Ready for an Exclusive?! Soon, you'll be able to wear vintage Tommy Hilfiger tennis apparel with our favorite leaf on the lapel, while smoking a matching branded red and white vape.

American fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger has partnered with Coachella-based cannabis company Green Horizons to revitalize his classic 1970s tennis fashion brand BOAST.

In 2024, they're launching a BOAST clothing line, including polo shirts, shorts, jerseys, and hats -- all with its famed maple leaf logo, alongside a line of infused pre-rolls, vapes, and gummies made with Green Horizons’ flower. (Readers can get an exclusive first look at the new BOAST cannabis and clothing line in the fall '23 issue of Different Leaf the magazine available at DifferentLeaf.com).

In this episode, host Brit Smith talks to Los Arias, CEO of Green Horizons, about how his company first connected with Tommy Hilfiger, and what they hope to bring to the world with their upcoming line of classic wearables and weed.

Los tells Brit how he met his business partner Michael Meade while they were both using cannabis on their cancer journeys and how he connected with Hilfiger's daughter during her own healing journey with Lyme disease.

They also cover the history of the BOAST apparel brand from 1973 until 2017 when it was acquired by Hilfiger, how Los' friendship with Hilfiger inspired them both to launch BOAST's return with a cannabis and clothing line, and when and where we can expect BOAST products to be available.

Get your new fall issue of Different Leaf magazine at DifferentLeaf.com or find your local in-person seller at DifferentLeaf.com/on-the-newsstand

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Just a decade into legalization, the science behind cannabis-infused edibles has already come a long way.

We’ve now got fast-acting edibles, cutting effect times from hours to minutes, made possible by nano-emulsification technology.

We've got heightened experiences and flavors, thanks to Live resin and rosin-infused foods, which contain extracts from flash-frozen freshly-cut cannabis flower.

And we now have targeted effects edibles, which specifically help us chill, focus, find energy, or sleep.

So how do edibles work, and how are they getting faster? How do food scientists maintain taste and texture while adding milligrams of THC? And how are companies using new technologies to give us a range of edible experiences like deeper highs and desirable cannabis flavors?

In this episode, host Brit Smith talks to Kristi Palmer, co-founder of Kiva Confections, about how companies like hers innovate the edibles in our market. Kristi discusses the kinds of new experiences edible consumers are looking for, the hurdles edible companies typically face in the kitchen when innovating their product lines, and how Kiva's team works across state lines to meet those consumer desires.

Brit also talks to Breanna Neff, Chief Food Scientist and founder of Brelixi, about how food scientists like her get cannabis edibles to give us those different kinds of highs and faster onsets, all while maintaining the taste and texture. Breanna explains how edibles work in our bodies, the science behind nano-emulsification for fast-onset edibles like her Brelixi drink powder mix, and how targeted effects edibles work to give us certain experiences.

Read more on the science of infused food in the fall 2023 Edibles issue of Different Leaf magazine, available at DifferentLeaf.com, or find your local retailer at DifferentLeaf.com/on-the-newsstand

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Since the pandemic, more than 70,000 restaurants, diners, and cafes in the US have closed. And many places that did manage to reopen didn’t make it long. Another thing that happened during the COVID lockdown; CBD and THC skyrocketed in popularity. Now, cannabis appears to be giving a new lease on life to some formerly-shuttered eateries.

In this episode, host Brit Smith talks to Chef Andrew LeSturgeon and Will Fleming of Milkweed Cannabis Confections in Burlington, VT about how their infused confectionary line is revitalizing their culinary brand post-pandemic.

As Chef Andrew explains, their famed fine diner 'Monarch and the Milkweed' closed its doors in 2020, but they were able to keep their line of CBD confectionary 'Milkweed Cannabis Confections' going. Eventually, after months of closure, Andrew and Will saw a silver lining and decided to rethink their mission with their popular cannabis candies at the forefront. Now, they're making their post-pandemic comeback by focusing solely on their CBD and THC line of treats.

Andrew and Will discuss the experience of closing their restaurant, and how it forced them to pivot and incubate their existing CBD chocolate line. They also talk about the importance of staying true to their roots by continuing to use high-end local ingredients, while infusing it with local organic full-spectrum cannabis for Vermont and Massachusetts consumers.

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We'll be back in mid-October with our fall podcast season!

Yoga and cannabis have a lot in common. Both originated in India thousands of years ago, and both help us focus on our spiritual, philosophical, and physical selves. Whether you're a newbie or a longtime yogi, mixing meditation, stretching and marijuana is not for the faint of heart. Especially since both the cannabis plant and popular yoga practices have developed in intensity over the past few thousand years.

