By Midwest CannaConcierge
The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.
On this episode of CannaConversations, Danielle sat down with Lea of @CincyMomBuds - certified cannabis consultant/behavior coach, content creator, and advocate of plant medicine - Lea is also a fellow MMJ patient within the Ohio Medical Marijuana Program. Lea previously worked as a behavioral therapist working with autistic patients of all ages. After a while, she discovered she was experiencing burn out and was urged to do her own research where she discovered the impact trauma can have on a person’s nervous system and the science behind how cannabis can help. Lea became a Certified Cannabis Consultant and began training people how to use cannabis alongside intervention strategies and behaviors in managing their health.
Join us as we talk about:
If you would like to connect with Lea or learn more about what she has going on, you can find her on Instagram @CincyMomBuds.
Whether you’re brand new to trying cannabis or you’ve been playing the guessing game on products for a while, you might benefit from Strain Genie’s amazing tools!
Strain Genie looks at over 450 biomarkers in your DNA that affect your cannabis use and health, you get personalized insights and important warnings about how your body may or may not respond to specific cannabinoids, terpenes, strains, and products - ultimately helping you prioritize your purchases and have a more informed cannabis journey. Each Cannabis Health Report contains over 65 pages of insights, including: general endocannabinoid health and metabolism affecting your consumption, over 16 medical categories, your susceptibility to over 50 medical traits - each with their own cannabinoid and terpene recommendations based on your risk profile.
In today’s episode we are chatting with Nicco Reggente, the CEO of Strain Genie about what led him to develop this incredible tool, he discusses the importance of knowing this information about ourselves and the future of where he sees Strain Genie going in the future.
“It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has” - Hippocrates, the father of medicine
While Nicco was completing his doctoral program, his wife was learning to manage her endometriosis and his mother was battling breast cancer - Nicco realized that he could use the same type of machine learning techniques he was using in his neuroscience research to help them find cannabis products that could work well for them.
The broad selection of products in the dispensary can be overwhelming and cause people to shy away or make rash decisions when it comes to purchasing products. Nicco call's this "analysis paralysis" - and the trouble with this is that these products can sometimes lead to an unpleasant experience which is what everyone is trying to avoid.
Your Strain Genie report is a sectioned/categorized summary of insights into your health and how cannabis can be a bridge to assisting you on the journey towards wellbeing and health, taking into account all the information that is provided from your genetic predispositions.
One of the most interesting markers that Strain Genie looks at is how well you metabolize THC - this marker is a good indicator of how well edibles would work for you. In addition to learning how well you metabolize edibles, they take it a step further and section off which methods of consumption may work better for you based on your predispositions.
Some of the other predispositions in this report that are especially important for both medical and recreational cannabis users include (but not limited to):
Note: there are many, many more markers included in your Strain Genie report, these are just a handful that we think would benefit all cannabis users.
If you’re interested in getting your own Strain Genie Report, you can either purchase a collection kit right from their website or you can upload your raw data file from popular ancestry sites such as 23andMe and Ancestry.com.
You can connect with Strain Genie on social @StrainGenie.
In this episode of CannaConversations, Amanda and Danielle chat with Michigan cannabis attorney, Michael Komorn of Komorn Law about legal cases involving cannabis.
Michael explains how he first started into the world of cannabis law and how his practice has evolved as Michigan law has changed from medical use to recreational use. He shares his experience defending people in court where their cannabis use comes under attack. We ask him about how parents can navigate if their parental rights come under review because of their cannabis use and Michael shares his experience what happens in these situations and how parents can protect themselves and their children from landing up in these cases.
We also discuss people on probation and their ability to use medical marijuana, cannabis banking laws and how to navigate interactions with law enforcement officers should you find yourself pulled over as a cannabis consumer.
About Attorney Michael Komorn
Michael Komorn has dozens of victories and over 27 years of experience in criminal defense law as well as more than a decade of legal experience representing the marijuana community for cannabis patients, caregivers, physicians, cannabis licensing and business legal services. Michael is your best choice when you need a lawyer whose strategies and appetite to win in the court system are what he lives for. Michael Komorn is recognized as one of the top knowledgeable attorneys regarding Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Act, his perspectives have appeared throughout news, including, but not limited to: The Detroit New, Detroit Free Press, WWJ News Radio 950, WJR-AM, The Oakland Press, WJRT-TV, WDET-FM, WMYD-TV 20, and Michigan’s Lawyer’s Weekly.
