Shaping Fire

A key to enjoyable cannabis use is repeatable results. Whether you are a patient seeking relief, or on your way to a party or the beach, knowing what effect taking cannabis will have on your human is exceptionally helpful. Potency testing and manufacturing standards have not been part of the prohibition-era cannabis market. As normalization widens and international cannabis trade begins, manufactu...

Molds threaten every cannabis crop. From small patient grows to large scale commercial growing operations, cannabis growers must remain vigilant to avoid crop loss and contamination. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, host Shango Los talks with Kevin McKernan of Medicinal Genomics about the biology of both Botrytis and Powdery Mildew, how it spreads, breeding for resistance and a new assay th...

Dr. Ethan Russo returns for Part 2 of our epic dive into the essential cannabis cannabinoids and terpenoids. During Shaping Fire episode 11, we went paragraph by paragraph through Dr. Russo's cornerstone "Taming THC" paper. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los and Dr. Russo review in detail his new, much longer, scientific paper co-authored with esteemed scientist Jahan...

The cannabis root ball is usually discarded in modern cultivation, but that was not always the case. Healers throughout history have used the root ball for preparations, relieving a wide range of ailments. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with health researcher Natasha Ryz, PhD. about her new paper, co-authored by renowned cannabis neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo a...

The market for CBD is volatile and complex. As demand for Cannabidiol increases, the lack of a functioning nationwide market for CBD results in a morass of producers, product designers and patients all trying to cobble together some sort of reliable system. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with cannabis economy analyst Seth Crawford, Phd about the rising demand...

Breeding cannabis plants takes planning, intuition and loads of patience. While there are many who claim to be breeders nowadays, there are precious few who have done the work to earn the title. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with Mean Gene, the legendary cannabis breeder from Mendocino California. Gene's company, Freeborn Selections has been breeding for the...

The cannabis trademark process is confusing because most of what everyone says is based on conjecture and rumor. The fact of the matter is that even though Federal trademarks are not technically obtainable yet, cannabis businesses are positioning themselves and securing related trademarks that will help them in the future. During this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los speaks...

There is a new way to treat traumatic brain injuries that some neuroscientists believe will help patients recover more fully. Microdosing cannabis to support the endocannabinoid system while also microdosing psilocybin, the active molecule in hallucinogenic mushrooms, promises to help in the recovery of brain injury by giving the brain what it needs to heal, rebuild and reorient itself. During thi...

There is a wave of resistance to the further use of synthetic nutrients and chemical pesticides when growing cannabis. Cannabis producers are now building living microbe and fungal communities in their soil to produce thriving and healthy cannabis plants with large yields that can protect themselves from pests. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with legendary li...

Continuing normalization means a new wave of cannabis consumers are discovering the health and happiness benefits of the plant. These newcomers are getting turned on in such numbers that they are now influencing cannabis laws, product design and social mores. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with Jane West, founder of Jane West and Women Grow about the motivati...

Using carbon dioxide to extract oils from the cannabis plant has become exceptionally popular around the entire world. The technology has come a long way in both its efficiencies and the quality of its output. During today's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los sits down with AC Braddock, CEO of Eden Labs, to discuss CO2 technology's place in the market, how it compares to other extrac...

Terpenes are an essential part of the healing and playful aspects of cannabis. As normalization stretches across the country, more products are being developed and more consumers are experimenting with terpenes in an array of applications. On this week’s episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los chats with Ben Cassiday, co-founder of True Terpenes about the origins of terpenes used in canna...

Everybody knows cannabis they like when it is presented to them, but few have the experience to delineate in detail its many attributes. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los speaks with Max Montrose, founder of The Trichome Institute about judging cannabis quality for oneself, for cannabis cup competitions and the sommelier-like Interpening certification for cannabis.

Until now, any health and beauty aid products that contained THC had to be regulated and sold in a medical or recreational cannabis store. With the passing of the first Cannabis Health And Beauty Aid (CHABA) law in the country, topical products containing THC can now be sold at any retail store in Washington State. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los chats with Ah Warne...

Working in cooperation with nature's delicate systems instead of forcing her to do our bidding makes for thriving cannabis plants. Probiotic growing was muscled out of cannabis for awhile by prohibition, bottled nutrients and a misunderstanding of our relationship to biological systems. Now, living soils, wildcrafted nutrient teas and other probiotic growing techniques are making a huge comeback....

Many have heard of the street drug sold at gas stations and party stores under many names like Spice and K2. It is often on local news. They usually call it "fake marijuana." It wasn't until one reporter referred to it as "synthetic cannabinoids" that it caught our attention. On this week's Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with cannabinoid researcher Greg Gerdeman PhD about what the hel...

Light Deprivation can fool your cannabis plants into thinking that fall is coming and the time to flower is now. Using this approach can give your greenhouse several growing cycles per year instead of only one outdoor season. On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los talks with Eric Brandstad of Forever Flowering Greenhouses about the history of light dep, the strategy behind...

Cultivars of cannabis testing high in cannabidiol have awakened many people to the healing power of cannabis. These plants are exceptionally valuable and are still so rare that for some patients they are priceless. During today's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los chats with Kevin Jodrey, founder of Wonderland Nursery in Humboldt County, California, about the discovery of the very fi...

Taming THC: Potential Cannabis Synergy and Phytocannabinoid-Terpenoid Entourage Effects is one of the most important research papers in cannabis medicine. For many, it was the first time they had read an explanation of the interaction between THC, CBD, terpenoids and minor cannabinoids explained in terms that a layperson could understand. On today's episode of Shaping Fire, Dr. Ethan Russo sits do...

Trimming cannabis has been a popular way for cannabis enthusiasts to make some extra money for decades. With increasing normalization of cannabis at the state level, licensed producers and medical patients are looking for reliable and consistent solutions for processing their flowers. On this week's Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los speaks with Kristen Baldwin of Colorado's Green Mountain Harv...

After coming across some exceptional veganically grown cannabis in Southern California, Shaping Fire podcast host Shango Los goes on a search to understand what veganics is and whether it is really preferable to grow cannabis with zero animal inputs. The special guest for this episode, Nebu, is a long time probiotic grower and writer for High Times magazine.

Finding quality information on cannabis is difficult. There is so much misinformation in print, online and from friends. Green Flower Media has launched a publishing platform that gives voice to the top cannabis experts in the world. For those interested in cannabis health, business or "how-to" instruction, Green Flower offers an all you can eat subscription model that makes makes these experts av...

On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los speaks with Ariel Payopay, founder of Leira cannagers. Leira's hand rolled cannagars are filled with probiotically grown cannabis flower and solventless rosin oil, some burning for as long as 6 hours. They discuss the luxury cannabis market, marketing to luxury buyers and Ariel tells the story of the $3,600 cannagar that recently sold...

On this week's episode of Shaping Fire, podcast host Shango Los speaks with Hezekiah Allen, Executive Director of the California Growers Association, about the impact that the passing of Proposition 64 will have on small family cannabis farms throughout California. Hezekiah makes the case that consolidation of the cannabis industry into a large farm model is good for no one involved and the preser...

California Cannabis Opportunities Now with guest Amanda Reiman