CannMed Coffee Talk

Justin Esquivel is CEO & Geneticist, Green Luster Phenos™ and has been an influencer and leader in the cannabis industry for 15 years. Esquivel was the head grower and geneticist of an indoor commercial-scale cultivation operation back in 2012.  Justin has consulted with over 100 cannabis facilities, 72 of which operate commercial canopies.  Esquivel provides home growers with pest and bacteria-resistant genetics in seed and breeders’ cut form on a global scale!  He brings standard operating procedures to a gold standard.  His one-of-a-kind approach to plasticity breeding has sparked tons of interest across the globe.  Esquivel also specializes in Cannabis Tissue Culture & Selective Homozygous Breeding, enabling his company to bring exotic tailored offspring to growers globally!

During our conversation, we discuss: 

Thanks to this episode’s Sponsor: Rare Earth Genomics. 

Rare Earth Genomics is a dynamic partnership formed with Texas A&M AgriLife, one of the world’s leading research institutions, to accelerate hemp research and create tools for farmers. Their mission is to increase the likelihood of a successful harvest for farmers through genetic analysis and rigorous environmental testing of vigorous cultivars. 

Learn more at rareearthgenomics.com 

Additional Resources: 

Dr. John Streicher is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona. He has built a long-term research program focused on finding improved treatments for pain. This has encompassed multiple approaches over the years, including testing cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid constituents of Cannabis sativa, identifying new ways to target opioid receptor signaling, and identifying new receptor targets in the body for pain relief. His lab works on both the basic science knowledge of how these systems work and also works to create new drugs for human therapy.

During our conversation, we discussed:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Healer

Healer is a trusted, physician-developed medicinal cannabis brand founded to address the challenges of helping people and health providers get the best results with safe, reliably dosable products and education on how to best use them. Healer Hemp products are available nationwide and include a step-by-step usage guide and response tracker. Healer’s distinctive product formulations and education are based on the latest research and work of leading cannabis clinician, Dr. Dustin Sulak, D.O.

Visit Healer.com or HealerCbd.com

Additional Resources:

Dr. Harold Han is Chief Science Officer and co-founder of Vertosa, and the pioneer in water compatible cannabinoid ingredients for infused products.

Harold designed the industrial leading cannabis emulsions that are widely applied in the cannabis beverage brands. Harold holds 16 patents in emulsion applications, and prior to founding Vertosa, he led a team that developed the emulsification oil for Bio Rad’s Digital Droplet PCR system.

Harold also publishes a regular series explaining the science of cannabis for product makers under the monicker “The Happy Chemist” — a nickname you’ll understand after you watch the interview.

One of his recent articles describes the different factors that contribute to cannabis beverage potency loss, which is a challenge for beverage brands. In fact, in regulated markets it’s common to see a 10-15% variation in potency compared to the label claim. In unregulated hemp-derived beverages, it can be even higher.

During the conversation we discuss

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Vertosa

Vertosa creates industry-leading active ingredients for infused product makers. Their patent-pending nano- and micro-emulsions are carefully designed for the specific needs of each customer, and their pre-suspended aqueous solutions empower them to create incredibly homogenous and stable products while maximizing bioavailability, clarity, and taste.

Learn more at Vertosa.com

Additional Resources

Dr. Deb Kimless has been in the medical cannabis field since 2013 where her diverse involvement spans many areas including cannabis cultivation, processing, formulation, testing, patient care, and conducting research. She consults within the industry as an advisor for companies who are interested in novel formulations specific to medical conditions, develops protocols, obtains IRB approval, conducts clinical trials, and helps to publish the results.

At CannMed 24, Deb presented a poster that shared data from an open-label clinical trial investigating using a cannabinoid-enhanced topical cream for alleviating Restless Leg Syndrome. RLS is condition that affects up to 10% of the US population, including Deb. She found relief using a CBDA-based topical cream and is working with the product manufacturer to conduct clinical trials that demonstrate its effectiveness. 