Since 2008 the Komorn Law firm has primarily focused on Michigan’s medical marihuana law, marijuana legalization matters, cannabis business licensing and legal services as well as continuing aggressive legal defense. He has been President of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association since 2010, which provides legal advocacy for medical marijuana patients and caregivers as well as a forum for those to share their experience and discuss related issues. And he has been a member of the Cannabis Law Section, (previously Marijuana Law Section) since 2017.
Did you find this episode interesting? Do you have legal cannabis questions for Michael? Let us know! We want to bring Michael back as a regular guest on the show and we’d love to ask him your questions! Send us an email or reach out on social media to ask your questions!
You can hear more from Michael and Amanda on their show Planet Green Trees TV, airs live every Thursday at 8PM EST.
To learn more about Michael or to get in touch with the Komorn Law group, visit their website or find them on Facebook.
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/MidwestCannaConcierge)In this episode of CannaConversations, the ladies of Midwest CannaConcierge sit down with Rob Robar from The Helping Friendly Hemp Company to talk about his personal journey and how he developed the original Helping Friendly Topical Salve.
It all started back in 2000 when Rob began having pain in his leg, ended up being a herniated disc and pinched nerves. Between 2000-01, he had 2 back surgeries and was sent through the gambit of using the pharmaceuticals the doctors put him on. Rob says about halfway thru his recovery he started noticing that the pills weren’t helping as much. Because he had been using cannabis recreationally for years, he started to make the conscious decision to use the plant as medicine, instead of pills. In 2010, Rob got his medical marijuana patient card and started volunteering at the Compassion Club (Waterford, MI) - where he became a caregiver for others which led to him developing his original topical salve.
In addition to hearing how Rob got started, we also talk about how cannabis topicals work and what they are good for. Rob takes us through the different products available from The Helping Friendly Hemp Company and how over the years their production has grown and evolved.
About The Helping Friendly Hemp Company Founder, Rob Robar:
In 2014 our founding member Rob Robar was desperately seeking relief from symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, a condition that causes numbness of the legs which was a result of recent spine surgery. After countless failed remedies, he decided to try his hand at making an all-natural homeopathic topical treatment himself. After many attempts and countless hours of research he finally formulated a product consisting of several ancient carrier oils, a blend of aromatic and effective essential oils, and powerful hemp oil extract. The results were nothing short of miraculous and he knew that this product needed to be shared with the world.
The Helping Friendly Hemp Company was born!
In commercial production since 2017, The Helping Friendly Salve has remained our best-selling line of products. Topical hemp therapy has been found to help treat symptoms for many skin, muscle, and joint conditions including dry skin, restless legs, cuts, bruises, inflammation, swelling, sunburn, tattoo aftercare, deep tissue bruising, joint swelling, nerve pain, and many more! Our topical is offered in a 4oz jar and features 200mg of phytocannabinoid rich in hemp oil extract. We have now grown to over 20 individual product offerings. Truly products Born out of necessity.
If you’d like to check out products from The Helping Friendly Hemp Company, please visit their website or you can find them on instagram @thehelpingfriendlysalve.
If you are interested in joining the CannaConversation or are looking for more support on your cannabis journey, be sure to check out the Midwest CannaConcierge website to connect with a cannabis advisor today!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/MidwestCannaConcierge)On this week’s CannaConversation, Amanda and Danielle sit down with Tanya Kaye, an activist and caregiver within the Michigan Medical Cannabis program.
Tanya Kaye became a medical marijuana patient in 2014; since then, she has been on a fast-track learning curve throughout all of the rapid changes and progression of marijuana laws in Michigan. Tanya quickly began building connections with those already well-established in both cannabis businesses and cannabis activism.
Starting at Hemphill Wellness in Burton, MI, as a budtender for the caregiver system, transitioning into the MMFLA licensed market working for such companies as Light N' Up Provisioning Center, Narvona, and T-Rex. Tanya also crossed over into the cannabis testing industry, working for Act Labs in Lansing, MI.
