About me

Hey there! I’m Derek Shirley—though a lot of folks just call me Shirley or my online handle GettingHighwithCats (don’t ask, just roll with it). I’m a Pittsburgh (Monroeville to be exact) native who somehow ended up in Gray, Maine, right in the middle of the East Coast’s cannabis gold rush. I’m pretty sure I was just trying to find my way to fire weed, but hey, life is weird.

Along the way, I’ve interviewed everyone from cannabis industry pros to patients navigating the medical side of things, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. Fun fact: I’m also a proud felon for being caught with 4 ounces of cannabis back in 2012 (thanks, Pennsylvania, for keeping it real). After serving my time (probation, not the fun kind), I hightailed it out of PA and headed to Arizona, where medical cannabis was legal. Flagstaff’s limited dispensaries were a whole vibe, but the mountains just weren’t enough to keep me hooked—so I turned my sights back to the east coast.

West Coast? Nah, too crowded. South? Well, they don't do much smoking down there. Maine? Absolutely. I had zero idea what was waiting for me, but damn, it’s been a ride.

I spent four years sitting on the Maine Cannabis Coalition, where we wrote bills, passed bills, and occasionally blocked a few just to keep things spicy. But when I realized MCC was more about adult use than the medical program that got me here in the first place, I decided to take matters into my own hands—sarcastic lobbyist mode activated. Now, I’m here to help preserve Maine’s medical program, one small group (or patient) at a time.

I also have represented  patients and caregivers from all over the country, because I believe everyone should have basic cannabis rights. Oh, and I write for Beard Bros Media out of Los Angeles, where I keep an eye on Maine’s cannabis scene and dive into the politics at every level, from local to federal.

In my spare time, I’m a screen printing enthusiast, making trying to make annual merch for GettingHighWithCats You can check it out on the GHWC.Store tab.

So yeah, that’s me in a nutshell: ex-felon turned cannabis advocate, occasional sarcastic lobbyist, and full-time fan of a good high. Let's keep the ride rolling.