During our conversation, 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 

Additional Resources

David Aronson is a cannabis educator who since 2018 has directly educated more than 5,000 health professionals nationwide on the medical applications of cannabis. He is on the faculty for PESI, one of the nation’s largest providers of professional continuing education, and he independently provides seminars for health professionals nationwide.

I learned during our conversation that David also has post-treatment Lyme disease, which is a condition that causes fatigue, neuropathic pain, brain fog, forgetfulness, and other chronic symptoms that he treats with cannabis. His experience made him curious whether others have found success using cannabis to treat persistent Lyme. He shared his findings at CannMed 24 as a poster presentation and with me in the conversation you are about to hear. 

We covered: 

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 

Additional Resources

Zac has been involved in the cannabis industry since 2005. He has had experience with all kinds of growing environments. From outdoor plots in Northern California to warehouses throughout the United States, his journey has taken him to almost every corner of the country.

Zac worked at some of the most reputable supply companies and cultivations before landing his job at BioSafe Systems. He is the National Cannabis Specialist for the company, a position that did not exist before Zac was hired.

He has comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of cultivation but specializes in integrated pest management (IPM). He has even written the book “Clean Growing: Integrated Pest Management for Cannabis Growers: The Ultimate Guide to Clean Crops & Safe Cultivation Practices That Protect Growers & Consumers” that is available to growers on Amazon.

During our conversation we discuss:

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

We will be back with new episodes of the CannMed Coffee Talk Podcast next month!

Please be patient as we recharge following the CannMed 24 Innovation and Investment Summit, and prepare for next year’s event!

Be sure to sign up for email alerts at CannMedEvents.com so you will receive notifications when we publish the CannMed 24 oral presentation videos and announce details for CannMed 25!

Dr. Shannon Smith received his PhD in molecular biosciences from Middle Tennessee State University. There his research focused on plant biotechnology, with work in Cannabis, Panax, and Vitis tissue culture and manipulation. This led to the development of new and unique technologies for the production of both plants and secondary metabolites. He later founded Greenway Lab, a plant biotech company that collaborates with agricultural partners to implement plant biotech solutions to botanical challenges facing the modern agricultural industry.

During our conversation, we discuss:

Additional Resources

Tim Lefever is the Director of Discovery at Nalu Bio. He is an experienced Director with a demonstrated history of 20+ years of preclinical in vivo research and leading effective teams at organizations such as Canopy Growth and Research Triangle Institute. He has authored or co-authored numerous manuscripts and presented research findings at a variety of scientific conferences over the past 20 years.

At CannMed 24, Tim will present “Characterization of Less Studied Cannabis Phytochemicals” which investigates the pharmacological, physicochemical, and basic toxicological characteristics of cannabis phytochemicals. During our conversation, we discuss:

Thanks to This Episode’s Sponsor: Brains Bioceutical

Brains Bioceutical is a global leader in EU-GMP-certified production of naturally-sourced active pharmaceutical ingredients for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. With a unique suite of licences, Brains Bioceutical is one of the only natural plant-based phytochemical API manufacturers in commercial production today, and is involved in academic and clinical trials across the globe. Learn more at brainsbioceutical.com

Additional Resources

Dr. Kimberly Gwinn is a Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee. Her lab currently investigates natural products that are produced by plants and microbes and their uses as medicines and as bio-pesticides. 

At CannMed 24 she will present Hemp Processing by-products as Biopesticides which describes her team’s work using terpene-rich industrial hemp by-products to control plant diseases and pests. 

We discuss: 

Thanks to this episode’s Sponsor: Rare Earth Genomics. 

Rare Earth Genomics is a dynamic partnership formed with Texas A&M AgriLife, one of the world’s leading research institutions, to accelerate hemp research and create tools for farmers. Their mission is to increase the likelihood of a successful harvest for farmers through genetic analysis and rigorous environmental testing of vigorous cultivars. 

learn more at rareearchgenomics.com 

Additional Resources