I became an advocate for cannabis at the age of 8.

I was in 2nd grade at the time and was also an entrepreneur. On hot summer days after school I would load up my little red wagon with ice and soda and take it to construction sites across my town. Over the course of a few weeks I saved up $17 dollars.

At the time, my Mom was pregnant with my little brother and was due in 8 weeks. Sadly, during the pregnancy and throughout my childhood my mother was regularly beaten by my alcoholic father who would become angry after a few drinks.

I wanted that to stop and for my brother to come out ok so one day I asked her how much it cost to buy the weed that I would sometimes see my father smoking.

My mom freaked out, telling me, “Jackie! You are 8 years old, are you smoking drugs? Why are you asking about drugs?”

I told her that I noticed that unlike with drinking my father didn’t hit her when he smoked that stuff and I wanted to buy him some so my brother could be born ok.

These early observations on cannabis, which you can also watch me speak about here, likely played a role in sparking my passion for legalized cannabis as an advocate and business consultant for the cannabis ecosystem in rural Illinois and across the nation.

Before I launched my run for this IL-17, various people told me our campaign should not publicly support cannabis legalization. People were telling me it was a message that just wouldn’t work in rural Illinois.

I fundamentally disagree.

While I was knocking doors in Canton a few weeks ago, one of the houses along my route had big ‘Let's Go Brandon!’ and ‘Trump 2024’ signs on its lawn. Initially I skipped it not wanting to get into an argument about my policies with the homeowners. However, after knocking a few more doors on the block I had a change of heart.

I walked back to the house with the Trump signs and knocked on the door. The owner, an older woman answered the door, and I introduced myself. She did not like that I was a democrat but we talked about my family's history in the district, her church, and even found some common ground while talking about farming. The whole time we were talking I noticed a marijuana like odor coming from inside her home, so before I left I asked her if that was what I was smelling.

She told me it was and that she smokes for chronic back pain so she doesn’t have to take pain medications. When I asked her where she got it from, she said a friend at church!

It was then and there where I realized that cannabis is a bipartisan issue that unites Americans of all walks of life. The polling data agrees, now over 68% of Americans agree that we should legalize marijuana.

We need a people-first candidate that is willing to stand up to the corporate politicians in both parties who continue to uphold the federal prohibition of cannabis.

I believe in finding bipartisan solutions on legalization but if the GOP takes control of the house we can almost certainly expect another two year postponement of federal cannabis decriminalization. Will you help us hold our razor-thin majority and chip in $5 to help elect a rural-voice for legalization?

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