So how can we safely take part in the historic spiritual practice of stoned yoga without passing out or getting too high? And how can cannabis and yoga enhance our connection with ourselves and the world around us?

This episode, host Brit Smith chats with Lynsey Tamposi, founder of Maine Ganja Yoga and owner of the Nomad Retreat Center in South Paris, Maine. Lynsey and Brit discuss their histories with cannabis as a tool against substance use disorder, and how yoga alongside cannabis helps with their continued mental and physical health in recovery. Then Lynsey tells us about the history of ganja and yoga, the best postures for beginner yoga-stoners, and the kinds of events she holds at the Nomad Retreat Center.

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This week, hear the inspiring story of how cannabis played a role in the life of the ultimate survivor, Ethan Zohn.

Ethan grew up in Massachusetts and played pro-soccer in Hawaii, Cape Cod and Zimbabwe. In 2003, he won the third season of the reality TV show "Survivor." Ethan took his million-dollar prize and launched a nonprofit to raise money and awareness in the fight against the AIDS epidemic in Africa. He started appearing on a long list of reality competition TV shows, he was hosting a NatGeo travel show, and commentating on soccer on ESPN. Ethan was thriving. Then, in early 2009 at age 35, he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

With the help of underground dealers, Ethan used cannabis to help him deal with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. After twice beating cancer, he turned to CBD to help with his mental health and anxiety while in remission. Now a lifelong athlete and cannabis advocate, Ethan uses the plant to prepare, perform and recover from marathons, he's rounding up fellow cancer patients and survivors for a University-backed cannabis study, and he's helping medical marijuana patients find better guidance from doctors online.

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In honor of National Women's Equality Day on August 26th, we're exploring what it takes to make it as one of the very few female CEOs in the legal cannabis and CBD industry.

Across all US industries, women hold around 30 percent of CEO and C-suite positions. But in the cannabis industry, women only hold 22 percent of C-suite roles and just 8 percent of CEO titles. So how can more women successfully lead in a young, semi-legal industry like cannabis and CBD?

This episode, host Brit Smith sits down with the so-called 'Dolly Part of hemp,' Franny Tacy, the founder and CEO of Franny’s Farmacy, to find out what it takes to be part of the 8 percent.

After studying forestry and working in pharmaceuticals, Franny left what she calls the 'unhealthcare industry' and moved into agricultural education and activism, eventually becoming the first female farmer to plant hemp in North Carolina in 75 years. She's since grown from farming her own hemp and running a single CBD store in Asheville, N.C. to developing a high-end hemp product line and seeing Franny's Farmacy franchises in six states. She's continued to innovate with products like her hemp honey and pasta. And she's built meaningful partnerships with everyone from local farmers to celebrities, including fashion designer Christian Siriano, who's about to start selling Franny’s products in his own stores.

Get your summer issue of Different Leaf magazine at DifferentLeaf.com and find your nearest in-person retailer at Differentleaf.com/on-the-newsstand

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TW: Suicide -- For Veterans in crisis, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1

The staff at Veterans Affairs Hospital do the hard work of treating our war veterans. But staff shortages and long wait times mean many vets still don’t get the care they need for the physical and mental issues associated with military life.

As medical marijuana laws expand, more veterans are seeing MMJ doctors patch the gap in their healthcare needs. A growing number of vets report finding cannabis helps with PTSD, pain, anxiety, depression, and other service-related ailments. But cannabis is still federally illegal, and we're a long way off seeing it prescribed by VA doctors.

In this episode, host (and veteran spouse) Brit Smith welcomes former Army Staff Sergeant Philip Lafountaine, the head of Retail and Security at 6Bricks dispensary in Springfield, Mass., to talk about how cannabis can help military veterans.

SSG Lafountaine is a husband and father of three. Just a few years ago, he was a Team Sergeant in the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Special Operations: Airborne), with the 1st Special Forces Command in Fort Bragg, N.C. But none of that seemed to shake him. It wasn't until he was leaving the military that he started dealing with severe panic attacks, crippling anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Like millions of other veterans, Philip found cannabis was the only thing that helped him adjust to civilian life.

Brit and Philip discuss his military experience, his transition into life after the Army, the medicines and therapies that did and didn't work for him at the VA, and how he found cannabis to be the perfect medicine and community to help him survive suicidal thoughts and deep depression. Now, as part of the leadership team at 6Bricks dispensary in Springfield, he helps to individually guide fellow veterans and other adult cannabis consumers so they can also find the perfect cannabis products to help better their own lives.

