Received an Ontario Arts Council Recommender Grant for theatre creation 2019/2020 from Cahoots Theatre. 

Founded in 1986 in Toronto, Cahoots has been a dynamic force for culturally inclusive and innovative theatre. Celebrated for nurturing emerging talent and presenting groundbreaking new works that explore Canada’s diverse identities, the company has earned critical acclaim and prestigious awards—cementing its place as a cornerstone of Toronto’s vibrant arts scene.

Received an Ontario Arts Council Theatre Projects Grant for Research (2020/2021). 

The The Ontario Arts Council (OAC), established in 1963, is Ontario’s primary arts funding body, supporting artists and organizations across disciplines. It distributes millions annually, fostering creativity and cultural growth in communities across the province. OAC also administers prestigious awards like the Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts, recognizing outstanding contributions to Ontario’s cultural landscape.

"It's true that information is power, but it's also true that those in power control information. This unfortunate truth has shaped our history in ways we still aren't aware of. Reefer Madness explores this truth when it comes to the legalization of cannabis. The piece is so timely and relevant given [legalization]. I found the use of actual propaganda videos in the play gave a nice weight to the story-telling. It seems ludicrous to us, but the truth is that fear is still used to control the masses. To that end, the device of the Jazzy Devil was also used to great effect. Watching the manifestation of those fears prey upon innocent white children was played to great comic effect. The show did well to pack the theatre, but I think this play deserves a bigger audience. A definite recommend from me. "

Anthony Q. Farrell was born on 13 May 1977 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a writer and producer, known for Overlord and the Underwoods (2021), The Office (2005), Secret Life of Boys (2015) and Hate The Player: The Ben Johnson Story (2026).

"Dana is a hardworking and talented young actor. He is also a very generous colleague and was a focused student. In my class, he was always that student who came up with the right question at the right time and who watched his colleague's work with as much focus as he would want placed on himself. I have seen Dana progress in his studies over his years at Ryerson and I also learned about his political engagement with marijuana legalization, which took a lot of his focus in the final year of his study. This is a hot issue at the moment and I know that Dana is committed to developing the work to its fullest."

Dr. Cynthia Ashperger was born in Zagreb, Croatia where she had extensive experience in the theatre, film and television industry as an actor. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto's Graduate Centre for Studies in Drama. She has taught acting at Ryerson School of Performance since 1994 where she also served as Director of the Acting Program. At Ryerson she has directed some twenty productions of the world classics, most recently Tales from Vienna Woods, Martin Chuzzlewit, The Chaste Maid of Cheapside, The Country Wife, All for Love, The Three Sisters and The Girl from Maxim's.

"Reefer Madness is certainly a unique project and Dana and Mehdi is still doing significant research on it. Dana and Mehdi have demonstrated considerable commitment, dedication and effort in his development of this project."

Sheldon Rosen has been teaching and writing since 1972. He has had 17 plays produced throughout the US and Canada. His play NED AND JACK, produced at the Stratford Festival, won the 1980 Canadian Author's Association Award for Drama and was directed on Broadway by Colleen Dewhurs in 1981. NED AND JACK was nominated for an Association of Canadian Television & Radio Award and was published by Samuel French in 1983. Mr. Rosen has been playwright-in-residence at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the Lake, Toronto Free Theatre and San Jose State University.

"I witnessed Dana's singular focus on an idea that he believed in and championed. His foray into script writing and producing was unquestionably a result of Dana's commitment as an activist and a willingness to expand and document the history associated with the telling of this story. Dana possesses a strong work ethic, an eye for detail and a healthy sense of self. He responds well to criticism and appears to respect a professional approach with cast and crew."

Marianne McIsaac has worked over 40 years as a theatre professional. She graduated from the University of Windsor with a B.F.A. in performance and was busy in the late 70s/80s with acting roles in television and films. Marianne garnered a Genie nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Robin Spry's "Suzanne" and an Actra nomination for Best Actress in a Series for her role in Norman Lear's "The Baxters" with Megan Follows. She also landed the starring role in a U.S. soap opera called "High Hopes" which aired across Canada (C.B.C.).

"I first met Mr. Carrabon while directing "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" at the Ryerson School of Performance. Dana is an undeniable talent, a gifted creator and his presence on stage is hypnotic. On top of the talent, Dana is also a leader amongst his peers, has an impeccable work ethic and is an absolute joy to create with. Mr. Carrabon is destined to have an impact on the Arts and Culture industry of our Nation."

Dean Gabourie has been creating provocative theatre in Canada and abroad for over 25 years. Gabourie is a director, teacher, actor, writer & founding Artistic Director of the Award-winning ACME Theatre Co. Gabourie has earned acclaim for his direction of productions for diverse companies as: ACME Theatre Co., Buddies in Bad Times, Hilberry Repertory Theatre, Kazan CO-OP, Neptune Theatre, Shakespeare in Detroit, Shakespeare In the Rough, Tarragon Theatre, the CO, True Edge Productions and the Stratford Festival.

"Dana's and Mehdi's vision an re-imaging of this stigma inducing and classic bit of propaganda is brilliant. Turning it into a useful and extremely effective educational tool to inform Canadians about the truths and falsehoods surrounding cannabis is poetic justice."

