Best The Cannigma Podcasts (2024)

1
Perfecting cannabis with Michael Backes 43:47

2+ y ago43:47

43:47

A common issue that is present in the cannabis market is the inconsistency of products. As an agricultural crop, it can be tricky for suppliers to deliver the same product to consumers time and again, and this is one of the areas that Michael Backes, our guest for today's episode, is tackling through his work at Perfect Blends! In our chat, Michael…

1
Cannabis, food, and healing with Chef Jordan Wagman 48:48

2+ y ago48:48

48:48

Today on the show we welcome chef Jordan Wagman to talk about the work he is doing to incorporate cannabis into his amazing cooking as a way of advocating for its health benefits. Jordan starts by talking about how his early relationship with cannabis began when he was diagnosed with psoriasis and used it as a way of easing the pain. Years later, a…

1
Telling cannabis stories with pictures with Anthony Travagliante 33:31

2+ y ago33:31

33:31

Welcome to another episode of the Cannabis Enigma! We’ve got something a little different for you today. We’ll be talking about how visual storytelling can be used in the cannabis space with Anthony Travagliante. Hear the tale of how Anthony came to work in the cannabis space, telling the stories of cannabis brands and making them accessible to non…

1
Minorities in cannabis, with Steven Philpott Jr. 59:39

2+ y ago59:39

59:39

In light of Black History Month, we feel it is important and relevant to talk about how minorities in the United States and around the world have been disproportionately affected by drug policy and the war on drugs. Part of our conversation today centers on how we can break down barriers and find ways to build cannabis companies that are minority-o…

1
Cannabis and women's health, with Dr. Melanie Bone 37:11

2+ y ago37:11

37:11

By now, we’ve all heard of the concept of using cannabis to treat ailments like cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s, seizures, HIV, AIDS, Crohn’s, and terminal illnesses, but fortunately, those aren’t necessarily what physicians are most commonly confronted with. What then, can be done about things like anxiety, pain, insomnia, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, an…

1
Cannabis and traumatic brain injury, with Nikki Lawley 26:42

2+ y ago26:42

26:42

The decades-long War on Drugs campaign in America has been incredibly successful at spreading harmful rhetoric and shaping people’s perception of cannabis use. The resulting prejudice can often discourage folks from seeking out medical cannabis as an option, and can even affect state legislature, forcing patients to overcome unnecessary and prohibi…

1
New Year, New York, with Steve DeAngelo 42:07

2+ y ago42:07

42:07

Steve DeAngelo is the true definition of a cannabis advocate. From the first time he was introduced to the plant in the 1960’s he has dedicated his life’s work to its legalization. From his time as one of Washington, DC’s largest distributors of underground cannabis, through his creation of three iconic cannabis companies in California, to his curr…

1
Cannabis in Israel, with Itai Rogel 30:50

3y ago30:50

30:50

Israel is world-renowned for the research and innovation that is taking place there, and unofficial data suggests that around 20% of the Israeli population uses cannabis. Despite this, being in possession of a prescription is the only way that cannabis can be legally consumed. Though hopefully this will not be the case for much longer. Today’s gues…

1
Behind the scenes on cannabis normalization with JM Pedini 26:55

3y ago26:55

26:55

Anyone who has ever tried to convince someone to change their mind over something they feel strongly about knows that it can be an impossible battle, and the only way to succeed is by taking the long view and embracing gradual change. The same can be said for changing public attitudes towards cannabis. In today’s episode, we speak with JM Pedini, D…

1
Data is knowledge, with Otha Smith III 29:58

3y ago29:58

29:58

Finding the correct dosage and combination of cannabinoid products for medical treatment is almost universally a long and expensive process of trial and error. And for the most part, patients are undertaking this journey alone and often with little guidance. This week on The Cannabis Enigma Podcast we get together with Otha Smith III, CEO, and Foun…

1
Season finale: Best of the Cannabis Enigma 34:48

3+ y ago34:48

34:48

The Cannabis Enigma Podcast is wrapping up its first season. After 39 interviews with frontline doctors, researchers, patients, caregivers, practitioners, and expert storytellers, we are taking a summer break as we prepare for season two. For the season finale, hosts Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man and Elana Goldberg each choose three of their favorite …

1
ADD & cannabis, with Max Simon 35:26

3+ y ago35:26

35:26

Max Simon was a closeted cannabis user since his teen years. But it wasn’t until years later, when he got into the cannabis education business, that he understood the reason he had been so drawn to it all those years was because it was helping his ADHD. “It’s an interesting thing to realize that you’ve tried and experimented with all the ‘accepted …

