Columns | Cannabis Voices

Join us for part III of this multipart interview series as we go in-depth into the accomplishments and goals of the non-profit, Cannabis Patients Pacific Northwest.

Join us for part II of this multipart interview series as we go in-depth into the accomplishments and goals of the non-profit, Cannabis Patients Pacific Northwest.

Join us in this multipart interview series as we go in-depth into the accomplishments and goals of the non-profit, Cannabis Patients Pacific Northwest.

Cannabis Science Conference Fall was held in Providence, Rhode Island from September 20-22, 2023. Here we provide highlights from this exciting event.

As cannabis reform and acceptance expands in the US, so does its impact on the environment. In the rapidly evolving landscape of cannabis cultivation, one organization is looking toward more sustainable and ethical approaches to cannabis growing. Launched in 2019, Sun+Earth Certified is a nonprofit, third-party certification for organic cannabis, supported by a community of growers and educators advocating for regenerative cannabis farming practices to benefit local and global communities. In this interview, Heather Dunbar, Director of Marketing and Communications, shares her journey into the cannabis industry, the vital role of Sun+Earth Certified in reshaping cannabis cultivation practices, and the organization's vision for a more environmentally conscious and socially responsible future.

In this new interview series, we sit down with several speakers from 2023 Cannabis Science Conference events to learn about their expertise and backgrounds in the cannabis industry. Join us to learn more about Dr. Peter Grinspoon, Jini Glaros, Dr. Miyabe Shields, and Adam Jacques.

Here, Mike Verret from Mother Earth Wellness explains historical and cultural shifts in the perception of cannabis.

Let’s meet Riley Kirk, PhD, cannabis and natural product chemist, cannabis educator, and cannabis research scientist.

Let’s meet CSC Fall speaker Adam Jacques, a world-renowned expert with more than 20 years’ experience cultivating various unique strains of cannabis.

Let’s meet CSC Fall speaker Frankie Claunch, a microbiologist and Microbial/Environmental consultant for PuEr Lab, LLC.

Let’s meet Cannabis Science Conference Fall speaker Autumn Phillips, a Research Chemist and Chemical Hygiene Officer at Inorganic Ventures.

Let’s meet CSC Fall speaker Nurse Laura Barrett-Nutting, Executive Director of the National Clinical Directors Consortium and Owner of Ask Nurse Laura.

Let’s meet Miyabe Shields, PhD, a queer and neurodivergent stoner scientist and avid psychonaut with more than 13 years of experience in academic and industrial research.

Cannabis Science Conference (CSC) Fall will be taking place in Providence, Rhode Island September 20-22nd. CSC Fall features several exciting tracks: analytical science, cultivation, medical cannabis, and psychedelics. With expert speakers coming in from around the country, we thought it was a great opportunity to introduce some of them and get a sneak peek into their presentations. Let’s meet Amanda Reiman, PhD, Chief Knowledge Officer at New Frontier Data, an analytics company serving the legal cannabis industry. Dr. Reiman has been studying the relationship between cannabis, people, and society for more than 20 years. She earned her PhD in social welfare from UC Berkeley, and conducted one of the first studies of medical cannabis patients. Dr. Reiman will be presenting a talk titled “Patient Profiles: Characteristics of a Large Sample of Medical Cannabis Patients” in the medical track on Thursday, September 21st. Here, Dr. Reiman shares her background in medical cannabis, some of her research efforts, and a preview of her upcoming talk.

With expert speakers coming in from around the country for Cannabis Science Conference Fall, we thought it was a great opportunity to introduce some of them and get a sneak peek into their presentations. Here, we meet Jini Glaros, Chief Scientific Officer at Modern Canna Labs.

Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a primary care doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a 25-year cannabis specialist, will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming Cannabis Science Conference Fall taking place September 21-22, 2023 in Providence, Rhode Island. Here, Dr. Grinspoon shares his background and interest in medical cannabis as well as some policies he’d like to see changed in the future.

The cannabis industry is evolving at a rapid rate. Growers are all looking for ways to produce the most profitable crops in an industry that lacks standardization and guidelines. One tool that has been beneficial in cannabis cultivation is vapor pressure deficit (VPD), which has been found to be very important for how nutrients are transported throughout the plant. Here, Hannia Mendoza-Dickey, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Robert Manes, Curtis Mathes Corporation; and Zacariah L. Hildenbrand, University of Texas at El Paso, Curtis Mathes Corporation, discuss the significance of VPD, why the cannabis industry is moving forward with this process, and a preview of their upcoming article titled “Intensity and Spectrum: The Role of Lighting in Vapor Pressure Deficit.”