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Cannabis, comic books, and loud music are all a means of escape. Plus, certain strains really amplify how we experience art, stories, and songs. So it's no surprise that if you’re into comics, fantasy novels, or rock music, research suggests you’re also probably into smoking pot.

Of course, getting lost in comics and jumping in a mosh pit each requires a different kind of buzz. To help their fans have the ideal experience no matter what they're doing, the iconic fantasy/sci-fi brand Heavy Metal has started pairing its adult comics, graphic novels, and collectible cards with experience-focused cannabis strains, grown by Berkshire Roots in western Massachusetts.

In this episode, host Brit Smith sits down with Tommy Coriale, President and Head of Studio at Heavy Metal, to chat about the history of Heavy Metal magazine and its super-stoner 80s movie, how they figured out that so many HM fans also love pot, and how cannabis enhances our connection with mind-bending, experimental art as we see in their books.

They also discuss smoking to enjoy live concerts, how pairing movies and marijuana can help us get lost in a story, and Tommy explains what kinds of futuristic stoner-experiences Heavy Metal has in store with Augmented Reality for fans who smoke their top-notch weed.

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Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; and Portland, OR: Three tourist hotspots known for their cannabis culture. With so many themed dispensaries, cool experiences, and fantastic food in each state, where should canna-curious travelers start when picking what to smoke, see and do in these big cities?

In this episode, host Brit Smith talks to Different Leaf magazine's cannabis travel writers about the coolest pot shops, lounges, sights, and hidden gems in The Bay, The Windy City, and Portlandia.

First, writer Hannah Vyosky tells us about Chicago's must-see dispensaries, like Ivy Hall with its Great Gatsby vibe. She covers where visitors can consume weed without getting in trouble and offers up some lesser-known stoner experiences like picnics with the Dorothy and Toto statues in Oz Park, indulging your munchies at the global McDonald’s, and exploring the city's famed Roman bathhouses.

Then, writer Meena Thiruvengadum takes us on a tour of the essential stoner spots in the thriving hippie city of Portland, Oregon. She discusses the most worthwhile dispensaries like the Electric Lettuce, what to expect on the Portlandia bus tour, how to find the best beaches and hikes around the city, and where to get amazing wake-and-bake food like Gravy's french toast the size of your head.

Finally, writer Carly Fisher delves into the best stops on the dispensary crawl through San Francisco's Castro District, where the legalization movement first began. She names some favorite consumption lounges, like the Barbary Coast draped in plush dark reds in a nod to the old Victorian era of San Fran. And she highlights the Bay's best outdoor experiences like the Oakland Cannabis Trail to the east and the Redwood forests to the north.

Read our city guide by Hannah, Meena, and Carly starting on page 36 in the summer 2023 issue of Different Leaf magazine, available at DifferentLeaf.com or at thousands of in-person retailers. Find your local seller at DifferentLeaf.com/on-the-newsstand

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Before states started legalizing weed shops, most of the legacy growers, transporters, and dealers who got arrested for running the underground cannabis economy were Black and brown entrepreneurial-minded men trying to make a better life for themselves. In states that have adopted cannabis social equity laws, people formerly incarcerated for selling weed before it was cool are now able to get assistance to enter the legal market first.

So what’s life like now for legacy dealers who can bring legal cannabis shops to their neighborhoods? And what did they have to build and go through to get us cannabis before there was a legal market?

In this episode, host Brit Smith talks to Coss Marte, a formerly incarcerated New York City drug kingpin who is now the CEO of CONBUD; NYC’s first cannabis dispensaries that will soon be staffed entirely by formerly incarcerated individuals.

Coss discusses his upbringing in NYC’s lower east side, and how he ran a multi-million dollar drug delivery network that led to his 7-year-stint in New York’s notorious Rikers Island Prison where he continued dealing and endured solitary confinement.

Coss talks about why he set up CONBODY; a fitness regime that got New Yorkers into shape like they do in prison, what he's done to get back into the cannabis industry now it's legal in his city, and which legacy strains he's bringing back to his neighborhood with his two CONBUD cannabis stores, which are set to open at the end of the summer in the Bronx and the Lower East Side.

Get your issue of Different Leaf magazine at DifferentLeaf.com or find your local in-person retailer at DifferentLeaf.com/on-the-newsstand

Follow us on social media @DifferentLeaf and find host Brit Smith @BritTheBritish

Check out our new merch line at xDifferentLeaf.com