BIOACTIVE

Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk: Leaders in Cannabis and Natural Products Research

Dr. Miyabe Shields and Dr. Riley Kirk, co-founders of the nonprofit organization The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP), are at the forefront of research and education in cannabis science and natural products. Through their work, NAP conducts national and international studies exploring diverse topics such as cannabis consumption patterns, consumer trends, emerging products, vape and lab testing, and data-driven insights into the natural products industry.

Tune in as they share cutting-edge science, discuss critical challenges in the industry like solvent contamination and testing inconsistencies, and recount their experiences at global events like MJBizCon in Las Vegas. Learn how they tackle conference chaos, network with industry leaders, and navigate the ever-changing landscape of cannabis and natural product research.

Get Involved with NAP's Research and Community Initiatives:

Stay informed, get involved, and discover the intersection of science, industry, and community with Dr. Shields, Dr. Kirk, and NAP.

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🌱 The Science and Magic of Sungrown Cannabis | Bioactive Podcast 🌱

Join Dr. Riley Kirk and an inspiring panel of experts — Tina Gordon, Lindsay MaHarry, Colleen King, and Christina Wong — as they dive deep into the unique qualities of sungrown cannabis! Recorded after their 2024 Emerald Cup panel discussion, this episode explores the unparalleled benefits of cultivating cannabis in natural sunlight and the artistry behind it.

🌿 In This Episode:

🎉 Giveaway Alert! Congrats to @Ecologica_Projects for winning this week’s giveaway! Stay tuned for another chance to win next week.

Check out the Full Panel Discussion at the Emerald Cup 2024: Watch Here

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👉 Keywords: Sungrown cannabis, cannabis cultivation, Emerald Cup 2024, cannabis education, organic cannabis, cannabis science, sustainable cannabis, Bioactive Podcast

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How Consumption Methods Affect Cannabis Chemistry | Dr. Riley Kirk | Bioactive Podcast

In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk breaks down how cannabis consumption methods—whether smoking, vaping, or edibles—can impact the chemistry and effects you experience.

We often focus on strain-specific effects to curate our cannabis experience, but your method of consumption also plays a key role. Different methods produce unique combinations of compounds, changing how you experience the Entourage Effect. This theory, introduced by Dr. Ethan Russo, explains how the many compounds in cannabis work together synergistically—often making the whole experience greater than the sum of its parts.

But did you know the entourage effect varies with each consumption method? Dr. Riley Kirk shares her personal insights into how smoking, vaping, and edibles produce different results. Learn how to tailor your cannabis experience by understanding the relationship between strains and consumption methods.

Subscribe to the Bioactive Podcast for more insights into cannabis science and chemistry, and join our Patreon community for early access to episodes and bonus content. Visit www.Patreon.com/cannabichem or contact Riley at BioactivePodcast.com.

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In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, we dive deep into a lesser-known but serious condition known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). Join host Dr. Riley Kirk and guests Dr. Codi Peterson and Megan Mbengue as they explore the paradox of CHS, where in some rare cases, regular cannabis use leads to severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, despite cannabis being commonly used for its anti-nausea properties.

We discuss the symptoms, the prodrome phase, and the potential genetic components that may predispose individuals to CHS. The episode also highlights an ongoing study being conducted by Dr. Kirk, Dr. Peterson and Megan Mbengue with the University of California, Irvine, aimed at understanding CHS better and improving diagnosis and treatment options.

Listeners will learn about the unique relief some patients find in hot showers and capsaicin cream, as well as the challenges healthcare professionals face in diagnosing this condition. We also touch on the importance of understanding the role of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids in relation to CHS, and the implications for cannabis users.

Whether you're a cannabis consumer, a healthcare professional, or just curious about CHS, this episode provides valuable insights and encourages participation in the ongoing research to better understand this complex syndrome.

Links to the study and more resources are available in the show notes!

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Link to take part in the CHS Study:

https://uci.questionpro.com/CHS-P1

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In this video, Riley interviews Jini Glaros, the Chief Science Officer (CSO) at Modern Canna, about groundbreaking research on the relationship between water activity and moisture content in cannabis. Whether you're part of an MSO, a home grower, or just passionate about cannabis science, understanding how these factors influence product quality, shelf life, and data accuracy is essential.

Watch as Jini shares key insights from her experiments and discusses how this information can help improve industry standards and reporting practices. Don’t miss out on these valuable takeaways that can elevate your knowledge and practices in cannabis cultivation and quality control.

