Dr. Emily Lindley is Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Director of the Colorado Cannabis Research Consortium. Her team’s research aims to identify non-opioid alternatives for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. One such alternative that has gained increased recognition in recent years is medical cannabis, and her lab is currently studying the health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids for chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Dr. Rachael Rzasa Lynn is a board certified in pain medicine physician and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Colorado, where she is the Associate Program Director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship. Her research includes investigations in opioid pharmacology and the use of cannabis for chronic pain.

Emily and Rachael co-authored a poster presented at the most recent ICRS conference titled, Recruitment Challenges in Clinical Studies of Cannabis

During our conversation, we discussed:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: The Society of Cannabis Clinicians

The Society of Cannabis Clinicians’ Med Cann conference offers a rare opportunity for clinicians to dive deep into the clinical realities and therapeutic potential of medical cannabis and psychedelics. Designed with healthcare providers in mind, their sessions focus on case-based learning, emerging protocols, and real-world challenges—offering practical insights that can be immediately applied in your practice.

Learn more at cannabisclinicians.org and use code “CP15” to receive 15% Off Your Registration

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Dr. Jose Lime is a Professor at Southern Illinois University and the principal investigator in the Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Systems lab. He and his team focus on determining how to leverage environmental controls (light intensity, duration, quality, temperature, and CO2), plant nutrition, biostimulants, and hormones to improve plant production. Moreover, the research group is developing techniques to optimize plant yields and quality based on key crop steering traits that increase sustainability and efficiency via plant physiological, biochemical, and agricultural approaches.

During our conversation, we discussed several recent studies that Jose and his team have published, including:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Advanced Nutrients

Founded in 1999, Advanced Nutrients was the first to develop a complete nutrient system that unlocks the true genetic potential of the cannabis plant. Since its inception, the brand has introduced more than 50 innovations to the cultivation community and continues to revolutionize the space through proprietary scientific discoveries. 

Learn more at AdvancedNutrients.com

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Dr. Mark Scialdone is a recognized expert in the field of organic chemistry, specializing in natural product chemistry, including plant oil extraction, analysis, and chemical modification. He is an inventor of 37 issued US patents and has authored 17 peer-reviewed publications, during more than two decades of fundamental and product development research. He has given numerous invited lectures at more than 40 different academic institutions and international symposia.

At CannMed 25, Mark participated in the Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids panel, which explored the rapid rise of products containing chemically transformed cannabinoids to exploit the 2018 Farm Bill loophole. He also presented a poster that explained the process for chemically converting cannabinoids in more detail.

During our conversation we discussed:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Cannabis & Tech Today

Cannabis & Tech Today is the premier publication for the business, science, and innovations shaping the cannabis industry. From exclusive interviews with industry leaders to deep dives on the latest tech, they cover it all.

Go to cannatechtoday.com to subscribe to their digital and print editions and gain access to exclusive interviews, brand-new technology, and thought-provoking articles from every corner of the cannabis community.

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Another CannMed Summit is in the books. To all of you who joined us in Puerto Rico this year, thank you for making it our best event yet! 

This year’s summit brought together clinicians, regulators, researchers, cultivators, patients, and entrepreneurs from more than a dozen countries. The enthusiasm and passion that they brought to the sessions and the networking events created an amazing environment for creating lasting connections. We can’t wait to see how those connections shape the future of the industry. 

If you weren’t able to join us this year, don’t worry, you can experience at least part of the CannMed magic when we post video recordings of all the panels and oral presentations on our YouTube page and the CannMed Archive. Those will be posted in the next 30-45 days. Be sure to sign up for email alerts to receive an email when they are live. 

We are already looking forward to CannMed 26 and will hopefully have details to share very soon. 2026 is the 10 year anniversary of our very first event, so we are working on some special ways to celebrate. 

That’s it for now. No interview today. We are still resetting following the event, but we should be back with a new episode for July 9th.   

Dr. Shiksha Gallow currently serves as the Medical Director of the Holistic Integrative Healing Institute and is notably the first and only South African to sit on the Board of Directors of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Dr. Gallow’s passion lies in leveraging her medical and scientific expertise to develop Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from cannabis and other plant species to treat various conditions. She has achieved significant success in treating patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer, and she strongly advocates for patient access to safe and effective medicines that improve quality of life.

At CannMed 25 she will present “Comprehensive Evaluation of the ‘Impact of Cannabinoids’ on Prostate Cancer: Integrating PSA, PET/CT Scans and Patient-Related Outcomes” 

During our conversation we discuss

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: PRICH Biotech

PRICH Biotech, Corp. is a vertically integrated company dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture and dispensing of medicinal Cannabis in Puerto Rico. 

With over 500,000 square feet of STATE OF THE ART facilities, Prich uses  the highest standards of agricultural and manufacturing practices to Guarantee the highest standard of medicinal cannabis. Their mission is to offer a natural and unique experience through medicinal cannabis that raises the patient’s well-being and quality of life.

Learn more at prichbiotech.com. 

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Morgan Keefer is the Senior Accreditation Officer at A2LA where she works with and assesses cannabis testing laboratories across the United States. 

