Kevin Spelman

This episode originally released as episode 80.  Not many of us think of adding 1mg of melatonin with THC to ensure a deeper, longer night’s sleep… or blending ashwagandha with CBD to better cope with stress…or mixing St. John’s Wort with cannabinoids to better cope with pain. But Dr. Kevin Spelman is a molecular biologist, industry consultant and a clinician who has observed that a mix of plant medicines can be more healing than just one individual plant on its own. Spelman is that rare breed of scientist whose worldview integrates the wisdom of the east and the hard science of the west. He has worked as an Ayurvedic clinician and alongside Chinese medicine practitioners as well as being a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. It was in the NIH labs where he learned just how skeptically plant science was viewed by his colleagues. “When I spoke about certain molecules, my colleagues were all in,” he told me before I recorded this podcast, “but the minute I started talking about medicinal plants they’d turn suspect. I could almost see the thought bubble appear above their heads: ‘Quack! This guy can’t possibly be for real.’” This podcast is full of very real science about the mysterious world of plant medicines. In it, Spelman broaches three areas I want you to know about. Herbal allies. Especially relevant in the time of COVID-19 are the benefits of using echinacea, astragalus, and ashwagandha to strengthen our immune response. But he also explains that these substances should be combined thoughtfully rather than randomly thrown together. “One of the classic mistakes naturopaths make is just putting all in there. When you combine things properly you can induce emergent properties that you wouldn’t see with just one compound.” Low dose cannabinoids. We are big proponents of low dose cannabis medicines on this podcast. Spelman points out that there is a scientific phenomenon called “hormesis” in which a low dose of a substance, like cannabis or psilocybin, can have beneficial results while a higher dose can cause symptoms to worsen. “I had a lot of sciatica pain, maybe a 6 or 7 out of 10," he says, "and I didn’t want to use THC because my job demands I be critically observant. I found a sub-threshold dose of less than 1.5 mg of THC allowed me to work clear headed without a lot of pain.” Diet. Spelman points out that modern society is drugging illnesses that can be traced to what he calls a “phytonutrient deficiency.” His solution is the same that Michael Pollan arrived at while writing The Omnivore’s Dilemma: “Eat more plants.” Listen in to learn more on this emerging field, and be sure to read Kevin’s most recent blog on Powering Up Your Immune Response with Cannabinoids and Botanicals.And  please read "Practical COVID Tips as We Open" (and musical accompaniment) by the always impressive Dr. Jeff Chen at UCLA. We can't rely on the administration to give reliable info so we must rely on the smartest scientists we know. Jeff is another one worth listening to.

<a href="https://www.bravenewweed.com/all-episodes/ep80" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This episode originally released as episode 80.</a> Not many of us think of adding 1mg of melatonin with THC to ensure a deeper, longer night’s sleep… or blending ashwagandha with CBD to better cope with stress…or mixing St. John’s Wort with cannabinoids to better cope with pain. But Dr. Kevin Spelman is a molecular biologist, industry consultant and a clinician who has observed that a mix of plant medicines can be more healing than just one individual plant on its own. Spelman is that rare breed of scientist whose worldview integrates the wisdom of the east and the hard science of the west. He has worked as an Ayurvedic clinician and alongside Chinese medicine practitioners as well as being a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. It was in the NIH labs where he learned just how skeptically plant science was viewed by his colleagues. “When I spoke about certain molecules, my colleagues were all in,” he told me before I recorded this podcast, “but the minute I started talking about medicinal plants they’d turn suspect. I could almost see the thought bubble appear above their heads: ‘Quack! This guy can’t possibly be for real.’” This podcast is full of very real science about the mysterious world of plant medicines. In it, Spelman broaches three areas I want you to know about. Herbal allies. Especially relevant in the time of COVID-19 are the benefits of using echinacea, astragalus, and ashwagandha to strengthen our immune response. But he also explains that these substances should be combined thoughtfully rather than randomly thrown together. “One of the classic mistakes naturopaths make is just putting all in there. When you combine things properly you can induce emergent properties that you wouldn’t see with just one compound.” Low dose cannabinoids. We are big proponents of low dose cannabis medicines on this podcast. Spelman points out that there is a scientific phenomenon called “hormesis” in which a low dose of a substance, like cannabis or psilocybin, can have beneficial results while a higher dose can cause symptoms to worsen. “I had a lot of sciatica pain, maybe a 6 or 7 out of 10," he says, "and I didn’t want to use THC because my job demands I be critically observant. I found a sub-threshold dose of less than 1.5 mg of THC allowed me to work clear headed without a lot of pain.” Diet. Spelman points out that modern society is drugging illnesses that can be traced to what he calls a “phytonutrient deficiency.” His solution is the same that Michael Pollan arrived at while writing The Omnivore’s Dilemma: “Eat more plants.” Listen in to learn more on this emerging field, and be sure to read Kevin’s most recent blog on<a href="https://www.medicalcannabismentor.com/occasional-blog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Powering Up Your Immune Response with Cannabinoids and Botanicals</a>.And  please read <a href="https://drjeff.substack.com/p/practical-covid-tips-as-we-re-open?r=58jh4&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_source=copy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Practical COVID Tips as We Open"</a> (and musical accompaniment) by the always impressive Dr. Jeff Chen at UCLA. We can't rely on the administration to give reliable info so we must rely on the smartest scientists we know. Jeff is another one worth listening to.

Ep122 - Kevin Spelman (RECUT) - Power Up Your Cannabis Meds (And Your Immune System) With These Herbal Supplements

Julie Holland

This episode originally released as episode 40 . This interview with Dr. Julie Holland marks the 40th podcast in the Brave New Weed series and it’s one of our best yet. As a podcaster I can often map out the route a discussion will take, but this conversation with Julie ebbed and flowed in the most delightfully surprising ways. I never knew where it was leading. What I did know was that every turn it took was more interesting than the last.In this episode, we discuss: CBD and dental pain and how this remarkable cannabinoid calms nerve irritation What an orgasm and a delicious meal have in common (you never even thought to ask, did you?) Why men have nipples The real danger of masturbating to porn Screenophilia (or the reason why the next generation is falling in love with their screens) Curing your runny nose with psychedelicsHow cannabinoids can help cure our country’s PMS.    Tune in and share it widely. As cannabis becomes more mainstream and a broader swath of people shake off the yoke of prohibition, so many more conversations about the plant’s powers are taking place. Our mission is to stay at the forefront of these conversations and lead the way in the post-Prohibition era. If you value independent explorations such as these, free of advertising and the traditional constraints imposed by mainstream media, please support on us on Patreon. For less than the price of a coffee in NYC your donation can help us continue this work. We do this for love, not money, and we appreciate any help you can offer to keep the love flowing. And where else will you learn why men have nipples?

This episode originally released as <a href="https://www.bravenewweed.com/all-episodes/ep40" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">episode 40</a> . This interview with Dr. Julie Holland marks the 40th podcast in the Brave New Weed series and it’s one of our best yet. As a podcaster I can often map out the route a discussion will take, but this conversation with Julie ebbed and flowed in the most delightfully surprising ways. I never knew where it was leading. What I did know was that every turn it took was more interesting than the <a href="http://last.In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">last.In</a> this episode, we discuss: <ul><li>CBD and dental pain and how this remarkable cannabinoid calms nerve irritation</li> <li>What an orgasm and a delicious meal have in common (you never even thought to ask, did you?)</li> <li>Why men have nipples</li> <li>The real danger of masturbating to porn</li> <li>Screenophilia (or the reason why the next generation is falling in love with their screens)</li> <li>Curing your runny nose with psychedelicsHow cannabinoids can help cure our country’s PMS.  </li> </ul> Tune in and share it widely. As cannabis becomes more mainstream and a broader swath of people shake off the yoke of prohibition, so many more conversations about the plant’s powers are taking place. Our mission is to stay at the forefront of these conversations and lead the way in the post-Prohibition era. If you value independent explorations such as these, free of advertising and the traditional constraints imposed by mainstream media, please support on us on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/bravenewweed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon</a>. For less than the price of a coffee in NYC your donation can help us continue this work. We do this for love, not money, and we appreciate any help you can offer to keep the love flowing. And where else will you learn why men have nipples?

Ep121 - Dr. Julie Holland (RECUT)

Stephen Batchelor

RECUT from Episode 106: Many people who use substances say that they create a deeper connection with “god,” “nature” or their own “spiritual” selves. Yet most organized religions are averse to plant medicines including psilocybin, ayahuasca, peyote and cannabis. Christians call these entheogens (plants that when ingested produce higher states of consciousness) false gods and warn against them for a host of reasons, primarily because they don’t want adherents straying from the flock.Buddhists use different words but similarly proscribe intoxicants that lead users into states of “mindlessness” or “carelessness.” But as an intermittent traveler in spiritual circles I can assure you substance use among Western spiritual teachers is far more widespread than openly admitted. So many of them use psychedelics and cannabis, but maintain a well-guarded “conspiracy of silence,” as this week’s guest, Stephen Batchelor, puts it.Batchelor is an esteemed teacher, writer, artist, and Buddhist scholar, who is best known for his secular approach to Buddhism and his openness to using entheogens to deepen his own contemplative practices. At 18, he went to India, where he was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1974. He traveled, first to Germany and then South Korea, where he left the Tibetan tradition to train in Zen Buddhism. But in 1985 he disrobed, married and moved to France, where he and his wife still live in a small village near Bordeaux. His work has centered around developing a more modern, universalist approach to Buddhism, one that integrates the truths of tradition with the needs of our time.“The bulk of Buddhist teachers set out on this path through psychedelics and cannabis in the 1960s and 70s,” Batchelor, 68, told me. “But Buddhism, for many reasons, is too trapped in its own history. It appears user friendly but scratch the surface and you’ll hit a bedrock of moralism. It’s heavily committed to certain dogmas that it won’t or can’t release.”If you are interested in Batchelor's secular approach to this religion, I recommend Buddhism Without Beliefs, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, and his most recent, The Art of Solitude, which was written before COVID but helped me mightily during the darker days of lockdown and forced isolation. It’s my honor to have Stephen as a guest and my pleasure to share the conversation with you.

RECUT from <a href="https://www.bravenewweed.com/all-episodes/ep106" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 106</a>: Many people who use substances say that they create a deeper connection with “god,” “nature” or their own “spiritual” selves. Yet most organized religions are averse to plant medicines including psilocybin, ayahuasca, peyote and cannabis. Christians call these entheogens (plants that when ingested produce higher states of consciousness) false gods and warn against them for a host of reasons, primarily because they don’t want adherents straying from the flock.Buddhists use different words but similarly proscribe intoxicants that lead users into states of “mindlessness” or “carelessness.” But as an intermittent traveler in spiritual circles I can assure you substance use among Western spiritual teachers is far more widespread than openly admitted. So many of them use psychedelics and cannabis, but maintain a well-guarded “conspiracy of silence,” as this week’s guest, Stephen Batchelor, puts it.Batchelor is an esteemed teacher, writer, artist, and Buddhist scholar, who is best known for his secular approach to Buddhism and his openness to using entheogens to deepen his own contemplative practices. At 18, he went to India, where he was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1974. He traveled, first to Germany and then South Korea, where he left the Tibetan tradition to train in Zen Buddhism. But in 1985 he disrobed, married and moved to France, where he and his wife still live in a small village near Bordeaux. His work has centered around developing a more modern, universalist approach to Buddhism, one that integrates the truths of tradition with the needs of our time.“The bulk of Buddhist teachers set out on this path through psychedelics and cannabis in the 1960s and 70s,” Batchelor, 68, told me. “But Buddhism, for many reasons, is too trapped in its own history. It appears user friendly but scratch the surface and you’ll hit a bedrock of moralism. It’s heavily committed to certain dogmas that it won’t or can’t release.”If you are interested in Batchelor's secular approach to this religion, I recommend Buddhism Without Beliefs, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, and his most recent, The Art of Solitude, which was written before COVID but helped me mightily during the darker days of lockdown and forced isolation. It’s my honor to have Stephen as a guest and my pleasure to share the conversation with you.

Ep120 - Stephen Batchelor (RECUT)

This episode is brought to you courtesy of Nirvana Dispensaries in Oklahoma. Check out my interview with Adam Lasi, CEO, who explains why Oklahoma is the country's most dynamic cannabis market. As I explain in more detail on this podcast, this will be the last recording for a few weeks. I am taking some time off to absorb and reflect upon the many changes this year has brought. Before saying good bye I want to leave you with this wonderful podcast on The Endocannabinoid Diet and to thank the Nirvana Group for sponsoring this episode. When Dr. Chin first described the Endocannabinoid Diet, my ears perked up. While she's still developing the thesis more thoroughly, I thought I'd bring you this peak into her observations. This from her desk: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the largest neurotransmitter system in our body. It modulates responses to internal and external stimuli and it is activated by both endocannabinoids (produced in the brain and body) and phytocannabinoids (produced from plants). Many people are not producing optimal amounts of endocannabinoids -- some experts are calling this an endocannabinoid deficiency. Studies have shown that patients with chronic pain and inflammation -- that often underlie at migraines, fibromyalgia, depression, PTSD, ADHD, weight gain, and irritable bowel syndrome -- have lower levels of anandamide, one endocannabinoid produced by our body. The vexing question to date is: What causes low levels of endocannabinoids? There’s no simple answer. If you’re experiencing pain and inflammation, not sleeping well or having difficulty with mood, anxiety, stress, or concentration, your ECS may be out of balance. According to Dr. Bruno, nutrition professor of Huntington University of Health Sciences, recent research suggests that in some cases, “A diet low in phytocannabinoids—low in plant foods—may also play a role. The fact is, inadequate levels of endocannabinoids may be associated with their production, metabolism, or the state of cannabinoid receptors. ”To learn more about how changing your diet to include more cannabinoids can impact your health, listen in!

This episode is brought to you courtesy of <a href="https://www.nirvana-dispensary.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nirvana Dispensaries</a> in Oklahoma. Check out my interview with Adam Lasi, CEO, who explains why Oklahoma is the country's most dynamic cannabis market. As I explain in more detail on this podcast, this will be the last recording for a few weeks. I am taking some time off to absorb and reflect upon the many changes this year has brought. Before saying good bye I want to leave you with this wonderful podcast on The Endocannabinoid Diet and to thank the Nirvana Group for sponsoring this episode. When Dr. Chin first described the Endocannabinoid Diet, my ears perked up. While she's still developing the thesis more thoroughly, I thought I'd bring you this peak into her observations. This from her desk: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the largest neurotransmitter system in our body. It modulates responses to internal and external stimuli and it is activated by both endocannabinoids (produced in the brain and body) and phytocannabinoids (produced from plants). Many people are not producing optimal amounts of endocannabinoids -- some experts are calling this an endocannabinoid deficiency. Studies have shown that patients with chronic pain and inflammation -- that often underlie at migraines, fibromyalgia, depression, PTSD, ADHD, weight gain, and irritable bowel syndrome -- have lower levels of anandamide, one endocannabinoid produced by our body. The vexing question to date is: What causes low levels of endocannabinoids? There’s no simple answer. If you’re experiencing pain and inflammation, not sleeping well or having difficulty with mood, anxiety, stress, or concentration, your ECS may be out of balance. According to Dr. Bruno, nutrition professor of Huntington University of Health Sciences, recent research suggests that in some cases, “A diet low in phytocannabinoids—low in plant foods—may also play a role. The fact is, inadequate levels of endocannabinoids may be associated with their production, metabolism, or the state of cannabinoid receptors. ”To learn more about how changing your diet to include more cannabinoids can impact your health, listen in!