🔍 Topics Covered:

- The science of water activity vs. moisture content

- Why this research is crucial for cannabis growers

- How MSOs and home growers can apply these findings

- Improving cannabis industry standards through better data

Jini's Bio:

Jini Glaros is the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Modern Canna Labs in Lakeland, FL. She received her bachelor’s degree with honors in Biochemistry from the University of West Florida. In May of 2022, Jini earned a master’s degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Before entering the cannabis industry, Jini gained valuable research experience at several well-respected institutes, including Emory University, the National Institute of Aging, and the University of Florida. She became the laboratory director of Modern Canna in January of 2018 and was promoted to CSO in August of 2022. Jini is extremely involved in the cannabis industry and currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for CannMed and CloudLIMS, is a member of the CASP Proficiency Testing Advisory Task Force with AOAC International, is a member of the Cannabis Working Group (D37) with ASTM International, and is a member of the Cannabis Working Group with the American Council of Independent Laboratories.

Want to ask guests questions ahead of time and get exclusive content? Join the Bioactive Patreon:

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Jini can be reached on LinkedIn at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jini-glaros-m-s-3105b382/

and more research from Modern Canna can be found here:

https://moderncanna.com/research/

delta8 impurity research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9608670/

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Dr. Riley Kirk is joined by Jason Wilson, MS on this episode of Bioactive. The two share many interests in self-exploration of the brain with drugs, navigating their own paths in the cannabis industry, thoughts on open access science, and more.

Jason is a neurodivergent scientist and excellent science communicator. He is the host of the podcast Isn’t Life Curious which is the new name after years of being the Curious about Cannabis Podcast. Jason is passionate about providing accessible educational material for consumers and medical patients.

This is the longest episode of Bioactive so far, and is a great journey in self exploration and navigating challenges in life. We first start with Jason’s story of exploration then move into philosophy and the sciences.

Both Jason and Riley note the books by Alexander Shulgin in this episode which we’re happy to report are now much more affordable and can be found on Amazon and other book stores for $20 or so.

If you love this podcast drop a 5 star review wherever you listen to podcasts or consider joining the Bioactive Patreon for as little as $1/month.

Learn more about Jason Wilson with his full bio:

Jason Wilson is a biologist, educator, and artist with over ten years of professional experience in the cannabis industry and over fifteen years experience as a medical cannabis patient. Growing up in Mississippi, Jason got his early exposure to Cannabis science at the University of Mississippi's Cannabis Research and Development laboratory fixing lab equipment as an IT technician while studying philosophy and psychology. He went on to study science education and biology as a graduate student in Oregon where he worked as a botanist for the Bureau of Land Management studying and working to restore native plant populations across a wide array of ecoregions. Upon graduating he went on to help build one of the first accredited Cannabis testing and research laboratories in the state. After spending several years developing analytical methods, testing thousands of products, and performing research, Jason went on to run a research and development laboratory for a vertically integrated hemp cultivator and product manufacturer in southern Oregon where he conducted research projects on decarboxylation efficiency, sub and supercritical fluid extraction efficiency, ethanol extraction efficiency, filtration and refinement efficacy, homogeneity, product stability, and more. Currently, Jason conducts natural product research out of his lab, Natural Learning Laboratories, while serving as a laboratory operations specialist for a tech startup and instructional designer for Abstrax Tech. He is the author of Curious About Cannabis: A Scientific Introduction to a Controversial Plant, now in its third edition, and the host of the Isn't Life Curious? podcast. Each year, he leads the Curious About Cannabis Master Class, an intensive program focused on cannabis and cannabinoid science. He guest lectures and speaks at conferences on topics related to natural product quality, cannabis science, and psychedelics. In his free time, Jason enjoys creating music, painting, gardening, and exploring nature.

OTHER RESOURCES

Weird Brains Article

https://www.greenstate.com/lifestyle/weird-brains/

Budtender crash course:

https://learn.naturaledu.com/pages/budtenders

Cbd extraction paper with spellman:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9638139/

Curious about cannabis book:

https://cacpodcast.com/book/

Bioactive Patreon

Patreon.com/cannabichem

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Riley sits down for the second time with reserach scientist Twinkle Paryani from Abstrax Tech.

