Hempresent

Nicholas Thomas, the person behind The War on Hemp: The Marijuana Monopoly, discusses his exciting new documentary that takes a critical look at the history of cannabis prohibition and examines the increasingly contentious battle over hemp, marijuana legalization, and control of the rapidly evolving cannabis marketplace.

Levi Lyon is a Tacoma, Washington–based music-industry professional, community advocate, and owner of Lyon Pride Music LLC. Levi spent nearly two decades as entertainment director of Seattle Hempfest, for years the largest annual cannabis reform event in the world. We discuss what he has been learning about cannabis and nutrition, both for the mind and body.

Angel Thrasher Weaver is the mother of the late Dylan Moon, who was born a micro preemie, or born very prematurely, at just 26 weeks. Dylan was born with hydrocephalus, resulting in brain damage and initial frontal lobe damage, which caused him to have intractable epilepsy. Dylan suffered grand mal seizures, which damaged his brain, killing neurons and further worsening his condition. Not surprisingly, cannabis significantly lessened Dylan’s suffering, but the iron curtain of federal cannabis prohibition created arbitrary obstacles to Dylan’s quest for relief, as well as thousands of other Americans seeking to lessen their suffering. Sadly, Dylan lost his battle in July of 2025.

Content advisory: This episode of Hempresent contains descriptions of medical procedures and treatment that some listeners may find graphic, emotionally difficult, or disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. 

Mark Taylor Canfield is a journalist who has spent decades on the front lines of independent media, reporting on everything from politics and protest movements to civil liberties and the shifting landscape of press freedom.

Mark is an award-winning reporter, editor, and longtime advocate for First Amendment rights. He's a former writer at the Huffington Post and serves as Executive Director for Democracy Watch News, a non-profit news organization that specializes in covering threats to democracy and freedom of the press.

Michael Khemmoro is the chief operating officer and co-founder of Mango Cannabis. Mike's journey in cannabis began in 2010 when he and his brother-in-law Kevin Pattah became cannabis cultivators and caregivers in Michigan, driven by an extreme passion and respect for the plant’s healing properties.  

In 1996, Ted Smith founded the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, Canada’s oldest compassion club. He is also the author of Hempology 101: The History and Uses of Cannabis Sativa (2012), developed from a free, non-credit lecture series he taught at the University of Victoria. From 2009 to 2016, he published the Cannabis Digest newspaper nationwide.

Between 2002 and 2003, the VCBC was raided four times and successfully beat every charge. In 2009, the club’s bakery was raided, leading to a unanimous Supreme Court of Canada decision that legalized cannabis extracts and edibles for patients.

Despite cannabis legalization in 2018, the club has been raided four more times and continues to face ongoing enforcement. Vivian and Ted discuss the fight to keep the club alive amid sustained government pressure.

Edward Buck serves as chair of the Prairie Island Cannabis Regulatory Commission, a three person independent commission empowered to license, monitor, and enforce cannabis activities within Prairie Island’s jurisdiction, that seeks to ensure that all activities meet the highest standards of transparency, public health, and Tribal sovereignty. Fred Erickson serves as secretary of the Prairie Island CBH, Inc. Board of Directors and is the inventory manager for the Tribe’s dispensary, Island Peži.

James Stephens, founder and CEO of Sinful Cannabis. In an industry where branding, compliance, and competition collide every day, James has carved out a reputation for building a company that isn’t afraid to stand out. Sinful Cannabis has developed a recognizable identity in the legal market while navigating the complex realities of regulated cannabis—from marketing restrictions to market consolidation and evolving consumer expectations.

A Southwest-based author whose books Willie Nelson describes as “a blueprint for the America of the future,” Doug Fine is the author of six books, including 2020’s American Hemp Farmer as well as the Boston Globe Bestseller, Farewell, My Subaru. 

His wild goat-wrangling stories and optimistic persona have led to media appearances on Conan, The Tonight Show, BBC, and CNN, as well as a TED Talk and testimony before the United Nations on the right-to-farm. Fine’s speaking engagements have included appearances at SXSW, Town Hall Seattle, the National Geographic Heroes of the Planet Series, and at dozens of universities. 

Doug talks about his newest project, the myriad benefits and applications of the hemp plant, and the joys of sustainable living.

Niambe McIntosh is the youngest child of reggae legend Peter Tosh and serves as the Chairperson of the Board for the Peter Tosh Foundation, as well as the head of the Peter Tosh Estate and Brand. 

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, she holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and began her professional life in that field before following her passion for education. She taught mathematics and special education in the Boston Public School system, where she developed a deep commitment to youth empowerment and community engagement.

Through her work in music, cultural preservation, and cannabis advocacy, Niambe continues to amplify the spirit of resistance and empowerment that defines the Tosh name.