>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ >>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON ANOTHER EPISODE OF "THE WELCOME MAT."

KIA, WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> I´M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

>> DOING ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST THIS EVENING.

>> HI.

HELLO.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE?

>> I REALLY DON´T KNOW THIS LADY.

JUST KIDDING.

THIS HAPPENS TO BE MY MOTHER.

AKA, SISTER B.

SHE IS HERE TO JOIN US IN THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT LEGALIZATION.

>> NICE.

DO I CALL YOU SISTER B, MOM?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOU?

>> WHATEVER MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SISTER B.

LAST WEEK A NUMBER OF VIRGIN ISLANDS OFFICIALS, INCLUDING 12 SENATORS AND A GOVERNOR TRAVELED TO DENVER, COLORADO, FOR WHAT WAS COINED A VI SUMMIT TO GATHER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO COME TO OUR FINAL DECISION.

AS MOST OF US KNOW, THE TOPIC OF LEGALIZATION IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS BEEN DEBATED FOR YEARS.

SO MY QUESTION IS, AFTER ALL OF THE EDUCATION IS DONE, WHAT IS THERE STILL LEFT TO DEBATE?

>> DEBATE?

>> YEAH.

>> WHO OWNS THE INDUSTRY.

.

>> OKAY.

>> WHO OWNS THE INDUSTRY.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO WHO OWNS THE INDUSTRY AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, I GUESS, ECONOMIC THINGS THAT WE GET TO, LET´S JUST TALK STRAIGHT-UP MARIJUANA.

YOU USE?

>> I DO.

>> YOU USE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I NEVER USE.

WHY?

WHY SHOULD ANYBODY?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE PLANT IS USED AS MEDICINE, AND THAT WOULD BE WHY.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE´S NO OTHER REASON I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO USE IT.

THERE´S TWO REASONS THAT, FOR ME, ARE AN ABSOLUTE, AND THAT IS FOR MEDICINE AND FOR SACRAMENT.

WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT THOSE.

WE THINK SO MUCH ABOUT THE RECREATION, WHICH I USUALLY DON´T CALL IT THAT.

IN TODAY´S TERMS, IT´S KNOWN AS ADULT USE.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THAT KIND OF GUIDES YOU IN WHO´S ALLOWED TO USE.

SO FOR ADULT USE, YOU DON´T HAVE TO.

BUT FOR MEDICINAL AND SACRAMENTAL, YES.

>> I DON´T USE IT FOR ADULT USE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, BUT I DO AGREE IT SHOULD BE USED -- IT SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED FIRST AS A MEDICINE BECAUSE MY ADULT USE IS REALLY STEMMED FROM A HOLISTIC PLACE OF RELAXATION, MEANING TO JUST DEBRIEF, SIT BACK, GET CREATIVE, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, JUST RELAX.

>> SO -- OKAY.

SO I DON´T NEED TO SMOKE EVER?

>> I DON´T.

>> GENERALLY PEOPLE DON´T NEED TO SMOKE, BUT ME PERSONALLY, I FEEL LIKE I´M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE I KNOW THAT EXISTS WHO HASN´T.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO WHEN I SAY RECREATION, I THINK ABOUT FUN AND I THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO USE RECREATIONALLY FOR FUN, LIKE, HEY, I SMOKE.

OR UNFORTUNATELY, FROM MY VIEWPOINT, I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE ADDICTED TO MARIJUANA.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, SMOKE, WHATEVER LEFT FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

THEY GO TO WORK, MAYBE FUNCTIONAL, BUT AT WORK THEY SMOKE AND THEN COME HOME AND SMOKE AND EAT, AND THEN THEY BATHE, BRUSH THEIR TEETH, SMOKE, AND WHATEVER LEFT THAT EVENING, THEY WILL FINISH IT IN THE MORNING AND RUN IT BACK AGAIN.

>> ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVEN´T DONE THIS?

>> BUT THAT SOUNDS LIKE ADDICTION TO ME.

>> LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.

FIRST LET´S TALK ABOUT RECREATION.

WHEN A DOCTOR SAYS TO YOU, YOU KNOW, YOUR STRESS LEVEL IS HIGH, YOU NEED TO FIND SOME RELATION ACTIVITIES TO INDULGE IN, AUTOMATICALLY YOU THINK WHAT?

>> EXERCISE.

