Dr. Bonni Goldstein is the Medical Director of Canna-Centers Wellness & Education, a leading cannabis medicine specialty practice, and the CEO of GoldsteinWellness.com, an educational platform dedicated to helping licensed healthcare professionals incorporate medical cannabis into their practices.

Bonni has evaluated thousands of patients for medical cannabis treatment, with a special focus on treating children with intractable epilepsy, autism, and cancer.

She authored the book Cannabis is Medicine: How Medical Cannabis and CBD are Healing Everything from Anxiety to Chronic Pain, and serves on the board of the International Alliance for Cannabinoid Medicine and Autism Safe Haven. Bonni has also been the medical director for the CannMed Medical Practicum since 2022.

During our conversation, we discussed:

Exciting updates to the CannMed Medical Practicum, including new topics (sports and recovery, cannabinoids and pregnacy, Pharmacokinetics and Product Formulation, and more)

Findings from a California medical cannabis study showing diverse patients, high efficacy, and research gaps

The importance of medical guidance when using cannabinoid therapies for complex conditions

Safety issues with synthetic or semi-synthetic cannabinoids, and the importance of natural compounds and dosing education

Goldstein Wellness as a resource for clinicians and patients, providing education, patient-clinician connections, and vetted product access

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

The Society of Cannabis Clinicians is a nonprofit professional association of physicians and other healthcare providers. It provides continuing education—for clinicians, patients, and all concerned about the medical use of cannabis and best practices in clinical care. SCC physicians have been monitoring cannabis use by patients for 20 years and have compiled a wealth of clinical evidence and treatment strategies that will be validated by clinical trials in the years ahead.

To learn more about SCC and to join visit cannabisclinicians.org.

Additional Resources

GoldsteinWellness.com

CannMed Medical Practicum

No episode this week. We had to call a last-minute audible.

You may have heard that the bill to restart the federal government contained language that would ban hemp products containing THC, which has sent the entire hemp industry, including many CannMed supporters and contributors into chaos. As a result, the guest we had scheduled for this week’s episode asked to reschedule, which we were happy to oblige.

But don’t worry, we will be back with a new episode next week featuring the always wonderful Bonni Goldstein. She has some exciting details to share about the CannMed 26 Medical Practicum, which is going to feature tons of new topics. So please tune in for that one.

In the meantime, I’d like to remind everyone that we are accepting abstracts for the CannMed 26 Summit through the end of the week. The deadline is this Saturday, November 15th. Submit at cannmedevents.com/apply

If you have done any novel research in the areas of cannabis science, medicine, cultivation, or safety and testing, we encourage you to submit an abstract for consideration. If selected, not only will you have the opportunity to present your work to the industry leaders in attendance at CannMed 26, but a recording of the presentation will be added to the CannMed Archive and Medicinal Genomics YouTube page for additional exposure after the event. You will also get an invitation from me to appear on the CannMed Coffee Talk podcast, if that’s something you're interested in.

See you next week!

Dr. Hemant Kumar Bid is a top educator in the field of Biotechnology and Medical Cannabis, where he uses his extensive background in biotechnology research and cannabinoid research to educate cannabis and biotechnology professionals and infuse the industry with science-backed legitimacy.

In addition to serving as a Program Director for the Morehouse School of Medicine and teaching graduate students, Hemant also serves as a Scientific Advisor for Essentia Scientific, a company that delivers an array of cannabinoid product solutions, including acidic cannabinoids, with their patented water-as-solvent extraction technology.

During our conversation, we discuss: 

What are cannabinoid acids and how do they differ from the neutral cannabinoids 

Why have cannabinoid acids been traditionally overlooked in research and consumer products 

How THCA produces different effects than THC 

Why CBDA is more bioavailable and more potent than CBD 

How new extraction and stabilization techniques are helping make cannabinoids acids more accessible 

and more 

Thanks to This Episode's Sponsor: CANN

Since 2015, CANN has been building a strong network of scientists in the cannabis space to promote scientific innovation, safety, and development through education, research, and the empowerment of the scientific community. To learn more about what CANN has to offer please visit their website at www.cann-acs.org.

Additional Resources

Essentia Scientific Website

Email Hemant - [email protected]

Submit Your Abstract for CannMed 26

Meet the CannMed 26 Advisory Board

Caitlyn Krebs is a biotech executive with over 20 years of experience advancing therapeutics, diagnostics, and digital health innovations. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nalu Bio, where she leads the development of next-generation cannabinoid-inspired therapeutics with pharmaceutical-grade quality and scalability. Over her career, Caitlyn has completed more than 50 strategic partnerships and product launches across biopharma, diagnostics, and digital health.