1
Is Europe falling behind? 34:38

3+ y ago34:38

34:38

When it comes to regulating and producing medicalized cannabis products, different countries have a variety of approaches. The American field of medicalized cannabis has followed a very different path to Europe. In today’s episode, we speak with Stephen Murphy, co-founder and CEO of Prohibition Partners, a cannabis-focused business intelligence and…

1
The marijuana conspiracy 41:50

3+ y ago41:50

41:50

What happens when you lock 20 women in a hospital for nearly 100 days and make them smoke two joints each night? Well, if it were up to the Canadian researchers responsible for the experiment, we’d never know. Nearly half a century later, the story of the at times cruel experiment is being told in a new film — ”The Marijuana Conspiracy.” Speaking w…

1
So you think you know about cannabis? 46:29

3+ y ago46:29

46:29

As both a regulated medicine and something people use for wellness and even recreation, the information gaps that exist for cannabis users are unprecedented. “Any other medication and you’re lawfully entitled to speak to a pharmacist,” explains Dr. Cody Peterson, a clinical pharmacist and medical cannabis professional. “The law states, you must be …

1
What every budtender needs to hear 37:55

3+ y ago37:55

37:55

Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and available to nearly one in three Americans, yet most cannabis consumers aren’t educated enough to buy the right products for their needs. Apart from poor experiences, this can lead to unhealthy consumption. For Matthew O’Brien, editor and founder of the Four PM newsletter, one of the most important places to…

1
Can medical cannabis survive adult-use legalization? 59:36

3+ y ago59:36

59:36

Very few medical cannabis advocates are against the full legalization of the plant for all adults. But sometimes one unintended consequence of adult-use legalization is that the market no longer caters to medical patients. “Medical users, over time, are finding that the products that they want and need — they can no longer find on the shelves, or t…

1
How Mara Gordon got her start 23:53

3+ y ago23:53

23:53

When Mara Gordon started using medical cannabis there wasn’t any lab testing — or any way to know how much of each cannabinoid or terpene was in a given strain . There was definitely no way of ensuring that you got the same effect from it consistently. So she drew on her training as a process engineer and decided to start doing it herself. Gordon h…

1
The women of cannabis 37:19

3+ y ago37:19

37:19

A lot has changed for the cannabis industry in the last 10 years. Yet, one thing we can’t seem to shake is the negative stigma that follows it around. In this episode, we speak with a woman who once feared and dismissed cannabis, only to become an activist for it in later life. “I thought it was dangerous,” says Joyce Gerber, “I believed it killed …

1
Finding 'releaf': put data in your pipe and smoke it 36:21

3+ y ago36:21

36:21

Finding the right cannabis product can be a daunting task for anyone, let alone a new medical patient without any guidance. When you walk into a hardware store, pharmacy, or even a liquor store, if you don't know exactly what product will meet your needs there's someone educated enough to point you to the right product and the data to back up that …

1
Can family farms compete in cannabis? 46:17

4y ago46:17

46:17

When Kevin Nafte and his wife moved from Northern California’s Emerald Triangle to Uruguay, they already knew that they wanted to empower small, family farms to compete in the global cannabis industry. They had seen it work in California, and were determined to bring a similar model to South America. Less than three years later, they have 11 farms …

1
The right dose & strain, with Dr. Dustin Sulak 57:00

4y ago57:00

57:00

“Start low and go slow,” the widespread refrain for finding the right dose of cannabis, is actually only half the phrase, Dr. Dustin Sulak explains on The Cannabis Enigma podcast. “But [people] often leave off the rest of the sentence — it's start low, go slow, and don't be afraid to go all the way." Dr. Sulak, a practicing physician and renowned c…

1
What Biden means for cannabis 45:46

4y ago45:46

45:46

In some ways, cannabis won the 2020 general elections. Legalization measures won with healthy majorities in five separate states. The Biden-Harris platform was also the most progressive on cannabis than any other major party candidate in history. So what should we expect in the next four years? “It’s not going to be as exciting as people hope, unfo…

1
The endocannabinoid system demystified 54:54

4y ago54:54

54:54

How much do you know about the Endocannabinoid System — the system present in nearly every part of the human body that helps maintain balance, and which the chemicals in cannabis can help regulate? Dr. Rachel Knox explains everything you need to know about the Endocannabinoid System in a special episode brought to you and originally published by Th…

1
Writing the book on CBD 48:35

4y ago48:35

48:35

With so many products and so much conflicting information out there, how is a prospective patient supposed to figure out if CBD is for them? How do they learn to use it? And who is going to sift through all the science? Those are some of the questions that author Mary Biles set out to answer in her new book, “The CBD Book: The Essential Guide to CB…

