The Chronic Magazine – April 2023 Out now in print & online
Will Stolk and Alec ‘Craze’ Zammitt Take a Stand Against Cannabis Laws in Australia
For the past six years, former professional skier Will Stolk has been a driving force for cannabis legalization as part of his “Who Are We Hurting?” collective. His unwavering commitment and determination have enabled him to make progress in an often challenging environment where opponents are eager to block reform efforts every step of the way.
Will’s Advocacy for cannabis and the “Who Are We Hurting” collective, have pushed him to the front of the Australian cannabis industry and even abroad. Will and his fellow advocate and friend Alec “Craze” Zammitt’s most recent act of civil disobedience was to project cannabis art and the words “Who Are We Hurting?” onto Sydney’s iconic landmarks – including The Opera House and Harbor Bridge on 4/20 of this last year. They were later arrested for their actions but will be attending court in late August to face charges against them.
Will’s advocacy has been going on for much longer, it goes as far back as the first time he tried this miracle plant. When Will was 15 he attended a ski training camp in Canada and had his first experience with cannabis. He fell in love immediately and remembers enjoying how cannabis made everything he did seem “better.” Not only did cannabis improve his daily activities it also led to him meeting many “wonderful and important people” in his life. People who also share his passion for the plant and its many benefits both medically and recreationally as much as he does.
Will goes on to say, ” I think I wouldn’t have this incredible life or the supportive people around me if the plant never existed.”
Alec “Craze” Zammitt’s story is a little different from Will’s, in 2020 entrepreneur Zammitt’s hard-fought success was toppled by a roadside test conducted by law enforcement. After taking a positive roadside test that found traces of cannabis in his system, the former owner and operator of a private security firm had to face its consequences – with authorities revoking his license and leaving him unable to continue operating the business.
Zammitt and his attorney Mark Davis of Sydney City Crime have challenged the NSW Government’s mobile drug testing program results claiming that any positive test for drugs was likely due to cross-contamination from a medicinal cannabis patient – namely, his partner.
An expert doctor in the field has concluded that cannabis found in a Zammitt’s system after being tested, could have been transferred from an innocent kiss shortly before driving. Consequently, Zammitt was given two no-convictions and permitted to keep his license. Yet NSW Police have still revoked his business license leaving Zammitt, a high-profile activist, a reason to believe he was a target due to his protests.
Davis, Zammitt’s attorney, stated “This has become a de facto means of drug testing all citizens, and they’re doing it through licensing.”
Alec Zammitt infront of End Evidence-Free RDT billboards in Sydney, Australia.
The NSW Government’s mobile drug testing program has been placed under the microscope following a study conducted by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at University of Sydney revealing drastically differing timeframes between cannabis impairment and how long its traces can remain in one’s system. Researchers found that an individual could be impaired from consuming marijuana for three to ten hours, yet it still may show in their body weeks later.
I had the opportunity to speak with Craze and ask him a few questions about his life and how he ended up where he is today.