Nalu Bio recently announced positive results for a cannabinoid-based therapeutic for endometriosis, a condition that affects 200 million women worldwide.

During our conversation, we discussed:

Understanding Endometriosis - symptoms, diagnosis, and current treatment options

How Millions of women with endometriosis are using CBD or THC to self-treat symptoms

What makes the endocannabinoid system a prime target for for endometriosis

How Nalu Bio uses an AI platform to accelerate the development of novel, consistent, and non-addictive cannabinoid molecules

The potential for broader applications for cannabinoid-based therapeutics, similar to GLP-1 therapies

The timeline for future clinical trials and potential FDA-approval

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

Additional Resources

NaluBio.com

Big Data Begins to Crack the Case of Endometriosis (UCSF)

CannMed Call for Abstracts

Dr. Todd Michael is a leading researcher specializing in genome sequencing and analysis, currently serving as a Research Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, San Diego.  His research has made significant contributions to understanding plant genome architecture, particularly through the study of unique and specialized plants that offer insights into adaptive strategies. His innovative work on pangenome tools and long-read sequencing technologies has advanced the understanding of how plant genomes are organized and how they adapt to specific environmental conditions.

At CannMed 25, Todd presented “Cannabis Pangenome Exposes Minor Cannabinoid Pathway Potential”, which described how his team integrated 193 cannabis genomes to identify extensive genetic and structural diversity and highlight potential breeding bottlenecks.

During our conversation, we discussed:

What is a pangenome and why has it replaced single reference genomes

Why cannabis is the most interesting plant genome Todd has worked with

What has caused cannabis to be one of the world’s most diverse plants

How transposable elements AKA “jumping genes” contribute to cannabinoid synthase

The potential risks of excluding males plants from breeding

and more

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

Additional Resources

Michael Lab Website

CannMed Video Archive

CannMed 25 Photo Gallery

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:

How recruitment for cannabis clinical trials differs from traditional clinical trials

Why prior experience with cannabis is considered a negative for patient recruitment

How legal concerns and stigma can deter cannabis-naive patients from enrolling

Why the particiapnt drop out rate is higher in cannabis trials

How rescheduling may affect patient recruitment future trials

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

Additional Resources

Recruitment Challenges in Clinical Studies of Cannabis [Poster]

Lindley Lab at the University of Colorado

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:

Using mechanical stimulation and high stress training to increase production of secondary metabolites

Applying plant hormones to increase trichome density

Assessing how drought stress affects plant yield and potency

Standardizing cloning methods for plant propagation

Developing standards for measuring trichome density

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

Additional Resources

DrLeme.com

Methyl Jasmonate and Ammonium Bicarbonate: Distinct and Synergistic Impacts on Indoor Cannabis Production Dynamics

The Role of Jasmonates in Modulating Growth, Trichome Density, and Cannabinoid Accumulation in Cannabis sativa L.

The Effects of Water-Deficit Stress on Cannabis sativa L. Development and Production of Secondary Metabolites: A Review

From Bracts to Buds: Developing Reliable Methods for Trichome Density Assessment in Cannabis sativa L.

Accumulation of Trigonelline in the Leaves of Cannabis sativa L. in Response to Water-Deficit Stress

Implementation of a Standardized Cloning and Propagation Protocol for Optimizing Cannabis sativa L. Cultivation

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:

Why producers and manufacturers would want to convert one cannabinoid into another

Common methods for cannabinoid conversion

Safety risks associated with chemical cannabinoid conversion

The legality of these compounds

How these compouns and these products are affecting the legal cannabis market

The therapeutic potential of novel, chemically-converted cannabinoids

and more

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.

Additional Resources

Pre-Register for CannMed 26 for just $100

CannMed Video Archive

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

The Dark Side of Cannabidiol (CBD): The Unanticipated Social and Clinical Implications of Synthetic Δ8-THC

Hash Church on YouTube

CANN Delta-8-THC Panel Discussion

GC Separation for Identification of iso-THC Contaminants and Accurate Quantification of Δ8 -THC and Δ9-THC in Cannabis Samples

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

The variety of treatment options for prostate cancer and the role of cannabinoids may play

Results from an empirical study that evaluated how cannabinoid treamtment impacts PSA levels PET/CT scans and patient reported outcomes 

How patients were selected and grouped for the study 

Future research opportunities 

and more 

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. 

Additional Resources

Dr. Gallow on Linkedin

Holistic Healing Dr Gallow (Facebook)

CannMed Video Archives