>> EXERCISE, TENNIS, WHATEVER, THE RELIEVE STRESS.

WELL, THERE´S A REASON RECREATION WAS GIVEN TO THIS.

TO TAKE AWAY ANY OTHER PURPOSE OF IT, AS WELL AS TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT IT´S JUST FUN.

BUT WHEN YOU DO EXERCISE, IT´S FOR YOUR HEALTH.

>> YES.

>> SO BEAR IN MIND FOR ME RECREATION FITS RIGHT ON THE MEDICINAL.

>> RIGHT ON THE HEALTH.

>> RIGHT ON THE MEDICINAL.

AS FAR AS THE ADDICTION IS CONCERNED, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY WHO HAVE HAD THYROID ISSUES, AND THEY FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE THEY SURGICALLY HAD THEM REMOVED OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THOSE GLANDS, THEY ARE STUCK ON ADMINISTRATION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE EVERY DAY.

>> AND THE MEDICATION, YOU PROBABLY HAVE SIDE EFFECTS.

>> AND ADDICTING.

>> AND ADDICTIVE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO LABEL IT ADDICTIVE, I WOULD PREFER TO BE ADDICTED TO THAT THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BUT I DON´T SEE IT AS ADDICTION, NOT TO THE PLANT, BUT PERHAPS THE PLACE IT TAKES ME.

>> ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER.

>> HOW?

DO YOU DRINK ALCOHOL?

>> NO.

>> MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT LEADS TO SOMETHING ELSE.

DOES IT?

>> IT DOES.

>> HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF USING OTHER DRUGS BECAUSE YOU USED ALCOHOL?

>> NO, BUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE REACT TO DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES.

KIA WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I´M JUST LIKE -- YEAH, I ALREADY LOST WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY.

>> I MEAN, SO -- >> I ENJOY IT.

>> OF COURSE.

THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER.

SO DRUGS AS A SUBSTANCE THAT IS CHEMICALLY MIND ALTERING, EVEN THOUGH ALCOHOL MAY NOT LEAD ME TO SNORT COCAINE, THAT DOESN´T SAY IT WON´T LEAD RA SHE MA TO DO IT.

SORRY RA SHE MA.

I DON´T PARTICULAR PRESCRIBE TO THE GATEWAY DRUG TABOO OF MARIJUANA -- >> OR ANY.

>> OR MAYBE ANY DRUGS, BUT STILL THE IDEA OF OUTSIDE OF ME USING IT FOR MEDICINE AND OUTSIDE OF ME USING IT FOR SACRAMENT OR RELAXATION, THE LEGALIZATION -- NOT THAT I´M AGAINST IT -- MAY OPEN THE DOOR FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY, HEY, LET ME JUST SMOKE.

>> WELL, I THINK THE LEGALIZATION OF ALCOHOL OPENS THE DOOR FOR AN ADULT TO GO TO A BAR AND SAY, I´LL TAKE THE DRINK AS OPPOSED TO MILK.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND HERE, SMOKING IS NOT THE ONLY INTAKE OF THIS PLANT.

>> THAT´S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO GO INTO.

>> WHEN WE THINK OF RECREATION, WE TEND TO THINK OF SMOKING.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO IT ADULT WISE FROM EDIBLES, TOPICALS OF ALL KINDS.

WHAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AS A YOUNG MAN -- >> YOU´RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE ME TO DO DRUGS?

>> NO, NO.

TO DO NATURAL IS WHAT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO.

BUT AS YOU MATURE IN LIFE AND SOME COMPLICATIONS COME YOUR WAY, WHICH I PRAY NOT , THAT YOU DON´T INCLUDE THE PLANT.

THAT´S WHERE YOU REALLY START TO VALUE IT AS A MEDICINE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE USE OF CANNABIS ISN´T JUST TO GET HIGH.

THERE´S ALZHEIMER´S, DEMENTIA.

>> CANCER.

>> CANCER, ADHD, DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, MS, I MEAN, THE LIST GOES ON.

>> AND THERE´S STRAINS OF THE PLANT THAT DOESN´T GET YOU HIGH.

SO YOU DON´T -- YOU DON´T -- THERE´S NOT ONLY ONE FUNCTION.

CBD OIL, CBD OIL.

>> THE CAN BIN NOIDS.

