Interview by Joseph A. Bondy, Board Chair, NORML

“I didn’t think this would be my cause,” Zeke Thomas says with quiet conviction. The acclaimed DJ, producer, and outspoken advocate didn’t set out to become a voice for survivors of sexual assault. But over the past decade, his journey of recovery has transformed him into a beacon of truth and transparency.

Zeke’s story is one of courage, trauma, creativity—and healing. An Emmy-nominated artist and son of NBA legend Isiah Thomas, he first turned to cannabis as a young man trying to connect socially. What began as casual use later evolved into something much more profound: a powerful tool in his path to reclaiming control and rebuilding his life after surviving sexual assault twice—once at age 12 and again at 27.

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and NORML is appreciative to highlight Zeke’s story—a story that doesn’t just illuminate the healing power of cannabis but also breaks the silence around trauma, especially among male and queer survivors.

Zeke joined me for an intimate and far-ranging conversation about what recovery looks like, why plant medicine has been central to his healing, and how advocacy has become his path forward.

Cannabis as Recovery: A Personal Transformation

“Cannabis is a natural recovery tool for trauma,” Zeke says. “Whether that’s sexual trauma, drug abuse, or bad relationships… In this healing journey post-assault, I feel like I was a completely different individual then than I am today.”

Now 36, Zeke reflects on his relationship with cannabis with a sense of clarity and intention. Like many, his first encounter with the plant wasn’t about healing but fitting in.

“I don’t think I ever wanted to get high,” he recalls. “I wanted friends. I was just trying to find a friend group.”

Through college and into his early music career, cannabis remained part of his social life. But even as he produced tracks like the powerful single “BLACKNESS,” Zeke began to realize that he was also using the plant to manage his anxiety—and eventually, his trauma.

“I wasn’t a joint-roller,” he says. “I wouldn’t take a joint on the run. I was just an inside smoker. There were portions of my life where I used cannabis solely to be creative. But later, I understood it as a self-regulation tool.”

Surviving, Suppressing, and Speaking the Truth

Beneath the music and media appearances (notably on Good Morning America and MTV’s Catfish, among others), Zeke carried a heavy burden. He was first sexually assaulted at 12 years old, a trauma he mostly kept hidden for years.

“We moved cities shortly after it happened,” he says. “I told my mom, but we just kept going. I didn’t speak about it again until college.”

Zeke didn’t speak to his father about the first assault until he was 27—after the second occurred. “My mom told him [about what happened when I was 12]. I don’t remember ever having a conversation about it until then. And honestly, I didn’t even fully understand it at the time. I hadn’t developed sexually yet. I didn’t know what it meant.”

Navigating identity, trauma, and healing as a queer man presented additional layers.

“As I stepped into being a queer man,” he explains, “I had to process my relationship with sex, and my relationships with dominance and submission. I’ve had moments of discomfort around intimacy with men. The fear is in the vulnerability—giving up control.”

Breaking the Silence, Building Community

Zeke’s willingness to speak out is part of what makes him a groundbreaking figure in queer activism. He became the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s first male spokesman and has since garnered honors from NYC Pride, GLAAD, the Ruth Ellis Center, and QueerX.

He’s painfully aware of the silence that surrounds male survivors. According to statistics from the NSVRC, 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced sexual assault, yet fewer than half report it. 

 “We need to erase the shame and build community through storytelling,” he notes.

To that end, Zeke launched the “Talk About It” campaign on April 15th with the re-release of his single “Love Me Sober” (featuring Lé Art), paired with a powerful video series of open conversations with artists and advocates about their experiences with trauma and recovery.

The series features Grammy-winning producer Anthony Preston, choreographer Laurieann Gibson, celebrity stylist Cesar Ramirez, activist Adam Eli, model Cheyenne Parker, designer Onch Movement, and more. It’s executive produced by Zeke alongside EJ Jamele of crowdMGMT and actor Louie Torrellas.

Zeke emphasizes that these conversations center not just on healing, but also on preserving protections for vulnerable communities.

“Sexual violence awareness is a DEI issue,” he says. “When DEI initiatives get stripped from schools and workplaces, survivors—especially queer and BIPOC survivors—lose their visibility and protections. We get pushed back into the margins. We need space to be seen and heard.”

The Plant as a Partner in Healing

Today, cannabis plays a consistent role in Zeke’s wellness. Over time, his use shifted from occasional smoking to a structured, supportive tool—alongside therapy and, more recently, ketamine infusions.

“I’m fully functional now,” he says. “I self-medicate; I self-regulate. I have a cannabis vape I use throughout the day. It’s almost like having a little security blanket in my pocket.”

He’s moved from anxiety-driven use to a balanced routine, favoring concentrates and vaping over smoking joints. “I still have a bong at home,” he grins. “But I’m a concentrates guy now.”

Creative Recovery: Writing, Music, and Meaning

For Zeke, healing is also creative. Cannabis often serves as his catalyst to write, think, and reflect.

“Talk more, write more, while using cannabis,” he encourages. “See how it inspires you. Even if it starts socially, cannabis can evolve with you. It’s okay to see your use in stages. We all have different needs—social, artistic, medical. We’re all working toward some form of recovery.”

He quickly reminds us that recovery isn’t linear but always forward.

“Recovery happens,” he says. “It’s not a straight line. But we all end up walking toward the same goal.”