Ep119 - Introducing The Endocannabinoid Diet

Before I preview this content great episode, I must explain the naked structure of what you are about to experience. This episode will have no musical interludes between segments. We are currently searching for a new logo design, new interstitial music and maybe a few bars of a theme song. So if you are a composer or designer, or who have a composer or design friend who might like to enhance our show with their tunes, please reach out to Show@bravenewweed.com. We’ll give on air credit, an interview and as much love as we can in other ways in return. You may also notice that this blog contains no graphic branding, which we are also overhauling. If you have ideas/skills or friends with ideas/skills, hit us up. Finally, by now you know that we are expanding the topics we cover to include brave new plants and brave new substances that are being used in brave new therapies to help create brave new minds. Your response to these topics has been overwhelmingly supportive, so we’re diving in deeper and to bring you the smartest, most engaging experts on these high minded topics. So, lay back and enjoy this stripped down episode. And in the meantime, here's a blurb on what weed can learn from wine. (Hint: a lot). -- Joe "Biology, geography, botany, culture, linguistics. Weed is like wine -- it’s not about one single thing. You have to learn about a set of things together. That's what makes them both so beguiling."  That's Matt Montrose, parter at OMvino, a San Francisco Bay area marketing and communications agency that specializes in food, wine and wellness brands. Matt started out in the hospitality business at age 19 and moved through ranks of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and earned his CMS Advanced Certification at just 25 years old. He knows of what he speaks! Matt is joined by his always engaging cousin, Max Montrose, founder of the Colorado-based Trichome Institute, to talk about what a very new industry, cannabis, can learn from an older industry, wine. Both industries are built on complicated plants that defy easy categorization, primarily because they grow in the ground and are influenced by soil, climate, and the skills of their farmers. Trying to sell them in simple categories such as "sativa" and "indica" is disingenuous at best and in many case, dishonest. "At a cannabis sommelier level you can see and smell how a particular variety is going to make you feel on a sedative to stimulating spectrum," he says. "That's important because lab testing doesn't test for sedation or stimulation. Nor does it test for quality. People need to be educated to stop shopping for THC levels and start shopping for aroma." Unsurprisingly, both Montrose's have a lot of opinions about how to teach customers to get the best out of both of these amazing plants and their derivatives. Listen in!

Before I preview this content great episode, I must explain the naked structure of what you are about to experience. This episode will have no musical interludes between segments. We are currently searching for a new logo design, new interstitial music and maybe a few bars of a theme song. So if you are a composer or designer, or who have a composer or design friend who might like to enhance our show with their tunes, please reach out to <a href="mailto:Show@bravenewweed.com">Show@bravenewweed.com</a>. We’ll give on air credit, an interview and as much love as we can in other ways in return. You may also notice that this blog contains no graphic branding, which we are also overhauling. If you have ideas/skills or friends with ideas/skills, hit us up. Finally, by now you know that we are expanding the topics we cover to include brave new plants and brave new substances that are being used in brave new therapies to help create brave new minds. Your response to these topics has been overwhelmingly supportive, so we’re diving in deeper and to bring you the smartest, most engaging experts on these high minded topics. So, lay back and enjoy this stripped down episode. And in the meantime, here's a blurb on what weed can learn from wine. (Hint: a lot). -- Joe "Biology, geography, botany, culture, linguistics. Weed is like wine -- it’s not about one single thing. You have to learn about a set of things together. That's what makes them both so beguiling."  That's Matt Montrose, parter at OMvino, a San Francisco Bay area marketing and communications agency that specializes in food, wine and wellness brands. Matt started out in the hospitality business at age 19 and moved through ranks of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and earned his CMS Advanced Certification at just 25 years old. He knows of what he speaks! Matt is joined by his always engaging cousin, Max Montrose, founder of the Colorado-based Trichome Institute, to talk about what a very new industry, cannabis, can learn from an older industry, wine. Both industries are built on complicated plants that defy easy categorization, primarily because they grow in the ground and are influenced by soil, climate, and the skills of their farmers. Trying to sell them in simple categories such as "sativa" and "indica" is disingenuous at best and in many case, dishonest. "At a cannabis sommelier level you can see and smell how a particular variety is going to make you feel on a sedative to stimulating spectrum," he says. "That's important because lab testing doesn't test for sedation or stimulation. Nor does it test for quality. People need to be educated to stop shopping for THC levels and start shopping for aroma." Unsurprisingly, both Montrose's have a lot of opinions about how to teach customers to get the best out of both of these amazing plants and their derivatives. Listen in!

Ep118 - What Weed Can Learn From Wine

Dylan Beynon

Mindbloom is the first treatment for depression and anxiety that "alchemizes psychedelics, software, substances, content and human care into personalized at home experience." What if you could order a weeks-long course of psychedelic medicines that is delivered to your door and then you are guided through each journey by a therapist and an integration coach over Zoom? What if that therapy could change the neural pathways in your brain to enable new cognitive insights and healthier thinking and emotional patterns and at the same time, help you to break old ones that are causing you distress? What if that therapy were legal in one half of the United States and costs less than your 50-minute hour on the couch with your current talk therapist?  Our guest this week is Dylan Beynon, founder + CEO of Mindbloom, the first Ketamine-therapy-in-a-box-solution [my phrase] aimed at healing depression and anxiety. This therapeutic modality was created with the contributions of pioneering psychiatrists and psychedelic researchers and, as Beynon says, “it alchemizes psychedelics, software, substances, content and human care into personalized, at home experience.”  Beynon has been named a "Top 25 Consumer HealthTech Executive" and one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Psychedelics." But his route to Mindbloom started as a teenager growing up with a mother who suffered from a mental illness that rocked his family. Psychedelic experiences sparked a fundamental emotional shift that finally set him on a path towards healing and growth, which he discusses in detail on this most excellent podcast.  To learn more, check out Mindbloom.com. And if psychedelic therapy is a topic of interest, you should definitely listen to Episode 114 with Dr. Erica Zelfand.

Mindbloom is the first treatment for depression and anxiety that "alchemizes psychedelics, software, substances, content and human care into personalized at home experience." What if you could order a weeks-long course of psychedelic medicines that is delivered to your door and then you are guided through each journey by a therapist and an integration coach over Zoom? What if that therapy could change the neural pathways in your brain to enable new cognitive insights and healthier thinking and emotional patterns and at the same time, help you to break old ones that are causing you distress? What if that therapy were legal in one half of the United States and costs less than your 50-minute hour on the couch with your current talk therapist?  Our guest this week is Dylan Beynon, founder + CEO of Mindbloom, the first Ketamine-therapy-in-a-box-solution [my phrase] aimed at healing depression and anxiety. This therapeutic modality was created with the contributions of pioneering psychiatrists and psychedelic researchers and, as Beynon says, “it alchemizes psychedelics, software, substances, content and human care into personalized, at home experience.”  Beynon has been named a "Top 25 Consumer HealthTech Executive" and one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in Psychedelics." But his route to Mindbloom started as a teenager growing up with a mother who suffered from a mental illness that rocked his family. Psychedelic experiences sparked a fundamental emotional shift that finally set him on a path towards healing and growth, which he discusses in detail on this most excellent podcast.  To learn more, check out <a href="http://Mindbloom.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mindbloom.com</a>. And if psychedelic therapy is a topic of interest, you should definitely listen to Episode 114 with Dr. Erica Zelfand.

Ep117 - Dylan Beynon, Founder of Mindbloom, and At-Home Ketamine Therapy for Depression and Anxiety

“As a psychiatry resident I wondered if cannabis does to people what catnip does to cats. That turns out to be a completely incorrect assumption.” This episode is brought to you courtesy of Trichome Institute, providers of most excellent cannabis education and certification programs. Trichome courses enable you to Weed Better! Dr. Godfrey Pearlson, the esteemed neuroscientist, researcher, and author of Weed Science talks with me about how our favorite plant works in the brain, heart (and maybe even the soul) of human beings On this episode the esteemed neuroscientist, Yale professor, and author Dr. Godfrey Pearlson, joins me to talk about what we know and don’t know about the way cannabis works in our brains (and hearts, and maybe our souls, too). This episode could also be called “Cannabis: The Good, The Bad and The Mysterious and if you tune in you'll learn:The Good: Why colors seem more vibrant, why time moves more slowly, why so many musicians say they find more space between notes when using cannabis.The Bad: We explore the evidence linking cannabis to psychotic illnesses as well as the paradoxical evidence showing that ultra-high doses of CBD reduces some psychotic symptoms. We also explore the evidence between lethal car crashes in states that have legalized -- and why this is not a reason to continue the prohibition.The Mysterious: Many topics of interest here, but one of great interest to me: why so many of us need less cannabis to get high as you age.And finally, for all of you who have always wondered if cannabis does to humans what catnip does to cats, the answer is revealed within!

“As a psychiatry resident I wondered if cannabis does to people what catnip does to cats. That turns out to be a completely incorrect assumption.” This episode is brought to you courtesy of Trichome Institute, providers of most excellent cannabis education and certification programs. Trichome courses enable you to Weed Better! Dr. Godfrey Pearlson, the esteemed neuroscientist, researcher, and author of Weed Science talks with me about how our favorite plant works in the brain, heart (and maybe even the soul) of human beings On this episode the esteemed neuroscientist, Yale professor, and author Dr. Godfrey Pearlson, joins me to talk about what we know and don’t know about the way cannabis works in our brains (and hearts, and maybe our souls, too). This episode could also be called “Cannabis: The Good, The Bad and The Mysterious and if you tune in you'll learn:The Good: Why colors seem more vibrant, why time moves more slowly, why so many musicians say they find more space between notes when using cannabis.The Bad: We explore the evidence linking cannabis to psychotic illnesses as well as the paradoxical evidence showing that ultra-high doses of CBD reduces some psychotic symptoms. We also explore the evidence between lethal car crashes in states that have legalized -- and why this is not a reason to continue the prohibition.The Mysterious: Many topics of interest here, but one of great interest to me: why so many of us need less cannabis to get high as you age.And finally, for all of you who have always wondered if cannabis does to humans what catnip does to cats, the answer is revealed within!

Ep116 - Dr. Godfrey Pearlson: Your Brain on Weed

The jury's still out on the newest cannabinoid to take the world by storm -- Delta-8 THC. Is it safe, legal, or an interesting high? On this episode two wise men with competing points of view weigh in.Does this sound familiar?This episode is brought to you by Medical Cannabis Mentor, providing state-of-the-art education to dispensary personnel, healthcare providers and patients. A new cannabis product hits the shelves and suddenly mainstream media is reporting a surge in illnesses and hospitalizations. It happened on June 29 when University of Virginia Hospital reported dozens of people crowding the ER after ingesting…guess what…the cannabis industry’s newest rock star product, D8 THC!I don’t want to be an alarmist but I immediately wondered if the introduction of D8, which very few people really understand, is going to be this year’s version of EVALI, the scary vape-related lung diseases that killed 68 people and sickened 3,000 more in 2019 and 2020? Or is this clickbait about another cannabis product that hit the market fast, created through-the-roof consumer demand, and has yet to be federally regulated?I’m not sure yet, but it’s safe to say that Delta-8 THC (D8) presents a great opportunity and a great challenge to the cannabis industry: Big financial upside and some POTENTIALLY serious downsides. To get a clearer perspective on this “new” cannabinoid (that was in fact identified in 1941 by scientist Roger Adams) I invited two wise people with competing interests to discuss.Dr. Matt Elmes holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Stony Brook University, where he focused on endocannabinoid and phytocannabinoid cellular transport mechanisms. Today Matt is Scientific Director for CannaCraft, one of the largest cannabis product manufacturers in the world. Chris Fontes is CEO and Founder of Project Hemp Flower, a website where farmers sell their smokable flower directly to consumers. Fontes and his team hunt and curate high-grade product that provides consumer confidence because of their quality control. His latest brainchild is Trojan Horse Edibles, full-spectrum, full-strength dispensary grade edibles from hemp CBD.Listen in to learn if D8 is natural or unnatural… safe or harmful…and how its high differs from that of good old Delta-9 THC. And get ready for D10, which according to my sources, will soon be hurtling down the pike!Is it possible that THC has more variants than COVID????

The jury's still out on the newest cannabinoid to take the world by storm -- Delta-8 THC. Is it safe, legal, or an interesting high? On this episode two wise men with competing points of view weigh in.Does this sound familiar?This episode is brought to you by Medical Cannabis Mentor, providing state-of-the-art education to dispensary personnel, healthcare providers and patients. A new cannabis product hits the shelves and suddenly mainstream media is reporting a surge in illnesses and hospitalizations. It happened on June 29 when University of Virginia Hospital reported dozens of people crowding the ER after ingesting…guess what…the cannabis industry’s newest rock star product, D8 THC!I don’t want to be an alarmist but I immediately wondered if the introduction of D8, which very few people really understand, is going to be this year’s version of EVALI, the scary vape-related lung diseases that killed 68 people and sickened 3,000 more in 2019 and 2020? Or is this clickbait about another cannabis product that hit the market fast, created through-the-roof consumer demand, and has yet to be federally regulated?I’m not sure yet, but it’s safe to say that Delta-8 THC (D8) presents a great opportunity and a great challenge to the cannabis industry: Big financial upside and some POTENTIALLY serious downsides. To get a clearer perspective on this “new” cannabinoid (that was in fact identified in 1941 by scientist Roger Adams) I invited two wise people with competing interests to discuss.Dr. Matt Elmes holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Stony Brook University, where he focused on endocannabinoid and phytocannabinoid cellular transport mechanisms. Today Matt is Scientific Director for CannaCraft, one of the largest cannabis product manufacturers in the world. Chris Fontes is CEO and Founder of Project Hemp Flower, a website where farmers sell their smokable flower directly to consumers. Fontes and his team hunt and curate high-grade product that provides consumer confidence because of their quality control. His latest brainchild is Trojan Horse Edibles, full-spectrum, full-strength dispensary grade edibles from hemp CBD.Listen in to learn if D8 is natural or unnatural… safe or harmful…and how its high differs from that of good old Delta-9 THC. And get ready for D10, which according to my sources, will soon be hurtling down the pike!Is it possible that THC has more variants than COVID????

