Karma Koala Podcast

Great to speak to Vikram who discovered the joys of cannabis/hemp in Nimbin (Australia)

That discovery as a young man doing a hospitality degree in NSW has led him to the world of hemp and his company Delta Botanicals and Research a Government of India’s DIPP recognized startup.

Their vision is to lead India in establishing the development & production of safe, regulated hemp/cannabis derived commercial products, medical therapies & validated research protocols. 

Vikram Mitra grew up in the State of Odisha with aspirations towards one day entering the medical field.  His studies eventually led him to Australia where he was first introduced to the most recent legal, technological and ideological advancements in hemp related product development.

His passion for the subject grew as he considered the potential for a legitimate hemp industry in his homeland, despite decades of legal challenges imposed on this herb utilized by Indians for thousands of years.  Upon his return to India in 2009, Mr. Mitra, full of youth and optimism, set out to break logistical barriers.

When a family member was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a lethal brain tumor, he was reminded how impossible it was to find legal, effective palliative remedies made with hemp/cannabis and he was forced again to reconcile with complex legal and political realities.  In the many years since,

Mr. Mitra has devoted his work towards assisting with regulation development and research related to realizing a path to safe, legal and effective cannabis based therapies and hemp industrial pathways.

I could talk about things India all day and all night!

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-307-vikram-mitra/⁠

It’s been a while since we’ve chatted with Rob. His just about the publish the 2nd edition of his title

The Essential Cannabis Book: Understanding, Appreciating, Cultivating, and Cooking with Marijuana

A thorough, accessible guide to exploring the world of cannabis, with tips and insights for beginners and seasoned users alike.

The cannabis landscape is quickly evolving as legalization efforts expand across the US and around the world. Research increasingly shows the health benefits of cannabinoids and their promise as alternative treatments for pain, insomnia, seizures, anxiety, and more. But after decades of stigma and criminalization, many who would like to start using, growing, or cooking with cannabis don’t know where to begin. 

The Essential Cannabis Book is the road map for anyone curious about this booming new industry. Rob Mejia’s journey into the world of cannabis education began when his family sought treatments for his sister’s pain in her final days battling cancer, and he quickly found himself fielding questions about cannabis from friends and colleagues who were frustrated with the lack of reliable information. Mejia breaks down the complex history and science of this ancient plant, explains the current legal and regulatory framework in different states and countries, and shares personal stories from those in the cannabis community, from a hemp-farming nun to one of the first patients to receive medical cannabis from the US government.

With a glossary of terms, detailed lists of the effects of different cannabinoids and strains, steps for visiting a dispensary or starting to homegrow, and delicious recipes for aspiring canna-chefs, this guide is the essential resource for anyone curious about cannabis.

We also talk about cannabis eduction- See his website to learn more ⁠https://robmejia.com/⁠

Rob teaches at Stockton and we talk about how the curriculum has developed over the years

⁠https://stockton.edu/employee-directory/mejia-robert.html ⁠

We also chat about his home state NJ and what recent developments of note are worth a discussion.

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-306-rob-meija-stockton-university-the-2nd-ed-of-his-title-the-essential-cannabis-book-understanding-appreciating-cultivating-and-cooking-with-marijuana/⁠

Sharon was introduced to the koalas after a discussion about who we should have speaking at our Cape Town conference in June of this year.

We discuss her discovery of medical cannabis via a you tube video after the death of her sister and her subsequent engagement with the South African medical community and decade of learning about the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

As well as Carol’s Oil, Sharon spends a lot of her energy these days educating others on medical training with regard to plant medicine.

The Truth Is Out There.


https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-305-sharon-price-carols-oils-medical-cannabis/

The koalas really do get to speak to some amazing people in cannabis and Mike is no exception.

Of Native American and Italian heritage Mike found himself heading to prison in his late teens because a friend had stashed some weed under the seat in his car.

His lawyer said he’d beat the rap but he didn’t. So, as a late teen it was off to prison and a rapid education plus networking in the world of Massachusetts drug distribution. Out of prison at 19 nobody would give him a job so the only way to pay the bills was entry into what they call  the legacy market in the US.

Inevitably another spell in prison followed in his mid 30’s at the same time legalization hit the state.

This time he came out found work as a budtender, learnt the ropes of a nascent industry and now runs his own consultancy advising cannabis companies how to operate in Massachusetts.

But that’s only the half of it Mike has spent his adult life involved in native rights and after seeing a perfunctory report on American news media a decade ago about a children’s hospital in Gaza being attacked he decided to contribute rather than just watch and has opend up a food kitchen in Gaza with a new one to be opened in the Lebanon as we speak.

Frankly i can’t understand why it isn’t people like Mike running the Massachusetts CCC and similar state and national organisations rather than the legions of halfwits and less than savoury lawyers that dominate the cannabis NGO space in the country. I doubt he’d want their jobs but the state  and the industry should be paying much more attention to him and people like him if they want something that works and delivers on equity.

In a world where the ugly American currently rules the popular imagination it is an honour to speak to the real, authentic soul of the country through Mike and others like him who remind me of the type of characters John Dos Passos wrote about prior to WW2.

I’ll be speaking to Mike in the next couple of months about his work in the middle east.