Since joining A2LA, Morgan has presented about Laboratory Shopping, Proficiency Testing, and Microbial Testing in the cannabis industry at Cannabis Science Conference, A2LA’s Annual Conference and PITTCON. At CannMed 25 she will present “Accredited Methods in Cannabis Testing” which will explore many of the challenges facing cannabis testing labs.

During our conversation we discuss: 

Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: McKinney RSA 

McKinney is made up of regulatory science veterans who apply lessons learned in the nicotine space to help cannabis manufacturers better understand the toxicological and societal implications of their product.  They do that by Identifying base compounds, extracts, flavors and terpenes, understanding how they interact, and ensuring effectiveness for the intended use. They also provide dosing recommendations and establish guidelines for product consistency. 

Learn more at mckinneyrsa.com 

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Dr. Dustin Sulak is a traditional osteopathic physician and expert in integrative medicine. His clinical practice in Maine focuses on treating refractory conditions in adults and children. Dr. Sulak is an internationally-renowned expert in medical cannabis, the author of Handbook of Cannabis for Clinicians: Principles and Practice, and co-founder of Healer, a medical cannabis education resource and products company. He serves on the board of directors of The Society of Cannabis Clinicians and is a passionate educator and leader in the medical cannabis field. 

Dustin is also a true CannMed veteran, having participated in every CannMed event dating back to our first conference at Harvard Medical School. He returns to CannMed 25 this year and is contributing to multiple sessions, including:

We discuss:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Healer 

Healer is a trusted, physician-developed medical cannabis brand founded to address the challenges of helping patients and health providers get the best results with safe, reliably dosable products and education on how to best use them. Healer’s distinctive product formulations and educational material are based on the work of leading cannabis clinician, Dr. Dustin Sulak, D.O. 

Learn More at healer.com

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Zamir Punja, PhD is a Professor of Plant Biotechnology at Simon Fraser University in Canada. His research interests include the etiology and management of plant diseases on vegetable and horticultural crops, and the applications of plant biotechnology for disease management. Since 2018, his work has shifted to researching cannabis, where his group has described a range of previously unreported pathogens affecting the crop and has evaluated various methods for disease management.

At CannMed 25, Zamir will present his team’s latest work investigating the microbiome of cannabis and hemp plants. Using Next-Generation Sequencing and microscopy, his team identified diverse fungi, yeasts, and bacteria across plant tissues. Their study reveals that cannabis plants host abundant microbial endophytes, which can impact plant health and product quality. Findings also highlight the influence of growing substrates and biocontrol agents on the cannabis microbiome.

During our conversation, we discuss:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: GrowDefender

GrowDefender provides long-lasting antimicrobial protection for indoor cultivation and processing spaces. Using patented Goldshield® technology, their EPA-registered, water-based products protect surfaces from mold, mildew, bacteria, and fungi for up to 90 days. Safe, non-toxic, and easy to apply, GrowDefender helps growers reduce contamination, protect crops, and maintain cleaner, healthier environments. Learn more at growdefender.com

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Dr. Dedi Meiri is an Associate Professor at the Technion Institute where he heads the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research.

The lab investigates the vast therapeutic potential of secondary metabolites from cannabis and other herbs, algae, and psychedelic mushrooms; and reveals how these naturally occurring metabolites affect various types of cancer, inflammatory diseases, and disorders of the nervous system

Dr. Meiri is also highly involved in governmental regulations and is a residing member in several Israeli Ministry of Health committees that seek to advance the fundamental understanding of optimal cannabis and other psychedelic plant usage and curtailing adverse effects.

At CannMed 25, Dedi will present “Cannabis as a Therapy Across Diverse Cancer Types: Milestones and Insights from a Decade of Research“, which will discuss his lab’s work investigating whether Cannabis can serve as a primary pharmaceutical treatment for cancer.

We discuss:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Trusted Canna Nurse

Trusted Canna Nurse was founded by Megan Mbengue and Ariane Williams, two nurses who are dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional medicine and the world of cannabis and psychedelics. They specialize in creating evidence-based treatment plans for all ages that address chronic illnesses, treatment-resistant conditions, mental health, autism, and more.

Learn more at trustedcannanurse.com

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Michael Petersen has over 38 years of experience as a researcher and mentor in both the private and public plant biotech space. He has over 50 issued patents and his work in plant transformation and gene expression is a passion. Mike has worked on many genetic engineering/editing contracts with entities across the globe, and he now focuses on innovative hemp research.

At CannMed 25, Mike will share his team’s latest efforts to transform cannabis and hemp plants using gene editing and genetic engineering in a presentation titled, “Creation of Novel Traits Through Genetic Engineering and Editing of Cannabinoid, Terpene, and Flavonoid Pathways in Cannabis sativa”

During the conversation, we discussed:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Kannapedia.net

Kanapedia.net is the world’s most comprehensive cannabis genomic library, featuring more than 2,200 genomic reports on cannabis and hemp varieties from around the globe. Kannapedia.net reports are easily searchable and contain Visualizations and Variant Tables that highlight high-impact variants in genes of interest. For example, you can see a report for the Badger G variety that Mike Petersen’s team edited to break the CBDA synthase gene. In fact, you can see the drop out in the CBDA coverage chart on that report. .

Visit Kannapedia.net to learn more.

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