🌿 Jay-Paul Jones: Building Haze Labs and Changing the Conversation on Cannabis in the UK

(Written by Jay-Paul Jones — told in third person, because sometimes the story is bigger than the person writing it.)

At just 25 years old, Jay-Paul Jones has already become a name synonymous with courage, innovation, and compassion in the UK’s growing medical-cannabis movement. He’s the founder of Haze Labs, the first legal community-driven cannabis club and education hub in Wales — a project that began as a simple question and grew into a quiet revolution.

The Question That Started It All

In 2023, at only 22 years old, Jay-Paul looked around the UK and saw nothing like what he’d seen abroad — no safe spaces, no open conversations, and certainly no local clubs for medical-cannabis patients to medicate safely or find support.

“When you travel, you can find community clubs where people medicate responsibly and feel understood,” he recalls. “In the UK, that didn’t exist. I asked myself, why not?”

That question changed everything. What began as curiosity became a mission — to build something that respected both sides of the debate: the medical patient and the ordinary user seeking information and acceptance.

Haze Labs was born not as a shop or clinic, but as a safe, legal, educational community designed to bridge a gap the UK still refuses to close.

The Struggle Behind the Vision

Jay-Paul doesn’t shy away from the challenges. Funding was almost impossible — he had no savings, no investors, and little more than determination. “Landlords thought it was a fairy tale,” he admits. “But one day, a landlord said, ‘I’d like to see what this can do.’ That’s how the door finally opened.”

Even after opening, stigma was the hardest wall to break. Locals stared, whispered, judged. But slowly, perception shifted. “People started realising this wasn’t about breaking the law. It was about building community, helping people who already had prescriptions, and offering guidance for those who wanted to go down the legal route.”

In a twist of irony, law enforcement — often seen as the enemy of cannabis reform — became one of the most understanding presences.

“The police could’ve made it hard,” he says. “But they saw the benefit. Less street nuisance, less risk, more education. It’s a win-win.”

Creating a Movement, Not Just a Club

Haze Labs was never about making money — it was about making change. Operating without investors or formal funding, everything was built from passion, consistency, and the belief that community-based harm reduction could work within UK law.

Since opening, the ripple effect has been undeniable. When Haze Labs opened its doors, only two other clubs of its kind existed in the UK — Teesside in England (harm reduction-based) and Ballyclare in Northern Ireland (strictly medical). Today, inspired by Jay-Paul’s work, similar clubs have appeared in Birmingham, Bristol, London, Gloucester, Brighton, Banbridge, Newport, and beyond.

“That’s my proudest achievement,” he reflects. “To see something we started in Wales spark a movement across the UK. It proves people want safer, smarter options.”

The Message Behind Haze Labs

Haze Labs operates within UK Government guidelines. It does not sell or supply cannabis — instead, it offers education, legal-access support, and harm-reduction advocacy. It’s a space where patients and users alike can come for guidance, conversation, and understanding.

To those who still misunderstand what Haze Labs stands for, Jay-Paul’s message is clear:

“We’re not here to fight the law — we’re here to work within it, responsibly. We exist because people deserve a place to learn, to heal, and to belong. If anything, Haze Labs makes enforcement easier, not harder. We’re part of the solution.”

Bridging Generations, Changing Minds

Jay-Paul sees the generational divide clearly.

“Older generations grew up with propaganda and fear,” he says. “Younger generations have science, research, and compassion. They know cannabis isn’t a menace — it’s medicine.”

For him, education is the key to reform. It’s not about convincing everyone to agree — it’s about helping society understand. The stigma will fade, he believes, but only if people keep talking, sharing, and showing responsibility.

The Vision for Tomorrow

Looking ahead, Jay-Paul wants to see Haze Labs grow into the full vision he imagined years ago — a model of community-based education and medical support that could guide national policy.

“Decriminalisation would be a dream,” he says. “Not so people can just ‘get high,’ but so patients and users can be safe, informed, and respected. I want to see the UK catch up with compassion.”

For now, he keeps doing what he does best — educating, inspiring, and proving that passion, even without funding, can build something real.

About Jay-Paul Jones

Jay-Paul Jones (born 2000) is a Welsh entrepreneur, advocate, and the founder of Haze Labs, based in Mountain Ash, Wales. He started Haze Labs at age 22 to provide a legal, harm-reduction-based space for medical cannabis users and community education. His work has inspired the launch of several other cannabis-advocacy clubs across the UK. Jay-Paul continues to lead discussions on safe access, decriminalisation, and patient rights in the UK’s evolving cannabis landscape.

About Haze Labs

Founded in 2022, Haze Labs is Wales’s first legal cannabis education and harm-reduction club. Operating within UK legal frameworks, Haze Labs supports legal medical-cannabis patients, provides education on compliance, and advocates for safe, responsible reform across the country.

Website: hazelabs.co.uk

Instagram: @hazelabs

Press Contact: hazelabsuk@gmail.com