Cy Williams is an experienced Owner and lifelong Marketeer with a demonstrated history of working in the Canadian/international Cannabis markets as well as the fine art industry, the not for profit sector and in a variety of more creative roles. Skilled in new and traditional print and digital marketing techniques, Graphic Design, Communication, Graphic arts and Arts Education. Strong operations background coupled with a B.A focused in Fine and Studio Arts and English Lit from University of Toronto.

"Dana has been working incredibly hard to contribute to cannabis advocacy efforts, networking tirelessly, and doing his best to remove stigma and foster sensible drug policy in this harsh climate caused by the incredibly damaging War on Drugs. I saw the first sold out showing of Reefer Madness, and thoroughly enjoyed the work and his efforts to explore this lost chapter of history and the deceitful origins of our drug laws. I look forward to the continuation of this project."

Lisa Campbell became a true cannabis expert by working extensively in international drug policy with Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy and is currently the Co-Chair of the Cannabis Beverage Producers Alliance. Lisa is the founder and CEO of Mercari Agency, helping cannabis companies come to market across Canada, leveraging a combined national salesforce with longstanding partnerships with provincial control boards. Lisa holds a Master of Environmental Studies from York University and is a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Universities Without Walls alumnus.

"I have known Dana for several years, and have witnessed his commitment to activism, and his competence and diligence in the projects that he has undertaken as well as in his education. Wise beyond his years, Dana exhibits integrity and strength of character, striving for excellence while always seeking to do the right thing."

Brandy Hagborg currently works in production management, location management, and assistant directing in the film industry and is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada. In Toronto, Brandy was the Speaker Engagement Manager and led the Young Professionals Network at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Before joining the Board, Brandy was an Executive Search Consultant at Odgers Berndtson, recruiting high-level talent in a variety of sectors, including education, not-for-profit, technology, and finance. Prior to executive search, Brandy served as Program Officer for the Passages Canada Speakers Bureau, an initiative of Historica Canada, dedicated to sharing diverse stories of immigration and Canadian identity.

Cannabis Amnesty is proud to support the vision and work of Dana Carrabon, a long-time volunteer of Cannabis Amnesty.

Cannabis Amnesty is an independent, not-for-profit advocacy group created in 2018 and focused on righting the historical wrongs caused by decades of cannabis prohibition, particularly its impact on racialized and Indigenous communities.

From its inception, the work of Cannabis Amnesty has been driven entirely by volunteers. Dana Carrabon has been a consistent supporter and volunteer of the organization, using his artistic talent both to showcase and bring awareness to the subject of our cause as well as to fundraise to support our day-to-day work. 

As an example, Dana’s original work Reefer Madness, which was showcased at the Toronto Fringe Festival, aligned with our efforts to expose the inconsistencies and historical injustices surrounding prohibition a year after legalization. More impressively, however, Dana used the staging of this piece to raise funds to support the advocacy efforts of Cannabis Amnesty.

Serving as a sponsor for Reefer Madness Origins, Friendly Stranger began as a cannabis accessories and culture shop on Queen Street West in Toronto. For over two decades, it served as a hub for cannabis enthusiasts, advocating for legalization and fostering a community around cannabis culture. 

With the legalization of cannabis in Canada in 2018, the Friendly Stranger expanded its operations to include the sale of cannabis products. By late 2020, the brand operated six stores, including locations on Queen Street West, Church Street, and Danforth Avenue in Toronto, as well as in London and Burlington. This growth was part of a broader strategy to transition from an accessories-based store to a full-fledged cannabis retailer. 

Serving as a sponsor Tasty Buds is a Canadian chocolate company that gained attention on Dragons' Den (Season 14, Episode 6). The business specializes in crafting premium chocolate clusters designed to resemble cannabis buds, offering a fun and unique aesthetic while remaining entirely THC- free. 

Founded by entrepreneur Jesse Shemen, the company markets its products as a novelty treat, blending high-quality chocolate with crunchy ingredients to create a distinctive texture. 

During their pitch on Dragons’ Den, the founders sought investment to scale their business, highlighting their strong branding, growing sales, and potential for expansion into new markets. Their humorous yet professional approach resonated with the Dragons, who recognized the product's viral appeal and its potential to succeed in retail and specialty stores.

Serving as a sponsor, Organja Society is an Indigenous Plant Medicine Trade Society dedicated to supporting the education, production, and distribution of Indigenous plant medicines. Through memberships and partnerships, it creates trade opportunities within its Healing Stream Ecosystem, offering access to authentic Indigenous remedies, including craft cannabis and other natural products. The society empowers healers, educators, growers, and advocates by fostering a network that preserves the integrity and sustainability of traditional medicines.

The ambitious team behind D&M Creative provides a powerful historical recap of the propaganda machine fueling the U.S. government's push to prohibit cannabis." NOW Magazine gives Reefer Madness: Origins a NNN (Recommended, memorable scenes).

D&M Creative pulled off an excellent version of Reefer Madness for current cannabis culture. Shedding light on the racist origins of cannabis prohibition, and challenging us to question the misinformed propaganda of our time, Reefer Madness: Origins is a play not to be missed!