Tanya is currently the grandmother of Michigan's youngest Medical Marijuana patient, who is only six months old. This passion has driven her to earn multiple certificates in cannabis consulting, growing, and extracting. All this experience has shown Tanya that the Medical Marijuana Law of 2008 is vitally important to Michigan patients. Her true passion is to help protect them and the MMMA.
Topics we cover today include:
If you have questions about pediatric cannabis patients and are looking to connect with Tanya Kaye, you can find her on Facebook.
If you are interested in joining the CannaConversation or are looking for more support on your cannabis journey, be sure to check out the Midwest CannaConcierge website to connect with a cannabis advisor today!
Today Amanda and Danielle are speaking with Rory McClain, Director of Sales for Standard Wellness in Ohio, Utah, and Missouri. Rory’s been in sales since graduating college, but has always felt passionate for the legalization and reform efforts regarding cannabis - so before joining Standard Wellness, he started his own CBD company! Eventually he partnered up with Standard Wellness and hasn’t looked back! He’s been a recreational user his whole life, but in a way, he says, he was also getting those therapeutic benefits of the plant as a rec user - but Rory believes wholeheartedly that cannabis is going to play a huge role in the opioid epidemic.
Rory uses his personal experience as someone who struggled with addiction and experienced multiple overdoses - who tried the other medically assisted treatment programs that are traditionally recommended and found they led him right back to active addiction. By taking ownership of his own life and taking his health into his own hands, cannabis allowed him to build a life free of opioid addiction. Rory says it wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty - but he calls himself an exception to the rule because he was able to claw himself out of that hole. He now channels that experience into doing all he can to help others that find themselves in that place.
Danielle and Rory discuss how even though Opioid Abuse Disorder is not an approved qualifying condition here in Ohio, as it is in some states, what is on the list is chronic pain. A lot of patients develop their addictions because of the over-prescription of pain medications and now, for the first time in the state, physicians (who are qualified to do so) are now able to recommend medical cannabis over narcotic pain regimens. The ‘adult use’ change in the legislature will definitely help prevention efforts for many people who do not currently have medical access to cannabis.
Rory tells us how Standard is prepping for the passing of recreational use in Ohio and what that will look like for them - including building out their greenhouses and facilities in preparation for increased production capacity. Amanda shares some of the stresses that Michigan hit when they rolled out recreational sales of cannabis and how refreshing it is to hear that the representatives are taking the time to recognize that there is a ramp-up period that takes place to accommodate adult sales.
Additional topics we discuss:
To stay up to date on all things Standard Wellness, you can follow them on Instagram @StandardWellnessCompany
Are you looking for a job in the cannabis industry? Be sure to visit www.standardwellness.com to see their open positions.
Anyone who has questions about cannabis, or more specifically, questions about their own journey or a loved one’s journey with active addiction and needing some additional resources and you want to speak directly to Rory McClain, he has graciously shared his cell number with our listeners in hopes to make himself completely accessible for any patient who needs him.
If you are interested in joining the CannaConversation or are looking for more support on your cannabis journey, be sure to check out the Midwest CannaConcierge website to connect with a cannabis advisor today!
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/MidwestCannaConcierge)We’re Talkin’ Terpenes - and more!
Join Amanda and Danielle for this CannaConversation as Danielle walks us through a bit of her Mindfully Medicating course, reviewing some canna-basics and talkin’ terpenes. It was recently brought to our attention that the average listener may not understand some of the terms that are used pretty often on the show, so we thought we could take this opportunity to scratch the surface of how cannabis works as medicine.
We start off talking about common terminology and explaining what cannabis is, how it's been used as medicine for centuries but only within the last 80 years being made federally illegal in the US. Danielle explains the different classifications of cannabis and why those classifications are less important in determining the plant's effects as is the terpene profile (which are explained later in the episode).
From there we roll right into the science behind what makes cannabis work so well in our bodies - the endocannabinoid system. Danielle continues on to explain the different receptors within our endocannabinoid system and where each of them are located.
