Justin ‘J’ Reid is a local spoken word artist and activist. He first got involved with 10C while looking for a safe, welcoming space to host a cannabis education event. A fellow community member recommended he check it out, and from his first visit, felt aligned. He had the chance to connect with staff and shared not just the space itself, but the values, people, and work that make 10C what it is.
When it came time to bring HighR Catering & Pattie Mon into the community, choosing the Nourish Kitchen was a no-brainer for J. Having direct access to community, within a space rooted in support, collaboration, and care, felt like the right way to launch and grow. It allowed their work to be supported right out of the gates, not just as a business, but as part of a larger ecosystem.
The social change that J is working towards is culturally shifting how we understand and interact with cannabis in everyday life, from stigma, to spectacle, to education, care and intentionally use. Through cannabis sommelier led dinners, festival’s and public talks, J creates spaces where cannabis is approached the same way that we approach art, food and wine, with respect, context and responsibility. J’s ultimate goal is to, normalize access, support mental health, and reestablish cultural knowledge that’s long been marginalized and criminalized for decades.
J shows up with integrity and sharing knowledge that hopefully sparks something in others – he believes if enough people do the work themselves, the world would shift naturally.
J will be selling his Pattie Mon gourmet Jamaican-style patties from classic beef to jerk chicken and vegetarian on Wednesday February 18, stop in between 11:30am and 1pm at the Nourish Cafe at 42 Carden Street.