Ep115 - The Great Delta-8 Debate: Is it Safe, Legal, or an Interesting High?

Erica Zelfand

Erica Zelfand, ND, a family physician and psychedelic therapist, discusses the science and spiritual connection of psychedelics... Psilocybin, MDMA, Ibogaine, LSD, Ketamine &amp; God!If you'd like to learn more about the science of psychedelic medicine, take Dr. Z's fantastic online course. Click here and apply the code Hooray at checkout for 20% off.In this fantastic and wide-ranging interview with Dr. Erica Zelfand, we touch upon her wide experiences with psychedelics as a conscious user and as a healer and doctor. Some of the many wise things you'll hear include:  "What we saw with the Timothy Leary generation, which was more of a grass roots movement was chaos and confusion and now with this revolution we’re taking off tie dye and putting on suits and ties and publishing papers. And that’s how we’re moving ahead now. I don’t think either is right or wrong.""I was at an ayahuasca circle in Portland OR and was having vivid visuals and beautiful and difficult experiences. At one point I shot up and said “I have to know how this is working in my brain.” For me psychedelics were a gateway drug to science!""There’s a saying, “neurons that fire together wire together,” meaning that if you keep doing the behaviors over again [they form a habit in the brain]. A lot of psychedelics temporarily disturb that rigid firing pattern and let parts of the brain that don’t normally communicate with each other make novel connections.""We have a theory that depression is caused by low serotonin in the brain, but we don’t actually have a lot of evidence supporting that. A newer theory of depression is that it’s a high level inflammatory state in the nervous system. Psychedelics (and SSRIs) are anti-inflammatory. This may be why even microdosing can have an anti-depressant effect.""We can explain a lot of how psychedelics work with science and then we hit this wall... There’s this receptor site... and that neurotransmitter... and then, God."Psychedelics don’t change beliefs or politics. What they seem to do, according to the data, is make people less extreme.Like any tool you’ve got to know how to wield it. If you’re new to psychedelics, get a copy of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by James FadimanThis episode is brought to you by The Trichome Institute offering brilliant education and certification programs. Its hands-on and extremely popular "Interpening" course is geared to helping all cannabis users to Weed Better. Highly recommended by yours truly.

Erica Zelfand, ND, a family physician and psychedelic therapist, discusses the science and spiritual connection of psychedelics... Psilocybin, MDMA, Ibogaine, LSD, Ketamine &amp; God!If you'd like to learn more about the science of psychedelic medicine, take Dr. Z's fantastic online course. Click here and apply the code Hooray at checkout for 20% <a href="http://off.In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">off.In</a> this fantastic and wide-ranging interview with Dr. Erica Zelfand, we touch upon her wide experiences with psychedelics as a conscious user and as a healer and doctor. Some of the many wise things you'll hear include: "What we saw with the Timothy Leary generation, which was more of a grass roots movement was chaos and confusion and now with this revolution we’re taking off tie dye and putting on suits and ties and publishing papers. And that’s how we’re moving ahead now. I don’t think either is right or wrong.""I was at an ayahuasca circle in Portland OR and was having vivid visuals and beautiful and difficult experiences. At one point I shot up and said “I have to know how this is working in my brain.” For me psychedelics were a gateway drug to science!""There’s a saying, “neurons that fire together wire together,” meaning that if you keep doing the behaviors over again [they form a habit in the brain]. A lot of psychedelics temporarily disturb that rigid firing pattern and let parts of the brain that don’t normally communicate with each other make novel connections.""We have a theory that depression is caused by low serotonin in the brain, but we don’t actually have a lot of evidence supporting that. A newer theory of depression is that it’s a high level inflammatory state in the nervous system. Psychedelics (and SSRIs) are anti-inflammatory. This may be why even microdosing can have an anti-depressant effect.""We can explain a lot of how psychedelics work with science and then we hit this wall... There’s this receptor site... and that neurotransmitter... and then, God."Psychedelics don’t change beliefs or politics. What they seem to do, according to the data, is make people less extreme.Like any tool you’ve got to know how to wield it. If you’re new to psychedelics, get a copy of The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide by James FadimanThis episode is brought to you by The Trichome Institute offering brilliant education and certification programs. Its hands-on and extremely popular "Interpening" course is geared to helping all cannabis users to Weed Better. Highly recommended by yours truly.

Ep114 - Dr. Erica Zelfand: Psychedelics, Gateway Drugs to Science and Spirit

Chris Fontes

Hemp gets no respect -- until now! Trichome Institute's Max Montrose and Project Hemp Flower's Chris Fontes will change your mind about this humble and much maligned flower. This episode is sponsored by Trojan Horse Cannabis, makers of edibles and tinctures with 100mgs CBD and 10mgs of Delta-9 THC per serving. These are are legal hemp products that can be mailed to you and will get you gently high. Use coupon code BNW for 25% off your first order!Hemp is:A. Male marijuana flowersB. A species of marijuana with no medicinal valueC. The same species as marijuana with little to no THC The correct answer is ‘C’, but don’t feel uninformed if you didn't know. Hemp is confusing, not only as to what it is, but what it can do, which is why I was surprised when my friend, Max Montrose, founder of The Trichome Institute and creator of the amazing Interpening course, told me about high-potency hemp flower that gets you high. These high CBD hemp strains grown on small, boutique farms are being sold by Colorado-based Project Hemp Flower. Some clock in at 8-25% CBD (average commercial “high” strains average about 3% CBD). More confusing still, these strains, many of which have no THC, are so rich in terpenes and other phytocannabinoids that they actually get you high, or at the very least cause a “head change.” It's so good, Max told me, that Trichome Institute is now sending Project Hemp Flower CBD to people who sign up for its Interpening course but have no access to legal cannabis.These Brave New Hemp strains are just as varied as Delta-9 THC cannabis. They have names like "Alpen Gleaux," "Sour Space Candy," "Oregon Guava," and come in fat frosty nugs, small tight nugs, and many shades of green. Some are jet black – you can see a few examples below. All are tested and the results are posted on the PHF website so buyers know exactly what they’re getting.Max, ever evangelical about all advances in cannabis culture, introduced me to Chris Fontes, CEO of Project Hemp Flower, who says that if you can locate interesting hemp genetics, grow and cure it with the same precision as cannabis then you’ll get an aromatic, smokable flower that is great for people who need it medicinally or who don't want to get annihilated. Or, as Max puts it, “They’re taking hemp flower to the next level and it’s kind of crazy awesome.” To sample high potency CBD that can be legally mailed to your door, click here and use the code BNW to get a 25%. Shipping is free for orders over $40. If you’d like to get intimate with your bud via Trichomes Institute’s Interpening classes, click here and use the BraveNewHemp code to get 15% off. 

Hemp gets no respect -- until now! Trichome Institute's Max Montrose and Project Hemp Flower's Chris Fontes will change your mind about this humble and much maligned flower. This episode is sponsored by Trojan Horse Cannabis, makers of edibles and tinctures with 100mgs CBD and 10mgs of Delta-9 THC per serving. These are are legal hemp products that can be mailed to you and will get you gently high. Use coupon code BNW for 25% off your first order!Hemp is:A. Male marijuana flowersB. A species of marijuana with no medicinal valueC. The same species as marijuana with little to no THC The correct answer is ‘C’, but don’t feel uninformed if you didn't know. Hemp is confusing, not only as to what it is, but what it can do, which is why I was surprised when my friend, Max Montrose, founder of The Trichome Institute and creator of the amazing Interpening course, told me about high-potency hemp flower that gets you high. These high CBD hemp strains grown on small, boutique farms are being sold by Colorado-based Project Hemp Flower. Some clock in at 8-25% CBD (average commercial “high” strains average about 3% CBD). More confusing still, these strains, many of which have no THC, are so rich in terpenes and other phytocannabinoids that they actually get you high, or at the very least cause a “head change.” It's so good, Max told me, that Trichome Institute is now sending Project Hemp Flower CBD to people who sign up for its Interpening course but have no access to legal cannabis.These Brave New Hemp strains are just as varied as Delta-9 THC cannabis. They have names like "Alpen Gleaux," "Sour Space Candy," "Oregon Guava," and come in fat frosty nugs, small tight nugs, and many shades of green. Some are jet black – you can see a few examples below. All are tested and the results are posted on the PHF website so buyers know exactly what they’re getting.Max, ever evangelical about all advances in cannabis culture, introduced me to Chris Fontes, CEO of Project Hemp Flower, who says that if you can locate interesting hemp genetics, grow and cure it with the same precision as cannabis then you’ll get an aromatic, smokable flower that is great for people who need it medicinally or who don't want to get annihilated. Or, as Max puts it, “They’re taking hemp flower to the next level and it’s kind of crazy awesome.” To sample high potency CBD that can be legally mailed to your door, click here and use the code BNW to get a 25%. Shipping is free for orders over $40. If you’d like to get intimate with your bud via Trichomes Institute’s Interpening classes, click here and use the BraveNewHemp code to get 15% off.

Ep113 - Max Monstrose & Chris Fontes: Hemp That Gets You High

The promise and potential of cannabis become clearer every day. As myth is replaced by science and folklore by evidence, everything we thought we knew about this much maligned plant is up for grabs.Brave New Weed Podcast is the voice of the post prohibitionist era. Hosted by author Joe Dolce, the discussions are guaranteed to be fun, fearless, and informed.This podcast follows the publication of Dolce’s Brave New Weed: Adventures into the Uncharted World of Cannabis, a book that the New York Times called “a loving rethink of all things marijuana.” Dolce has gathered the most provocative leaders, thinkers and shapers of new world weed to explore the hottest topics of the day. In addition to exploring WeedCulture, WeedScience, WeedHealth, WeedProducts, WeedPolitics, he’ll also include opponents of normalization, so that he can challenge their positions and give them a damn hard time. The primary focus of the podcast is on the uncanny natural healing power of CBD and THC, but topics and stories are expanded as appropriate to capture the cultural zeitgeist of the day.Make sure to share us with your friends and follow us on social media:Patreon.com/BraveNewWeed Facebook.com/BraveNewWeed Instagram.com/BraveNewWeed Twitter.com/BraveNewWeed

Beautiful and More!❕❗️💚
🤍 FOREVER Wow!❕‼️ 🤩 💟
BEAUTIFUL and MORE!❕❗️🏳️‍🌈🥇

A+!❕‼️💟

Thank you for bringing a fresh perspective with giants in the movement :)

Refreshing!

The promise and potential of cannabis become clearer every day. As myth is replaced by science and folklore by evidence, everything we thought we knew about this much maligned plant is up for grabs.Brave New Weed Podcast is the voice of the post prohibitionist era. Hosted by author Joe Dolce, the discussions are guaranteed to be fun, fearless, and informed. This podcast follows the publication of Dolce’s Brave New Weed: Adventures into the Uncharted World of Cannabis, a book that the New York Times called “a loving rethink of all things marijuana.” Dolce has gathered the most provocative leaders, thinkers and shapers of new world weed to explore the hottest topics of the day. In addition to exploring WeedCulture, WeedScience, WeedHealth, WeedProducts, WeedPolitics, he’ll also include opponents of normalization, so that he can challenge their positions and give them a damn hard time. The primary focus of the podcast is on the uncanny natural healing power of CBD and THC, but topics and stories are expanded as appropriate to capture the cultural zeitgeist of the day. Make sure to share us with your friends and follow us on social media: <a href="http://Patreon.com/BraveNewWeed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/BraveNewWeed</a> <a href="http://Facebook.com/BraveNewWeed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook.com/BraveNewWeed</a> <a href="http://Instagram.com/BraveNewWeed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram.com/BraveNewWeed</a> <a href="http://Twitter.com/BraveNewWeed" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter.com/BraveNewWeed</a>

Brave New Weed

If you want to know the secrets of the plant, talk to a plant scientist (or a shaman). This interview with phytochemist James Curran will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about cannabis – and appreciate how much more there is to learn.I’ve found that cannabis, like many plant medicines, seems to select certain people at a very young age and cast a spell over them. That may sound woo-woo to you, but in the cannabis world, there are people who somehow, perhaps by divine intervention, make the plant their calling. They may not have a PhD from Harvard, or work in a research facility, but they are self taught experts and apply a great deal of science and erudition to their study of the plant. James Curran is one of those special people. Curran is a phytochemist who has been investigating cannabis for the last decade, both personally and professionally. I originally called him because I wanted some  some help cutting through the veil of hype surrounding so many new products and technologies on the market. How much more effective really are the new “water soluble” beverages at the moment? Does “nano-emulsification” truly deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream more quickly? Can manufacturers buy terpenes off the shelf and simply add them into products to increase their efficacy, as so many are claiming? And what on earth is the difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC (and where can I get some)? James had the answers to these and other questions. But this interview gets really buzzy when he revealed that he has an extraction method that allows him to harvest fresh terpenes from fresh cannabis. Being a scientist who uses his own body as a laboratory, he has ingested just 1mg of these fresh terps and reports that just a small amount of Alpha-pinene produced “25 minutes of a near psychedelic experience.” Until now, I believed that terps help direct the high -- but his report, and that of others indicates that THC isn’t the full story, that terps act collaboratively to cause the high. Listen in to learn more. If you want to contact James to talk about these and other issues, including remediation for “hot hemp” find him at Jamespacurran@gmail.com.

If you want to know the secrets of the plant, talk to a plant scientist (or a shaman). This interview with phytochemist James Curran will make you reevaluate everything you thought you knew about cannabis – and appreciate how much more there is to learn.I’ve found that cannabis, like many plant medicines, seems to select certain people at a very young age and cast a spell over them. That may sound woo-woo to you, but in the cannabis world, there are people who somehow, perhaps by divine intervention, make the plant their calling. They may not have a PhD from Harvard, or work in a research facility, but they are self taught experts and apply a great deal of science and erudition to their study of the plant. James Curran is one of those special people. Curran is a phytochemist who has been investigating cannabis for the last decade, both personally and professionally. I originally called him because I wanted some some help cutting through the veil of hype surrounding so many new products and technologies on the market. How much more effective really are the new “water soluble” beverages at the moment? Does “nano-emulsification” truly deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream more quickly? Can manufacturers buy terpenes off the shelf and simply add them into products to increase their efficacy, as so many are claiming? And what on earth is the difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC (and where can I get some)? James had the answers to these and other questions. But this interview gets really buzzy when he revealed that he has an extraction method that allows him to harvest fresh terpenes from fresh cannabis. Being a scientist who uses his own body as a laboratory, he has ingested just 1mg of these fresh terps and reports that just a small amount of Alpha-pinene produced “25 minutes of a near psychedelic experience.” Until now, I believed that terps help direct the high -- but his report, and that of others indicates that THC isn’t the full story, that terps act collaboratively to cause the high. Listen in to learn more. If you want to contact James to talk about these and other issues, including remediation for “hot hemp” find him at Jamespacurran@gmail.com.

Ep67 - Can Terpenes Get You High?

