Controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans, who is a long-time campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis, has opened up about the extent of his own use of the drug.
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The My Kitchen Rules host admitted he’d first used the drug when he was a teenager in high school, during a segment on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night show.
“Like many of my peers, I first tried cannabis as a teenager at high school,” Pete admitted.
“We were worried about getting busted by our parents and the police,” he said, while claiming cannabis was “demonised as a dangerous gateway drug”.
During the show, Medical marijuana advocate Pete headed to Toronto, where cannabis was legalised for both medical and recreational use in 2018, and attended a cannabis high-tea put together by one of Canada’s most highly-regarded chefs and ‘pot pioneer’, Travis Peterson.
At the marijuana-infused dinner Pete was seen enjoying the banquet, where dishes were tailored to the level of ‘high’ he was looking for.
The Australian chef has been a vocal advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis and has long been promoting its uses via social media and TV.
After Sunday night’s show, Pete shared further details of his plight to his Instagram account.
“Many of the doctors, scientists, researchers, patients, parents, activists, organic regenerative growers we have interviewed, believe we should be able to grow this plant organically in our gardens in healthy soil, in sunlight, alongside other healing/medicinal plants/herbs to be used as food and or medicine in a responsible and respectful manner, if we choose to as discerning adults,” he shared.
“At the moment, companies are making a 500-1000% profit of medicinal cannabis and other cannabis industries are marking up this plant to be unaffordable for most.
“Often it may not be the best quality product that is available, and children and adults are dying because they cannot access or afford this plant due to the red tape and fear this country currently has.
“Some believe we should have it only medicinally, whereas others want it recreationally. This is a basic human rights issue and one that we will keep openly discussing until law reform happens in this country and until the costs come down for the people that need it most.
“It is not going to go away and the momentum is building. I am proud of tonight’s segment as it is a start in creating a much needed conversation in this country,” he said.
Pete is also working on his own documentary, The Magic Plant, which looks further into cannabis and its uses.
