I was born in an old farmhouse right in the middle of the calving paddock at Dundee Farm, near Barrington in New South Wales. These days I live in Queensland and have spent most of my life here.

Unlike a lot of people in the Legalise Cannabis Party, I’m not a typical consumer. I’ve only recently started using CBD to help manage my ADHD. I was diagnosed as an adult and I don’t take pharmaceuticals. As for the psychoactive side of cannabis, I’ve never been a regular user. People have always assumed I was, but those who really know me understand that’s not the case.

The truth is, I don’t react well to altered states of mind. That includes alcohol, nicotine, anything really. I’ve always been that way, and it became more intense after a traumatic experience in my late twenties when I lost my partner to suicide.

I didn’t have a big moment of discovering cannabis. It was always just part of the world around me. I’ve spent my life surrounded by people who self-medicate and I’ve always supported their right to do so.

But for me personally, prohibition caused a lot of harm.

Back in 2011, I was charged with producing cannabis. I ended up with a fine and a good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded. At the time I was living out west with my kids in a bus, with no mobile service. I wasn’t able to contact Blue Card Services to explain what happened, and as a result I lost my working with children clearance.

In 2022 I applied to have that decision reviewed. I’d completed a counselling qualification and wanted to use what I’d learned to help others. But while that was going on, I got pulled over and tested positive for THC — the first and only time I’ve ever had that happen. There was also a lot of stress in my personal life, and I ended up being labelled a substance abuser and a danger to children.

That label hurt. It didn’t reflect the reality of who I am. I’m someone with PTSD who has worked hard to heal. I’ve done the work. I found peace, I found purpose, and I wanted to share that with others.

It was during that time that I joined the Legalise Cannabis Party and started volunteering. My experience made me realise how many others have lost their careers, their income, and their identity because of non-violent cannabis charges.

We are good people. We’re not out to harm anyone. We want to work and give back. There’s so much talent being wasted while the community is crying out for workers.

We’re not criminals. We just want to be part of society.