Pastor Craig Gross is bucking the tide of the conservative churches by urging his flock to embrace cannabis. That's going to be a long, lonely struggle. Onward Christian Soldier!This episode of the Brave New Weed podcast is brought to you by It's Great to Suck At Something, author Karen Rinaldi's new book on "the unexpected joy of wiping out and what it can teach us about patience, resilience and the stuff that really matters."Would Jesus love porn addicts? “Absolutely!” says Pastor Craig Gross, explaining why, in 2002, he formed the XXXChurch to help the estimated 50% of Christians who struggle with porn. Would J-man have been cool with cannabis? Gross also thinks yes, and has launched Christian Cannabis, his new crusade to change the millions of god-fearing minds who are dead set against it.  “Putting three Xs in front of the word ‘church’ is similar to putting the word ‘Christian’ in front of ‘cannabis,’” says Gross, 43. “It’s the dumbest thing… but I needed it to be so clear and so direct. It means Christians talking about cannabis. It doesn’t mean we have more holy spiritual weed than you do.”Radical though he may be among his tribe, I was skeptical about Gross before we spoke. I’m allergic to organized religion, especially Christians who are all sanctimony yet give people like pussy grabbing Trump a pass because he restricts reproductive freedoms. But almost from the start I knew I was talking to a Christian of a different stripe. One I could relate to, argue with, be friends with. He’s tightly wired, and not at all shy about sharing his vulnerabilities. He wears a self-consciously asymmetrical haircut that enables him fit right in at the music festivals he attends, like Coachella. He’s a thinker, a talker, and a challenger. He is also the son of a Baptist preacher, raised in a home where dancing, music, even lifting his arms to praise the lord, were blasphemous acts worthy of punishment. He learned the horrors of fundamentalism early on. No wonder he bucks against them so flamboyantly today.What shocks me and Gross is the blind eye church hierarchies turn to what is obviously a medicine as well as an intoxicant. “People sitting in their pews deserve something more than just ‘I don’t know. We don’t talk about that here,’ writes Gross in one blog. “I have a friend who is a pastor, he’s off his depression medication because of weed. So he is buying it illegally and he’d get fired from his job if his church knew.“Christians are always late the party. We’re the last ones to change, and yet we serve a creator God whose work is the epitome of innovation.”Is Gross a real change agent or more showman? Or is he a smart salesman who knows that Christians will only buy products that are marketed specifically to them? I couldn’t decide from our 45 minute interview, but I'd happily sit down with him again for more, especially, we aligned on many topics, including the ways cannabis can be used for deeper spiritual investigation. There are very few people I know -- religious or not -- who wouldn't benefit from more of that. But don’t take my word for it. For technical reasons I had to record this episode on a Zoom call. The audio is a bit tetchy but the video allows you to look the pastor in the eye as he makes his case. Judge for yourselves.PS: Speaking about clearing cobwebs out of other musty spiritual closets...I am reminded of the many great spiritual teachers I know who use cannabis but who don't or won't speak about it. If you’re in touch with any of them, please ask them to contact us if they'd like to discuss as openly as Craig.

Pastor Craig Gross is bucking the tide of the conservative churches by urging his flock to embrace cannabis. That's going to be a long, lonely struggle. Onward Christian Soldier!This episode of the Brave New Weed podcast is brought to you by It's Great to Suck At Something, author Karen Rinaldi's new book on "the unexpected joy of wiping out and what it can teach us about patience, resilience and the stuff that really matters."Would Jesus love porn addicts? “Absolutely!” says Pastor Craig Gross, explaining why, in 2002, he formed the XXXChurch to help the estimated 50% of Christians who struggle with porn. Would J-man have been cool with cannabis? Gross also thinks yes, and has launched Christian Cannabis, his new crusade to change the millions of god-fearing minds who are dead set against it. “Putting three Xs in front of the word ‘church’ is similar to putting the word ‘Christian’ in front of ‘cannabis,’” says Gross, 43. “It’s the dumbest thing… but I needed it to be so clear and so direct. It means Christians talking about cannabis. It doesn’t mean we have more holy spiritual weed than you do.”Radical though he may be among his tribe, I was skeptical about Gross before we spoke. I’m allergic to organized religion, especially Christians who are all sanctimony yet give people like pussy grabbing Trump a pass because he restricts reproductive freedoms. But almost from the start I knew I was talking to a Christian of a different stripe. One I could relate to, argue with, be friends with. He’s tightly wired, and not at all shy about sharing his vulnerabilities. He wears a self-consciously asymmetrical haircut that enables him fit right in at the music festivals he attends, like Coachella. He’s a thinker, a talker, and a challenger. He is also the son of a Baptist preacher, raised in a home where dancing, music, even lifting his arms to praise the lord, were blasphemous acts worthy of punishment. He learned the horrors of fundamentalism early on. No wonder he bucks against them so flamboyantly today.What shocks me and Gross is the blind eye church hierarchies turn to what is obviously a medicine as well as an intoxicant. “People sitting in their pews deserve something more than just ‘I don’t know. We don’t talk about that here,’ writes Gross in one blog. “I have a friend who is a pastor, he’s off his depression medication because of weed. So he is buying it illegally and he’d get fired from his job if his church knew.“Christians are always late the party. We’re the last ones to change, and yet we serve a creator God whose work is the epitome of innovation.”Is Gross a real change agent or more showman? Or is he a smart salesman who knows that Christians will only buy products that are marketed specifically to them? I couldn’t decide from our 45 minute interview, but I'd happily sit down with him again for more, especially, we aligned on many topics, including the ways cannabis can be used for deeper spiritual investigation. There are very few people I know -- religious or not -- who wouldn't benefit from more of that. But don’t take my word for it. For technical reasons I had to record this episode on a Zoom call. The audio is a bit tetchy but the video allows you to look the pastor in the eye as he makes his case. Judge for <a href="http://yourselves.PS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">yourselves.PS</a>: Speaking about clearing cobwebs out of other musty spiritual closets...I am reminded of the many great spiritual teachers I know who use cannabis but who don't or won't speak about it. If you’re in touch with any of them, please ask them to contact us if they'd like to discuss as openly as Craig.

Ep57 - Pastor Gone To Pot!

Junella Chin

From a 10 month old baby with epilepsy to a 99 year old woman with pancreatic cancer; one of the world's most experienced medical cannabis physicians on using the "highless cannabis" for what ails you. This episode was recorded live at The Alchemist's Kitchen in New York City.I don’t believe in miracles but in many ways CBD (cannabidiol) is a miraculous molecule. It treats an estimated 105 illnesses – no other medicine on earth does that -- more effectively than allopathic meds and with NONE of the side effects. Anyone over 40 is familiar with one or all of the three illnesses it is most often prescribed for -- pain, stress and insomnia. I know just how effective it is—I use it for all of them. At the same time, there is a lot of confusion/ignorance about what CBD (and medical marijuana in general) is. That’s because it’s unlike other medications. Doctors, who have no training in botanical meds, don’t understand it; the mainstream media takes it on sporadically but it’s more of a “gee whiz, isn’t this novel” subtext. They’re totally unaware of the serious research that is proving its efficacy and of the millions of people around the world using it with success. The thing is, it may not be mainstream right now, but it’s coming. I know. This podcast, which was recorded live at The Alchemist’s Kitchen in New York City, features Dr. Junella Chin, an integrative family physician who specializes in treating children with intractable epilepsy, cancer, autism, and mental health conditions. Dr. Chin, who is also a chronic pain survivor, studied at Cornell, Columbia and Harvard universities. She received her medical cannabis training in California, where she treated an estimated 12,000 patients with cannabinoids. This qualifies her as one of the most experienced medical cannabis doctors in the world. She and her family returned to her native New York several years ago to bring awareness to a state that is just beginning its medical cannabis program.

From a 10 month old baby with epilepsy to a 99 year old woman with pancreatic cancer; one of the world's most experienced medical cannabis physicians on using the "highless cannabis" for what ails you. This episode was recorded live at The Alchemist's Kitchen in New York City.I don’t believe in miracles but in many ways CBD (cannabidiol) is a miraculous molecule. It treats an estimated 105 illnesses – no other medicine on earth does that -- more effectively than allopathic meds and with NONE of the side effects. Anyone over 40 is familiar with one or all of the three illnesses it is most often prescribed for -- pain, stress and insomnia. I know just how effective it is—I use it for all of them. At the same time, there is a lot of confusion/ignorance about what CBD (and medical marijuana in general) is. That’s because it’s unlike other medications. Doctors, who have no training in botanical meds, don’t understand it; the mainstream media takes it on sporadically but it’s more of a “gee whiz, isn’t this novel” subtext. They’re totally unaware of the serious research that is proving its efficacy and of the millions of people around the world using it with success. The thing is, it may not be mainstream right now, but it’s coming. I know. This podcast, which was recorded live at The Alchemist’s Kitchen in New York City, features Dr. Junella Chin, an integrative family physician who specializes in treating children with intractable epilepsy, cancer, autism, and mental health conditions. Dr. Chin, who is also a chronic pain survivor, studied at Cornell, Columbia and Harvard universities. She received her medical cannabis training in California, where she treated an estimated 12,000 patients with cannabinoids. This qualifies her as one of the most experienced medical cannabis doctors in the world. She and her family returned to her native New York several years ago to bring awareness to a state that is just beginning its medical cannabis program.

Ep10 - The Healing Power of CBD (Dr. Junella Chin)

Edibles are exploding but there are two very persistent problems with these little bonbons of delight. 1. Dose and 2. The hour and half (on average) they take to kick in.. The first problem can be solved with a little education. It also helps immensely if you live in a legal state where dosage is clearly labeled on the package. The 2nd concern requires experience and patience. If you’re impatient and think nothing is going to happen and continue to eat more it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll end up in some corner cowering and having a very uncomfortable experience. Everyone who listens to this podcast knows exactly what I mean.Our guest this week has come up with a product that addresses both concerns. Ron Silver is a restaurant owner and chef based in NYC. He has taken it upon himself to devise a THC-infused sugar that uptakes in 15 minutes and is fully doseable. A half teaspoon is a gentle 2.5 mg lift; a full teaspoon is 5 mg etc… This give you what’s always been missing, control. And for many of us, being able to control your out-of-controlness is exactly what we want from our edible experience. We’re also joined this week the the estimable Joseph Bondy, one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the US, who has spent his career defending people accused of drug crimes. He was good enough to walk us through the latest attempt by Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions amp up the War on Drugs. Tune in to get the scoop on the motivation behind his nefarious moves.Tune in, and if you like these conversations about cannabis in the post-prohibitionist era, we’d appreciate your support. One dollar a month will do the trick. Please click here to pledge on our Patreon page, which not only supports the cause but gets you exclusive access to episodes days before they’re published publicly on iTunes or Google Play

Edibles are exploding but there are two very persistent problems with these little bonbons of delight. 1. Dose and 2. The hour and half (on average) they take to kick in.. The first problem can be solved with a little education. It also helps immensely if you live in a legal state where dosage is clearly labeled on the package. The 2nd concern requires experience and patience. If you’re impatient and think nothing is going to happen and continue to eat more it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll end up in some corner cowering and having a very uncomfortable experience. Everyone who listens to this podcast knows exactly what I mean.Our guest this week has come up with a product that addresses both concerns. Ron Silver is a restaurant owner and chef based in NYC. He has taken it upon himself to devise a THC-infused sugar that uptakes in 15 minutes and is fully doseable. A half teaspoon is a gentle 2.5 mg lift; a full teaspoon is 5 mg etc… This give you what’s always been missing, control. And for many of us, being able to control your out-of-controlness is exactly what we want from our edible experience. We’re also joined this week the the estimable Joseph Bondy, one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the US, who has spent his career defending people accused of drug crimes. He was good enough to walk us through the latest attempt by Attorney General Jeffrey Beauregard Sessions amp up the War on Drugs. Tune in to get the scoop on the motivation behind his nefarious moves.Tune in, and if you like these conversations about cannabis in the post-prohibitionist era, we’d appreciate your support. One dollar a month will do the trick. Please click here to pledge on our Patreon page, which not only supports the cause but gets you exclusive access to episodes days before they’re published publicly on iTunes or Google Play

Ep3 - A "Sweet", New Way to Get High

Dr. Sebastian Marincolo is your guide to greater insight, empathy, receptivity and awe.Our guest this week, Dr. Sebastian Marincolo, is a philosopher, researcher and fellow explorer of consciousness. His book, High: Insights on Marijuana, is one of the most brilliant explorations and explanations of how to use the plant to “pull back the veil of consciousness” and lean into a high just as a skilled skier might ride moguls into deeper pleasures.There is little doubt that cannabis affects the way we see our place as human beings in life’s grand order. Used mindfully, it can increase our receptivity to the sensual world but it can also open new pathways of insight, empathy and wonder, which is no small thing for a relatively gentle and harmless plant with no addictive properties.In 1969 the great astronomer (and cannabis enthusiast) Carl Sagan wrote (under the pseudonym Mr. X) about the multi-faceted sensations of being high. “I do not consider myself a religious person in the usual sense, but there is a religious aspect to some highs. The heightened sensitivity in all areas gives me a feeling of communion with my surroundings, both animate ad inanimate. Sometimes a kind of existential perception of the absurd comes over me and I see with awful certainly the hypocrisies and posturing of myself and my fellow man. And, at other times, there is a different sense of the absurd, a playful and whimsical awareness…”Anyone who has used cannabis knows the truth of these perceptions. But today, now that we have more of a handle on dosing, the content of THC, CBD and terpenes in various strains and the many different ways of delivering the compounds into our bodies, we can design highs to bring us more of these sensations. But it also helps to know what to look for and how to consciously open ourselves into different ways of seeing and greeting the world.Listen in. It’s well worth 30 minutes of your time.

Dr. Sebastian Marincolo is your guide to greater insight, empathy, receptivity and awe.Our guest this week, Dr. Sebastian Marincolo, is a philosopher, researcher and fellow explorer of consciousness. His book, High: Insights on Marijuana, is one of the most brilliant explorations and explanations of how to use the plant to “pull back the veil of consciousness” and lean into a high just as a skilled skier might ride moguls into deeper pleasures.There is little doubt that cannabis affects the way we see our place as human beings in life’s grand order. Used mindfully, it can increase our receptivity to the sensual world but it can also open new pathways of insight, empathy and wonder, which is no small thing for a relatively gentle and harmless plant with no addictive <a href="http://properties.In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">properties.In</a> 1969 the great astronomer (and cannabis enthusiast) Carl Sagan wrote (under the pseudonym Mr. X) about the multi-faceted sensations of being high. “I do not consider myself a religious person in the usual sense, but there is a religious aspect to some highs. The heightened sensitivity in all areas gives me a feeling of communion with my surroundings, both animate ad inanimate. Sometimes a kind of existential perception of the absurd comes over me and I see with awful certainly the hypocrisies and posturing of myself and my fellow man. And, at other times, there is a different sense of the absurd, a playful and whimsical awareness…”Anyone who has used cannabis knows the truth of these perceptions. But today, now that we have more of a handle on dosing, the content of THC, CBD and terpenes in various strains and the many different ways of delivering the compounds into our bodies, we can design highs to bring us more of these sensations. But it also helps to know what to look for and how to consciously open ourselves into different ways of seeing and greeting the world.Listen in. It’s well worth 30 minutes of your time.