The cannabidiol (CBD) market reached a saturation level in recent years with products popping up around every corner—from the local gas station to the neighborhood market and more. How can consumers know which of those products are safe and reliably labeled? It is an unfortunate fact that there are bad products on the market, some that have no CBD at all despite label claims. Despite these bad actors, many companies are striving to do better and even set higher standards for the industry. For instance, Vantage Hemp Co. has made it their mission to go beyond current state requirements and produce pharmaceutical-grade CBD. Here, Deepank Utkhede, Chief Operating Officer at Vantage Hemp Co., discusses his role with the company and their goals to elevate this market to create a safe place for consumers and manufacturers.

The field of cannabis horticulture is ever-evolving and offers many opportunities for innovation and experimentation. In this interview, Jessica Lubell-Brand, PhD, professor of horticulture at the University of Connecticut with the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture provides insights into the findings of her laboratory’s recent studies of the “retipping” method of propagating cannabis. She also shares details on her current research with cannabis breeding techniques and how studies like these can benefit the future of cannabis growing.

While many psychedelics are classified as Schedule I drugs under the federal Controlled Substances Act, the recent resurgence of interest in their potential therapeutic benefits means the landscape around psychedelics is rapidly evolving. New laws and regulations are proposed and passed at the local, state, and federal levels. Research continues to increase as well, contributing to the questions and perspectives surrounding the various uses of psychedelics. In this interview, Dustin Robinson, Esq., CPA, Managing Principal of Iter Investments; Co-Founder of Nucleus; Founding Partner of Mr. Cannabis Law; and Co-Founder of Mr. Psychedelic Law explains how he navigates the complex legal landscape of psychedelics, the surprises and challenges he encounters, and how he envisions psychedelics in the United States in the near future.

Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies shares what he learned at Cannabis Science Conference East 2022.

Dr. Anthony Macherone of Agilent Technologies discusses what he hopes to see change in the future regarding cannabis regulations and testing guidelines.

In Part II of this interview, Jaqueline McGrane, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Boulder Creek Technologies (BCT) explains the importance of consumers being able to recognize the differences between acidic and neutral cannabinoids, especially when considering current product labelling practices.

In part I of this interview, Jaqueline McGrane, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Boulder Creek Technologies, gives an in-depth description of the unique functionality of their extraction system and the advantages it provides to clients in terms of efficacy, quality, and safety.

In this interview, Donaghue Woodman, Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Information Officer at Cannsun, provides an in-depth look at their current clinical trial on the effects of psilocybin in treating a prevalent yet unresolved issue in South Africa.

Cannabis testing laboratories play an important role in ensuring consumer safety and quality throughout the industry. These laboratories face many challenges—from the variety of samples in the industry to changing regulations and testing requirements and everything in between. In this interview, Sarah Ahrens, Founder and CEO of True Labs for Cannabis LLC, explains her philosophy and approach behind building her cannabis analytical testing laboratory in New Jersey. She also covers current developments in the cannabis testing industry and what needs to be done to ensure it has a transparent and productive future that benefits producers and consumers alike.

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.

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.

Cannabis Science Conference West, taking place May 18-20 in Long Beach, California, is quickly approaching. The two-day agenda is packed with exciting speakers from around the country. In this preview, we hear from Dr. Tony Francis, Principal, SAW Environmental. Dr. Francis is also an IAS instructor and assessor and a fully qualified National Environmental Laboratories Accreditation Conference (NELAC) assessor in organic and inorganic chemistry, microbiology, cryptosporidium, radiochemistry, solids, aqueous, tissue, and air. Here he shares some insights into his talk, “Importance of Quality Control in Cannabis Laboratories,” scheduled for Friday, May 20 from 9:30 – 10:00 am. We hope to see you there!

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been a hot topic for several years now and it seems like you can buy CBD almost anywhere. As a consumer, how do you know that the CBD at your local drug store is the same quality at a cannabis or hemp retail store? Education is key to knowing the difference and finding a top-notch product. In this interview, Vince Sanders, founder and president of CBD American Shaman, discusses his company’s approach to cannabis retail, their main motivators for success, and his plans for continual expansion in the cannabis industry.