In Memoriam of Special MMJ Activist
Remembering
Waxy, Friend of the
Cannabis Community
Daniel Arthur Jones, aka Waxy Brown, age 48, passed on July 7, in Doolittle, MO.
Daniel Cornealious Brown, AKA Waxy Brown. You’ d be hard pressed not to know that name in Missouri. Waxy was so many things to so many people. He loved music; he was a keeper of so many cultures, an advocate, a shipmate, a prankster, and a friend.
34 August 2025
by Tim Harms, veteran, friend of Waxy
As his friends, we were asked to write this piece by even more friends in our industry. And as such, we had to share one last joke with Waxy. His middle name really isn’ t Cornealious, but he would have played along for a bit for the sake of the joke and then enjoyed the group laugh.
For as loud as he lived, he was a very humble and loyal man. Waxy could sit in any circle and find friends. Having sat in boardrooms with him, covered head to toe in tie dye and saying“ Imma be real with you,” dozens of times in a conversation. It was his passion and his culture that kept breaking through the“ hippie” facade that sat before you. The vibrations and energy that emanated from him were always captivating.
Waxy wasn’ t perfect. Like anyone on this earth, he had his demons. But, true to form, he turned his healing into a battle cry for others fighting the same fight. He drew inspiration from others’ stories and experiences, then used his reach to amplify those efforts.
“ Team Waxy” really got to know him through Waxy Brown’ s Flower Power Hour. He could talk to anyone, about virtually any subject, and help steer the conversation in a productive manner.
Never one to shy away from sharing his past stories about his time in the Navy, jail, politics, and more often, they came out of nowhere— always with a smile. Each day, he channeled his talents and drive to do things we all respected.
As I write this, a solitary can of BIS sits on the corner of my desk. On one of the many random calls he made, he leaned in with this:“ So check this out … I want to do a hemp drink and call it BIS. Because it would be a can-a-BIS!” As we developed BIS, the idea of having a pirate skull on the label fit perfectly.
Now that he’ s gone, the logo almost seems like it’ s Waxy. A heavily decorated top half, representing the bandana he always wore. Long hair, a missing tooth, and of course— a sweet cannabis leaf front and center.
In keeping with Waxy’ s vibe, we’ ll end this piece with exactly 420 words. ~ Stay Waxy Everyone!
Remembering the
Poster Child for the MO, Medical MJ Movement
Ayden Markum, age 12, passed on July 4. by Karin Spinks, friend
On July 4, 2025, the Missouri Cannabis Community lost a true hero with the passing of 12-year-old Ayden Markham. Ayden was just a baby when he became the unofficial poster child for the Missouri medical marijuana movement in 2016. He is survived by his parents, Ashley and Christopher, and his siblings, Eliza, Asa, Asher, and Aletta, as well as many extended family members.
Ayden Gorge-Benton Markham exploded into the world on January 31, 2013, fully four months premature and weighing only 2 lbs. 10 oz. Complications from being born too soon caused a brain bleed and cerebral palsy, and he spent 98 days in the NICU. At 18 months old, he started having seizures. Diagnosed with Intractable epilepsy, his parents, Ashley and Chris, a registered nurse, began following the prescribed course of treatment. Chris was Ayden’ s full-time caregiver throughout his life, and his devotion to Ayden’ s care was nothing short of inspiring.
Ayden was given 10 different anti-seizure medications that all caused varying complications, before finally being allowed to try CBD oil. One of the prescribed medications gave Ayden liver damage, and another rendered Ayden unable to swallow, which resulted in the need for a feeding tube to keep him alive. His parents’ fight to get effective medicine for Ayden galvanized many in Missouri to join the cause, and comprehensive medical marijuana was passed in 2018, largely because Ayden was able to show that the stigma of cannabis was false. His story convinced thousands of people to vote Yes for medical marijuana.
For the first time since infancy, Ayden was able to go multiple days without seizures thanks to medical cannabis, which drastically improved his quality of life. It was a pleasure to watch his incredible family make the absolute most of it. From concerts to beach adventures, mountain trips, and thousands of miles of road trips, the Markham family made it their mission to pack Ayden’ s life full of love, joy, and adventure.
Ayden was so much more than his disabilities. Both he and his incredible family have been an inspiration for many in the cannabis community. Ayden had an easy smile, with laughter that was infectious, joyful, and uplifting. He was known for his converse sneakers, love of classic rock( AC / DC was his favorite), and for being surrounded by the most loving, supportive, compassionate, and caring family that one could hope for. Seeing the way the Markham family loved Ayden throughout his life has left an indelible impression on everyone they have met.
His celebration of life was held in Ozark, MO, on July 10 under a full moon. The service was filled with his favorite music, poetry chosen by his family, and finally, a drum circle to usher his soul safely into the next realm. Though he was only in this world for 12 short years, the ripples of the impact that his life made will echo on forever. His sweet spirit will be missed— but never forgotten!