So what are our endocannabinoid systems/receptors receiving? The phytocannabinoids that are found in cannabis, of course! Cannabinoids are compounds which include cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis; cannabinoids produce their effects by interacting with specific receptors, located within different parts of the central nervous system. Cannabinoids regulate how cells communicate - how they send, receive or process messages. You’ve heard of THC (tetrahydro-cannabinol) and CBD (cannabidol), but did you know there are over 110 known cannabinoids within the cannabis plant? Each of them having their own medicinal benefits and vaporization/activation temperatures. In this episode, we cover a select few to discuss.
The conversation really takes off when the ladies start Talkin’ Terpenes!
Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants and some animals. They’re responsible for the aromas, flavors, and even colors associated with various types of vegetation. In terms of cannabis, terpenes are what make certain strains smell or taste different from others. Terpenes are thought to protect plants from harsh weather and predators. Cannabis researchers and consumers are increasingly looking at terpenes as a way to classify cannabis products and predict their effects.
The main thought is that the terpene profile - the dominant terpenes - of a strain work in tandem with the cannabinoid content - the amount of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids - to produce the effects people associate with different strains.This helps to explain why two different strains with the same THC content, can produce totally different experiences.
Towards the end of the episode, Danielle briefly touches on “The Entourage Effect” - which refers to the idea that “everything works better together” or that the effects of cannabis will be greater when all components of the plant are working together synergistically to produce the optimal effect.
If you are interested in learning more about cannabis and would like to enroll in Mindfully Medicating - please send us an email for more information.
If you are interested in discussing the material covered in this episode further, reach out to us by email or on our social media: @Midwest_CannaConcierge to speak directly to a cannabis advisor!
In this episode, Danielle speaks with Cole Wallis of the Cannabis Can! project. Cole has been working as a project manager for CannabisCan! for about 5 months now and has seen his fair share of the challenges here in the Ohio medical cannabis program, including the recycling problem - where people were stockpiling their packaging from their medical cannabis products because they were leary on how to properly recycle the robust packaging that they would get with each purchase.
Before coming to CannabisCan, Cole used his passion for the environment while working for a non-profit promoting electric vehicles. He stumbled upon the CannabisCan job listing, and he talks about how he’s constantly learning a lot since starting this role. Since starting in this new role, Cole has been working with dispensaries, cultivators, and processors to come up with better practices when it comes to packaging and waste produced in the Ohio industry. In addition to this, CannabisCan is also working with the state to come up with better practices and trying to create a program that would allow dispensaries to collect empty containers from patients inside the store.
CannabisCan is also making several efforts to help move our Ohio program forward, including hosting social/networking events for anyone involved in or interested in cannabis, running food drives for local food banks, and bringing in an exciting new partnership with a company called Wastetrackr, which helps people/companies in the cannabis industry track their waste. This innovative platform helps companies optimize their production and produce less waste over all.
Cole shares his experience with cannabis prior to becoming a patient himself and how surprised he was to realize how much cannabis would help him overall. Once he started as a patient and was able to begin understanding what was in his products and how the different cannabinoid/terpene combinations would help him. Danielle and Cole discuss the importance of knowing all of the information for products on the menu, not just THC and CBD. Cole shares his tip for new patients on tracking products they try, his favorite way to medicate and recent favorite strains here in Ohio.
We chat about Cole’s journey as a patient and how he handles people in his inner circle seeing him in this industry. Since becoming a patient he has educated himself as much as he can on all things cannabis and specifically the products he’s using so that he can best manage his mental and physical health journey. We discuss how empowering it is for patients to be able to regain control and restore their quality of life by really honing in their cannabis journey.
The conversation shines light on the consequences of the war on drugs and the inequality that develops for the most minor marijuana offense. CannabisCan Ohio partners with an organization called URC Grows - a non-profit, providing cannabis education to formerly incarcerated and communities impacted by the war on drugs.
Connect with CannabisCan! Ohio on social media: @CannabisCanOhio
If you are interested in joining the CannaConversation or are looking for more support on your cannabis journey, be sure to check out the Midwest CannaConcierge website to connect with a cannabis advisor today!