>> SO MUCH OF THE SCIENCE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW STARTED.

YOU WERE, LIKE, WHAT STARTED THIS?

I DID.

I STARTED THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I WANTED -- AND IT WASN´T A VERY EASY ONE.

I WAS GETTING DOORS SLAMMED IN MY FACE.

PEOPLE HANG UP, RADIO PERSONALITIES SAYING WE´LL NEVER TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, YOU KNOW.

AND I WAS PERSISTENT IN SAYING BUT WE´RE TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT DEVELOPED TO WHERE THE EDUCATION WAS ALLOWED.

>> I DON´T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT MY MOTHER REALLY WAS THE THE ONLY PERSON WITH HER MARIJUANA PRINT TIGHTS ON, THE MARIJUANA FLAGS, AND THE ORGANIZATION FLAG AND THE THE ONLY PERSON AT EVERY EVENT, LIKE, HEY, GUYS, IN EVERYONE´S FACE.

>> IN THE SAME CONVERSATION, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PUSHBACK COMES FROM MEMBERS OF SOME OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I´VE KNOWN PEOPLE -- NOT TO SAY RELIGIOUS AS IN JUST CHRISTIAN, RIGHT?

BUT SOME PEOPLE -- A LOT OF PEOPLE DEMONIZE THE MARIJUANA.

JUST AS PEOPLE KIND OF MAY EVEN SEE ALCOHOL AS AN INDULGENCE OF -- I HATE TO USE DEVIL BUT IT´S KIND OF LIKE -- >> THEY CALL IT THE DEVIL.

>> SO RELIGIOUS NOT EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF IT HAS BEEN THE ACTUAL -- PEOPLE LIVE REGULAR LIFESTYLES AND DO CONSIDER THEMSELVES RELIGIOUS OR WHICHEVER SECTION OF THE -- JUST THE IDEOLOGY IS SAYING, HEY, THIS IS GOING TO DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS GOING TO TURN PEOPLE INTO DIFFERENT THINGS ONCE EVERYBODY´S ABLE TO ACCESS IT.

>> I´VE NOT HAD THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE AMONG OUR COMMUNITY.

IN FACT, WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS MOVEMENT, THE PERSONS THAT I THOUGHT WERE GOING TO BE MY HARDEST SELL WHERE THE ELDERLY, THE AGED OF THE COMMUNITY.

AND I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED TO LEARN QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

THEY WERE THE ONES COMING AND PUTTING MONEY IN MY BUCKET AND TELLING ME -- I REMEMBER WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO DRINK IT IN HER TEA.

I REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER SITTING WITH HER CORN PIPE.

SO I DIDN´T GET THE PUSHBACK FROM THEM.

AND THEN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE CLERGY.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE CHURCHES.

AND ONCE THE EDUCATION CAME FORWARD, THE CHURCH MEMBERS REALIZED THEY GET SICK TOO.

THEY NEED THE MEDICINE THAT´S IN IT.

>> SO YOUR PUSH IS -- I MEAN, AS YOU SAID, ABOUT MEDICINE, AND NOT NECESSARILY LET´S JUST LEGALIZE WEED AND EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY.

>> LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY.

ONE OF THE RAS FARIAN I´VE NEVER ASKED PERMISSION TO SMOKE OR INDULGE.

THAT I THINK IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THAT.

WHAT I HAVE FOUGHT FOR IS THAT WE VALUE THE PLANT AS A MEDICINE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE HANDLE IT AS A MEDICINE, WE WILL THEN GET THE BENEFITS OF THE MEDICINE.

>> GOT YOU.

>> I THINK IT HAS DONE ENOUGH TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS, BUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

IT HAS DONE ENOUGH NEGATIVE, IT HAS PUT ENOUGH OF US BEHIND INSTITUTIONAL WALLS.

IT HAS TO STOP.

FOR NO REASON.

NOW PEOPLE ARE BUYING SHARES AND STOCKS IN IT.

>> PEOPLE PROFITING.

>> WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE STILL IN PRISON FOR THIS.

THERE´S A WHOLE LOT -- MY IDEA OF THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS REALLY STARTED WITH THE MEDICINAL NEEDS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THOSE AMONG US, INCLUDING MY OWN, MY SON, MY DAUGHTER, MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS.

BUT ALSO TO BUILD AN INDUSTRY.

