it had a seriousness to it. You can tell he understood the consequences of having plant medicine very well.
From Math to Military
What surprised me was the shift from feral Missouri child to Navy photojournalist.
“One day, the police took my skateboard and I decided I was going to be a feral kid. I used a BB gun to shoot the windows out of the police cars. I caught 7 felony counts when I was in high school.” He went on to explain to me that local law allowed him to serve time in the military instead of jail. The Navy had an open position for a photographer, and it seemed to be a perfect fit for him.
He served from 1997 - 2005 doing back-to-back sea duty and got to see over 30 countries. His first 5 years were as a photographer before moving up to Advanced Photojournalism for his last 3 years. During that time he would photograph his shipmates and write up a 2.5-page article about them and send it to all the papers within fifty miles of their hometown.
Rediscovering Plant Medicine
After he got out, he rediscovered cannabis and was introduced to the lifestyle and culture behind it.
“I had smoked in the past of course, but I hadn’t been blessed with understanding the lifestyle or the culture,” he shared. He started attending festivals like the Grateful Dead, and realized that moving cannabis in those venues was easy. But eventually, that came to a halt.
“Those little bags turned into pounds which turned into kilos which became trunk loads and trunk loads–turned into a different kind of lifestyle. It was all serving the patient just in different ways. Those different ways catch the attention of the alphabet boys like the DEA or your local law enforcement.”
He told me about a moment he had while sitting in jail, “I got hit with a $300,000 bond. I realized the guy next to me had a $250,000 bond for pedophilia and the other had $250,000 for the attempted murder of his mother.”
This is the part that sets Waxy Brown apart from so many others. He refused a bond reduction 3 times and stated to the judge, “Not until you realize that this plant is important and not something you should jail us for, take me back to the pod!” I could never imagine being in that position, and I can’t say I would have the guts to do the same.
The Pathway Of The Plant
Christmas 256 days later, he was released from jail despite him denying the bond. ”When they released me from probation, I did what I think any person should do, and I continued to fight that law that sought to take me out.”
He ran for a seat on the city council and won 78% of the vote. From there, he started working on the decriminalization of cannabis in the community. Get this: the first thing he did was start supporting the local police force and enacting higher pay.
Things weren’t all rainbows and good vibes though. Some less-than-adoring fans wrote letters essentially petitioning to have Waxy Brown removed from the council because of his background. You can read about the specific Missouri law quoted here. He took that rejection and turned it into a redirection and took to the radio to continue his work.
“I didn’t come here with a million dollars, but I did come here with a voice. Three things are most important to me: veterans, psilocybin and sobriety, and you can find all of that in the pathway of this plant.”
Missouri's Micro License
The most recent thing that caught my attention and spurred this interview was his attempt to get a Missouri micro license. He is a social equity applicant, and you would think he would make it through. “I've lost 2 of the 3 rounds so far… but I'm helping others get all of their things together for those licenses,” he stated.
He’s had some help from friends in the industry who helped land the legalization laws in Missouri. He expressed to me that this process has made him look at some not-so-fun aspects of himself.
“I believe in God, and I believe he has put me on a path, one that I don't always agree with. “
Even though he has his sights set on normalization, you can tell he has a deep understanding of the steps required to get there. Because it damn sure won't be overnight. If you’re interested in digging deeper into those types of conversations, check out Courage in Cannabis by Dr. Bridget Cole Williams. It brings together stories from 30+ different activists across the US including Waxy Brown.
Leave Behind A Legacy
His legacy is based on one word: action
“They will either fear my footprint, or my fist print. When I’m gone, there will still be veterans who need access to this. Psilocybin is on its way, and there are still ketamine conversations to have. Talking about it is great. But what are we going to do about it? That is the line between advocate and activist. We love the advocates and we need advocates, but feel free to step over that line into activism at any time. If not, don't worry, we’ll throw full punches until the plant is on the farmer's market table.”
“Let's remember, that the intoxicating cannabis they are talking about was never toxic to begin with!”
Special Thanks to the Waxy Brown Team
Justin Truebridge - Marketing
Tim harms - Co-Host
Ty Smith - Business Partner
And to everyone out there supporting veterans and trying to live in sobriety, cannabis can be your voice! ~ Waxy Brown