Ep22 - Using Cannabis to Increase "Flow" and Other States of Enhanced Consciousness

Can changing our diets make us more attuned to the chemicals in cannabis, and thus healthier? Dr. Deborah Kimless says it can.We don’t know much about cannabis and diet other than that old hippie lore that eating a mango can extend the length of a high. (It’s true, by the way. Mango is rich in the terpene myrcene, also found in cannabis. The hippies got that right!) But there be a lot more to know, and Dr. Deborah Kimless is passionate about piecing together the clues. When it comes to diet, Kimless, an anesthesiologist and medical director of Forward Gro, Maryland’s first licensed medical cannabis grow, eschews the V word (vegan), in favor of the P word (pH balanced diet). The theory goes like this; Reduce acidity in the gut, and disease won’t take root as easily. An alkaline diet rich in fruits, vegetables, potatoes, and alkali-rich red and white wine, can help prevent unhealthy microbes and organisms from flourishing, lessen damage to tissues and organs and the depletion of minerals. It can also strengthen immune function.Here’s what an excellent 2012 review published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health concluded: “It is generally accepted that humans today have a diet poor in magnesium and potassium as well as fiber, and rich in saturated fat, simple sugars, sodium, and chloride as compared to the preagricultural period. This results in a diet that may induce metabolic acidosis which is mismatched to our genetically determined nutritional requirements.Kimless has a lot to say about eating a pH balanced diet and using cannabinoids to bolster the effects. Listen to this episode and you may never eat the same again!

Can changing our diets make us more attuned to the chemicals in cannabis, and thus healthier? Dr. Deborah Kimless says it can.We don’t know much about cannabis and diet other than that old hippie lore that eating a mango can extend the length of a high. (It’s true, by the way. Mango is rich in the terpene myrcene, also found in cannabis. The hippies got that right!) But there be a lot more to know, and Dr. Deborah Kimless is passionate about piecing together the clues. When it comes to diet, Kimless, an anesthesiologist and medical director of Forward Gro, Maryland’s first licensed medical cannabis grow, eschews the V word (vegan), in favor of the P word (pH balanced diet). The theory goes like this; Reduce acidity in the gut, and disease won’t take root as easily. An alkaline diet rich in fruits, vegetables, potatoes, and alkali-rich red and white wine, can help prevent unhealthy microbes and organisms from flourishing, lessen damage to tissues and organs and the depletion of minerals. It can also strengthen immune function.Here’s what an excellent 2012 review published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health concluded: “It is generally accepted that humans today have a diet poor in magnesium and potassium as well as fiber, and rich in saturated fat, simple sugars, sodium, and chloride as compared to the preagricultural period. This results in a diet that may induce metabolic acidosis which is mismatched to our genetically determined nutritional requirements.Kimless has a lot to say about eating a pH balanced diet and using cannabinoids to bolster the effects. Listen to this episode and you may never eat the same again!

Ep32 - Cannabis and the V-word (Not That V-word)

A fascinating interview with Jamie Wheal, the best-selling author of Stealing Fire.Twenty first century men and women – we’re not faring so well. We are tired, wired, stressed. Our cortisol levels veer between fight or flight, our heartbeats are erratic, and this is our normal. This interview with the very brilliant Jamie Wheal explores how to cherry pick ancient and modern "technologies" -- meditation, neurobiology, breathwork, microdoses of psychedelics, marathon running – to give us a better chance, individually and as a culture, to solve the cataclysmic problems facing the world.Wheal has spent years studying the strange bedfellows of religious ecstatics, high performance athletes, meditators, yogis and others to draw a line between their practices and their altered states. Of particular interest to me are the thousands (hundreds of thousands) of people who are currently microdosing with LSD and psilocybin. Microdosing as a concept is not new. Early experiments led scientists in the 1960s to understand that sub-perceptual doses affects the serotonin system, which regulates depression, happiness and mood (notice the similarities between that and cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system). That research got shut down in anti-drug hysteria of 1968. Instead, what we ended up with was Prozac Nation, blunt pharmacological instruments that never enabled users to make meaningful changes or really expand their cognitive functioning. The current revitalization of low dosed psychedelics is a more refined and more effective way of boosting lateral ways of thinking. Entire engineering teams at top Silicon Valley companies are trying it. “Maybe the 60s got it really wrong,” Wheal says in this interview. “Rather than super-industrial size doses LSD that blow your mind it seems that tiny doses combined with other technologies can give us access to an enhanced form of cognition that feels useful today. Being balanced -- that’s the optimal high-performance state. Brain wave studies have shown that the world’s top athletes are distinguished by how quickly they can get back to center and adapt to the next task.”If you’re interested exploring a way of “calibrating peak experiences into a practice of accelerated development” for yourself, sign up for Wheal’s Rocky Mountain Flow workshop taking place August 17-19 2018, in Boulder, Colorado. Alternatively, read Stealing Fire, check out the Flow Genome Facebook community or listen to this podcast and share it widely. Hurry. We need higher consciousness now.

A fascinating interview with Jamie Wheal, the best-selling author of Stealing Fire.Twenty first century men and women – we’re not faring so well. We are tired, wired, stressed. Our cortisol levels veer between fight or flight, our heartbeats are erratic, and this is our normal. This interview with the very brilliant Jamie Wheal explores how to cherry pick ancient and modern "technologies" -- meditation, neurobiology, breathwork, microdoses of psychedelics, marathon running – to give us a better chance, individually and as a culture, to solve the cataclysmic problems facing the world.Wheal has spent years studying the strange bedfellows of religious ecstatics, high performance athletes, meditators, yogis and others to draw a line between their practices and their altered states. Of particular interest to me are the thousands (hundreds of thousands) of people who are currently microdosing with LSD and psilocybin. Microdosing as a concept is not new. Early experiments led scientists in the 1960s to understand that sub-perceptual doses affects the serotonin system, which regulates depression, happiness and mood (notice the similarities between that and cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system). That research got shut down in anti-drug hysteria of 1968. Instead, what we ended up with was Prozac Nation, blunt pharmacological instruments that never enabled users to make meaningful changes or really expand their cognitive functioning. The current revitalization of low dosed psychedelics is a more refined and more effective way of boosting lateral ways of thinking. Entire engineering teams at top Silicon Valley companies are trying it. “Maybe the 60s got it really wrong,” Wheal says in this interview. “Rather than super-industrial size doses LSD that blow your mind it seems that tiny doses combined with other technologies can give us access to an enhanced form of cognition that feels useful today. Being balanced -- that’s the optimal high-performance state. Brain wave studies have shown that the world’s top athletes are distinguished by how quickly they can get back to center and adapt to the next task.”If you’re interested exploring a way of “calibrating peak experiences into a practice of accelerated development” for yourself, sign up for Wheal’s Rocky Mountain Flow workshop taking place August 17-19 2018, in Boulder, Colorado. Alternatively, read Stealing Fire, check out the Flow Genome Facebook community or listen to this podcast and share it widely. Hurry. We need higher consciousness now.

Ep31 - How to Survive A World That Has Lost Its Mind

In the last two years interest in CBD outpaced THC and has yet to peak. The world is awash in CBD, but because the market is unregulated, it’s difficult to know what you’re buying. Confusion abounds.This episode is supported by Medical Cannabis Mentor: The finest evidenced-based cannabis education courses for healthcare professionals, dispensary personnel and patients. Ask about special pricing for listeners of the this podcast!A few months ago I heard a rumor that CBD was getting more Google searches than God. I couldn’t find any evidence verifying that, but Google did reveal this surprising trend:CBD vs THCIn the last two years interest in CBD outpaced THC and has yet to peak. The world is awash in CBD, but because the market is unregulated, it’s difficult to know what you’re buying. Confusion abounds. And for good reasons. Recent reports show that labels on the bottle sometimes bear no relationship to the oil or tincture inside. Some CBD oils have high levels of THC (the standard amount is just .3%, which is too low to cause any sort of high); other brands contain no CBD whatsoever. Too many claim to have a certain number of mgs of CBD but when tested, are shown to be wildly inaccurate. Other issues to beware: Is your CBD free of contaminants? Much of the CBD from China or Eastern Europe was grown on soil that may be contaminated by industrial waste. If a product hasn’t been tested by an independent, 3rd party lab, you’ll never know for sure. And if it has been tested, where can you see the results? Transparent companies post results on their websites. The terms on the label are also perplexing: Here’s a quick guide to an isolate versus a full spectrum or broad spectrum oil. CBD Isolate is pure CBD extracted from hemp with no other cannabinoids. It is dried and crystalized, and many contend it is less effective than Full Spectrum CBD, which is extracted from hemp with all of the accompanying cannabinoids, including that tiny amount of THC. Broad Spectrum is CBD is Full Spectrum, but with all of the THC removed. Finally, there’s the price -- a sore spot for anyone on a low or fixed income. It’s not uncommon to find a 1000mg bottle of CBD costing $60. At 25mg twice a day that comes to over $1000 a year, which is sky high for a product produced from a plant that grows wild almost everywhere in the world. The best way I can contribute to stopping shoddy business practices is through education. That’s why this episode features Martin Lee, Director of Project CBD, the California-based nonprofit that has been disseminating research about this cannabinoid long before it was a Google trend. Martin tackles the challenges of navigating the unregulated market to find good, reliable medicine. Our second interview is with Dr. Junella Chin (featured several times in previous episodes on our podcast), who has treated over 10,000 patients with CBD in the last 15 years. She offers practical advice about using it for maximum impact. If you know of a reputable CBD brand that is transparent in its growing and extraction practices and affordable, please let us know. Email bravenewweedcast@gmail.com or snap a pic of the label and post it on Instagram. Be sure to tag us and tell us the price!. This is one area where the wisdom of crowds can be a great service.

In the last two years interest in CBD outpaced THC and has yet to peak. The world is awash in CBD, but because the market is unregulated, it’s difficult to know what you’re buying. Confusion abounds.This episode is supported by Medical Cannabis Mentor: The finest evidenced-based cannabis education courses for healthcare professionals, dispensary personnel and patients. Ask about special pricing for listeners of the this podcast!A few months ago I heard a rumor that CBD was getting more Google searches than God. I couldn’t find any evidence verifying that, but Google did reveal this surprising trend:CBD vs THCIn the last two years interest in CBD outpaced THC and has yet to peak. The world is awash in CBD, but because the market is unregulated, it’s difficult to know what you’re buying. Confusion abounds. And for good reasons. Recent reports show that labels on the bottle sometimes bear no relationship to the oil or tincture inside. Some CBD oils have high levels of THC (the standard amount is just .3%, which is too low to cause any sort of high); other brands contain no CBD whatsoever. Too many claim to have a certain number of mgs of CBD but when tested, are shown to be wildly inaccurate. Other issues to beware: Is your CBD free of contaminants? Much of the CBD from China or Eastern Europe was grown on soil that may be contaminated by industrial waste. If a product hasn’t been tested by an independent, 3rd party lab, you’ll never know for sure. And if it has been tested, where can you see the results? Transparent companies post results on their websites. The terms on the label are also perplexing: Here’s a quick guide to an isolate versus a full spectrum or broad spectrum oil. CBD Isolate is pure CBD extracted from hemp with no other cannabinoids. It is dried and crystalized, and many contend it is less effective than Full Spectrum CBD, which is extracted from hemp with all of the accompanying cannabinoids, including that tiny amount of THC. Broad Spectrum is CBD is Full Spectrum, but with all of the THC removed. Finally, there’s the price -- a sore spot for anyone on a low or fixed income. It’s not uncommon to find a 1000mg bottle of CBD costing $60. At 25mg twice a day that comes to over $1000 a year, which is sky high for a product produced from a plant that grows wild almost everywhere in the world. The best way I can contribute to stopping shoddy business practices is through education. That’s why this episode features Martin Lee, Director of Project CBD, the California-based nonprofit that has been disseminating research about this cannabinoid long before it was a Google trend. Martin tackles the challenges of navigating the unregulated market to find good, reliable medicine. Our second interview is with Dr. Junella Chin (featured several times in previous episodes on our podcast), who has treated over 10,000 patients with CBD in the last 15 years. She offers practical advice about using it for maximum impact. If you know of a reputable CBD brand that is transparent in its growing and extraction practices and affordable, please let us know. Email bravenewweedcast@gmail.com or snap a pic of the label and post it on Instagram. Be sure to tag us and tell us the price!. This is one area where the wisdom of crowds can be a great service.

Ep52 - The ABCs of CBD

It may be called the green rush but 90% of the cannabis industry is another color, and that color is white. And male. And probably straight. That’s less a criticism than an observation. Our guests this week, Jacob Plowden, founder of the Cannabis Cultural Association and his Aunt Molly Adams, want to change that. They span three generations of use within one family but because of when and how they grew up, share totally different experiences.Historically, there are several reasons for this color/gender imbalance.It goes back to the 1930s when Cannabis Prohibition became the law of the land. To a large extent Prohibition had its roots in racism. Marijuana came from Mexico, the land of poor brown people, and when those people started flooding across the border to flee the economic misery unleashed by the Great Depression a tide of anti-immigrant fervor took hold. “Reefer” was also used in the American jazz scene, which was led by African Americans. The fear was that the evil weed would cause white women to have sex with black men. Those implications persisted for long time.Today, the issues are as much social as socio economic. The ACLU says that of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests from 2001 to 2010, 88% were for simple possession of marijuana; African Americans are nearly four times as likely to be busted for possession than whites. In other words, for a white guy like me, a bust was a slap on the hand. For a man of color, it was a ticket to orange.Unfortunately, even as legalization spreads across the country, many states ban applicants from obtaining cannabis business licenses if they have any criminal record, even for misdemeanors. California is changing that when it goes legal in 2018. Their laws recognize that it’s unfair is it to punish people throughout their lives for a crime that most of us listening to this podcast don’t consider criminal at all. Not every state is as forgiving. And of course, the high cost of launching a cannabis business is also keeping people of color at bay. It’s often in the high 6 figures and increasingly into the many millions.In other words, there’s a lot of work to do to changing the complexion of the cannabis industry. Tune in to hear how one group is tackling the challenge.