MANY PEOPLE QUESTION WHY HAVE YOU BEEN AT THIS FOR SO LONG?

YOU COULD HAVE JUST DONE YOUR OWN THING, AND IT´S TRUE.

BUT AN INDUSTRY IS NOT BUILT BY ONE BUSINESS.

IT´S BUILT BY SEVERAL BUSINESSES.

>> THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS YET TO LEGALIZATION RECREATIONAL USE, BUT WE´VE SEEN THE USE CHANGE OVER THE YEARS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

WHY HAS THE PERCEPTION BEEN CHANGING?

>> THE EDUCATION.

I KEPT IS IT CONVERSATION GOING WHEN THEY DIDN´T EXPECT IT.

I´M SO PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD THE ONLY CANNABIS SHOW IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, RADIO SHOW, CANNABIS 101, AND SO MUCH MORE.

WHERE I DID -- WHERE DID THAT EDUCATION.

>> OKAY.

>> SO IT WAS BY VISITING MANY STATIONS AS WELL AS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT FOR HOURS WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND DIALOGUE AND EXPOSE THEM TO AREAS OF THE PLANT THAT THEY REALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND.

THE EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

>> THAT´S WITH ANYTHING.

LIKE, THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU KIND OF OPEN YOUR MIND UP TO KIND OF REACHING INTO DIFFERENT AVENUES OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, NOT SOMEONE THAT INDULGES, BUT SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES -- IF YOU COULD DO DRUGS, IT HAS BE BETTER TO DO THAT THAN CIGARETTES OR OTHER LEGAL DRUGS WE HAVE OUT THERE.

BUT BEYOND LEGALIZING, JUST THE RECREATIONAL USE, THERE MAY BE OTHER BENEFITS TO CANNABIS IF IT´S LEGAL.

SOME OF THE MIND-SET THAT IT MAY BOOST THE ECONOMY LOCALLY.

SO IF WE LOOK AT THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, IT MAY PRODUCE JOBS, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET IN WITH LOCAL FARMERS AND HAVE THOSE PEOPLE BE PRODUCERS.

HOW DO YOU THINK WE CAN KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOCALS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS VERSUS OTHER PEOPLE THAT JUST KIND OF HAVE MORE RESOURCES OF THAT LEGISLATION.

IT´S IMPORTANT THAT WE START WITH LEGISLATION.

THE SOCIAL EQUITY OF THIS INDUSTRY -- IT´S IMPORTANT THAT WE DESIGN THAT FOR THE LOCAL VIRGIN ISLANDSERS.

I HAD DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF WHO THOSE ARE OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF US BEING A U.S.

TERRITORY, THERE´S SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO FIT WITHIN.

I PUSHED FOR MANY YEARS -- MOST OF YOU THAT MAY HAVE SEEN ME ON SENATE HEARINGS AND DIFFERENT PLACES LIKE THAT OR EVEN ON THE RADIO KNOW THAT I´VE SAID 30 YEARS RESIDENCY, LET´S START THERE.

THAT SIMPLY MEANS YOU´VE BEEN THROUGH A FEW STORMS WITH US, YOU DEALT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU VESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> KIA, DO YOU THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN PLAY FAIR OR EVEN JUST REGULATIONS THAT WE SET AS A COMMUNITY -- FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT -- I´M NOT COMMENTING ON THE GOVERNMENT, BUT PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE.

DO YOU THINK IT´S POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE PROFITABLE LOCALLY AND NOT KIND OF HAVE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING IN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS?

>> CAN WE AND WILL WE?

THAT´S A DIFFERENT THING.

I´M GOING TO JUST BE FRANK BECAUSE I DON´T WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

>> HEY.

>> YOU KNOW, WE RARELY SEE PROFIT IN THE WAY THAT WE CAN FROM ANYTHING IN OUR INDUSTRY.

SO I FIND IT VERY -- I FIND IT REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATION OVER THIS INDUSTRY IS HEAVILY MANDATED, YOU KNOW?

BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAY, WILL WE SEE THE PROFIT THAT WE POTENTIALLY COULD?

THAT´S BIG QUESTION MARK.

>> HERE´S WHAT I´M THINKING.

I´M SORRY, LADIES.

I´M THINKING ABOUT -- THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT´S LOCAL.

