Madeline Colli

What happens when traditional medicine fails a patient? When all recourses have been tried and the patient still suffers? In part I of this interview series, Nikki Lawley, founder of Nikki and the Plant, LLC, and retired licensed practical nurse (LPN), takes us through her journey from a medical professional in the healthcare industry to a brain injury survivor. Lawley also describes the medical cannabis industry from a patient perspective, learning about the medicinal properties of the plant, and finding what ways cannabis could be beneficial to her symptoms.

Otha Smith III shares his personal journey with medical cannabis and how it led to founding the Tetragram app.

When it comes to cannabis cultivation, growers have their own methods on how to get the best products from their plants. Through using different soils, irrigation practices, lighting, and other approaches, each item plays an important role in how the plant matures. In this interview, David Cohen, CEO of Fluence, discusses the rise in LED lighting methods and how it can be the best tool for the industry.

Nurse Practitioner Me Fuimaono-Poe discusses how becoming an advocate and assisting with legislation are the best tools to help your state, community, and yourself gain access to cannabis and help others.

Dr. Woody, chief executive officer of 180 Life Sciences, discusses in this interview the current research surrounding synthetic cannabinoids as a treatment for chronic pain, as well as the development of a new type of medication that would have the potential to offer the benefits of cannabis without any undesirable effects.

The science of cannabis is in its beginning stages and has a large opportunity for growth advancement. Market Manager for Cannabis for Shimadzu, Eberhardt Kuhn, Ph.D., will be presenting two talks for both the hemp and analytical tracks, “Starting with the Roots - the Many Uses of Hemp” and “Delta Dawn - the Next Generation of Cannabinoids?” If you are interested in exploring hemp or cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids, check out both of these presentations to learn more! In this interview, Kuhn also discusses his interests in the cannabis industry and other presenters at the Cannabis Science Conference (CSC) West taking place in Long Beach, California from May 18–20, 2022.

Martha Hernández, a scientist at CloudLIMS, discusses the challenges of working in the cannabis industry, navigating quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) expectations, and her upcoming lectures at the upcoming Cannabis Science Conference West.

As time passes and more research comes to light regarding COVID-19, additional research is also needed for cannabis and its various cannabinoids. Through new data, cannabis has shown that it has more to offer than the stigma it has been clouded by. In this interview, Inesa Ponomariovaite, founder of Nesas Hemp and a holistic health coach, discusses the untapped medicinal properties of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerolic acid (CGBA) for COVID-19 prevention and treatment and why CBDA is the top cannabinoid.

A recent research study in the Journal of Nature Products showed that cannabis compounds prevented the COVID-19 virus from penetrating healthy human cells.

Recently The Hemp Mine, LLC announced their joint collaboration with Clemson University, to create the Cannabis Research Coalition (CRC).

Peter Grinspoon, MD, a primary care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School, shares his knowledge on medical cannabis, issues facing the industry, and hopes for the future.

Bryan Buckley, the president and CEO of Helmand Valley Growers Company (HVGC), is set to make a big change for the veteran community and is using his company to push research and access forward for his comrades.

Providing cannabis is just one of the many ways that Jason Hanley, owner of CARE Waialua, has set out to help veterans. In this interview, you will learn the amazing things going on at this cannabis farm in Hawaii.

Learn more about TAPS and how you can get involved.

Gb Sciences, recently announced positive results from a study of its cannabinoid-containing mixtures as a potential treatment for cytokine release syndrome (CRS). With the high rate of transmission of the Omicron variant in multiple countries, Gb Sciences team are working to move quickly through the development stages for this novel CRS therapy.

Realm of Caring is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that conducts their own research such as their endeavor of the Observational Research Registry (ORR) study. They are also involved in advocacy work to help battle the stigma surrounding cannabis. In this interview, Nicolas Schlienz, PhD, Research Director at Realm of Caring, discusses the organization’s efforts to educate the public and healthcare professionals on the research being done on medical cannabis.

CRATIV announced recently a partnership with One Tree Planted to aid in the restoration and reforestation of natural areas impacted by the devasting fires across the US and Canada.

Pipp Horticulture announced that it had acquired the GGS Group of Companies (GGS).

Nique Pichette, MSN, RN, is a two-time breast cancer survivor who shares her unique journey to find healing with medical cannabis and the life-changing impact it had on her both personally and professionally.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission recently announced several appointments so their Cannabis Advisory Board, the members of which will study and make recommendations to the Commission regarding the regulation and taxation of marijuana in the state.

An issue always at the forefront of the cannabis industry is testing accuracy. Laboratories all around the world battle with analytic discrepancies when testing their samples. In this interview, Mark Lewis Founder of Napro Research, discusses his cannabis analysis findings and why education on the plant is so important for the industry to move forward.

California (CA) Governor Gavin Newsom (D), recently signed a medical cannabis bill, also known as “Ryan’s Law,” into law. Entitled from this new legislation, hospitals are now required to permit medical cannabis use by severely ill patients, if they opt to do so.

Medical cannabis is gaining popularity as a treatment alternative for a variety of health issues. The stigma attached to cannabis is still present, but as more research is done, people can see the positives associated with the medicinal plant. Here, Joseph Mazza Jr., Founder and CEO of Compassionate Clinics of America (CCOA), discusses the organization's role in patient affairs, cannabis education, and advocacy work for the industry.

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale (Carbondale, Illinois) has formed a project that allows students to research the accuracy of Cannabidiol (CBD) products, ensuring consumers are receiving exactly what is found on CBD product labels.

Unrivaled Brands recently announced the launch of their new state of the art cultivation facility operating in Oakland, California.

Medical cannabis patients and adult-use consumers alike are faced with an overwhelming amount of options when they first enter a dispensary. Across the industry, producers are looking for ways to simplify things for consumers. One company, Volunteer Botanicals, recently partnered with an investment group to create cannabidiol (CBD)-based tablets that also combine other cannabinoids and have the potential to create a unique consumer experience. In this interview, Jason Pickle, co-founder and chief sales officer for Volunteer Botanicals, sits down to discuss this recent product, the need for standardization throughout the cannabis industry, and more.

When a patient is faced with a tough diagnosis, they often turn to their medical providers for the best treatment options. The troubling fact facing our healthcare professional is that they are not taught about the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis. This knowledge gap leaves a lot to be discovered by patients themselves who are seeking alternative treatments. After experiencing this firsthand with a family member, Katherine Golden, founder and CEO of Leaf411, decided to take action and help educate a community that was so in need of reliable and trustworthy information. Here, Golden shares her background, goals for Leaf411, and more.

Dewey Scientific discovers the first powdery mildew resistant gene found in cannabis.

September 14—Baltimore, Maryland—Dr. Denise Vidot, University of Miami, will give a keynote talk tomorrow in the medical cannabis meeting room 314–315 at 10:50 a.m. The talk is titled “Cannabinoids and the Brain-Heart-Gut Axis: Informing Science from an Epidemiological Lens.”

September 14—Baltimore, Maryland— Scheril Murray Powell, Esq., SMP LAW/Creative Services, will give a keynote talk tomorrow in the hemp room 308 at 2:40 p.m. The talk is titled “Navigating the Evolving Needs of a Global Cannabis Company as In House Counsel.”