It may be called the green rush but 90% of the cannabis industry is another color, and that color is white. And male. And probably straight. That’s less a criticism than an observation. Our guests this week, Jacob Plowden, founder of the Cannabis Cultural Association and his Aunt Molly Adams, want to change that. They span three generations of use within one family but because of when and how they grew up, share totally different experiences.Historically, there are several reasons for this color/gender <a href="http://imbalance.It" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">imbalance.It</a> goes back to the 1930s when Cannabis Prohibition became the law of the land. To a large extent Prohibition had its roots in racism. Marijuana came from Mexico, the land of poor brown people, and when those people started flooding across the border to flee the economic misery unleashed by the Great Depression a tide of anti-immigrant fervor took hold. “Reefer” was also used in the American jazz scene, which was led by African Americans. The fear was that the evil weed would cause white women to have sex with black men. Those implications persisted for long time.Today, the issues are as much social as socio economic. The ACLU says that of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests from 2001 to 2010, 88% were for simple possession of marijuana; African Americans are nearly four times as likely to be busted for possession than whites. In other words, for a white guy like me, a bust was a slap on the hand. For a man of color, it was a ticket to orange.Unfortunately, even as legalization spreads across the country, many states ban applicants from obtaining cannabis business licenses if they have any criminal record, even for misdemeanors. California is changing that when it goes legal in 2018. Their laws recognize that it’s unfair is it to punish people throughout their lives for a crime that most of us listening to this podcast don’t consider criminal at all. Not every state is as forgiving. And of course, the high cost of launching a cannabis business is also keeping people of color at bay. It’s often in the high 6 figures and increasingly into the many <a href="http://millions.In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">millions.In</a> other words, there’s a lot of work to do to changing the complexion of the cannabis industry. Tune in to hear how one group is tackling the challenge.

Ep4 - Why Is The Cannabis Industry So Damn White?

A special report with Dr. Junella Chin on how to dose medical cannabis for three chronic conditions: Pain, Stress/Anxiety and Insomnia. State-of-the-art information that can seriously improve your life.Medical cannabis is like the iPhone circa 1998 -- no one knew they needed it until they had it in their hands. The world hasn’t been the same since.And it’s a whole lot more than “Take 3 tokes and call me in the morning!”Scientific research from around the world is showing that the two most prevalent components in the plant, CBD and THC, can be combined in new ways that effectively treat common conditions such as pain, stress/anxiety and insomnia without the side effects of over-the-counter or prescription medications. This is great news. While modern medicine and pharma companies have done a great job learning how to treat severe conditions, they have not succeeded as well in helping people with chronic conditions such as the ones mentioned above.The other great news: with a little education, patients can use these cannabis meds with without having to be high. This is important for those of us who need to medicate daily and who also need to function fully.“Relief Without the High,” conducted in tandem with Dr. Junella Chin, who has treated over 10,000 patients with cannabis meds, shows patients the value of “educating before medicating.” It is a hands-on demonstration of the different ways of taking the meds (oral, tincture, vapor) and how to dose them for optimum relief. It also informs patients who are not living in legal states how to begin using these medications without running afoul of the law.Medical cannabis is emerging from the shadows of prohibition and the science is showing it to be a legitimate and effective mode of healing. There are millions of people who will benefit from this information. Please share this episode widely—and please support us on Patreon so we can continue our mission of bringing the science and information to the people who need it.

A special report with Dr. Junella Chin on how to dose medical cannabis for three chronic conditions: Pain, Stress/Anxiety and Insomnia. State-of-the-art information that can seriously improve your life.Medical cannabis is like the iPhone circa 1998 -- no one knew they needed it until they had it in their hands. The world hasn’t been the same since.And it’s a whole lot more than “Take 3 tokes and call me in the morning!”Scientific research from around the world is showing that the two most prevalent components in the plant, CBD and THC, can be combined in new ways that effectively treat common conditions such as pain, stress/anxiety and insomnia without the side effects of over-the-counter or prescription medications. This is great news. While modern medicine and pharma companies have done a great job learning how to treat severe conditions, they have not succeeded as well in helping people with chronic conditions such as the ones mentioned above.The other great news: with a little education, patients can use these cannabis meds with without having to be high. This is important for those of us who need to medicate daily and who also need to function fully.“Relief Without the High,” conducted in tandem with Dr. Junella Chin, who has treated over 10,000 patients with cannabis meds, shows patients the value of “educating before medicating.” It is a hands-on demonstration of the different ways of taking the meds (oral, tincture, vapor) and how to dose them for optimum relief. It also informs patients who are not living in legal states how to begin using these medications without running afoul of the law.Medical cannabis is emerging from the shadows of prohibition and the science is showing it to be a legitimate and effective mode of healing. There are millions of people who will benefit from this information. Please share this episode widely—and please support us on Patreon so we can continue our mission of bringing the science and information to the people who need it.

Ep19 - Relief Without The High

It’s not often I ask two strangers if they’d like to come on air to reveal how they use substances to spark up their sex and intimate lives. But as soon as I asked, Charlie and Shelley Wininger said "Yes!"Meet Charley and Shelley Wininger. He’s 70 and an author and psychotherapist. She’s 68, a retired RN. They’ve been married for 20 years yet they claim their sex life has never been more charged. He’s having full body orgasms. Hers are getting more powerful the older she gets—half the time they “knock Charley out of bed.” Their secret? Cannabis (and other substances)…and a little dark chocolate. I ran into this couple last year at a MAPS conference (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) through a friend who suggested I broach this topic with them. It’s not often I ask two strangers if they’d like to come on air to reveal how they use substances to spark up their sex and intimate lives but I did, and they jumped! Some topics we cover include:How to lose your mind to discover your sensesHow cannabis can counter the diminished libido of menopauseWhat’s better Sativa, Indica or Hybrid?Why Spotify is better for sex than Amazon MusicThe double edged sword of using MDMA to enhance sex And how you tell your kids that you’re about to come out about the way you use substances to heat up your sex on a weed podcast heard around the worldWhether you’re 70 or 27, I suggest you share this episode with your friends, parents and grandparents—I promise it’ll add a little spark your next intergenerational family gathering. Bonus: MDMA Harm Reduction Protocol (courtesy of Erowid and clinical practitioners)These substances are available in health food stores and on Amazon6 hours before you roll200 mgs Magnesium Glycinate1 glass grapefruit juice1-3 hours before100 mg Na-R-ALA200 mg Magnesium Glycinate1000 mg Vitamin C100 mg Grape Seed extract 30 mins before1 Tums/Rolaids (increases stomach alkalinity which prolongs the roll) 2 hours after dosing100 mg Na-R-ALA200 mg Magnesium Glycinate1000 mg Vitamin C100mg Grape Seed Extract 4 hours after dosing100 mg Na-R-ALA Following 3-5 nights100 mg 5HTP400 mg EGCG (Green tea extract)This episode is brought to you by the 5th annual 420 Summit, which being held in beautiful San Francisco April 24 and 25. This is the most interesting and cutting edge Cannabis Conference I’ve ever attended. For the last two years, Summit 420 has been awarded the “Best of the Best” Business event in YPO, so if you’re a YPO member or among the cannacurious I urge you to register now. You’ll get the inside track on new investment possibilities, ground breaking technologies and compelling research projects. There will be live seminars on how to taste terpenes. You can sample an incredible dinner prepared by the finest cannabis chefs in the Bay Area. You’ll attend a ganja yoga class or visit with some of the most successful businesses leaders in the world’s largest cannabis market. This year Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance and a key player in pushing California to legalize in 1996, will be kicking off the proceedings with a keynote on “The New War on Vaping” and how it is echoing the failed War on Drugs. Space is limited so be sure to register for this incredible event now at www.ypo.org/Summit4202020. And be sure bring your spouse/partner. This will be one you’ll want to share.

It’s not often I ask two strangers if they’d like to come on air to reveal how they use substances to spark up their sex and intimate lives. But as soon as I asked, Charlie and Shelley Wininger said "Yes!"Meet Charley and Shelley Wininger. He’s 70 and an author and psychotherapist. She’s 68, a retired RN. They’ve been married for 20 years yet they claim their sex life has never been more charged. He’s having full body orgasms. Hers are getting more powerful the older she gets—half the time they “knock Charley out of bed.” Their secret? Cannabis (and other substances)…and a little dark chocolate. I ran into this couple last year at a MAPS conference (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) through a friend who suggested I broach this topic with them. It’s not often I ask two strangers if they’d like to come on air to reveal how they use substances to spark up their sex and intimate lives but I did, and they jumped! Some topics we cover include:How to lose your mind to discover your sensesHow cannabis can counter the diminished libido of menopauseWhat’s better Sativa, Indica or Hybrid?Why Spotify is better for sex than Amazon MusicThe double edged sword of using MDMA to enhance sex And how you tell your kids that you’re about to come out about the way you use substances to heat up your sex on a weed podcast heard around the worldWhether you’re 70 or 27, I suggest you share this episode with your friends, parents and grandparents—I promise it’ll add a little spark your next intergenerational family gathering. Bonus: MDMA Harm Reduction Protocol (courtesy of Erowid and clinical practitioners)These substances are available in health food stores and on Amazon6 hours before you roll200 mgs Magnesium Glycinate1 glass grapefruit juice1-3 hours before100 mg Na-R-ALA200 mg Magnesium Glycinate1000 mg Vitamin C100 mg Grape Seed extract 30 mins before1 Tums/Rolaids (increases stomach alkalinity which prolongs the roll) 2 hours after dosing100 mg Na-R-ALA200 mg Magnesium Glycinate1000 mg Vitamin C100mg Grape Seed Extract 4 hours after dosing100 mg Na-R-ALA Following 3-5 nights100 mg 5HTP400 mg EGCG (Green tea extract)This episode is brought to you by the 5th annual 420 Summit, which being held in beautiful San Francisco April 24 and 25. This is the most interesting and cutting edge Cannabis Conference I’ve ever attended. For the last two years, Summit 420 has been awarded the “Best of the Best” Business event in YPO, so if you’re a YPO member or among the cannacurious I urge you to register now. You’ll get the inside track on new investment possibilities, ground breaking technologies and compelling research projects. There will be live seminars on how to taste terpenes. You can sample an incredible dinner prepared by the finest cannabis chefs in the Bay Area. You’ll attend a ganja yoga class or visit with some of the most successful businesses leaders in the world’s largest cannabis market. This year Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance and a key player in pushing California to legalize in 1996, will be kicking off the proceedings with a keynote on “The New War on Vaping” and how it is echoing the failed War on Drugs. Space is limited so be sure to register for this incredible event now at <a href="http://www.ypo.org/Summit4202020" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.ypo.org/Summit4202020</a>. And be sure bring your spouse/partner. This will be one you’ll want to share.

Ep72 - An extraordinarily intimate conversation about cannabis, sex and aging with two extraordinary elders.

Our special double episode with Mara Gordon and Roger Volodarsky on the medical and recreational benefits of dabbing.There’s no more controversial way of taking in cannabis than dabbing. Dabbing is the process by where a tiny, quinoa-size bit of cannabis oil is heated and inhaled. Instead of typical cannabis which averages about 25% THC, a dab can clock in from 70-90% THC. The effect can be mind stingingly powerful or a powerful remedy for relieving breakthrough pain.Aficionados claim dabs are the cleanest and most efficient way of consuming: No combustion of plant matter, no lung irritation. But there are, or were, downsides. One is the rig you once needed to smoke them--it required a blow torch to heat a titanium nail which you then inhaled in a long glass column. It looked like freebasing and the association with crack was unavoidable.  Second, dabs are seriously powerful. As mentioned, the THC concentration is amazingly high (pun intended). Finally, the dose is difficult to control. The size difference between a quinoa and sesame seed isn’t that great, but it can make the difference between a powerful high and a knockout punch that can lay even experienced users flat.But those same powerful highs can also be used as powerful medicine, and in the first part of this episode, Mara Gordon, founder of Aunt Zelda’s, the finest oil maker in the US, explains how patients with serious conditions like chronic pain have been using them with great results. She’ll tell us how to look for great oil and recommends a portable dabber that allows for discreet dabbing on the go.Our second guest, Roger Volodarsky, founder of PuffCo, has created The Peak, a next generation instrument that looks good on any shelf. It is handsomely designed, well weighted so that it won’t tip, portable and equipped with hepatic feedback and temperature controls. Not only does it remove the visual stigma from dabbing, but it has inspired hundreds of glass artists to create their own designs to fit atop it. This makes it the first open source dab rig in existence. See some of remarkable designs here but listen to his thoughts and inspirations on the second half of this episode.

Our special double episode with Mara Gordon and Roger Volodarsky on the medical and recreational benefits of dabbing.There’s no more controversial way of taking in cannabis than dabbing. Dabbing is the process by where a tiny, quinoa-size bit of cannabis oil is heated and inhaled. Instead of typical cannabis which averages about 25% THC, a dab can clock in from 70-90% THC. The effect can be mind stingingly powerful or a powerful remedy for relieving breakthrough pain.Aficionados claim dabs are the cleanest and most efficient way of consuming: No combustion of plant matter, no lung irritation. But there are, or were, downsides. One is the rig you once needed to smoke them--it required a blow torch to heat a titanium nail which you then inhaled in a long glass column. It looked like freebasing and the association with crack was unavoidable. Second, dabs are seriously powerful. As mentioned, the THC concentration is amazingly high (pun intended). Finally, the dose is difficult to control. The size difference between a quinoa and sesame seed isn’t that great, but it can make the difference between a powerful high and a knockout punch that can lay even experienced users flat.But those same powerful highs can also be used as powerful medicine, and in the first part of this episode, Mara Gordon, founder of Aunt Zelda’s, the finest oil maker in the US, explains how patients with serious conditions like chronic pain have been using them with great results. She’ll tell us how to look for great oil and recommends a portable dabber that allows for discreet dabbing on the go.Our second guest, Roger Volodarsky, founder of PuffCo, has created The Peak, a next generation instrument that looks good on any shelf. It is handsomely designed, well weighted so that it won’t tip, portable and equipped with hepatic feedback and temperature controls. Not only does it remove the visual stigma from dabbing, but it has inspired hundreds of glass artists to create their own designs to fit atop it. This makes it the first open source dab rig in existence. See some of remarkable designs here but listen to his thoughts and inspirations on the second half of this episode.

Ep27 - Dab-a-Dab-a-Do... or Don't?

