A dozen years ago, Stone Slade captured the audience’s hearts as a charming, hunky dad on A&E’s hit show Modern Dads. However, behind the scenes, he admits that his portrayal as a stylish “single dad” wasn’t entirely true, as he was already in a relationship with the woman who would become his wife. The show gained high ratings, serving as the lead-in to what was then America’s most-watched program, Duck Dynasty, yet it only lasted a single season due to tensions among the cast members that spilled over off-screen.
“Being on it made me hate watching reality TV,” reflects Slade, who gained a firsthand understanding of the reality format and its often contrived nature. Still, this experience ignited his passion for performing in front of the camera, which he has now merged with his long-standing passion for cannabis.
Over a shared joint, I asked him about his cannabis use during his time as a father on television. With a laugh, he revealed, “I’ve been a pot smoker since I was 13. My only tolerance breaks were a couple six-month stints on probation.”
Reflecting on the cannabis culture of his youth, Slade reminisced about the weed scene in Austin during the Eighties. “A lot of compact, gross bud came through Austin back in those days,” he recalls. He chuckled, remembering how he would occasionally steal cannabis from his father, who introduced him to what he refers to as “true skunk weed.” “Cannabis was just something that was normal for me, and my dad had that true skunk weed, which doesn’t really exist anymore… but I can still smell it,” he said fondly.
Stone’s father, Ray Slade, had a colorful past, connecting with the Grateful Dead fraternity as a member of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters. Ray earned a reputation for orchestrating trips from California into Mexico during the Sixties and Seventies, sourcing top-tier cannabis, with members of the Grateful Dead often tagging along.
Eventually, Ray’s adventurous lifestyle caught up with him. He was arrested during a sting operation for purchasing a pound of marijuana, resulting in a five-year prison sentence. This event profoundly impacted the family, particularly Stone, who was a junior in high school when his father was incarcerated for a substance that has now become legal in many parts of the United States.
Years later, after Ray was diagnosed with terminal cancer, cannabis came full circle in their relationship. “Cannabis edibles allowed my father to live out his last days with dignity,” Stone recalled. The typical pain medication, Dilaudid, left Ray in a zombified state, whereas cannabis provided him the comfort he needed. In a fitting twist of fate, Ray passed away at 4:20 PM on November 2, coinciding with the Day of the Dead.
These formative experiences have significantly influenced Stone Slade’s current endeavors. He has launched a pilot for a new show titled Hittin’ the High Road, a cannabis docuseries where he travels to legalized marijuana markets. The series aims to have deep and meaningful conversations with prominent individuals in the cannabis sector, including business leaders and government officials, as well as individuals who have found medicinal benefits from cannabis.
Describing his approach, Slade expresses a desire for authenticity. “There are so many depictions of cannabis users being the punchline, the funny stoner,” he said. “I love all that – I grew up on Cheech & Chong – but my goal is to normalize it.” He believes that illustrating the myriad of cannabis users, from moms to professionals, will help shift public perception.
With several episodes already shot, he aspires to secure a distribution deal to share these important stories widely. The debut episode is available on the show’s website, showcasing an insightful conversation with Colorado Governor Jared Polis. In this episode, Slade engages Polis in discussing the advantages of legalized cannabis and the benefits of regulation over prohibition, particularly for states still stuck in restrictive cannabis laws.
“Well, you know, we benefit from cannabis being illegal in Texas because people from Texas come to Colorado and go skiing and enjoy our dispensaries,” Gov. Polis remarks. He emphasizes how regulated cannabis helps keep the product safe for consumers and generates substantial tax revenue that funds public projects.
In addition to his new show, Slade is also an anchor for High at 9 News, a bipartisan daily cannabis news program that explores the top marijuana stories. As the Texas representative, Slade has dedicated significant time to covering the state’s legislative session, addressing misinformation about cannabis propagated by uninformed politicians, and advocating for informed discussions.
He has taken on the role of a cannabis activist, actively participating in state hearings where he has spent hours waiting to testify about his experiences and the importance of understanding cannabis’s impact on society. Stone Slade’s journey from reality television to cannabis advocacy illustrates a remarkable evolution driven by personal history, a commitment to normalization, and a mission to educate the public on the significance of cannabis in various aspects of life.
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