Reefer MEDness

What if most cannabis extracts are missing the point? In our last episode from Spain, Kirk visits with hemp innovator Peter Vermeul to explore stabilized, full-spectrum extracts that preserve cannabinoids like CBDA, THCA, terpenes, cannflavins and flavonoids—without heat or harsh solvents. Peter's road from developing hemp strains and his proprietary extraction technique for cannabis medicine was...

In the past century, a gardener named Peter Vermeul became known for growing top shelf cannabis in Holland. He grew organic black market weed from clones supplying Britain for premium prices. In the early 2000s, Peter's perspective on cannabis changed due to family illness. About this time, he acquired seeds for the Charlotte's Web strain from the Stanley Brothers which started his journey of crea...

What if cannabis education focused on benefits, not fear? Daniel Bear, PhD returns to break down the cannabis industry THC obsession, Canada’s cannabis tax imbalance, and why mindful consumption—not prohibition—is the future of cannabis policy.  Daniel tackles falling prices, rising taxes, disappearing profit margins, and the ongoing threat of the illicit market. He explores how high-THC marketing...

What if cannabis education focused on benefits, not fear? Cannabis researcher Daniel Bear, PhD returns to Reefer Medness to introduce Mindful Consumption & Benefit Maximization (MCBM). MCDM is a framework that helps people understand why they use cannabis, what they want from the experience, and how to reduce risks while improving outcomes. We explore why prohibition-era messaging failed, the...

In this episode, Trevor and Kirk review the latest road stories from Spain which starts a broader discussion about global cannabis legalization and regulation. To better understand Cannabis in Spain, they speak with Peter Vermeul, a future guest, who works within the European hemp industry. Peter provides insights into a common practice of spraying CBD flowers with synthetic cannabinoids like THCP...

Kirk continues his road stories from Spain. In the previous series, we learned how Cannabis cultivation is legal, public consumption is illegal, and personal use is decriminalized. In this series, Kirk and Trevor discuss the hemp products sold in resale Cannabis Shops found throughout Spain. The nuanced laws of Spain has allowed a proliferation of stores, found in many tourist areas, to sell vario...

As part of a series of episodes, Kirk and Trevor continue to explore the legal status of Cannabis in Spain. As a decriminalized substance, Cannabis is pretty much accepted by the Spanish public and authorities with some caveats about how and where Cannabis is consumed and purchased. However, the laws regarding hemp cultivation, hemp processing, homegrown marijuana, consuming and processing marijua...

In a series of episodes, Kirk and Trevor explore the legal status of Cannabis in Spain. As a decriminalized substance, Cannabis is pretty much accepted. However, the laws regarding hemp cultivation, hemp processing, homegrown marijuana, consuming and processing marijuana are complex and nuanced. In Part One of this series, Kirk visits Cannabis clubs in Barcelona. He discovers how these organizatio...

With a film credits in Dr. Strangelove, Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America, Field of Dreams and The Hunt for Red October and off-screen credits in many Shakespearean stage roles, two Tony awards, military service, Ranger School and his Ranger Tab, there would be so many conversations to have with James Earl Jones. But over and over, fans just clamored for the catch phrase, “Luke. I am your Fat...

Imagine you are a 75 years old male and you have a few medical conditions like well controlled prostate cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol and your knees hurt from arthritis. Your friend says you should try cannabis for your sore knees. You also live in a small rural Manitoba town that leans religious and conservative. Where do you go to find out if cannabis for your knees is a good idea? In Ste A...

One sunny evening in the summer of 2020, Kirk and Trevor had a meeting on Kirk's driveway. Even though all indoor meetings were taboo, they met someone bursting with excitement. Eric Greening's face lit up as he described the cannabis growing facility he envisioned building north east of Dauphin. Four years, a pandemic, spiraling inflation and all the other unknown unknowns of building a facility...

Recreational cannabis legalization means tons more teenagers will start using the drug right? That prevailing myth and other interesting trends were examined by Luis Segura, Silva Martins and their team from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. In the USA, cannabis legalization happens state by state, and not all at the same time. That provided the perfect environment for the r...

Here's a blast from the past! In honor of the 7th Anniversary of cannabis legalization in Canada, we are going to replay a dinner party we had. Back in October 2018, Kirk and Trevor cooked with cannabis for a bunch of guests to celebrate cannabis legalization. Let's have a listen! Additional Music: Desiree Dorion  desireedorion.com Marc Clement -  Facebook Transcripts, papers and so much more at: ...