WE´RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPORT WHATEVER MARIJUANA THAT WE GROW.

>> WHY NOT?

>> WELL, IT´S NOT LEGAL FEDERALLY.

SO THE AIRWAYS, THE WATERWAYS, THOSE THINGS PROBABLY -- POSSIBLY.

YOU COULD EDUCATE ME IF I´M WRONG -- CAN´T BE WHERE WE SAY THERE´S THIS BOX OF WEED GOING TO ST. THOMAS -- >> DEPENDS.

JAMAICA HAS BEEN EXPORTING TO URUGUAY FOR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER PLACES WITHIN OUR WORLD THAT EXCHANGE THIS PLANT FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES, FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

AND IT´S REALLY AN UNDERSTANDING THAT HAS TO BE MADE.

IF YOU´RE DISCUSSING SENDING IT TO JOHN OVER IN SO-AND-SO SO HE CAN SELL IT, THAT´S DIFFERENT.

>> THAT´S DIFFERENT.

>> AND THAT´S DIFFERENT.

IT IS BEING CHANGED RIGHT NOW AS CBD AND DELTA 8 PRODUCTS.

>> THOSE ARE BOTH LEGAL CANNABIS PRODUCTS THAT HAVE THC LEVELS IN THEM.

THEY´RE NOT ABSENT FROM IT.

IT´S JUST TO A CERTAIN LEVEL TO ENSURE THAT WE DO MEET THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

>> WHAT ABOUT -- SO WE DISCUSSED THAT OBVIOUSLY THE FLOWER IS NOT THE ONLY ASPECT OF THE PLANT.

THIS PLANT CAN ALSO CREATE PAINT.

IT CAN CREATE CONCRETE.

THERE´S AN INDUSTRIAL SIDE.

THERE´S HOMES BUILT FROM THE PLANT.

THERE´S CARS BUILT FROM THE CANNABIS PLANT.

>> FORD WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO BUILD A FULL CAR.

>> HOLD ON.

YOU´RE TELLING ME THEY MADE A CAR?

>> I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK IT UP.

FORD, YOU KNOW, FORD DEALERS, FORD CARS.

HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO BUILD AN ENTIRE CAR, TIRE, FUEL, EVERYTHING.

>> I KNOW THE HEMP IS -- YOU CAN MAKE FABRIC AND CLOTHES.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU CAN MAKE A COUCH.

>> THEY SHOW THE CAR AND THEY SHOW HENRY FORD HIMSELF HITTING THE CAR -- I´M NOT SURE IF IT´S A MALLET OR WHATEVER IT IS, TO SHOW DURABILITY FROM THE MATERIAL.

>> THAT´S CRAZY.

THAT´S GOT TO BE A LOT OF HEMP.

>> I SAY THAT TO SAY WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXPORT THE FLOWER, BUT WE HAVE LOTS OF LAND AROUND HERE TO MANUFACTURE MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN EXPORT.

>> AND DON´T NEED TO EXPORT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE COULD -- >> MORE COST EFFECTIVE.

>> CONSIDER THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LEKIA HAS HEARD ME EDUCATE ON OFTEN.

CONSIDER USING CANNABIS TO BUILD OUR HOMES.

WE DON´T NEED TO IMPORT CONCRETE ANYMORE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE WOULD SAVE ON BUILDING?

>> WHAT ABOUT A HURRICANE, THOUGH?

>> I HAVE SAMPLES OF IT THAT I BROUGHT AND HAD DEMONSTRATIONS ON IT.

IT´S EQUIVALENT TO 3,000 FEET.

ONE ACRE OF CANNABIS IN TWO GROWING SEASONS.

A GROWING SEASON IS 16 WEEKS, 14 TO 16 WEEKS.

THAT´S LESS THAN A YEAR YOU HAVE TWO GROWING SEASONS.

YOU WOULD HAVE BUILT ENOUGH -- YOU WOULD HAVE GROWN ENOUGH CANNABIS TO BUILD A 1,600 SQUARE FOOT HOME FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

>> WOW.

WOW.

>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE THAT HEMP-CRETE?

LIMESTONE AND WATER.

WHAT WE HAVE MUCH OF.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, ONE OF THOSE ISLANDS IS LIMESTONE, NO?

>> WE HAVE LIMESTONE IN OUR HILLS, ST. CROIX.

>> THAT´S CRAZY.

