This week, I sat down with the legendary Jorge Cervantes (George Van Patten), a man whose books have influenced generations of growers over the last 40 years. Jorge shared the challenges of self-publishing his first book, Indoor Marijuana Horticulture, in 1983, and the dangerous process of writing books on cannabis cultivation in the 80s and 90s, when government raids and customs officials banning his books were common.

Now, after decades of pioneering, Jorge is turning his focus to the future of cannabis cultivation. His new educational platform is meant to be a guiding light in cannabis cultivation research, a place where experience and science collaborate to help evolve our understanding of the plant.

Check out the full interview to learn about Jorge’s incredible journey educating millions on the joys of growing cannabis and his plans for the next chapter in cultivation research and education.

* You can help Jorge name his new website! Submit your idea and be entered for a chance to win a signed copy of The Cannabis Encyclopedia.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Dominique van Gruisen, founder of Innexo, a research organization based in the Netherlands dedicated to deepening our understanding of cannabis cultivation. Dominique shared how they facilitate an exchange of knowledge through their regular “Acceleration Days,” where researchers, innovators, and industry professionals connect at their facility to share and discuss their latest findings.

Our conversation covered Innexo’s important work on inter canopy lighting and the “no veg” method, techniques that can accelerate growth cycles and increase efficiency and output. We also talked about their work on seed fingerprinting, which uses spectral analysis to determine both the sex and the phenotype of cannabis seeds. Learn more about the ground-breaking work Innexo is doing in cannabis cultivation research.

This week’s guest, John Bayes, AKA Green Bodhi, is a renowned cannabis breeder with over 2 decades as founder and owner of Green Bodhi Genetics in Eugene, Oregon. John has built a reputation for creating some of the highest quality strains in the industry based on a massive library of old-school genetics, with an emphasis on West Coast classic strains.

John’s a world-class grower and brings a high level of conscious, intentional care to his plants. His work is heavily influenced by the Buddhist principles that guide his “Intentional Horticulture” philosophy. He’s now taking this commitment to mindfulness and quality to new international projects, including a series of upcoming wellness retreats in Malta and an EU launch of his Green Bodhi seed line. Check out the full video and bring some mindfulness into your garden!

This week on Friday 420 we are honored to welcome to the show a legend in cannabis genetics, Scott Blakey, a.k.a. Shantibaba. Scott is one of the architects of the modern cannabis seed industry, founding operations like Greenhouse Seed Company, and Mr. Nice Seed Bank in the 90s in Holland. He applied his rigorous breeding methods to develop some of the first high-CBD, low-THC strains, effectively pioneering the multi-billion dollar CBD industry.

Today, Scott is embracing what he calls the industry’s “second wave.” He now holds medical cannabis licenses in Switzerland and is happily back in the “white jacket,” focused on genetics and quality control at his own family run farm.

We’ll journey back to Amsterdam in the 90s, hear Scott’s advice for modern cannabis geneticists and his vision for where the cannabis industry is heading. Don’t miss this masterclass on the roots of modern cannabis genetics, watch the full interview!

I had a great conversation with Max Majot, Technical Manager at Royal Queen Seeds, about the cannabis industry’s future, his take on interviewing Mike Tyson, and the major shift happening at Royal Queen Seeds from seed bank to seed producer.

Max argued that while industrial production is necessary, the industry’s focus on metrics like high THC is a pitfall. We agreed the challenge ahead is ensuring that as the industry scales, quality is preserved and respected for the end user, rather than optimized for a lab report.

Watch the full video!

I learned so much about magic mushrooms last week speaking with certified mycologist and founder of Mystic Fruits, Cody Reeves. We covered some great topics like strain specific effects, microdosing, and the various ways mushrooms are being used medicinally and therapeutically. Check out the full video to learn more about these fantastic fungi!

I had such a great conversation last Friday with Judi Nelson and Walter Wood of Sol Spirit Farm. Here are a few things I learned about their organic, regenerative cannabis farm:

* They met at a Jerry Garcia memorial and were inspired by their time as forest activists to live more sustainably.

* They are unique in their use of Jadam Korean natural farming techniques, creating their own fertilizers and microbial solutions from materials on their land.

* Their commitment to sustainability also extends to their compostable packaging and innovative container take-back program.

Judi and Walter share a deep spiritual connection to the cannabis plant, and it was so refreshing to hear about some of the ways they infuse love and positive energy into their work. Check out the full video!

I thought growing cannabis for 23 years was a long time, but it was so cool to sit down with someone who’s been cultivating it twice as long as I have! Tony Grech’s journey growing this plant began in San Francisco in the 60s when he picked up a copy of Bill Drake's "The Cultivator's Handbook." Here are a few other things we found out:

* Tony’s been practicing organic, living soil cannabis cultivation for over 50 years!

* His love for long-flowering sativas runs deep and he believes that patience is key to unlocking their full potential.

* His family's brand, Budularo, is getting lots of love right now for bringing the old-school landrace and haze varieties back to the California market.

Tony shared so much great plant wisdom in our conversation, watch the full video!

I recently sat down with Guy Rocourt, the visionary behind Papa & Barkley and CLEA Midlife Wellness, for a conversation that challenged some of the biggest conventions in the industry.

We dove into the art of making truly strain-specific edibles, including how to preserve terpenes and other compounds to create an infusion that tastes and feels like the flower it came from.

The conversation took a personal turn as we discussed how our wives are using cannabis to manage symptoms of menopause and some of the specific products they’ve found effective. Guy also shared a powerful argument for why "medical" and "recreational" are fundamentally flawed terms holding the industry back.

Watch the full interview!

Last Friday, I had the honor of sitting down with a true cannabis pioneer, Farmer Tom Lauerman. We journeyed back to the very beginning of medical cannabis in the U.S., as Tom shared stories from his time co-founding one of the first medical collectives in San Diego in 1997. We learned about the high-profile police raid that shut down his collective in 1999, an event that, for many, would have been the end of the road, but for Farmer Tom, was just one chapter in a lifelong fight.

Farmer Tom and I shared our views on the evolution of the industry, from a patient-first, compassionate care model to the commercialized, adult-use market we see today. Tom spoke with passion about the community-focused approach that’s largely missing in modern cannabis, as well as the erosion of patient rights in the face of big business.

We talked about his current work with Irvine Labs and his advocacy for the "Heroes of the Green" - the activists who risked their lives to ensure safe access for all. Tom’s journey is a testament to the passion and perseverance that has always fueled our cannabis community.