1
Cannabis as an addiction treatment 47:17

4y ago47:17

47:17

When Dr. Joseph Morgan worked in addiction medicine, his clinic wouldn’t even admit patients if their primary substance was cannabis. Years later, he developed a treatment protocol to treat opioid addicts with cannabis. “CBD will reduce cravings, whether it's for cigarettes, whether it's for heroin or cocaine. THC has impacts on the endogenous opio…

1
Dr. Ethan Russo: How cannabis can be better 52:40

4y ago52:40

52:40

The cannabis that most people have access to isn't what it could be. A big part of that is a result of the way the plant has been bred to have high THC levels for the recreational market over the years. "For the most part, around the world, we're still dealing with cannabis that is mostly high THC and high myrcene, which is gonna be very sedating, …

1
CBD Nation: Cannabis science for the masses 44:04

4y ago44:04

44:04

“The scientific material, which is complicated, if it is presented in a way that one can understand and really appreciate, can be a game changer in terms of shattering stigmas regarding cannabis,” explains David Jacubovic, producer of the new documentary CBD Nation. The film, which was released last week, accomplishes what many have tried and faile…

1
Cannabis at the bar? 49:34

4y ago49:34

49:34

Marijuana has come a long way since the days of Reefer Madness and when you first learned about it from a DARE officer. But will it ever be treated like wine, with curated tastings available at high class events? That’s exactly what Dan Braunstein is trying to accomplish — at least until the coronavirus shut down the idea of social gatherings. His …

1
The fight for legalization — and access 50:02

4y ago50:02

50:02

Twelve states will vote on cannabis legalization measures this November. Those ballot measures — and the momentum that has given a majority of Americans legal access to cannabis — don’t come out of nowhere. Groups like Americans for Safe Access have played a huge role in the cannabis legalization that has taken place over the past two decades. But …

1
Cannabis in your local pharmacy? 30:35

4y ago30:35

30:35

“In a perfect world, we'd see cannabis available in pharmacies, just like any other drug or supplement. And if you don't need the pharmacist's help, great — somebody else will,” says cannabis pharmacist Dr. Melani Kane. In some US states, pharmacists are required to be on site at cannabis dispensaries to help with dosing and to watch out for potent…

1
The cannabis nurse is in 33:48

4y ago33:48

33:48

Katherine Golden voted against cannabis legalization when it was on the ballot in her home state of Colorado. A lot has changed since then. Today she runs a free telephone hotline staffed by fellow nurses trained in cannabis medicine, available to answer anyone’s questions about medical cannabis, what CBD does, and anything in between. And there ar…

1
Can cannabis treat ADHD? 28:00

4+ y ago28:00

28:00

“We have to listen to our patients,” Dr. Kirsten Muller-Vahl repeats several times. It was hearing her patients with Tourette’s, ADHD and other neurological conditions tell her how they got relief by self-medicating with cannabis, after all, that drove her to become one of the world’s premier cannabinoid researchers. But that type of anecdotal evid…

1
More than just a medical card 42:30

4+ y ago42:30

42:30

For many patients — and if we’re being honest, for many doctors as well — getting a medical marijuana recommendation is a one-time affair. It’s a box to check and then you’re on your own. But it shouldn’t be that way — and doesn’t have to be. “People need more than just some guidance of ‘try some medical marijuana,’” says Dr. Steven Salzman, medica…

1
Cannabis and...human rights? 20:07

4+ y ago20:07

20:07

With dozens of countries having legalized medical marijuana and full legalization gaining speed across the globe, it’s easy to forget how the war on drugs drove so much foreign policy for so long — and how ravaging it was for mostly impoverished communities in countless countries. That has been overwhelmingly positive — in some ways revolutionary, …

1
The first puff doesn't always work 34:00

4+ y ago34:00

34:00

When Emily Earlenbaugh was diagnosed with anxiety and chronic pain from fibromyalgia, her doctors put her on prescription medications — and they worked. A few years later, however, those same medications were causing severe side effects. So she tried cannabis. “I would try some type of cannabis that wouldn’t work for me. I would try it out and I ge…

1
Using cannabis to treat autism 29:23

4+ y ago29:23

29:23

Just four years ago, pediatrician Dr. Orit Stolar was dead set against using cannabis to treat the autistic children under her care. “I would say, ‘you’re off the wall — this is a dangerous drug, it’s illegal.'” Today, she is running one of the only clinical trials in the world looking at how cannabis can help autistic children, and seeing results …

1
No time for clinical trials 27:04

4+ y ago27:04

27:04

When Catherine Jacobson’s three-year-old son had exhausted all of the treatments available for his rare, life-threatening form of epilepsy, she wasn’t about to just give up. “I began hearing stories from families with children with severe epilepsy and that they were treating their kids with cannabis and they were reporting good outcomes,” Dr. Jacob…

