This interview first appeared in the Sports Edition of Fat Nugs Magazine, released May 2024.
I got the opportunity to sit down with Will Stolk, a former professional skier and proud Australian advocate for cannabis. With a larger-than-life personality and a risk-seeking attitude made for the slopes, Will talks to Fat Nugs about his journey through skiing, cannabis, and what brought him to produce media and do some of the most significant cannabis publicity stunts Australia has ever seen.
An Interview with Will Stolk
How did you get into the world of weed?
My journey in skiing began when I moved to Switzerland at nine. My dad was involved in skiing and water skiing, which led us to various countries. Eventually, he became known for popularizing Mexican cuisine in Australia through his restaurants. My cannabis use started when I attended a summer camp in Whistler at 15, influenced by professional skiers who were also heavy weed smokers. My first time smoking was out of an apple pipe with my friends.
How did cannabis affect your skiing and lifestyle?
Cannabis became a significant part of my identity as a skier and professional athlete, mainly from the icons and images that professional skiers I looked up to people like Tanner Hall. There were a lot of rasta colors and suggestive imagery with cannabis that played a role in shaping my views of weed. It was common in the skiing community to consume cannabis, and it was integrated into the counterculture of skiing. My skiing style was also influenced by my cannabis use, focusing on style over technical complexity.
What started you off in bringing awareness about cannabis legalization in Australia?
In Australia, medicinal cannabis has been legal since 2016. The Australian capital territory, similar to Washington, DC in the USA, has decriminalized cannabis, allowing the growth of up to three plants per household. It’s pretty taboo everywhere else, though, for recreational use.
Can you tell us about your transition from skiing to cannabis activism and business?
After blowing my knee out three times, breaking my back twice, losing multiple friends to the sport, and losing interest in professional skiing, I shifted towards media and event management, eventually getting involved in the cannabis industry and movement. I started producing music videos, magazines, creative agencies, and other ventures. I started a cannabis dispensary near Mammoth Mountain in California and launched a CBD company. I’ve also been involved in various stunts to promote cannabis awareness, including the well-known Sydney Opera House stunt. We also set up a fake hydroponic grow setup on one of the busiest streets to make a statement; those types of stunts gave me the same adrenaline rush that skiing brought me.
What is your goal with cannabis advocacy and business?
My aim is full decriminalization and the establishment of a recreational adult-use market in Australia. I also want to build a significant cannabis conglomerate representing global cannabis culture.
How are you incorporating Australian cannabis culture into your business?
One of my brands, Byron Bay CBD, reflects Australian health and wellness culture, influenced by the famous Byron Bay area known for its natural beauty.
Are there any particular influences or inspirations for your cannabis activism?
My activism was partly influenced by street posters and guerilla marketing techniques. Australian stoner culture has always been suppressed and taboo, which motivated my efforts even more. Political satire comedy, particularly by Australian group The Chasers, also inspired some of my stunts.
What future plans do you have for cannabis policy advocacy in Australia?
I’m working towards complete decriminalization and establishing a thriving commercial cannabis industry in Australia to support social and infrastructure development. It’ll take some time, but the more pressure we put on people to think about and voice their concerns over cannabis laws, the closer we get to joining the industry.
