Reefer MEDness

Can a small craft cannabis producer survive when government gatekeepers control which products reach consumers?

Kirk visits Edmonton’s New Life Canna to speak with co-founder Robert Raposo. A former firefighter-paramedic and entrepreneur, Robert explains how a casual idea about growing cannabis became a 6,000-square-foot micro-cultivation and processing operation.

Robert takes us inside the difficult economics of Canada’s...

What happens when the medical cannabis system veterans depend on becomes more expensive, less accessible and increasingly disconnected from their needs?

In Part 2 of this candid conversation, veterans Rob Sipes and Natalie Forcier—joined by cannabis nurse Kala Knudslien—explore how education, professional guidance and intentional cannabis use can help veterans manage PTSD-related sleep disturbances, chronic pain and infl...

What happens when veterans turn to medical cannabis after conventional treatments leave them exhausted, foggy or still unable to sleep?

Former Canadian Armed Forces medics Natalie Forcier and Rob Sipes share how PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, nightmares and service-related injuries shaped their journeys with medicinal cannabis.

Together with cannabis nurse Kala Knudslien, Natalie and Rob discuss administration routes like cannabis gumm...

Could cannabinoids eventually help protect athletes’ brains from the repeated impacts of contact sports?

In Part 2 of Kirk’s conversation with University of Regina researcher Dr. Patrick Neary, the focus shifts from proving that athletes can safely tolerate high doses of CBD to investigating whether cannabinoids may provide neuroprotection against concussions in contact sports.

A double-blind crossover design compares a T...

Can cannabinoids change the future of concussion care in contact sports?

Kirk follows up with Dr. Patrick Neary, PhD, from the University of Regina, to see how his NFL-funded research into CBD, concussions, pain management, and athlete health is going now that the study has moved from planning to execution. Recorded on 4/20, let's dive in: can CBD help reduce concussion risk, support brain recovery, and offer athletes an alternative...

What happens when medical cannabis is legal—but medical patients are still left without meaningful guidance?

Part 2 of Kirk’s conversation with Ted Smith of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club explores the widening gap between legalization, Health Canada’s medical cannabis framework, and the real-world needs of patients. It seems many Canadians using cannabis for medical reasons are now being pushed toward recreation...

What happens when a cannabis compassion club gets raided again despite previous Supreme Court decisions on their side, fervent public support, and years after cannabis legalization?

Kirk visits Ted Smith at the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC) just days after its latest raid. Ted discusses ongoing legal challenges, compassionate access, Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), cannabis harm reduction, pharmacist-led patient screening, CBD drug i...

Why is cannabis research so much harder than researching other medicines?

Dr. Lauren Kelly—Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, Cannabis researcher and Trialist, CCIC President, and CMCN Co-Lead—joins Reefer MEDness to explain why cannabis clinical trials face unique barriers in Canada. Learn how Health Canada regulations, GMP vs GPP standards, product consistency challenges, and gaps in the Cannabis Act af...

Can medical cannabis help children—and what does the evidence actually show?

Pediatric pharmacologist, Dr. Lauren Kelly, joins Trevor and Kirk to discuss medical cannabis in children. This wide ranging conversation includes discussion about epilepsy, autism, pediatric oncology, and the unique challenges of studying cannabinoids during development. Learn what researchers know about CBD, THC & kids, why evidence remains rela...

Could CBD help your dog with seizures, chronic pain, or relentless itching—and is THC really as dangerous for pets as we've been told?

Trevor and Kirk sit down with Dr. Kevin Toman, a California-based veterinarian specializing in pet longevity and preventive care. Drawing on more than 40 years of veterinary experience, Dr. Kevin explains why CBD has become an important tool in his practice, particularly for managing seizures, ...

Can full-spectrum cannabis work better than isolates — even if it tastes worse?

In Part 2 with Seann Poli of JAN Rx, Trevor explores CBG, CBC, acidic cannabinoids, the entourage effect, veteran cannabis care, and why cannabis companies are increasingly filling healthcare roles traditionally held by pharmacists and nurses. Plus: a new “rocket fuel” cannabinoid blend, hormone-focused cannabis products, and the future...

Can medical cannabis care become more personalized and patient-focused? Trevor and Kirk talk with Seann Poli of JANrx about raising capital during the early LP boom to building a 100% Canadian, independent medical cannabis company.

Seann tells us about veteran cannabis care, challenges dealing with insurance companies, CBD/CBN products, medical cannabis education, and the future of holistic cannabinoid wellness in Canada.

Learn how p...

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Can medical cannabis help patients reduce opioids, sleep better, and reclaim quality of life? In Part 2 of Trevor and Kirk’s conversation with German physician Dr. Vlad Gavril, they continue to explore cannabinoid medicine in Germany. Dr. Vlad discusses chronic pain, insomnia, cannabis smoking vs vaping, opioid reduction, and the evolving German cannabis system. He shares powerful...

A German cannabis physician, a nurse and a pharmacist walk into a bar...I mean a podcast. In this fascinating episode of Reefer MEDness, Trevor (pharmacist) and Kirk (registered nurse) sit down with Dr. Vlad Gavril, a German GP specializing in cannabinoid therapy, to explore how medical cannabis is transforming patient care in Germany.

Dr. Vlad explains how Germany’s partial cannabis legalization in April 2024 dramatically cha...

Can a massive data project finally answer the biggest questions about medical cannabis?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Johannes Thrul, we explore the National Cannabis Study, an ambitious effort to build a global repository of cannabis research and real-world patient data. From standardized tools like the Cannabis Use Questionnaire to combining datasets from multiple studies, this project aims to uncover how cannabis truly i...

What truth can big data unlock about medical cannabis?

Dr. Johannes Thrul from Johns Hopkins talks about cannabis use disorder, psychiatric risks, THC intoxication, and the groundbreaking Cannabis Health Research Initiative.

The ambitious Cannabis Health Research Initiative is a groundbreaking effort to build a national medical cannabis registry and research database. Dr. Thrul shares how the National Cannabis Study will track new me...

What will it take for cannabis and natural compounds to truly enter the mainstream—from toothpaste to energy drinks?

In Part 2 of Trevor and Kirk’s conversation with biotech financier and cannabis strategist David Traylor, they discuss how major corporations might explore integrating cannabinoids like CBN and CBD and other natural products into everyday consumer products.

David explains how his Skunk Works Nature AI advis...

Can big brands explore cannabis, & psychedelics without saying it out loud?

What happens when cannabis and natural compounds expertise, a global network, and AI-driven product strategy collide? David Traylor of Golden Eagle Partners introduces Skunk Works Nature AI. This new venture helps major consumer brands quietly explore cannabinoids and other natural compounds. Does a large beverage company want a CBG infused drink to help...

What if the fastest way to feel cannabis effects isn’t through your lungs… but through your nose?

Trevor and Kirk explore the science behind a unique cannabis accessory: the Nozzr, a nasal inhalation device designed to deliver vaporized cannabis through the nose rather than the mouth.

Inventor and respiratory therapist Yvette Webb shares how the idea emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic while researching terpene interact...