Santa Claus From North Pole, Alaska is Invested in Helping Others

For many, Christmas comes once a year, but the celebration often centers around materialism and buying gifts for friends and family. But for Santa Claus himself, Christmas is present year-round. Now we’re not just talking about the legendary holiday figure, but an elected official who lives in North Pole, Alaska and actually changed his name to “Santa Claus” to help spread the word about children who need cannabis as medicine. Just in time for Christmas, CULTURE caught up with Santa Claus “himself” to talk activism, cannabis and the true spirit of Christmas.

Who is Santa Claus?

I’m a medical cannabis cancer patient registered in Alaska and I also support parents who want their children to have access to medical cannabis. My legal name is Santa Claus and I live in North Pole, Alaska. Contrary to what Jeff Sessions might characterize, I’m a city councilperson, child advocate, monk, on the public broadcast and getting a doctorate in education—not just some stoner.

The name “Santa Claus” is derived from St. Nicholas; he lived in Turkey in the fourth century and was a monk. So when the Dutch settled what is now New York City, they brought their tradition of celebrating the feast of St. Nick on December 5 and 6, which got combined with Christmas and the birth of Christ. That is how Santa became associated with Christmas, and he was a gift giver like the Magi. So I am more into the loving, Santa Claus part, not the crass, commercial spectacle that Christmas has become.

Have you always lived in Alaska and the North Pole?

I lived quite a few places around the U.S. Around 2004 I had grown out my beard and was living in Lake Tahoe in Northern California. Although I was younger then, my beard was already white, and because I was a monk I was always praying, people said I looked like Santa Claus; they said “you should be Santa; it’s Christmas.” There were about 30 nonprofits and I volunteered as Santa; the feedback was generally very supportive.

One day, I was walking home from the post office in the mountains and I was praying about what I should do with this gift, and if I should change my name to Santa and continue my work with child advocacy. About 30 minutes later a white car came towards me and the windows were down, and when it passed a male voice shouted out “Santa, I love you!” I figured that’s as good as an answer to the prayer as I will get, so the next day I called the city clerk to change my name.

I had already had some success with child advocacy, but I had some issues regarding getting through to the people I needed to talk to, so I thought, well here I am as Santa Claus, calling senators or governors. It turned out that was a very good decision, because now I could pretty much get through to any senator or governor. It’s also fun saying I am Santa Claus at North Pole, Alaska, and after 12 years, people are getting used to it.

Why do you think fighting for cannabis is so important?

As a majority of states realize, I think it’s important because there are a lot of people suffering from a malady or diseases, some of which are very life-threatening. I use cannabidiol; I very rarely smoke it, but I use an oil that I place under my tongue twice a day and it keeps my cancer at bay. It’s been five or six years, and I was originally told I’d have to go through chemo and radiation, and in my case, it was those things that caused the cancer, so I use cannabidiol instead. I’ve seen it work for other people, and since this administration doesn’t feel there is any medical use, I think we should speak out to protect medical cannabis use by patients.

What is your favorite thing about the holiday season?

I would say spending time with family and friends and also centering Christians and those who believe in Christ and practice the way Christ would have us do. I think it is a time to concentrate on those things and those people.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I say to people, if you want to keep the “Christ” in Christmas, feed the hungry, care for the sick, walk the streets, help the needy. The magic of Christmas is not the presents, but in His Presence. Christmas is not about opening presents; it’s about opening our hearts.