>> SO IT´S MORE THAN -- >> I FEEL LIKE -- YEAH.

I FEEL LIKE HE´S LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

>> NO BECAUSE -- ONE SECOND.

I AM -- IF THEY ASK ME TO PUSH THIS -- I´M THINKING ABOUT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, HEY, HUMANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO KIND OF DO WHAT THEY WANT, THE WEED WON´T KILL YOU EVEN THOUGH THE SMOKE MIGHT.

IT´LL JUST MORE DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

I AM ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN IT FOR MEDICINE.

I´VE SEEN THINGS WHERE CHILDREN GET EPILEPTIC SEIZURES AND WHEN THEY GET ON THE CBD MEDICATION, IT´S LIKE ALL THE SEIZURES ARE GONE.

SO THE ETHICS OF THAT TYPE OF STUFF FOR ME IS A LOT OF DON´T GIVE IT TO CHILDREN UNLESS IT´S MEDICINE.

WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A HOUSE FROM THIS STUFF AND IT´LL BE CHEAPER FOR ME, I´M A CHEAP GUY, SISTER B. I´M MR. CRAB.

YOU´VE SEEN "EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS" I´M CHRIS´ FATHER.

>> I´M TELLING YOU.

IT´S NOT WHAT WE COULD DO, IT´S BEING DONE.

AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BUILT IN NEW ZEALAND.

MOVED THE IS THE FIRST ONE WHO SAID, LOOK, WE´RE GOING TO BUILD AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY OUT OF IT, I MEAN, EVERYTHING, FROM THE SCHOOLS TO THE HOMES, JUST STRAIGHT-UP HEMP.

THEY STARTED IN 2012 AND THEY FINISHED BUILDING IN 2016.

VORPG ALL THINGS YOU CAN SEARCH FOR YOURSELF.

IT´S THE EDUCATION THAT WE´VE LACKED.

IT´S THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PLANT IS JUST A PLANT.

AND LIKE ANY OTHER PLANT, IT HAS MULTIPLE USES.

RECREATION HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THOSE WHO WANTED TO DEMONIZE IT SO THAT THEY COULD CONTROL IT, SO THAT IT COULD BE SOMETHING TO PUT YOUR SON IN PRISON, SO THAT IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT TAKES AWAY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE, YOU KNOW?

SO IT´S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE OUR MIND AWAY FROM JUST THE RECREATIONAL USE.

THERE´S ALSO A CRIME FACTOR THAT WILL REDUCE WHEN WE HAVE MORE FREEDOM IN THERE.

IT ACTUALLY CHANGES HOW CRIME LOOKS.

>> KIA, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY A LITTLE FUN FACT.

MARIJUANA WAS LEGAL.

IT WAS NEVER AN ILLEGAL THING UP UNTIL THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> IN FACT, IT WAS THE FIRST LAW EVER WRITTEN ON CANNABIS WAS THAT YOU HAD TO GROW IT OR YOU WOULD BE THROWN IN JAIL IN THE UNITED STATES.

IF YOU WANTED -- IF YOU WERE AN IMMIGRANT COMING FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY, COMING FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, YOU HAD TO GROW IT.

IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE SLAVES, YOU HAD TO GROW IT.

IT IS WHAT PAID TAXES.

SO IT´S INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE IT´S COME FROM.

THE BACK OF THE $10 BILL IS CANNABIS.

THE OLD $10, NOT THE NEW ONE.

IT´S CANNABIS PLANTS BEING FARMED AT THE BACK OF THE $10 BILL.

>> THAT´S INTERESTING.

>> SO WE´VE COME A LONG WAY WITH THAT CURVE OF BEING LEGAL TO ILLEGAL TO LEGAL TO ILLEGAL.

>> WHY WAS IT EVER OUTLAWED?

>> BECAUSE OF LARGE INTEREST DRUPES.

DuPONT WAS A BIG BENEFIT FOR THAT PLANT BEING ILLEGAL.

NOT JUST PAINT, PAPER, WOOD, PLASTIC, ALL THOSE PRODUCTS ARE MADE FROM CANNABIS.

PLASTIC.

AND IT WAS SO INTEGRATED IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE CANVASES THAT WE PUT ON OUR BOATS, THE ROPES WE TIED, THEY ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY NYLON.

THAT´S THAT DuPONT.