By sharing his truth, Zeke Thomas doesn’t just heal himself—he helps others heal, too. At NORML, we’re honored to have Zeke as part of our Advisory Board and prouder still to support his mission. By choosing to talk about it, he’s making space for others to do the same—and proving that recovery, with community and cannabis, is always within reach.

Artrix, a leading brand in cannabis vaporization technology, announces the launch of its new high-conductivity ceramic vape hardware series — the Lilcube postless disposable line. Designed to meet the demands of consumers seeking high-quality vaping experiences, this series enhances both safety and performance. The Lilcube series caters to premium concentrates such as Live Resin and Live Rosin, offering two device options: the Lilcube and the Lilcube Pro with a display screen for more precise control and upgraded capacity. The innovative series helps cannabis brands optimize performance, meet the evolving consumer demands, and expand their market reach.

Currently, ceramic heating technology has become the mainstream choice for cannabis vaporization. With the ongoing development of cannabis consumption, an increasing number of consumers are turning to premium, natural cannabis concentrates. However, traditional vaporizer devices often struggle to effectively vaporize thicker concentrates like live rosin and liquid diamond, which are rich in terpenes and other essential aromatic compounds. This technology limitation hinders product compatibility and restricts brands from further expanding into the high-end market.

“We continuously receive feedback from cannabis professionals who are seeking a professional device specifically designed for high-end concentrates, but they face challenges with traditional suppliers,” says Taric Lee, Chief Product Officer at Artrix. 

“Traditional ceramic heating technologies still have significant room for improvement in terms of ceramic material ratios, micro-hole structure, and heating element design.

“Cannabis companies should be able to utilize the exact hardware they need to deliver the most authentic taste and purest aroma, whether they are using live rosin or distillate.”

Empowering Innovation for High-End Vaping Experiences

To better support cannabis brands in exploring the high-end market, Artrix leverages over ten years of expertise in ceramic heating technology and professional knowledge to upgrade its vaporization technology. The newly developed generation of high-conductivity heating element offers a threefold optimization: “high oil conductivity, high heat conductivity, and high vaporizing efficiency,” significantly improving compatibility with a wider range of cannabis extracts while greatly enhancing flavor purity and efficiency.

The Lilcube series features newly developed high-conductivity ceramic heating cores, which improve the product’s compatibility with various cannabis concentrates. Whether it’s traditional distillate, live resin, liquid diamond, or thicker extracts like live rosin, Lilcube ensures stable and efficient atomization output. Additionally, the postless design reduces metal contact risk while allowing consumers to visually monitor the quality and changes of their cannabis concentrate. This design is intended to provide a purer, safer vaping experience.

The Lilcube series not only brings a comprehensive innovation in vaporization technology but also introduces various product design and functional advancements.

The Lilcube, a youthful and lightweight disposable vape, offers 0.5mL and 1.0mL capacity options and weighs just 21.3g—about the weight of a single AA battery, making it highly portable. Unlike the mainstream pen-style or flat-shaped devices on the market, Lilcube features a simple, playful, and unique box shape that resonates with Gen Z and younger audiences.

The upgraded Lilcube Pro offers 1.0mL and 2.0mL capacities, meeting the needs of high-frequency users who seek longer battery life and better cost-efficiency. The added digital display shows battery levels and temperature, enabling users to better control the vaping experience and enhancing the overall ease of use.

The Lilcube high-conductivity ceramic vape series is now available on the Artrix website, with brand customization options, including shell color combinations, finishings, and logo customization, helping clients build differentiated market competitiveness.

Visit the Artrix website to explore more product details and collaboration opportunities. Start your high-end vaping experience today with us.

The Florida House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill that would exempt military veterans from state registration fees for medical marijuana cards, allowing them to obtain the certifications for free.

After moving through committee earlier this month, the full chamber passed the legislation from Rep. Alex Andrade (R) in a 110-0 vote on Friday.

As originally filed, the measure would have made more significant changes to the state’s existing medical cannabis program, for example allowing home cultivation as well as reciprocity for out-of-state patients. But the House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee replaced its language with a two-page substitute that instead would make only small changes to the medical program.

First, it would change how often patients need to renew their medical marijuana cards, from the current annual process to once every two years.

Second, it would waive the $75 registration and renewal fees for veterans, specifying that the state “may not charge a fee for the issuance, replacement, or renewal of an identification card for a qualified patient who is a veteran.”

On the floor, Rep. Daryl Campbell (D) thanked the sponsor for introducing the reform measure, saying “our veterans need medical marijuana cards often at rates higher than the general population, and it’s great that you are helping to ease the financial burden for them on this bill.”

He added that the legislation “reduces the red tape, and it also ensures that people can spend more time benefiting from medical marijuana, instead of navigating complicated procedures to access this.”

If HB 555 becomes law, the changes would take effect July 1.

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The Senate this month also passed a bill that would restrict hemp-derived THC products, including popular THC-infused beverages.

Among other changes, that proposal would forbid any amount of synthetic cannabinoids, including delta-8 THC. The amount of delta-9 THC in hemp-derived products, meanwhile, couldn’t be more than five milligrams per serving or 50 milligrams per container.

Also in the Senate this month, the chamber passed a wide-ranging agricultural bill that contains provisions to outlaw fungal spores that produce mushrooms containing psilocybin or psilocin. The vote came a day after a House committee advanced a companion bill in that chamber.

Rhode Island Lawmakers Take Up Bill To Require Healthcare Facilities To Allow Medical Marijuana Use By Terminally Ill Patients