The Massachusetts CCC
All they do is screw around in a conference room, it’s a shit show

Massachusetts Cannabis Market
Saturation, there’s  too much cultivation,  way too much retail , too much of everything. Mass is currently producing 10x of the distillate and biomass that it estimated the market of the state needs

Most important changes that need to be made in the state?
Make access for medical patients easier
Concentrate on education normalise cannabis

Talking about the Netherlands & The US
The coffeeshop vibe, I think that’s the right approach. In the states it was Business 101  straight out of the gate and there’s an element of failure in that

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-304-mike-fantasia-massachusetts-cannabis-felon-to-cannabis-consultant-who-also-runs-a-food-kitchen-in-gaza/

The koalas talk with Craig about his experience of being arrested on a cannabis conspiracy charge, spending 19 years in a Federal prison and being released in the first Trump administration to home confinement under the Covid scheme designed to help older vulnerable detainees with health issues.

You would have thought that’s where his troubles might have ended, but no, the politics of non-profits involved in aiding the release of non violent cannabis prisoners were about to add a few more chapters to the saga that still sits with him today.

Read more
https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-303-craig-cesal-federal-cannabis-prisoner-19-years-discusses-oversight-in-the-role-of-non-profits-involved-in-advocating-the-release-of-incarcerated-individuals/

The Karma Koalas have for a long time wanted to speak to somebody in Nepal, so it is an absolute pleasure to converse with Pratik Karki Co-Venturer, Chairperson and CEO of the wonderfully named ReEvolution JV who look to spread the message of high quality hemp fibres and products from Nepal to the world through a sustainable and co-operative approach to growing, production and distribution.

Anyone who is a serious follower of political developments outside the North Americal imperial bubble will know that out there in the hinterlands there’s been a Gen Z led cultural and political revolution in Nepal that aims to change the country from top to bottom and talking to Pratik he epitomizes those changes in thinking.. not the old guard, not the maoists but something new for the 21st century that draws on the country’s community and spiritual beliefs without forgetting that they are part of a bigger wider world.

We talk, hemp, cannabis, India, China, sustainability and capitalism, Buddhism and more.

These young Nepalese want to do things differently and in hemp and cannabis their thinking is a very refreshing antidote to what i’m reading daily about “the industry” .

Pragmatism & practicality not forgetting community, sustainability and spirituality whilst engaing with the world, capital & technology that adds rather than detracts. Pratik’s tagline is “Steering Holistic Development”. Sound good to me.

As always I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Another wonderful conversation for the koalas that will lead to a couple more before we leave Joseph alone!

Joseph came to hemp via a series of, as Lemony Snicket would put it, unfortunate events.

But those events led to inquisitive acts, research,  political action and global connections and consolidation.

On the way he ended up in the Kentucky Governor’s office as well the state’s Supreme court along with his newfound fellow traveller, actor Woody Harrelson and also connecting with hemp activists and experts around the world.

Once again it is a story of the people vs capital and politics, but that is as it is,  and Joseph’s telling of the story explains why in the end why he and all like him are on the right side of history.

I’m not one much for old testament analogies as I veer towards Mr Hitchen’s view of religion, but that being said,  the story of Joseph and his coat of many colours rising from slavery to save Egypt from famine has somewhat of a hemp / cannabis ring to it.

Thankyou Joseph and I look foward to our next chat to discuss all those things happening in hemp at the moment that give us reason the celebrate.

More at
https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-301-josesph-hickey-snr-adventures-in-hemp-totally-different-from-any-crop-out-there-it-can-house-clothe-feed-medicate-you-yet-capital-and-politics-conspire-to-control/

Steve gets the honour of being Karma Koala Podcast 300!

In episode 3 it’s time for High School in Washington DC, becoming a small time pot dealer, leaving school at 16  and engaging with politics and the Yippies and meeting Dana Beal.

Listen and also there's lots more inf at
https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-300-washington-dc-high-school-pot-dealer-the-yippies-out-of-school-into-the-game/

Chris is the president of the US Hemp Authority and hemp business owner and is perfectly placed to explain all things hemp to the koalas.

As you’ll hear he knows just about everything you need to know about the US hemp market and why and how it exists as it does.

Yet another fascinating discussion about how US politics, capital and markets work to create the hemp ecosystem as you see it now in the US.

Chris reminds a rather cynical koala that it isn’t all bad headlines.

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-299-chris-fontes-cannabis-rule-breaker-turned-legislation-whisperer-explains-where-us-hemp-for-human-consumption-is-as-of-march-2026/

Great to speak to Jordan about the paper which was published January 21, 2026 and how they  are looking to communicate the idea around the US and what they hope to achieve with the paper.

Jordan Wellington is a partner at Strategies 64 based in Denver. He regularly advises government officials, businesses, trade associations, and other organizations around the U.S. and across the globe on the responsible regulation of cannabis. He is also host of S64’s Weed Wonks podcast, which features conversations about timely cannabis policy issues with state cannabis regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Learn more
https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-298-jordan-wellington-strategies-64-their-new-white-paper-offers-a-one-plant-solution-for-advancing-a-unified-national-cannabis-policy-and-regulatory-framework/