>> I ALSO HEARD THAT THEY MADE WEED ILLEGAL AND ALCOHOL LEGAL AROUND THE VIETNAM WAR BECAUSE THE SOLDIERS WERE JUST -- THEY HAD THE -- THEY HAD THE SYNDROME WHEN THEY WOULD SMOKE MARIJUANA.

SO IT TOOK THE DRIVE AWAY FROM THEM FIGHTING THIS WAR.

>> WELL, I´LL SAY, YEAH, IT PROBABLY DID CALM THEM DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> THAT´S WHAT I HEARD.

>> DURING THE VIETNAM WAR IT WAS A BIG PART OF THE SURVIVAL KIT FOR A SOLDIER.

>> DEALING WITH THE GRUESOMENESS OF WAR.

>> NOT EVEN JUST PAIN, AS YOU SEE A LOT OF NFL PLAYERS SAY, HEY, YOU COULD PRESCRIBE ME THIS STUFF, WHEREAS I COULD USE CANNABIS AND BE OKAY.

>> IN FACT, THERE´S A WHOLE MOVEMENT THAT IS REALLY TAKING GROUND NOW OF ATHLETES OF ALL KINDS, NOT JUST NFL, WHO HAVE SAID, LOOK, WE KNOW WHAT THIS DOES FOR US.

WHAT WAS HIS NAME?

>> MICHAEL PHELPS.

>> MICHAEL PHELPS, THE SWIMMER.

I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR BEGINNING THE CONVERSATION PUBLICLY WITH ATHLETES.

BUT IT HAS STEMMED SO MUCH FARTHER WITH SO MANY MORE.

AS I SAID, IT´S A HUGE MOVEMENT THAT´S REALLY TAKEN GROUND.

THE REALITY IS, THE PLANT IS A MEDICINE, NOT A DRUG.

ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN GIVEN THAT NEGATIVE CONNOTATION, IT IS TRULY -- IT´S ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS A HEALER OF THE NATION IN SO MANY WAYS.

>> I´M NOT SICK, SISTER B.

>> GIVE THANKS.

GIVE THANKS.

>> I MIGHT -- I DON´T KNOW.

MAYBE ONE DAY I MIGHT TAKE A PIECE OF A BROWNIE.

I MIGHT BE FEELING LIKE I NEED -- >> LIKE YOU´RE ON VACATION.

>> A SACRAMENTAL THING.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL EVERY EMOTION AT ONCE.

>> DIFFERENT STRAINS DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

JUST LIKE DIFFERENT HERBS -- THERE´S DIFFERENT STRAINS WITHIN THAT ONE HERB.

SO YOU HAVE, WHAT, INDY CA AND SATIVA, WHICH UPLIFTS YOU.

IT´S THE ONE YOU CAN FUNCTION ON.

YOU KIND OF EVEN OUT, YOU KNOW?

>> IT´S WHAT THEY CONSIDER THE HEAD HIGH.

THAT´S WHERE YOU GET CREATIVE.

THAT´S WHERE YOUR POSSIBILITIES INCREASE.

THAT´S WHERE YOU SEE ARTISTS EXPLORE THEIR BETTER SELVES.

>> FOR MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY, MOST SMOKE INDICA.

>> WHAT BLEND THEN?

>> BLEND?

BLEND SAN ISSUE.

>> BEING A TRAVELER, I´VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

LET´S BEAR IN MIND, BLEND IS TOBACCO, AND IT´S ALSO A PLANT.

MODERATION IS KEY.

AS FAR AS BLEND IS CONCERNED, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE HEAVY BLEND USER.

IN JAMAICA, THEY CALL IT GRABBA.

>> BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, I GOT TO CUT YOU OFF, SISTER B. WE´LL TALK ABOUT BLEND SOME OTHER TIME, THOUGH.

>> YEAH, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET INTO IT.

>> WE HAVE DEFINITELY HIT OUR TIME FOR TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO TUNED FOR THIS ONE SPECIAL CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MOM, FOR COMING AND JOINING ME ON THE COUCH, JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN.

HIT US UP IN THE COMMENTS.

SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR INSIGHT ON MARIJUANA OR MAYBE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, JUST JOIN US ON THE WTJX FACEBOOK PAGE AND KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

SEE YOU GUYS NEXT TIME.

♫♫ >>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.