1
Cannabis in the age of COVID-19 15:34

4+ y ago15:34

15:34

Should you stop smoking and try different methods for taking cannabis because of the coronavirus pandemic? Does cannabis affect your immune system? Can marijuana help relieve the stress and anxiety of isolation caused by COVID-19 public health measures? “We haven’t found evidence either way,” Dr. Roni Sharon says on The Cannabis Enigma Podcast abou…

1
Healing incurable wounds with cannabis 18:37

4+ y ago18:37

18:37

When Dr. Vincent Maida first starting recommending medical cannabis to cancer patients over two decades ago, he was viewed as an outcast by many of his colleagues in the medical community. “There was zero [cannabis] curricula when I went to medical school,” Dr. Maida told The Cannabis Enigma Podcast. “And of course, the way medical students are soc…

1
When your kid needs cannabis 28:54

4+ y ago28:54

28:54

When Alfie Dingley’s mother first broached the idea of giving her epileptic son cannabis, their neurologist threatened to call social services. So she got a new doctor, moved her family to the Netherlands, and found a treatment that worked for Alfie’s seizures, caused by an extremely rare mutation of epilepsy shared by only nine other boys in the e…

1
Cannabis drug interactions, with Dr. Roni Sharon 11:16

4+ y ago11:16

11:16

When you go to the pharmacy to fill a prescription, the pharmacist checks to see if there could be any adverse drug interactions. Your doctor usually does the same. Do we need to be treating medical marijuana similarly? And who should be responsible? Dr. Roni Sharon speaks about how cannabis interacts with other medications, how he monitors his pat…

1
What the heck is hemp? with Joao Gama 20:22

4+ y ago20:22

20:22

When João Gama started practicing law in the cannabis space, working on regulation in the Portuguese and European markets, “to be honest, no one around knew a lot about it other than criminal lawyers that would defend drug dealers.” “So I started and soon I became very immersed in the drug policy debates in Portugal and abroad,” Gama says on The Ca…

1
Cannabis bedside manner, with Janosch Kratz, MD 28:26

4+ y ago28:26

28:26

When Janosch Kratz first sees a patient about medical cannabis, beyond their medical history, he wants to know how they react to other medications and even alcohol. If someone gets drunk off half a beer, he explains on The Cannabis Enigma Podcast, he’s more likely to start them on a lower dose of cannabis. And because cannabis is most often prescri…

1
Cannabis data for doctors: Mara Gordon 28:45

5y ago28:45

28:45

When Mara Gordon started using medical cannabis there wasn’t any lab testing — or any way to know how much of each cannabinoid or terpenes were in any given strain . There was definitely no way of ensuring that you got the same effect from it consistently. So she drew on her profession as a process engineer and decided to start doing it herself. Go…

1
Cannabis got me off opiates after 25 years 19:58

5y ago19:58

19:58

After nearly 25 years of taking prescription opiates to treat chronic pain caused by a severe car accident, a friend suggested that Michael Miller try cannabis. At the age of 54, he tried marijuana for the first time — and it changed his life. “I literally started crying heavily because I couldn’t believe that I was being introduced to my body for …

1
How science is learning from patients about cannabis 38:49

5y ago38:49

38:49

Patients have been using cannabis for much longer than scientists have been seriously studying its medical value and applications. Of course there’s no substitute for clinical trials, but that doesn’t mean we should dismiss patient experience as merely anecdotal, Tilray’s VP of patient research, Philippe Lucas, says. “We have 10 clinical studies ei…

1
Migraines & cannabis: A neurologist weighs in 31:38

5y ago31:38

31:38

“I deal with very sick patients that have been to multiple doctors and have tried everything that’s been approved or everything that’s been tried — and I have to offer them hope,” says Dr. Roni Sharon. “Very often I’ll offer them medical marijuana.” In this episode of The Cannabis Enigma, we speak with Dr. Roni Sharon, a neurologist specializing in…

1
A rural Canadian doctor starts prescribing cannabis 16:23

5y ago16:23

16:23

Canadian ER doctor Tiffany Keenan’s discovery of medical cannabis started with a documentary on TV, something indicative of how many doctors are still uninformed about medical cannabis and the science behind it. She did more research, and soon began prescribing cannabis to patients in her private practice. Most of her cannabis patients are over 50 …

1
Can cannabis help children with autism 10:00

5y ago10:00

10:00

There are many case reports and lots of anecdotal evidence of medical cannabis helping children with autism. "We need the evidence," however, says Dr. Adi Aran, a pediatric neurologist who just completed one of the first clinical studies looking at cannabis and autistic children. "We took the most severe children who failed any other medications an…

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