How to Do the Pot

Dr. Donald Abrams was a young gay doctor on the front lines of San Francisco’s AIDS crisis in the 1980s. He watched as his partner and many of his close friends died from a disease no one understood. Yet instead of giving up, he fought to bring relief to patients through medical cannabis.

In part two of our Webby Award nominated three-part series, host Ellen Scanlon introduces you to Dr. Abrams, who shares his experience with loss, injustice, and resilience that led him to challenge the federal government, support legendary activists like Brownie Mary, and secure the first U.S. government grant to study cannabis for medical use.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How the AIDS crisis helped ignite the medical cannabis movement

Why San Francisco became ground zero for radical, compassionate care

What it took to convince the U.S. government to approve a cannabis study

This is one of the most powerful stories we’ve ever told. Don’t miss it.

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠

Thanks to our sponsor, 1906.

Looking for an easy swap for that second glass of wine? Off Duty is a new fast-acting cannabis shot from 1906. It’s unflavored, low-dose, and mixes right into a mocktail or sparkling water. Try Off Duty at 1906.shop and use the code DOTHEPOT for 15% off your order.

Before weed was legal in any U.S. state, it was medicine passed hand-to-hand—often in the form of a brownie. In part one of our Webby-nominated series Before Legal Weed, host Ellen Scanlon brings you the untold story of how San Francisco’s gay community turned to cannabis during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis—and how a woman-run cannabis operation called Sticky Fingers Brownies quietly became a lifeline.

You’ll meet Meridy Volz, a mother delivering pot brownies on roller skates through the Castro in the 1980s, and her daughter, author Alia Volz, who grew up watching a revolution unfold from the back of a stroller.

Through powerful personal stories and rarely heard history, you’ll learn:

How a women-run cannabis business became a lifeline for the gay community

What it was like to grow up in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic

Why this story still matters in today’s conversations around cannabis as medicine

Before any U.S. state legalized cannabis—before it was even officially called medicine—people in San Francisco were baking it into brownies and delivering it in secret to those dying of AIDS. This Pride Month, host Ellen Scanlon shares Before Legal Weed: The Untold Story of AIDS & Cannabis, a powerful, Webby-nominated, three-part series about the people who risked everything to help their community survive—and changed history in the process.

In this series, you’ll learn:

- Why cannabis became a lifeline for people with AIDS in 1980s San Francisco

- How one tight-knit community organized in the face of government inaction

- The emotional and political origins of today’s legal cannabis movement

- Why this forgotten history matters—especially during Pride Month

For the first time ever, data shows that more women are choosing cannabis than men—and they’re doing it for reasons that go way beyond getting high. In this episode, host Ellen Scanlon talks with innovation expert Nicole Brown about what’s really driving this shift: from the rise of low-dose products to the evolution of legal markets like New York.

We dig into how Gen Z and Millennial women are swapping drinks for edibles, why sleep is still the most common entry point, and how today’s “work hard, play hard” mindset is getting a major update. Cannabis is no longer a niche choice, it’s becoming a modern, smarter way to unwind.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What’s really behind the cannabis boom among women
Why so many women start with sleep, and stay for better sex
How cannabis is replacing cocktails for younger women
Why this shift is changing the culture (and who gets to shape i

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠

Support for the show comes from 1906. Looking for an easy swap for that second glass of wine? Off Duty is a new fast-acting cannabis shot from 1906. It’s unflavored, low-dose, and mixes right into a mocktail or sparkling water. Try Off Duty at 1906.shop and use the code DOTHEPOT for 15% off your order.

Memorial Day is almost here, and we’re ready for summer. Are you? In this episode, host Ellen Scanlon is joined by innovation expert Nicole Brown to dish on their favorite low-dose THC drinks, CBD + CBG gummies, and calming cannabis picks to help you unwind, sleep better, and feel your best.

Whether you're swapping wine for weed or just want a little mood lift without going overboard, we cover all the best products to try this summer, plus some fun hosting tips and what's happening in cannabis right now. What’s in our bags? Press play to find out, and maybe meet your new summer favorites.

Featuring:

– Best low-dose THC drinks for social hangs

– CBD, CBG, and minor cannabinoid blends to try

– How to set a chill vibe without feeling too high

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠

Support for How to Do the Pot comes from Potli. 

Potli’s Dream Good Night Gummies help you relax, drift into sleep, and wake up refreshed—no grogginess. They’re delicious treats made with real honey and calming botanicals. Try them at GetPotli.com—and get 20% off with code DOTHEPOT.

This Mother’s Day week, we’re spotlighting a woman who’s not just building a company—she’s building a better way to live with technology. Ellen Scanlon talks with her friend and business school classmate Hagan Kappler, the founder and CEO of Daisy, a smart home tech company that helps families simplify the chaos of connected living.

Hagan is also a mom of four and a seasoned leader with experience at companies like Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and Starbucks. In this episode, she shares what it really takes to lead, including the moment she nearly walked away from a major opportunity, how a public #MeToo experience shaped her values, and what she’s learned about trusting her instincts. This is a personal conversation about career, courage, and the quiet power of doing things your own way.

