When It Comes To Medical Cannabis Activists, Steven Stairs Is A Step Up
The Loud Voice Who Refused to Go Quiet
In every movement, there’s always that one unmistakable voice; the person who doesn’t wait for permission, doesn’t soften their tone, and doesn’t apologize for caring too much. In Manitoba’s cannabis community, that voice belongs to Steven Stairs, a legally blind medical‑cannabis patient who turned personal struggle into public momentum. For nearly twelve years, Stairs has been the province’s loudest, most persistent advocate for medical cannabis access, industrial hemp reform, and full cannabis legalization.
Today, he serves as Chairperson of the Cannabis Business Association of Manitoba (CBAM) and the lead organizer of Winnipeg 420‑Eve, but those titles only hint at the depth of his influence. Stairs is one of those rare figures who bridges the gap between grassroots activism and industry leadership; a man who can speak to regulators in the morning and rally thousands of cannabis supporters by afternoon.
A Childhood Shaped By Vision Loss And A Future Shaped by Cannabis
Stairs was born legally blind, though the severity of his condition wasn’t fully recognized until later in childhood. He grew up as “the kid who couldn’t see the board,” navigating school with thick glasses, eye patches, and the kind of social challenges that come with being visibly different.
Cannabis entered his life the way it enters many teenagers: socially, casually, without any grand medical revelation. But looking back, he recognizes that those early experiences helped him cope with the anxiety and isolation that came with progressive vision loss. The plant didn’t just ease symptoms; it helped him find a strong community to flourish in.
By 2008, a friend jokingly suggested he apply for medical marijuana. Stairs did what any curious young patient would do: he researched the Health Canada program, printed the forms, and brought them to his eye specialist. The doctor signed, with a stern reminder to keep using his prescribed eye drops, and Stairs became one of only 5,600 medical cannabis patients in Canada at the time. That number would explode to 45,000 by 2013, but Stairs was already ahead of the curve.
From Patient to Advocate: The Birth of Manitoba’s Loudest Voice
Advocacy wasn’t a career choice for Stairs, it was a necessity. As he began using cannabis medicinally, he saw firsthand how misunderstood the plant was, how inaccessible the system could be, and how many patients were left behind by outdated regulations.
His early activism took root at the University of Manitoba, where he served as the disabled student representative. In 2011, he even secured written permission from the university’s legal department allowing him to vape medical cannabis in class; a groundbreaking accommodation that made headlines years later when Manitoba attempted to restrict vaping in public spaces.
That same year, Stairs attended Winnipeg’s 420 gathering at the Legislative Building. What he found was disorganized, stereotypical, and far from the cultural celebration he knew existed in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Instead of walking away, he decided to rebuild it.
With a $500 student‑council grant, he rented a bus, printed signs, and organized a police‑escorted march from City Hall back to the Legislature. It was the first step in transforming Winnipeg 420 from a scattered meet‑up into a legitimate cultural event. Over the next several years, Stairs and a growing committee of volunteers turned Winnipeg 420 into a full‑scale festival. By 2018, the final 420 before legalization, the event featured: road closures, music performances, food trucks, public speakers, and politicians.
Both legal and legacy cannabis vendors sharing space
It was the last moment before legalization when the “old world” and “new world” of cannabis stood side by side. Stairs remembers it as a rare, beautiful merging of cultures; dab bars next to corporate booths, activists next to industry leaders, all celebrating the same plant.
The pandemic slowed public gatherings, but Stairs insists the spirit of 420 remains essential. Legalization didn’t end the need for protest; it simply changed the issues. Now the fight is about medical access, fair regulations, and ensuring cannabis is treated as a legitimate part of Canadian life and not a tolerated inconvenience to have to work around.
The Advocate Who Doesn’t Back Down
Stairs has never shied away from controversy. When Manitoba proposed broad vaping restrictions in 2015, he warned that medical cannabis patients would be unfairly punished. “You wouldn’t force somebody to take an insulin needle out on the street corner,” he told CBC.
When residents complained about odor from large grow operations, he didn’t defend criminal misuse of medical licenses, but he fiercely defended legitimate patients. He argued that the city’s proposed solution (forcing medical grows into industrial zones) was unconstitutional, impractical, and harmful to sick people. His stance was clear: Fix the real problems, don’t punish the people who rely on cannabis to live healthy lives.
The Cannabis Business Association of Manitoba: A New Chapter
As legalization matured, Manitoba’s cannabis landscape changed dramatically. The province now has over 125 licensed stores, representing more than 50 companies. With so many stakeholders (retailers, producers, educators, and consumers) Manitoba needed a unified voice. He founded the Cannabis Business Association of Manitoba (CBAM) to represent local industry interests, advocate for sensible regulations, and ensure cannabis businesses had a seat at the table. CBAM is grassroots by design, built to reflect the province’s unique cannabis culture rather than national corporate priorities.
Stairs’ leadership style blends activism with diplomacy. He’s loud when he needs to be, strategic when it matters, and always grounded in the belief that cannabis (medical or recreational) should be accessible, affordable, and understood.
Some people assume legalization ended the cannabis fight. Stairs disagrees, and he’s right.
Legalization solved one problem and created several new ones. Medical cannabis still lacks proper recognition and DIN numbers. Municipal bylaws often contradict federal rights. Patients face stigma, workplace barriers, and inconsistent access. Recreational consumers still navigate uneven rules and high prices. Hemp remains underdeveloped despite its massive industrial potential.
Stairs argues that advocacy is more important now than ever, because the public thinks the battle is over. In reality, the cannabis community is still pushing for fair laws, better education, and a cultural shift that treats cannabis like any other wellness or lifestyle choice.
A Loud Advocate in a Quiet Province
Manitoba isn’t known for loud activism. It’s a place where people tend to keep their heads down, work hard, and avoid making waves. That’s exactly why Stairs stands out, and why he’s so effective. He’s the advocate who shows up. The organizer who builds community. The patient who speaks truth to power. The leader who refuses to let cannabis progress stall out. His voice carries because it’s authentic. It comes from lived experience, medical necessity, and a decade of fighting systems that weren’t built with cannabis users in mind on any level.
Stairs believes the future of cannabis in Canada is bright; not because the government will fix everything, but because the community will keep pushing. He sees progress in medical research, psychedelics policy, and shifting public attitudes. He sees opportunity in industrial hemp, small‑scale cultivation, and local entrepreneurship. Most importantly, he sees a movement that still needs its loud voices; and he’s not going anywhere. Because Steven Stairs represents what cannabis activism looks like when it’s done right: Human. Honest. Persistent. A little rough around the edges, but always grounded in compassion.
His story resonates with anyone who wants to end medical cannabis prohibition, expand recreational legalization, and build a future where cannabis is treated with the respect it deserves. If you care about cannabis, hemp, or the fight for legalization - this is a story worth sharing.
