By: David M. Jolley
On November 26, 1997, in High Creek Canyon near Preston, Idaho, a pleasant autumn day took an unexpected turn for 13-year-old Zac King. Engaged in a friendly game of paintball at the family cabin on the eve of Thanksgiving, Zac’s day was marred by an unfortunate accident. A paintball struck his eye accidentally, causing a detachment of his retina. To address the excruciating pain and seek restoration of his vision, Zac underwent surgery and was prescribed opioids and steroids. Despite these efforts, his vision remains limited to this day.
However, it was this tragic incident that served as the catalyst for Zac’s transformation into a medical cannabis advocate. Around the same period, one of Zac’s friends introduced him to cannabis, enlightening him about its potential benefits. Zac’s friend shared how cannabis provided relief when he was unwell or struggling with physical ailments. Intrigued, Zac decided to try cannabis for himself. Upon experiencing its effects, he concurred with his friend’s perspective, stating, “When I used cannabis medicinally, it facilitated a mindful state that enabled me to contemplate various tasks and opportunities before me. It was during this pivotal time that cannabis and psychedelics aided me in releasing anxiety and embracing enlightenment, allowing me to respond to situations rather than merely react.”
Until the age of 17, Zac maintained his cannabis usage while juggling responsibilities at a fast-food restaurant and assisting on his family farm as well as other farms in Cache Valley. In 2003, at the age of 19, Zac received a calling to serve an LDS mission in Lubbock, Texas. Looking back, Zac acknowledges that cannabis played a role in his mission preparation, aiding him in grasping the concept of mindfulness, which he hadn’t fully comprehended at that time.
Despite the profound impact of Zac’s paintball injury, nothing could have prepared him for the greatest tragedy he would ever face—the sudden and tragic death of his wife. On November 8th, 2012, Zac’s wife, Jenna, passed away unexpectedly due to a severe reaction to the Ambien she had taken. Their marriage had lasted just 18 months when this devastating event occurred, leaving Zac overwhelmed with grief.
To cope with his immense pain, Zac turned to alcohol and cigarettes as a way to numb his emotions. Additionally, he was prescribed various pharmaceuticals to address his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and neuropathy. Unfortunately, these medications often left him feeling disconnected and detached, like a mere shell of himself.
Consequently, Zac made a conscious decision to minimize his reliance on pharmaceuticals and sought alternative methods to manage his conditions. He recognized the need to avoid the zombie-like state caused by the side effects and embraced a path that prioritized natural approaches to healing whenever possible.
In stark contrast, Zac never encountered any adverse side effects from using cannabis. On the contrary, it consistently provided him with positive, and at times, even spiritual experiences.
“When I would consume cannabis, it would elevate my perspective and encourage meditation, even when I wasn’t initially inclined to do so,” Zac expressed. He further noted, “Similar to a spiritual encounter, psychedelics have the ability to awaken dormant aspects of ourselves that may have been suppressed by physical or mental traumas.”
Zac’s experiences with cannabis not only uplifted his mindset but also revealed a deeper understanding of the potential for personal growth and healing that psychedelics can offer.
Furthermore, Zac developed the ability to differentiate between events in his life that were beyond his control, such as the loss of his wife, and those that were within his sphere of influence. As part of his journey, he engaged in an addiction recovery program, where he discovered a distinctive equilibrium by integrating plant medicine, mindfulness, and his faith in Christ.
Through this holistic approach, Zac found solace and gained a deeper understanding of his own healing process. The combination of plant medicine, mindfulness practices, and his spiritual beliefs allowed him to navigate his recovery with a newfound sense of balance and purpose.
In 2018, Zac actively participated in collecting signatures for Utah’s Proposition 2, an initiative aimed at legalizing medical cannabis within the state. Despite the proposition’s success, with 52.75 percent of the vote in favor, its implementation was short-lived. Shortly after, a special legislative session was convened, resulting in the introduction and subsequent passage of House Bill 3001 on December 3, 2018. This replacement bill proved to be considerably more stringent in its regulations compared to the original Proposition 2.
When asked about his reaction to the invalidation of the signatures he helped gather, Zac shared his perspective. He expressed that he believed it was simply a knee-jerk response rooted in fear. However, Zac found solace in the fact that through education, many people, including his family and friends, have undergone significant shifts in their understanding.
Zac recalled that initially, his family held a certain level of skepticism toward medical cannabis, despite their background in a farming community. It took him a few years to effectively educate them about the potential benefits of cannabis. Since then, they have been a consistent source of support, standing alongside Zac on his journey.
Despite the setback of the invalidated signatures, Zac remains optimistic about the power of education and the progress that can be made in changing perceptions surrounding medical cannabis.
Today, Zac resides in Bountiful, Utah, leading a sober life free from pharmaceuticals. He works as a plumber and actively advocates for medical cannabis as a representative of TRUCE (Together for the Responsible Use of Cannabis). Zac is also a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, finding harmony between his faith and advocacy.
It is worth noting that Zac’s sixth year of sobriety coincided with April 20th, a date often associated with cannabis culture (4/20). Reflecting on the journey he has embarked upon, Zac shared, “No matter what the day brings,” implying that he remains steadfast and committed to his path of recovery and advocacy, regardless of external circumstances.
Thoughts from a Utah Medical Cannabis Patient:
What is your preferred method of taking cannabis?
“I find great appreciation for the sublingual absorption of THC, CBG, and CBD tinctures, as well as the experience derived from using a dry herb vaporizer with terpene-rich flowers. From the captivating aroma to the overall effects, it truly enhances my enjoyment. Additionally, I indulge in concentrates due to their convenience and slightly stronger potency. Having experienced the underground cannabis scene for many years, I do miss the availability of hashish, and I believe it would be beneficial to have safer access to affordable live rosin and live resin. Decriminalization and the right to cultivate our own cannabis would also be welcome steps forward.”
What are your thoughts about Utah’s medical cannabis program? What would you change?
“Utah’s program has a lot of great things but also a long way to go in many areas. The biggest struggle that myself and many other patients have is affordability and safe access. It’s almost a pay to play program in many ways and can be very taxing physically and financially…. This program would be much better off if there were more licenses to cultivate medicine as well as more pharmacies and delivery for anyone and everyone over the age of 21 with any medical need instead of these qualifying conditions or the compassionate use board that decides if people can find access or not.”