Content Note: This episode includes a brief mention of sexual assault in the context of a #MeToo experience. Please take care while listening.

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠

Support for How to Do the Pot comes from Potli. 

Potli’s Dream Good Night Gummies help you relax, drift into sleep, and wake up refreshed—no grogginess. Get 20% off with code DOTHEPOT.

What do sea turtles, science, and cannabis have in common? In this episode, Ellen Scanlon talks with Caitlyn Krebs, the CEO and co-founder of Nalu Bio, a San Francisco-based biotech company unlocking the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, this conversation offers a timely look at what it takes to lead a high-growth startup, raise a family, and build the future of women’s health, all at the same time.

Caitlyn shares how her childhood in Hawaii sparked a love of science, what inspired her to co-found Nalu Bio, and why she’s betting big on cannabinoids becoming as essential as vitamins. If you're curious about the science behind cannabis and want to feel inspired about the future of women’s health, you’ll be glad you got to know this innovative founder.

"I believe cannabinoids are the next big thing, much like vitamins were 70 years ago. Back then, no one knew what vitamins did or what they were for, but now everyone takes them." - Caitlyn Krebs

If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend Episode 286. How the Endocannabinoid System Could Transform Women’s Health

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spend the day with meld! While supplies last, Nalu Bio is offering free sample kits to How to Do the Pot listeners. Sign up for the meld newsletter at www.meldscience.com to claim your free kit and help shape the future of women’s health. Includes 3 no-high blends: Move Free, Stay Calm, and Sleep Well.

The endocannabinoid system could be the next frontier in women’s health, and the future is closer than you think. In this episode, I talk with Caitlyn Krebs, CEO and co-founder of Nalu Bio, a biotech company using cutting-edge science to develop cannabinoid-based therapies that target stress, sleep, pain, and inflammation. If you're tired of trial-and-error solutions, this conversation offers a smarter, safer path forward. We break down:

What the endocannabinoid system actually is, and why it matters for pain, stress, sleep, and inflammation

Why traditional supplements often miss the mark for women

How meld, a new line of science-backed products, is changing the way women support their health (and how you can try them for free!)

Get early access to meld at www.meldscience.com, while supplies last.

If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend Episode 285. From Pain to Progress: Ellen’s Endometriosis Story

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spend the day with meld! While supplies last, Nalu Bio is offering free sample kits to How to Do the Pot listeners. Sign up for the meld newsletter at www.meldscience.com to claim your free kit and help shape the future of women’s health. Includes 3 no-high blends: Move Free, Stay Calm, and Sleep Well.

One in ten women have endometriosis, yet most aren’t diagnosed until they’re struggling to get pregnant or can no longer live with the pain. In this episode, Ellen Scanlon shares her personal story of navigating pain, infertility, and finally a diagnosis of endometriosis with biotech entrepreneur Caitlyn Krebs, CEO of Nalu Bio. They talk about this chronic and often invisible disease and what the future of treatment could look like. If you’ve ever felt dismissed or misunderstood when it comes to period pain or infertility, this episode is for you.

We cover:

If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend Episode 283. Why More Women Are Choosing Weed Over Advil

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Spend the day with meld! While supplies last, Nalu Bio is offering free sample kits to How to Do the Pot listeners. Sign up for the meld newsletter at www.meldscience.com to claim your free kit and help shape the future of women’s health. Includes 3 no-high blends: Move Free, Stay Calm, and Sleep Well.

This is the app Caitlyn mentioned: Nezhat Endometriosis Advisor, which has an endometriosis risk score that is 94% predictive of endo.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nezhat-endometriosis-advisor/id1478526317

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠

420 isn’t just a party, it’s a chance to reflect, connect, and celebrate cannabis legalization and its evolution in our culture. In this episode, Ellen Scanlon talks with women who share what 420 means to them today. Whether it’s honoring the plant, remembering the people who paved the way, or creating new traditions with friends (and sometimes pets!) these stories show the many sides of cannabis and the common ground it creates. You’ll hear about joyful rituals, lessons learned from the early days of legalization, and why 420 is also a time to acknowledge the work still needed around justice and safe access. Curious, cautious, or somewhere in between? You’re welcome here.

Thanks to our guests: Tekisha Harvey, Kate Ols, Shelly Persad, Caitlin Krebs, Kristi Palmer, Phoebe Dupree, Janet Matula, Akwasi Owusu-Bempah

If you enjoyed this episode, we recommend Episode 264. The Haunting History of Cannabis: Why the War on Drugs Failed + Building a Better Future

Please VOTE for us to win a Webby Award! Voting ends April 17.

Hosted by Ellen Scanlon

Sign up for Ellen’s newsletter on Substack at https://dothepot.substack.com/ or at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thank you for supporting our sponsor!

Try Potli’s Dream Good Night Chews, and use code DOTHEPOT for 20% off

Follow on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