David Traylor has 2 undergrad degrees in Bio-Chemistry and Molecular Biology. He is a former pro lacrosse player. He got involved in BioTech in the 1990's and dealt with the difficulties of getting molecules like erythropoietin to market at scale. From there he got into investment banking. Obviously, with that background, the next step is to do cannabis deals on 6 of the 7 continents! Golden Eagle...

It's a beautiful late summer day. Let's do something different. Kirk and Trevor take a stroll around their hometown of Dauphin, Manitoba. They talk cannabis, Kirk's European travel plans and greet people on the street. Our co-hosts duck into a local cannabis shop, Payson's Joint. They record stories from staff and customers. Unrehearsed, person-on-the-street stories are the best! They always go in...

It’s like having a trial lawyer try to explain how cannabinoids interact with endogenous cannabinoid receptors! You know what that is like? It’s, it’s, it’s… actually pretty great. Come hear how a trial lawyer got into the cannabis space, how he thinks the acidic versions of cannabinoids are bursting with medical promise and just come listen to one of our new favorite characters! Robert “Bob” Hill...

Working as a professional musician means long journeys between gigs, sleeping in different beds, setting up on new stages, and partying with other creative folk. Although substance use among musicians happens, and might even be stereotypical, we found a more interesting and insightful story. Desiree Dorion’s band finds that cannabis plays well with their lifestyle and hits all the positive notes. ...

More than 200,000 Canadians are registered Medical Cannabis patients. Due to a cumbersome national system, many of these individuals discover the benefits of Cannabis alone, with little therapeutic expertise to guide them. Learning about your medicine or just trying to access your medicine, these tasks are made easier when engaged with a business like Tantus Health; a Medical Cannabis Dispensary....

Picture Miami. What do you see in your mind's eye? Beautiful photos of beautiful people? Instagram worthy food pics? A culture more Caribbean than American? Now imagine you meet a Chef from Miami. What does he teach you to cook? The perfect Cuban Sandwich? What is his secret ingredient? What if it is cannabis? Meet Tarik Sparks. Photographer. Chef. Cook Book writer. Listen to how he weaves serious...

The team gathers in the studio for the first time since pandemic restrictions were lifted. Rene interviews Kirk and Trevor, and gains insights into the creation and growth of this Passion Project. With 100 episodes in the library, the team has lots to review. From suppositories to driving, seizures to criminal records, Parkinson’s to David Crosby, current fans will enjoy reminiscing with the team....

"Everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face." - Mike Tyson Imagine getting engaged, and within 6 months your finance gets diagnosed with cancer. Mickey from and High Society Hemp Co. doesn't have to imagine. Mickey is from Texas where cannabis is still illegal. Her husband was going through chemotherapy, surgeries and even had some ribs removed. He was in pain. The opioid pain killers...

Potheads are too, well, stoned to succeed in tech, right? A medicinal cannabis user couldn’t be a successful serial tech entrepreneur, could they? Well, meet Brian. He is a US Marine Vet who became a successful tech entrepreneur several times over. However, Brian’s military service also left him with PTSD. Brian tried all the standard PTSD treatments and none of them worked for him. Then an ex-mil...

We first met Janna Champagne as a cannabis nurse. Since we last spoke, she has transitioned to being a Board-Certified Master Herbalist, a Professor of Integrative Medicine, a prolific academic author, and a founder of an autism non-profit. As the discussion develops, Kirk and Trevor learn the height of Janna's expertise and the depth of her passion for educating healthcare providers about the the...

Bernardo Carreira the owner, and founder of 8000 Kicks believes hemp is the past and future of textile manufacturing. His business goal is to leave a legacy. In this legacy, hemp becomes mainstream and the most ubiquitous fiber available in the textile industry. This small European company creates shoes using the strongest canvas fiber available, with soles made of algal blooms. While continuously...

Ponce de León never found the Fountain of Youth. Andras Bilkei-Gorzo from the University of Bonn in Germany thinks Ponce should have looked at low dose THC. Andras and his team have been giving mice low dose THC and finding some interesting results. Listen to how to get an older mouse to swim to an invisible platform faster, how THC can flip a metabolic switch called mTOR on and off at the same ti...