Burning Issues

Hempfest founder (and Cannabis Radio host of Hempresent)Vivian McPeak joins Dr. Mitch Earleywine to discuss why Hempfest continues to exist now that Cannabis has legalized in Washington State and how an event like Hempfest continues to evolve into a cultural celebration.

Chris Goldstein of Philly NORML, New Jersey NORML, and Freedom Leaf magazine explains what it’s like to get arrested for using cannabis at The Liberty Bell and how Federal probation doesn’t create withdrawal symptoms. Dr. Mitch elaborates on the importance of validation and listening skills.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s Development Officer Lauren Padgett explains the ins and outs of SSDP and discusses the wild world of cannabis laws in the District of Columbia. Dr. Mitch explains the import of motivation in a world confused about a motivational syndrome.

Julie Netherland of The Drug Policy Alliance discusses how to prepare for a career in activism and enumerates pros and cons of New York State’s medical cannabis laws.

Author and activist Cheri Sicard elaborates on simple techniques for cooking with cannabis then turns to heartwarming CAN-DO projects helping to free cannabis prisoners as well as provide gifts for their children who visit them. Dr. Mitch extols the virtues of slowing down.

Keith Saunders of the Northeastern Institute of Cannabis explains the elaborate educational needs of the cannabis industry and points out the key issues in medical marijuana laws in Massachusetts and the rest of the US.. Dr. Mitch outlines the key conditions for appropriate and productive praise.

Dr. Mitch Earleywine welcomes activist, author and publisher Diane Fornbacher, the Founder of Ladybud Magazine.They launch into a discussion of women's role in the Cannabis movement, plus Dina offers some background into the creation of Ladybud magazine. She also discusses the obstacles that stem from becoming publicly visible in the advocacy front and the need for awareness on who you support.

How Can Workers in the Cannabis Industry Benefit from a Union? Dr. Mitch Earleywine asks that very question to Jeff Ferro, the Executive Assistant to the Director of Organizing at United Food and Commercial Workers International Union or UFCW. Jeff explains how the evolution of the industry leads to an eventual progression to a want for benefits, rights and a voice therefore a want to participate in a union.

High Times Associate publisher Rick Cusick joins Mitch Earleywine, a fellow High Times writer.

They discuss working at High Times and the changing perspective of users and usage over the past 4 decades. “Seems like we (High Times) have been waiting for this to happen for 40 years”, Rick said, over 20 for himself.

When Colorado went recreational we brought the first US Cannabis Cup to Denver, Cusick explained. The two talk about the various Cannabis Cups High Times has been involved with throughout the globe.

The number one cannabis competition – panels of judges – know results day before show and then have the show to enjoy and announce the results. The Global Cup is moving from Amsterdam to Jamaica this year, Cusick notes, and informs us, Jamaica will recognize other medical marijuana cards from around the world – both then and moving forward.

The pair discuss the differences in male and female usage. Heavier users are predominantly male – 80-20%, but moderate users are split 50-50 by sex. While in the past the cannabis industry was largely male. But as the outlaw bonafides are no longer needed women are filling the space and getting involved and taking charge in many areas.

The drug testing industry rely on the testing of marijuana to sell their products. If legalization becomes widespread then that element loses importance and demand for testing drops. This history of drug testing gets discussed along with ways around them.

Cusick notes that hemp is “the 800 pound gorilla in the room” and its diversity could dwarf the cannabis industry.

Dr. Kevin Hill, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of “The Unbiased Truth About The World’s Most Popular Weed” joins Dr. Mitch Earleywine. Hill developed his perspective on marijuana through studies – he notes that people who see medical marijuana as a sham have failed to do the research as there are multiple supportive studies of the impact and success of marijuana addressing: Chronic Pain, Neuropathic Pain and Muscle Spasticity brought on by MLSl.