Max Montrose, founder of The Trichome Institute, trains students to become ganja sommeliers. His “interpening” course guides you how “read” and predict a flower’s effects by smell and taste. This is Next Level Cannabis.This episode is sponsored by Mission Dispensaries.Followers of this podcast know that strain names are largely bullshit and not reliably indicative of what will happen after inhalation. The more accurate determinants of a high are the terpenes, those powerful smell molecules that combine with THC to direct the effects and the healing. [EP 14 with Dr. Ethan Russo is a great refresher on this topic.] For even more in depth terptalk that you’re not likely to get anywhere else, we urge you to tune into this interview with Max Montrose, the founder of the Trichome Institute. Max is a one of a kind cannabis obsessive that we at BNW cherish.Max began “interpening” (“interpreting terps”) in 2008. Today he hosts seminars around the country to groom the first generation of “ganjasoms,” cannabis sommeliers, who can inhale a flower and get insight into the climate, soil and rich bouquet of phytochemicals that direct the effects. It’s an ambitious and audacious pursuit. Since I’ve never taken a class, I have no idea if it can be accomplished, but if any of you get inspired to so after this podcast, I expect your reviews.And now for a quick quiz:FluorescenceTerpicityDirty dabbingMariguanaSativistIf you can define any of the terms above, congratulations! You may not need to listen to this, our 50th episode! But we suggest you do so anyway because you’re going to be blown away by the depth, passion and intelligence that Max brings to his topic.Special Bonus for Patreon supporters: Get a personal, guided tour of Max’s amazing inked body, which features a depiction of almost every entheogen grown on planet Earth. This one is worth your monthly support!About about our sponsor, Mission:We think of Mission as a different kind of dispensary, not just filling orders, but fulfilling your needs as an individual. If you’re new to the world of marijuana, or just the rules for recreational use, we know it can be intimidating: with different regulations in different states. So many options for the types of cannabis and the ways you can consume it. Maybe even a little nervousness at trying it. We get it: that’s a lot of unknowns. So they're here to help you through the process, from how to register, to what to expect when you step through our doors. We’ll explain your choices, so you can create an experience that best fits you and your life. And we’ll give you a comfortable, no-judgements space to come and connect with others like you. That’s their Mission. Visit them online.

Max Montrose, founder of The Trichome Institute, trains students to become ganja sommeliers. His “interpening” course guides you how “read” and predict a flower’s effects by smell and taste. This is Next Level Cannabis.This episode is sponsored by Mission Dispensaries.Followers of this podcast know that strain names are largely bullshit and not reliably indicative of what will happen after inhalation. The more accurate determinants of a high are the terpenes, those powerful smell molecules that combine with THC to direct the effects and the healing. [EP 14 with Dr. Ethan Russo is a great refresher on this topic.] For even more in depth terptalk that you’re not likely to get anywhere else, we urge you to tune into this interview with Max Montrose, the founder of the Trichome Institute. Max is a one of a kind cannabis obsessive that we at BNW cherish.Max began “interpening” (“interpreting terps”) in 2008. Today he hosts seminars around the country to groom the first generation of “ganjasoms,” cannabis sommeliers, who can inhale a flower and get insight into the climate, soil and rich bouquet of phytochemicals that direct the effects. It’s an ambitious and audacious pursuit. Since I’ve never taken a class, I have no idea if it can be accomplished, but if any of you get inspired to so after this podcast, I expect your reviews.And now for a quick quiz:FluorescenceTerpicityDirty dabbingMariguanaSativistIf you can define any of the terms above, congratulations! You may not need to listen to this, our 50th episode! But we suggest you do so anyway because you’re going to be blown away by the depth, passion and intelligence that Max brings to his topic.Special Bonus for Patreon supporters: Get a personal, guided tour of Max’s amazing inked body, which features a depiction of almost every entheogen grown on planet Earth. This one is worth your monthly support!About about our sponsor, Mission:We think of Mission as a different kind of dispensary, not just filling orders, but fulfilling your needs as an individual. If you’re new to the world of marijuana, or just the rules for recreational use, we know it can be intimidating: with different regulations in different states. So many options for the types of cannabis and the ways you can consume it. Maybe even a little nervousness at trying it. We get it: that’s a lot of unknowns. So they're here to help you through the process, from how to register, to what to expect when you step through our doors. We’ll explain your choices, so you can create an experience that best fits you and your life. And we’ll give you a comfortable, no-judgements space to come and connect with others like you. That’s their Mission. Visit them online.

Ep50 - Interpening: The art and science of becoming a ganja sommelier

A 2-part episode featuring Michael Backes, who has collected all of the evidence about what MMJ does and does not do, plus a pro-cannabis candidate for governor. The times, they are a changin' -- at last.Part I - Last week, Joel Giambra, 66, announced he was running as republican governor of New York in 2018. That’s not surprising. What was surprising was his proposal to legalize cannabis in the Empire State and use the taxes from sales to help repair the failing NYC subway system. Though the estimates haven’t yet been calculated it’s clear that taxes from legal weed won’t yield anywhere near the $9billion estimated cost of the repair but every little cent counts. It’s also smart because, as we know from Colorado and Washington, it creates jobs, while wiping out the black-market economy. This is, by all measures, intelligent thinking that more of our elected representatives should be considering. Part 1 of this episode features a chat with Joel, whose personal story with cannabis played an important role in his thinking.Part II - Our main guest this week is Michael Backes, author, entrepreneur, strain hunter, founder of the first evidence-based medical cannabis dispensary in LA, and one of the most prescient sages in the cannabis industry. I met Mike when reporting Brave New Weed. He was the first to talk to me about terpenes and how the various components of the plant could be combined to achieve different health effects and highs. He introduced me to the concept of designing highs and the importance of microdoses in medical cannabis—all fascinating and all next level cannabis inquiries based on research and science. Late in 2017, he published Volume 2 of Cannabis Pharmacy, the medical cannabis bible for anyone who wants to understand the science behind using the plant to treat their illnesses. It’s a practical reference book that every patient should have on a shelf nearby.In our podcast, we tackle subjects such as:Is medical cannabis overrated and overhyped?The biggest misconceptions about medical cannabisWhat it treats and what it doesn’tHow he learned to use tiny doses to achieve big relief from what ails him.If there is anyone you’d like to invite to listen to this podcast please share it with them and please email us with your suggested name. We’ll reach out with an invitation.

A 2-part episode featuring Michael Backes, who has collected all of the evidence about what MMJ does and does not do, plus a pro-cannabis candidate for governor. The times, they are a changin' -- at last.Part I - Last week, Joel Giambra, 66, announced he was running as republican governor of New York in 2018. That’s not surprising. What was surprising was his proposal to legalize cannabis in the Empire State and use the taxes from sales to help repair the failing NYC subway system. Though the estimates haven’t yet been calculated it’s clear that taxes from legal weed won’t yield anywhere near the $9billion estimated cost of the repair but every little cent counts. It’s also smart because, as we know from Colorado and Washington, it creates jobs, while wiping out the black-market economy. This is, by all measures, intelligent thinking that more of our elected representatives should be considering. Part 1 of this episode features a chat with Joel, whose personal story with cannabis played an important role in his thinking.Part II - Our main guest this week is Michael Backes, author, entrepreneur, strain hunter, founder of the first evidence-based medical cannabis dispensary in LA, and one of the most prescient sages in the cannabis industry. I met Mike when reporting Brave New Weed. He was the first to talk to me about terpenes and how the various components of the plant could be combined to achieve different health effects and highs. He introduced me to the concept of designing highs and the importance of microdoses in medical cannabis—all fascinating and all next level cannabis inquiries based on research and science. Late in 2017, he published Volume 2 of Cannabis Pharmacy, the medical cannabis bible for anyone who wants to understand the science behind using the plant to treat their illnesses. It’s a practical reference book that every patient should have on a shelf <a href="http://nearby.In" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nearby.In</a> our podcast, we tackle subjects such as:Is medical cannabis overrated and overhyped?The biggest misconceptions about medical cannabisWhat it treats and what it doesn’tHow he learned to use tiny doses to achieve big relief from what ails him.If there is anyone you’d like to invite to listen to this podcast please share it with them and please email us with your suggested name. We’ll reach out with an invitation.

Ep18 - Cannabis Can Treat Your Illness & Fix The NYC Subway System

Welcome to the first episode of our special 4-part series "Denver: Five Years After Legalization," presented by GoFire. As a special promotion, listeners to the Brave New Weed podcast are eligible for a special $200 pre-order discount on the GoFire inhaler. Use the code: BRAVE. As the rest of the country inches toward legalization we thought it would be useful to head to Colorado, the first state to legalize, to see firsthand what the effects have been. We spent a few days in Denver, "the Mile High City," talking to experts, industry leaders and the media about their thoughts. The results were so interesting that we’ve decided to double up our production and bring you an episode every week for the next month. (There’s also tons of bonus content for our Patreon supporters, so be sure to check that out.) In this first episode, we connected with @Izzy_Blazee and @Sunnny.Daze, two micro-influencers who are making a living documenting their lives in cannabis on Instagram. Izzy calls herself the “Good Time Guru,” who specializes in content creation/consultation/motivation and inspiration. Sunnny is an "MMJ patient and CBD advocate" who specializes in marketing/branding/content creation. Their brands are unabashedly who they are and what they do. To see how these two women are showcasing the new face of cannabis to the world I suggest you follow them on The Gram. But to understand the impact of social media and influencer marketing on the new world of cannabis, and to learn the ins and outs of what they do and how they are growing their followings, I highly recommend you listen in to this enlightening interview with Blaze and Daze. And keep your eye out for mini-series Episode #2, coming at you in a week in addition to the bonus content with Ricardo Baca coming out this week exclusively to our Patreon supporters.

Welcome to the first episode of our special 4-part series "Denver: Five Years After Legalization," presented by GoFire. As a special promotion, listeners to the Brave New Weed podcast are eligible for a special $200 pre-order discount on the GoFire inhaler. Use the code: BRAVE. As the rest of the country inches toward legalization we thought it would be useful to head to Colorado, the first state to legalize, to see firsthand what the effects have been. We spent a few days in Denver, "the Mile High City," talking to experts, industry leaders and the media about their thoughts. The results were so interesting that we’ve decided to double up our production and bring you an episode every week for the next month. (There’s also tons of bonus content for our Patreon supporters, so be sure to check that out.) In this first episode, we connected with @Izzy_Blazee and @Sunnny.Daze, two micro-influencers who are making a living documenting their lives in cannabis on Instagram. Izzy calls herself the “Good Time Guru,” who specializes in content creation/consultation/motivation and inspiration. Sunnny is an "MMJ patient and CBD advocate" who specializes in marketing/branding/content creation. Their brands are unabashedly who they are and what they do. To see how these two women are showcasing the new face of cannabis to the world I suggest you follow them on The Gram. But to understand the impact of social media and influencer marketing on the new world of cannabis, and to learn the ins and outs of what they do and how they are growing their followings, I highly recommend you listen in to this enlightening interview with Blaze and Daze. And keep your eye out for mini-series Episode #2, coming at you in a week in addition to the bonus content with Ricardo Baca coming out this week exclusively to our Patreon supporters.

Ep46 - Meet @Izzy_Blazee & @Sunnny.Daze, Denver's two hottest social media influencers

400 strains, 3 weeks, and they live to talk about it! Behind the scenes with the judges at The Emerald Cup, as they choose the best strain of the year.For those who don’t know, the Emerald Cup is most exciting Must See (and must-sample) cannabis festival in the world. It’s held every December after the harvest with the aim of crowning the finest sun-grown craft cannabis and products of the year. It’s a mash-up of a science convention, 4H Club gathering and biker convention, all taking place under a sweet cloud of cannabis. It’s where the best and the brightest in the California scene gather to celebrate everything from beautiful flowers to concentrates, to most innovative packaging, to the most delectable edibles, both sweet and savory. The list of categories goes on and on and the innovation and dedication to craft is often mind-boggling and always impressive. The inaugural Cup was held in 2003 on “Area 101,” the land owned by visionary Mendocino farmer and former event producer Tim Blake. It was, according to one early attendee, “like Woodstock without the mud,” a place where the area’s growers, musicians, and cooks gathered to celebrate the fruits of their labors. Today’s event is a long way away from those humble, homegrown beginnings. Some 30,000 celebrants gather on the sprawling Santa Rosa Fairgrounds. While the vibe is more regulated and less freewheeling -- gone are the pound bags being sold under the table --there are also a good deal of high-minded activities, such as seminars on regenerative agriculture and criminal justice. I’ve always wondered how any group of judges, no matter their dedication and experience, can sample so many strains and still live to talk about it. For the answer, I got Swami Chaitanya and Nikki Lastreto, self-described as “friends, spouses, spiritual brethren and business and land partners,  to join us on this week’s podcast. Swami and Nikki grow and harvest their own Swami’s Select flowers on their Ganja Ma farm in Bell Springs, one of the premier cannabis appellations in Mendocino Country. For years they have been leaders in the sun grown, organic cannabis movement, bringing the idea of premium cannabis into the wider world. In this conversation they explain the intricacies of selecting this year’s Emerald Cup winner.

400 strains, 3 weeks, and they live to talk about it! Behind the scenes with the judges at The Emerald Cup, as they choose the best strain of the year.For those who don’t know, the Emerald Cup is most exciting Must See (and must-sample) cannabis festival in the world. It’s held every December after the harvest with the aim of crowning the finest sun-grown craft cannabis and products of the year. It’s a mash-up of a science convention, 4H Club gathering and biker convention, all taking place under a sweet cloud of cannabis. It’s where the best and the brightest in the California scene gather to celebrate everything from beautiful flowers to concentrates, to most innovative packaging, to the most delectable edibles, both sweet and savory. The list of categories goes on and on and the innovation and dedication to craft is often mind-boggling and always impressive. The inaugural Cup was held in 2003 on “Area 101,” the land owned by visionary Mendocino farmer and former event producer Tim Blake. It was, according to one early attendee, “like Woodstock without the mud,” a place where the area’s growers, musicians, and cooks gathered to celebrate the fruits of their labors. Today’s event is a long way away from those humble, homegrown beginnings. Some 30,000 celebrants gather on the sprawling Santa Rosa Fairgrounds. While the vibe is more regulated and less freewheeling -- gone are the pound bags being sold under the table --there are also a good deal of high-minded activities, such as seminars on regenerative agriculture and criminal justice. I’ve always wondered how any group of judges, no matter their dedication and experience, can sample so many strains and still live to talk about it. For the answer, I got Swami Chaitanya and Nikki Lastreto, self-described as “friends, spouses, spiritual brethren and business and land partners, to join us on this week’s podcast. Swami and Nikki grow and harvest their own Swami’s Select flowers on their Ganja Ma farm in Bell Springs, one of the premier cannabis appellations in Mendocino Country. For years they have been leaders in the sun grown, organic cannabis movement, bringing the idea of premium cannabis into the wider world. In this conversation they explain the intricacies of selecting this year’s Emerald Cup winner.

Ep69 - Behind the Scenes with the Judges at The 2019 Emerald Cup.

