Daily Inspiration: Meet Jamie Kacz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Kacz.

Hi Jamie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Marijuana had interested me for a long time, and I was shocked to discover how many lies I had been led to believe over the years. It particularly hit me hard when my father suffered a stroke-related brain injury. If he had access to legal, medical marijuana, his quality of life would have been greatly enhanced. After continuing my cannabis research, I attended a Missouri NORML conference. That day, a fire was ignited in my belly. I had always enjoyed working with others and being a leader, which led me to the idea of trying to start legalization efforts in my community. I founded NORML KC (a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law) in 2015, built a base, and immediately went to work. We make real change happen for our community.

We started locally in Kansas City. We looked at other decriminalization measures across the country and ultimately created a law that was the most progressive in the country. This would be a grassroots and bootstrap affair as a brand-new non-profit with no budget. I led our local “Yes on 5” campaign as Campaign Director in 2017. It was an uphill battle, but we gathered, submitted, and verified signatures from over 4200 registered Kansas City voters. Our bill was then approved by over 72% of voters. This huge win sent momentum for marijuana reform across the state and prepared us for a much bigger target, statewide reform. I was able to help draft the language for bills to legalize first medical and then adult use of cannabis in Missouri, which would become Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution. Not many individuals get the opportunity to shape laws by drafting a constitutional amendment, and I am proud to have contributed to successfully creating two that voters across Missouri approved.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Reform efforts are difficult, with marijuana reform efforts especially so. America has been fed many outright lies and propaganda for decades regarding cannabis; it takes time to right those wrongs. One struggle that always remains is misinformation. Education is the key, and finding creative ways to push facts and information out to the community is critical. During campaigns, battling these myths and stereotypes created by false information is a constant struggle. After legalization, we must ensure accurate information is available from reputable sources. Another struggle after legalization is ensuring that the community is not hurt by newfound “experts” providing half-truths, misleading information, or shady products.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a mom, first and foremost. It’s my most important job and the one I value most. I also am a small business entrepreneur, cannabis advocate, and community leader. I specialize in advocating to change laws locally and statewide. As the Executive Director of NORML Kansas City, one part of my work I am most proud of is creating a language for parental protections for marijuana patients. This was near and dear to my heart because my ex tried to use my marijuana advocacy against me in family court after researching horror stories in other states of children being taken away from a parent simply because they were marijuana patients. I knew I had to take a stand and prevent this from happening in Missouri. I created a language based on bills and language that had successfully worked in other states. As an organization, we worked with local attorneys and lawmakers to have the bills filed with the legislature on our behalf. While our bill died on the Senate floor, I was not about to let that be the end. I ensured our language was included in drafting Amendment 3 (adult-use), and those protections are now included in Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am an avid traveler and have been across the country with my family. When we travel, I try to stay in historic hotels and BnBs and seek to learn about the history of a city or region. We have stayed in hotels restored to their 1800s grandeur and seen countless locations where our nation’s history was built. We also enjoy seeing libraries on our travels and tend to stay slightly off the beaten path. In addition to being the Executive Director of NORML KC, I also manage Higher Design, a T-shirt design company my partner and I created in 2020. Our gear is cannabis-centric, with our brand geared toward the marijuana consumer and supporter. I think this market is underserved, and fashionable shirts on the backs of those least expected often help destigmatize notions of the cannabis consumer. Seeing our designs in public, or even hearing the countless “I love your shirt” comments when wearing a Higher Design shirt, helps spread the idea that cannabis use IS normal (and NORML) and also provides a connection to that person, a way of letting me know “we’re part of the same community.”

Contact Info:

• Website: NORMLkc.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/normlkc?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: Higherdesignkc.com