Twinkle recently wrote a paper titled "Nonterpenoid Chemical Diversity of Cannabis Phenotypes Predicts Differentiated Aroma Characteristics"

and can be found (open-access) at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsomega.4c03225

This paper dives into the chemistry of smell, and when cannabis breeders are breeding for unique aroma, how they should be evaluating the final product. We often attribute the smell of cannabis to the terpene profile, but there is a lot more going on than just terpenes that give this plant it's unique complex aroma.

Make sure to sign up for ACSCANN journal club on instagram @CANN_ACS and follow Twinkle on IG at @Twinkadink

or online at https://cann-acs.org/?utm_campaign=button_list_Visitourwebsite&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio

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Follow other industry news and research:

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ 

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On this week’s episode, Dr. Riley Kirk discusses microbial testing for cannabis products in the legal industry. This is a different conversation than living soil which will be a future topic. Riley chat with microbiologist and medical patient Morgan Boyle about what tests are being done, what species are being tested for and how these guidelines are determined.

NJ Homegrow initiative:

https://www.njhomegrow.com/

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Snapchat Morgan

@MorganCaitlin

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Follow other industry news and research:

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ 

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In this episode Dr. Riley Kirk interviews researcher Dr. Whitney Ogle about using cannabis for exercise, Dr. Ogle is passionate about this subject because she has found the benefits of medicating before runs, hikes and other forms of exercise and believes it can be a tool to a healthier lifestyle.

Dr. Kirk and Dr. Ogle talk about what reserach that is currently happening, how both of them personally integrate cannabis and exercise, navigating difficult conversations, the role of CBD and more.

Dr. Ogle's Bio: My personal mission is to make the science of human movement meaningful, understandable, and applicable to daily life. I am guided by my values in finding connections among concepts from diverse sources, striking a balance between cultivating new ideas and improving on current designs, and continual growth by learning with and from others.

Originally from Chicagoland, I have moved all over the United States for school and work. I earned my Bachelors degree in Exercise Science from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. While in my Doctorate in Physical Therapy program at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, I had the opportunity to do clinical rotations in Utah, Arizona, Washington, Western Colorado, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After I completed my DPT degree, I worked as an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist near Seattle and helped with functional capacity evaluations of injured workers north of Seattle.

I decided to go back to school to get more involved in research at Indiana University where I earned a Masters degree in Exercise Physiology and a PhD in Human Performance with a focus on Motor Control and Motor Learning with a minor in Psychological Brain Sciences. While I was working towards these degrees, I worked as a home health physical therapist for babies 6 months to 3 years old in rural Southern Indiana and occasionally in skilled nursing facilities for older adults who were medically stable enough to be out of the hospital but not safe enough to be at home.

I was drawn to Cal Poly Humboldt because of its strong focus in social justice, giving students hands on experience with research, and because it is physically beautiful! I enjoy rock climbing, slacklining, swimming, hiking, and going on walks with my cats.

Instragram: @dr.ogle

Twitter: @drwhitneyogle

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Follow other industry news and research:

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On this week’s episode, Dr. Riley Kirk discusses illegal pesticides found in legal California cannabis products with Alex Halperin, the founder of WeedWeek and one of the main reporters on this topic. They review what pesticides were found, how this investigation started, and how the industry can improve these findings.

This article is very important for medical users to be aware of and is unfortunately another reason why we need to have the right to homegrow. Most labs when analyzing cannabis products are using a targeted method of analysis, meaning they know what molecules they are looking for and they report on those specific compounds. However, in this case, the illegal pesticides were not known, so they were not tested for. This brings up the issue if the cannabis industry needs to implement some form of testing to ensure we are not missing anything potentially harmful in the products. 

If you want to read the pdf of the article for free, see the full list of pesticides that were found in this study with the known health risks, and find out what brands tested hot all this info is linked is Riley’s Patreon.  

Thanks always for listening and special thanks to anyone who has given Bioactive a 5 star review - mad love my friends and see you in 2 weeks! 

WeedWeek Website to read the article and Subscribe:

https://www.weedweek.com/stories/la-times-weedweek-california-weeds-dirty-secret/

Find out more about Alex and WeedWeek:

https://www.weedweek.com/about/

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Support this podcast on Patreon:

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Follow along on social media:

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Watch this podcast on Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLurdly7OUmtRjRvha5H-jhqZ2AQ2329v2&si=iwZApqlkdWD34ZGs

Follow other industry news and research:

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ 

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