You asked: 'How do I talk about weed to the kids?' What’s up with Bobbi Brown’s CBD makeup line?' 'How do I dial back THC if I take too much?'... &amp; more. One of the world's leading cannabinologists, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, provides the answers!Interview begins at 15:30.One of the privileges of hosting this podcast is the feedback we get from you, our growing and glorious community of listeners. As a group, you are engaged, thoughtful, opinionated and not at all shy about expressing those opinions. Last week, Janet told us she dislikes our music and our intro. Julie and Bob both think our news segments are too long, while Stephen thinks they aren’t long enough. Many of you bemoan the corporatization of cannabis – an assessment we’re not unsympathetic with and will be addressing in upcoming episodes. The majority of queries center around medical cannabis -- What’s the difference between Hemp CBD and CBD from whole plant? What’s the right dose? Can a topical really treat acne…or a migraine? I’ve been logging your questions in hopes of getting one of the world’s experts, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, to answer them. Finally we found the time and I couldn’t be more pleased to share the microphone with him. Sunil’s credentials are as impressive as they are extensive. He’s a medical doctor who also holds a B.S. in chemistry, a B.A. in philosophy (with a minor in religious studies), and a Ph.D. in medical geography. He currently serves as the co-director of the Advanced Integrative Medical Sciences Institute (AIMS) in Seattle, WA. In other words, he is a great student of this complex plant. Tune in to find many surprising answers to your many surprising questions. And if you don’t get the answers you need, send us a note at bravenewweedcast@gmail.com and we’ll help you find them. Patreon supporters, of course, get first consideration!And while we have your attention -- Happy Holidays!

You asked: 'How do I talk about weed to the kids?' What’s up with Bobbi Brown’s CBD makeup line?' 'How do I dial back THC if I take too much?'... &amp; more. One of the world's leading cannabinologists, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, provides the answers!Interview begins at 15:30.One of the privileges of hosting this podcast is the feedback we get from you, our growing and glorious community of listeners. As a group, you are engaged, thoughtful, opinionated and not at all shy about expressing those opinions. Last week, Janet told us she dislikes our music and our intro. Julie and Bob both think our news segments are too long, while Stephen thinks they aren’t long enough. Many of you bemoan the corporatization of cannabis – an assessment we’re not unsympathetic with and will be addressing in upcoming episodes. The majority of queries center around medical cannabis -- What’s the difference between Hemp CBD and CBD from whole plant? What’s the right dose? Can a topical really treat acne…or a migraine? I’ve been logging your questions in hopes of getting one of the world’s experts, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, to answer them. Finally we found the time and I couldn’t be more pleased to share the microphone with him. Sunil’s credentials are as impressive as they are extensive. He’s a medical doctor who also holds a B.S. in chemistry, a B.A. in philosophy (with a minor in religious studies), and a Ph.D. in medical geography. He currently serves as the co-director of the Advanced Integrative Medical Sciences Institute (AIMS) in Seattle, WA. In other words, he is a great student of this complex plant. Tune in to find many surprising answers to your many surprising questions. And if you don’t get the answers you need, send us a note at bravenewweedcast@gmail.com and we’ll help you find them. Patreon supporters, of course, get first consideration!And while we have your attention -- Happy Holidays!

Ep42 - Ask Me Anything, Featuring One of the World's Great Cannabinologists

David Bronner

The CEO (Cosmic Engagement Officer) of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, on how hemp (and psychedelics) can make America great again.I’ve used Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps for years, but never understood just how progressive/impressive the company that turns out products with thousands of tiny words crowding its labels was. I remember the company as a sort of hippie outlier, but today it’s a paragon of a movement known as Constructive Capitalism. This is largely the brainchild of the company’s Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO), David Bronner.   So I was pleased when David, 37, agreed to do this podcast from his home in Vista, California. Here are some fun facts to set the stage: David, who has a BA in Biology from Harvard, has grown the company from $4M a year to over $122M in 2018. Under his (and his family’s) stewardship, Dr. Bronner’s has donated $60M to causes related to drug policy reform, animal rights, sustainable agriculture, fair trade practices, and over $5 million to ending cannabis prohibition. In September 2019 the company donated a matching grant of $150K to Oregon’s statewide ballot initiative to legalize psilocybin assisted therapy.Another target of Bronner’s activism has been advocating for the US hemp industry. In 2001, Dr. Bronner’s funded a lawsuit against the DEA to prevent a ban of hemp food sales in the US. In 2009, he was arrested for planting hemp seeds on the lawn of the DEA. In 2012, he was arrested again for harvesting hemp and milling the oil while locked in a metal cage in front of the White House. He clearly understands the need for underscoring donations with dramatic action.Dr. Bronner’s is a leader of the “constructive capitalism” movement. Over half of the company’s 226 employees are people of color and/or women; over 40% of managers are PoCs or women. The starting salaries average $18.71 and hour, 170% higher than California’s average wage and Bronner caps his salary at 5 times that of the lowest earner. Ten percent of the company’s revenue is donated to charitable causes (all of which are listed publicly) and their stated goal is to offset all of their carbon emissions by 2023. Rather than marketing, they invest in the causes they believe in. In other words, it’s perfectly possible for companies to do well and to do good. If that intrigues you, download and share this interview. And please, if you enjoy this Podcast for the Post-Prohibition era and can afford to support us, please visit Patreon to contribute. We rely on the generosity of our listeners and like-minded companies to keep going.

The CEO (Cosmic Engagement Officer) of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, on how hemp (and psychedelics) can make America great again.I’ve used Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps for years, but never understood just how progressive/impressive the company that turns out products with thousands of tiny words crowding its labels was. I remember the company as a sort of hippie outlier, but today it’s a paragon of a movement known as Constructive Capitalism. This is largely the brainchild of the company’s Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO), David Bronner. So I was pleased when David, 37, agreed to do this podcast from his home in Vista, California. Here are some fun facts to set the stage: David, who has a BA in Biology from Harvard, has grown the company from $4M a year to over $122M in 2018. Under his (and his family’s) stewardship, Dr. Bronner’s has donated $60M to causes related to drug policy reform, animal rights, sustainable agriculture, fair trade practices, and over $5 million to ending cannabis prohibition. In September 2019 the company donated a matching grant of $150K to Oregon’s statewide ballot initiative to legalize psilocybin assisted therapy.Another target of Bronner’s activism has been advocating for the US hemp industry. In 2001, Dr. Bronner’s funded a lawsuit against the DEA to prevent a ban of hemp food sales in the US. In 2009, he was arrested for planting hemp seeds on the lawn of the DEA. In 2012, he was arrested again for harvesting hemp and milling the oil while locked in a metal cage in front of the White House. He clearly understands the need for underscoring donations with dramatic action.Dr. Bronner’s is a leader of the “constructive capitalism” movement. Over half of the company’s 226 employees are people of color and/or women; over 40% of managers are PoCs or women. The starting salaries average $18.71 and hour, 170% higher than California’s average wage and Bronner caps his salary at 5 times that of the lowest earner. Ten percent of the company’s revenue is donated to charitable causes (all of which are listed publicly) and their stated goal is to offset all of their carbon emissions by 2023. Rather than marketing, they invest in the causes they believe in. In other words, it’s perfectly possible for companies to do well and to do good. If that intrigues you, download and share this interview. And please, if you enjoy this Podcast for the Post-Prohibition era and can afford to support us, please visit Patreon to contribute. We rely on the generosity of our listeners and like-minded companies to keep going.

Ep68 - David Bronner, Hemperor of the Modern World

An exclusive interview with Tami Wahl and Saphira Galoob, the two top cannabis lobbyists in Washington. It’s obviously worrying, what’s going on in Washington under the Cheeto-in-Chief. Trying to predict where his administration is heading on most issues, including on cannabis policy, is a fool’s errand.While 29 states have legalized some form of marijuana Attorney General Jeff Beauregard Sessions seems intent on stamping it out or at least keeping the prohibition firmly in place. His Justice Department has sent signals that they want to reverse the Cole memo, the Obama administration directive that warned the Justice Department off from prosecuting businesses and operations in legal states. And he has threatened to enforce Federal marijuana laws -- even for medical patients -- in states where voters have made cannabis legal. (On November 11, 2017 a 12-year-old Texan, Alexis Bortell, filed a suit against Sessions over the nation’s federal ban. Her family was forced to move from Texas to Colorado to get treatment for her epileptic treatment).Meanwhile, there’s a flurry of legislative activity that provides hope that the war is not lost. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker unveiled a proposal to legalize marijuana at the federal level -- a Quixotic long shot to say the least, but one that 64% of Americans say they favor, according to recent polls. Another senator is trying to attach measures to bills that would allow Veterans Affairs doctors to counsel patients on the use of medical marijuana, which advocates have been arguing for decades. In the House, Republican Matt Gaetz of Florida proposed legislation that would remove cannabis from its Schedule I classification so that US research on its medical uses could get underway.It’s a schizophrenic but important moment for the cannabis movement. To get a reading on where things stand in Congress, I turned to Tami Wahl and Saphira Galoob, two powerhouse lawyers who run The Liaison Group, the only lobbying firm in the capitol exclusively devoted to shaping the legislative and policy landscape for this much-maligned plant. Listen to their interview for the real scoop on what’s going on inside the Beltway. One takeaway: things aren’t as dire as the headlines might lead you to think. A number of lawmakers, even some of the most conservative Republicans, can be persuaded on advancing legalization. Details within.

An exclusive interview with Tami Wahl and Saphira Galoob, the two top cannabis lobbyists in Washington. It’s obviously worrying, what’s going on in Washington under the Cheeto-in-Chief. Trying to predict where his administration is heading on most issues, including on cannabis policy, is a fool’s errand.While 29 states have legalized some form of marijuana Attorney General Jeff Beauregard Sessions seems intent on stamping it out or at least keeping the prohibition firmly in place. His Justice Department has sent signals that they want to reverse the Cole memo, the Obama administration directive that warned the Justice Department off from prosecuting businesses and operations in legal states. And he has threatened to enforce Federal marijuana laws -- even for medical patients -- in states where voters have made cannabis legal. (On November 11, 2017 a 12-year-old Texan, Alexis Bortell, filed a suit against Sessions over the nation’s federal ban. Her family was forced to move from Texas to Colorado to get treatment for her epileptic treatment).Meanwhile, there’s a flurry of legislative activity that provides hope that the war is not lost. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker unveiled a proposal to legalize marijuana at the federal level -- a Quixotic long shot to say the least, but one that 64% of Americans say they favor, according to recent polls. Another senator is trying to attach measures to bills that would allow Veterans Affairs doctors to counsel patients on the use of medical marijuana, which advocates have been arguing for decades. In the House, Republican Matt Gaetz of Florida proposed legislation that would remove cannabis from its Schedule I classification so that US research on its medical uses could get <a href="http://underway.It" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">underway.It</a>’s a schizophrenic but important moment for the cannabis movement. To get a reading on where things stand in Congress, I turned to Tami Wahl and Saphira Galoob, two powerhouse lawyers who run The Liaison Group, the only lobbying firm in the capitol exclusively devoted to shaping the legislative and policy landscape for this much-maligned plant. Listen to their interview for the real scoop on what’s going on inside the Beltway. One takeaway: things aren’t as dire as the headlines might lead you to think. A number of lawmakers, even some of the most conservative Republicans, can be persuaded on advancing legalization. Details within.

Ep16 - Special Report: Will Cannabis Ever Be Legal in the US?

Not many can, but the new internet series “High Rollers” features a cast of colorful cannabists who show you how to identify and assess top flight flower -- useful skills for the post prohibition era!Is a bud’s frostiness the best indicator of its flavor? Does your bud have the right “bounce” when you squeeze it? Do you know what to expect from a “dry hit” before it’s lit? And once it is lit, does the flavor express the fragrance? On “High Rollers” host Derek Gilman invites some of the world’s greatest growers and experts to tackle these and other burning questions, such as “Is the joint is the superior method of inhalation,” and “Why ‘full melt’ hash isn’t as flavorful as hash that leaves a trace of residue on the bowl.”Swami Chaitanya, Frenchy Cannoly, or Kyle Kushman may not be household names, but they are as knowledgeable (and definitely more colorful) than their equivalent fine wine producers in France. Swami (who left the US for India decades ago as a cameraman called William Allen Winans and returned with a mile-long beard and red dot on his forehead) is a master grower and one of the longest standing judges of the Emerald Cup. Every year he spends six weeks sampling hundreds of varieties to crown California’s finest sun-grown organic flower. He’s no sales slouch either and is now touting his own brand of bud called “Swami Select.”High Rollers’ host Gilman is himself an amazing grower. When we first met last May, he produced two ceramic jars, each containing the very memorable fruits of his labor. One variety, In The Pines, was especially glorious. I think of it as the Tesla of high-performance cannabis--it took me from 0-60 in two seconds. On his property in Ojai, CA, Derek grows 12 plants like the one in the one above: each is 14 feet tall, 10 feet around, and yields 9 lbs. (!) of clear-headed, fog-cutting, flavorsome bud, rich in pinene and limonene.REMINDER: for those interested in medical cannabis, check out my new online learning platform, MedicalCannabisMentor.com. We’re launching three courses this year: “Cannabis Therapeutics” for healthcare professionals, “Cannabis Fundamentals” for dispensary personnel, and “Relief Without The High” for patients who want to treat pain, insomnia, or stress and still function fully. Sign up now and remember: Education Before Medicate.

Not many can, but the new internet series “High Rollers” features a cast of colorful cannabists who show you how to identify and assess top flight flower -- useful skills for the post prohibition era!Is a bud’s frostiness the best indicator of its flavor? Does your bud have the right “bounce” when you squeeze it? Do you know what to expect from a “dry hit” before it’s lit? And once it is lit, does the flavor express the fragrance? On “High Rollers” host Derek Gilman invites some of the world’s greatest growers and experts to tackle these and other burning questions, such as “Is the joint is the superior method of inhalation,” and “Why ‘full melt’ hash isn’t as flavorful as hash that leaves a trace of residue on the bowl.”Swami Chaitanya, Frenchy Cannoly, or Kyle Kushman may not be household names, but they are as knowledgeable (and definitely more colorful) than their equivalent fine wine producers in France. Swami (who left the US for India decades ago as a cameraman called William Allen Winans and returned with a mile-long beard and red dot on his forehead) is a master grower and one of the longest standing judges of the Emerald Cup. Every year he spends six weeks sampling hundreds of varieties to crown California’s finest sun-grown organic flower. He’s no sales slouch either and is now touting his own brand of bud called “Swami Select.”High Rollers’ host Gilman is himself an amazing grower. When we first met last May, he produced two ceramic jars, each containing the very memorable fruits of his labor. One variety, In The Pines, was especially glorious. I think of it as the Tesla of high-performance cannabis--it took me from 0-60 in two seconds. On his property in Ojai, CA, Derek grows 12 plants like the one in the one above: each is 14 feet tall, 10 feet around, and yields 9 lbs. (!) of clear-headed, fog-cutting, flavorsome bud, rich in pinene and limonene.REMINDER: for those interested in medical cannabis, check out my new online learning platform, <a href="http://MedicalCannabisMentor.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MedicalCannabisMentor.com</a>. We’re launching three courses this year: “Cannabis Therapeutics” for healthcare professionals, “Cannabis Fundamentals” for dispensary personnel, and “Relief Without The High” for patients who want to treat pain, insomnia, or stress and still function fully. Sign up now and remember: Education Before Medicate.

Ep30 - Can You Judge Connoisseur Quality Cannabis Before You Inhale It?

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