Jodie Emery, Canada's Princess of Pot, on the Future of Cannabis

Jodie Emery, otherwise known as “The Princess of Pot”, is on a mission to end the stigma against cannabis in Canada. Jodie has made a name for herself advocating for cannabis rights in Canada- from organizing protests, to occupying the offices of members of Parliament. She’s also the co-owner of Cannabis Culture and Pot TV.  

We had the honour of speaking with Jodie a few months back about her activism journey thus far, and her thoughts on the future of cannabis culture in Canada. This is what we learned. 

Jodie was Against Cannabis Growing up

When Jodie was growing up, her and her parents had big plans for her future- none of which involved protesting on parliament or testifying about marijuana legalization. In fact, Jodie was against cannabis.

She was going to go to university to become a lawyer, then become prime minister. She thought she had it all figured out. But as time went on, she started to question what she’d been told about cannabis. She had the revelation that her “stoner” friends were actually the most politically intelligent people she knew, and that she herself had a lot to learn about politics and the way the system actually works.

She notes, “When young people realize they’ve been lied to, they start to question everything.”  Which is exactly what happened to her.

Essentially, Jodie went from being against cannabis and thinking people should go to jail for it, to being one of the biggest names in cannabis policy activism today. She moved to Vancouver and started getting involved with Cannabis Culture and Pot TV with Marc Emery, and the rest is history.

Being a Cannabis Activist is Exhausting, but Jodie is Resilient 

Jodie’s spent the majority of her career advocating for cannabis legalization in Canada, so you can imagine how disappointed she was when the government rolled out their overly flawed legalization model in 2018. She's even used the term “fake legalization” to describe Canada's legalization process. 

And can you blame her? She gets people who have been convicted of marijuana charges writing to her from prison and has seen corruption persist in its purest form. Years of endless activism and putting on a safe face eventually leaves one cynical and flat-out exhausted.

Related article: Has the Legal Cannabis Market in Canada Failed its Consumers? 

However, Jodie was quick to followup with that statement with a more positive note. She’s taken a step back to shift her perspective to more of a glass-half-full outlook. “Even though legalization (in Canada) is flawed, one of the good things that came out of such a messed up system, it that it’s a perfect example for other countries of what not to do.”

Years of hard work and activism isn't for the average bear. It comes with a great deal of persistence, resilience, and mental exhaustion. Jodie notes that it hasn't been easy, but you can sense the passion in her voice- it tells you that she isn't giving up anytime soon. 

Jodie references the gay rights movement and how far it has come in the last few decades. "Gay rights activists from the earliest days, now old and wrinkly, mention how back in the day they fought for gay people to simply be able to hold hands while walking in the street. They fought and fought, and now that’s what they got."

People are Changing Their Perspective on Cannabis 

Even though the government is still pushing stigma (like fear-mongering cannabis propaganda) when it comes to the hearts and minds of Canadians, Jodie believes they already accepted marijuana before legalization. The deep-rooted success of the illicit market is proof to that statement.

She points to the fact that legalization is normalizing the use of cannabis- for pain management, for mental health, and even as a replacement for alcohol on a recreational level.

We’ve even seen an influx in the amount of seniors that are using the plant in the last year or so.

“People are taking charge of their own health now. People are growing their own plants, they’re allowed to smoke weed in public where it’s allowed and not get in trouble by the police”, Emery continued, “We’re actually breaking down the wall of prohibition, and its just one piece it a time. It takes time to get there.” 

There’s been a shift in peoples behaviour within this last year. People are slowing down and taking time to reconnect with loved ones and their natural environment. Plus, people don’t trust government anymore. Jodie calls this a systemic shift and is hopeful that these changes in behaviour will help shift people’s perspective on using cannabis to treat health conditions, for stress management, and even for recreational use.

Related article: The Medicinal Cannabis Stigma in Canada Prevails

She makes a note on new comers to the cannabis community and how we need to be patient and educate them on things like the harmless benefits of cannabis and safe consumption practices. One of the most significant traits of the cannabis community is its inclusivity, after all. 

As mentioned, Jodie wasn't always accepting of cannabis. What if people shut her out when she was first getting involved in the cannabis space? The cannabis community may not be what (or where) it is today. 

Can Cannabis Operate as a Free Market?  

Cannabis always represented what other markets have been moving towards: small batch, artisanal products. Thats what people want to spend their money on now. Mass production is an increasingly outdated system, which is made clear by the influx in small batch business models, artisanal food products,  and smaller-scaled sustainable farming operations.

The illegal cannabis market was truly a free market. They operated by supply and demand, with consensual transactions and were not controlled by government subsidies and influences. This is Jodie's ultimate vision for the cannabis market in Canada.  

Looking Ahead- Jodie's Plans for the Future  

Jodie recognizes the demand for safe spaces to consume cannabis, and plans to use this as a catalyst to further the cannabis movement. “If you can’t smoke it on the street, and you cant smoke it in your apartment without the risk of being evicted, where can you smoke it?”

The cannabis community is no different from the craft beer community, yoga community, or music festival community. Every community deserves safe spaces where they can discuss new ideas, connect, and celebrate their culture.

Jodie's deeply inspired by this notion of connecting the cannabis community and celebrating its culture, which is why her upcoming projects focus on joint coffee shops, cannabis culture lounges, and plenty more creative space models for consuming cannabis safely. She wants to set the example of what a marijuana lounge should look like for generations to come. She intends to put more time and energy into some creative projects she has on-the-go as well, including a book that she's writing. 

The princess of pot has lots of plans around political advocacy in her near future (obviously), so be sure to follow her journey on her instagram account.