Episode Guest: Steve Miller
In this episode, Danielle and Amanda chat with Steve Miller of Kormorn Law and a retired law enforcement officer. Steve retired from law enforcement after nearly 25 years of service, he retired in 2013 due to some health issues, at which time he discovered the healing power of cannabis which was helping with his symptoms. Upon retirement, Steve obtained his private investigators license and started working with Michael Komorn at his law firm.
Steve explains Section 4 and Section 8 of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act and how their law firm is actively fighting cases where these are being violated due to lack of understanding by the police. Steve gives his perspective, as former law enforcement, where the disconnect is between what is written in the law and what is actually being enforced within the state of Michigan. Danielle gives perspective of the differences between the Michigan medical program and the Ohio medical program, by sharing her personal story of how she was suspended from working within the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program and how she lost her job working in the dispensary.
Steve talks about how he was trained to handle marijuana offenses as a police officer and how it was an easy target or an easy “in”. We discuss how the field training officers were training new officers to pursue certain vehicle offenses in an effort to find other offenses under the presumption that the type of person who would neglect to care for their vehicle are likely to have other offenses. Unfortunately, more often than not - they did find people who had warrants or other “minor” offenses - which ended up with them being arrested, ultimately leaving them in this “trap”. The conversation then turns to what policing looks like now in relation to cannabis in a legal market and what the courts look for when proving legitimate medical cannabis use under the discretion of a certified physician.
Steve talks about his personal experience with cannabis and how he started to observe that there was no real inherent danger to cannabis use, but because he entered the military right out of high school he hadn’t used it himself until after he retired. Following back surgery and noticing the slippery slope of opioid addiction - Steve made the choice to use medicated edibles or “medibles” to find relief instead. He did the legwork of figuring out what works best for him by keeping track in a journal on the effects of different products he tried, ultimately finding that the Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) has worked the best for him and his symptoms.
Danielle asks Steve if he had experience or any insight for patients who have or are looking to get their medical marijuana card but also have or want to obtain their CCW, which at this time is illegal. Steve explains why this is such a sticky area and why it is still best to be honest on CCW applications because although they go on your word, you could still be brought up on felony charges if they find out you lied on your application.
You can hear more from Steve and Amanda, and the rest of their co-hosts, on the Planet Green Trees TV show - every Thursday evening. Watch live on their Facebook Page or their YouTube channel.
In this episode of CannaConversations, Danielle and Amanda get to sit down with Kali Casale, Community Outreach Specialist for GTI (Green Thumb Industries) in Ohio. Kali talks about how she came from a traditional medicine background and transitioned into the medical cannabis industry and how her experience working in oncology gave her the tools and compassion that she brings to her current position doing patient outreach.
Kali talks about the various efforts and events she is putting together with GTI to help bridge the gap in patient education and outreach - including terpene education, edible dosing, and condition specific seminars explaining how cannabis can help patients with specific conditions (see the links below for upcoming virtual events).
We are seeing all kinds of cannabis education programs out there now - Kali said they are seeing a lot of applicants with certifications from schools like The Cleveland School of Cannabis and a variety of work experience in cannabis markets from other states. Not that applicants necessarily NEED to have the experience and/or previous training, but it does make their resume stand out. GTI offers a scholarship for their employees that are interested in pursuing schooling at the Cleveland School of Cannabis, as well as offering continuing education to their staff through product education events where venders go into the store to educate the dispensary staff on their products, processes, etc. so that they feel more confident in selling the products to the patients.
Everyone is in agreement that there is definitely room for the Ohio program to grow and improve, but we urge patients who are wanting to voice their concerns/complaints or have questions, to send them to the right place.
In addition to the 5 Rise locations, GTI is in the process of building their cultivation facility in NW Ohio - Kali teases their timeline for their Rythm brand flower hitting the Ohio market and shares insight on how people can apply for the various positions they will be hiring for.
To learn more about GTI or find a Rise Dispensary location near you, visit: www.GTIGrows.com or to see Ohio Rise specifically, visit https://oh.risecannabis.com.
You can find them on Instagram at @GTIGrows or @risedispensariesohio.
Links to sign up for upcoming virtual events with GTI:
The podcast currently has 13 episodes available.