Karma Koala Podcast

First up apologies for some of the gremlins on the host tal;king. Not sure what happened there!

In this episode i speak with Malaysia based Johan Mohamad, a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN and we talk about what’s happening  across the region in terms of research, policy and government action. A lot more than you would imagine

Thanks to Johan and enjoy

Johan Mohamad is a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN and the Chairperson of KannaHemp Summit 3.0, taking place in Chiang Mai this December.

Johan began his journey in community advocacy, leading a zero-waste campaign that impacted over 200,000 students before co-founding MCARE Society to support patients and families.

His path took a deeply personal turn when his son was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, leading him to explore alternative support systems and ultimately into the hemp industry.

Today, Johan works at the intersection of policy, research, and international collaboration — building bridges between ASEAN and Europe to develop a responsible and sustainable hemp ecosystem

Kannahemp Summit embodies the spirit of Southeast Asia collaboration, working together to engage relevant stakeholders from their respective countries. Members and partners interested in participating, collaborating, or supporting this regional initiative are warmly invited to join.

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-317-johan-mohamad-a-pioneer-in-the-hemp-industry-across-asean/⁠

Sarah Strickler and her husband founded Grown Rogue over a decade ago.

Operating out of southern Oregon the company is expanding nationwide.

The koalas speak to Sarah about growing a company in Oregon and building it organically throughout the country while no overacrching federal regulatory system exists.

An interesting conversation and certainly one that illustrates how legislatures across the country have stacked opportunities against companies like Grown Rogue who are looking to build on good product, consumer awareness of that product and a steady as you go philosophy.

Thankyou Sarah for taking time to talk to the koalas.

Learn more at 

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-316-sarah-strickler-grown-rogue-oregon/⁠

I noted via Linked In that Kimberly had written a paper on mushroom churches in the US.

She’s just started her study but initial findings are interesting ( and not that surprising) In the main churches appear to operate as businesses, there’s little or no link to indigenous history and the majority of shamans appear to be just someone deciding they are a shaman.

The conversation told me one thing.

Things are going to get worse before they get better

Thankyou to Kimberly for making these initial investigations. She promises there is more to come.

Learn more

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-315-kimberly-melgoza-mushroom-churches-usa-2026-initial-study/⁠

As the koalas have spent hours speaking to Steve De'Angelo we thought we should also talk to his younger sibling Andrew who has also been involved with the plant for the last 40 or so years as well.

He might not have the same public profile as his older brother but that doesn't mean he's not been as involved in both the business and political side of changing pereceptions towards the plant in the US.

This is the first of our two conversations with Andrew .. enjoy with us.

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-314-andrew-de-angelo-business-storytelling-in-the-world-of-us-cannabis/

We talk about Arron's website and why he built it, which in turn, sends us down the rabbit hole that is the UK medical cannabis "system" / "set up".

So he built Cannabias

In June 2025, after months of waiting, I finally had my first appointment to be prescribed medical cannabis.

Like many patients, I felt relieved — legal, safe, and finally confident in what I was consuming.

Or at least, that’s what I believed.

Then reality set in.

A month later, I needed a new prescription. My tolerance had changed, and I wanted to explore my options.

But as I copied product names into Google, I quickly realised the truth:

Verified patient experiences? Nowhere to be found

If you’ve felt that same frustration, CannaBias was built for you.

It started with a question nobody could answer.Reviews were vague and difficult to trustBatch numbers were missing

Read more

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-313-arron-dando-uk-cannabias-a-new-website-built-for-british-patients-to-provide-data-and-knowledge-on-the-provision-of-medical-cannabis-in-the-country/⁠

Thato & I discuss his work on cannabis testing in the South African workspace

We discuss his research of other jurisdictions around the world,  Canada, UK, Australia & New Zealand and how some of their solutions / approaches may work in the South African context.

Thato will be talking about his research at the Cape Town International Cannabis Symposium 25-27 on the following panel

Learn More

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-312-thato-lentsoe-law-lecturer-labour-law-constitutional-law-and-human-rights-university-of-kwa-zulu-natal-employments-rights-cannabis-testing-in-south-africa/⁠

The koalas love a chinwag with a psychedelic lawyer because there’s always tangents but they fundamentally all they all return to the same place, respect & humanism.

Amongst the things we discuss are

Applying law mindfullyTalking about what psychedelic lawyering might meanThe embodiment of learning in lawWorking toward new outcomesLawyer as healer

What counsellor at law might meanInternational indigenous legal traditions

Learn more here

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-311-christian-holden-psychedelic-law-embody-the-law-not-just-regurgitate-it/⁠

In episode 4 Steve comes across a new concept, airport security ….

and with $USD27K in his case + some thai sticks things got a bit serious.

Hear about his first experience of incarceration and dealing with the US legal system.

We also learn about the life of a Yippe in the 1970’s and activism vs the Grateful Dead culture permeating the SF side of the bay.

In the conversation we also take in Nelson Rockerfeller, Jerry Rubin, Paraquat and more

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-310-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-4-the-mid-1970s-first-bust-and-experience-of-the-us-legal-system-being-a-full-time-yippie-paraquat/

This episode was recorded and broadcast the morning of Good Friday (3 April) 2026 the day that Trump sacked Pam Bondi & Hesgeth cleaned out the existing military hierarchy of the US military so as to appease his boss and work towards his  bizarre dream of a radical right Christian warrior ethos within the US military.

Meanwhile christians of many sects around the world remember Jesus of Nazareth’s death.

I thought that this would be the perfect day to talk to Mike about the type of christianity that most would identify with through readings of the James II new testament. The desire to help others less fortunate than oneself.

Mike talks about his initiative, The Gaza Free People’s Kitchen, and his hopes to set up a  similar initiative in the Lebanonat a time when it estimated that there are a million displaced people in the country.

We also talk about cannabis and activism in general and the fact that although  it might be down at the moment  it definitely isn’t out in the USA .

Mike is positive that cannabis and activism is on the return and the more people i talk to in 2026 i feel that groundswell too.

Thanks for listening

Connect with the kitchen here

⁠https://www.instagram.com/free_peoples_kitchen__gaza/⁠

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-309-special-good-friday-episode-mike-fantasia-cannabis-consultant-usa-and-his-initiative-the-gaza-free-peoples-kitchen/⁠

In a world of Trumps, Hesgeths & Millers it is sometimes hard to remember that the real voice of American exceptionalism still exists at the grassroots.

Ken is one of those voices and i’ll be listening to this conversation of mine with him  every time the news drives me crazy , which is about daily at the moment.

We discuss the current us industrial agricultural environment, the food crisis in America, working globally on an equal footing with partners, education, helping the next generations and changing the story about hemp as a crop.

Essentially, all the good stuff!

Talking to him I’m reminded of a US farmer & president from the 1970’s.. Maybe it’s time for Ken Elliott for president!

Although I think I’d prefer he stay with us in the world of hemp and cannabis

Learn More

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-308-ken-elliott-ind-hemp-montana-building-a-grassroots-global-network-respecting-everybody-else-do-what-you-to-create-change/⁠