Karma Koala Podcast

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-287-pamela-epstein-chief-legal-regulatory-officer-nexus-agriscience-re-hemp-we-are-children-of-metamorphosis/

Where the hell is Guernsey some of you might be asking?

A few weeks ago we spoke to Simon Harrison of “End Cannabis Prohibition Jersey” in the UK Channel Islands, so I thought it would also make sense to see what’s happening over in Guernsey, Jersey’s little sibling.

Simon introduced the koalas to Bruce Caruso, former native of Portland Oregon, who came to Guernsey for work in 2020 and never left!

He now runs one of the island’s two small cannabis clubs, The Green Retreat , where people can consume their prescriptions.

The island, with its population of around 65,000, has already issued over 17,000 prescriptions

ITV x wrote in a 2025

In Guernsey, the latest statistics have revealed there were 17,000 prescriptions issued last year, compared to 12,000 the year before.

The Green Retreat is Guernsey’s first ‘cannabis club’ and has had a successful first year, allowing islanders to use medicinal cannabis in a shared social setting.

However, upon entry, islanders must provide proof of their prescription, a form of ID showing they’re 18 and above.

There is no charge for people to enter the lounge, but instead, bosses wanted to create a welcoming environment for consumption.

There is a similar business also operating in Jersey too; The Vaporizer Hut. Both have to self-regulate, abiding by strict restrictions and only allowing those with prescriptions to enter.

There are about 1,500 to 2000 people who have cannabis prescriptions.”

Medicinal cannabis was legalised on the island in 2019 but work continues to decipher what exactly the health benefits are.

Read more at

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-01-08/cannabis-club-new-spaces-designated-for-medicinal-cannabis-in-channel-islands

In our chat we learn where Guernsey currently stands with cannabis regulation, what the next developments are, What products are issued as prescriptions, where they are sourced and what effects a semi-regulated environment has had on the black market.

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-286-guernsey-channel-islands-uk-even-in-microcosm-the-same-issues-turn-up/

I chat with Sasha of NY's Housing Works a nonprofit organization that has been running a dispensary for a while in the wild east of cannabis.

Against all odds they are surviving and thriving and building the sort of approach to cannabis retail and social equity that many had hoped for .

We touch on the growth of the market, the OCM, METRC, the possibility of expansion, 280e and much more

Thankyou Sasha

Sasha Nutgent serves as Vice President of Retail for Housing Works Cannabis Co (HWCC) and oversees all aspects of the dispensary’s operations. Leveraging her skills as a gifted connector and relationship builder, Sasha has built the HWCC team from the ground up. Day to day, her responsibilities include not only recruitment and training but also inventory management, scheduling, customer service, cannabis education, creative problem solving and building both revenue and morale.

Prior to stepping into the Vice President of Retail role, Sasha enjoyed a long, rewarding relationship with the Housing Works team. She began her career at the Crosby Street thrift store and was promoted to assistant manager within six months. After a year, she was managing the whole store. From there, Sasha contributed her talents to the flagship Housing Works store in Chelsea and was invited to participate in the Miami Design on a Dime event as well as other special projects. Sasha also enjoys activism and advocacy with the Housing Works team, including taking part in demonstrations for affordable housing, safe consumption and AIDS awareness.

⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-285-sasha-nutgent-vice-president-of-retail-housing-works-cannabis-co-whats-going-on-in-new-york-as-we-enter-2026/⁠

It’s been a while since the Koalas have chatted with Bob.

The dust is settling on the Trump EO prior to Christmas so it’s time to speak to Bob and dive into some of the details especially so the nexus between cannabis and politics in the US and how it progresses both medical cannabis and hemp derivatives in 2026.

What does it actually mean?

The issues include who qualifies as Schedule 3 Licensees / US standards & International standards / International Trade / DEA Operators / 280e / Private Sector Research

and plenty more from an international perspective too

Bob quickly mentions his forthcoming TV show, The Green Frontier”.

We finish off remembering German cannabis lawyer and leader, Peter Homberg,

Enjoy the show

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-284-bob-hoban-that-presidential-executive-order-hemp-derivatives-us-politics-trade-international-cannabis/

We start our conversation about our very English mums,psychedlics & cannabis and that’s how it carries on!

I thought the best way to start the year is a fun wide ranging conversation

Topics covered include

more at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-283-mattha-busby-uk-drugs-psychedelics-journalist-now-based-in-vancouver/

Just before Christmas this news came in from Jersey via the government’s Health Ministry

Read more at
https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-282-simon-harrison-end-cannabis-prohibition-jersey-talks-to-us-about-new-proposals-regulation-of-cannabis-in-jersey-channel-islands-uk/

We speak to Lelehnia who founded Humboldt Grace to empower communities impacted by the drug war.

https://humboldtgrace.org/

We empower community to heal and thrive through facilitating and/or creating educational opportunities, social impact events, research, and projects that provide education and resources.

Protecting genetics with ethics is her main push ..

Also 

Co-founder CGO – Leaf Culture Lab
Managing, curating, and hunting the genetic library.

NJ’s Commercial Tissue Culture lab
Clean Disease Free TC Clones
Genetic Preservation & DNA Indexing
TC Clone Subscription Program
Mother Room Replacement Solutions
Scalable Propagation for Commercial Growers

First White Paper – Published April 20, 2022

Learn more and read the white paper at
https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-281-lelehnia-dubois-humboldt-grace-leaf-culture-lab-ethics-genetics/

Atiyyah Ferouz – The Great Compliance Gap: Australia’s Regulations vs The Rest of the World

Founder, ICQSA & AgCann

International Cannabis Quality Standards Association

Transitioning to the cannabis industry in 2018, I have spent the past 7 years finding ways to drive the industry forward, whether it’s educating the newest additions to the cannabis space, consulting producers in emerging markets, or launching an international cannabis quality association. At the ICQSA (International Cannabis Quality Standards Association) we are focused on the globalization of the cannabis supply chain. Our association contributes to this mission through the development of best practice guides and the advisement of policymakers in emerging markets. At AgCann, our goal is to help cannabis producers bridge the gap between where they are, and where they want to be. We utilize our expertise in operations, quality assurance, and tissue culture to help producers develop or optimize their processes. In addition to my entrepreneurial efforts, I am an active thought leader in the cannabis space, frequently participating in webinars, workshops, and speaking at global cannabis events.


More info at  https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-280-presentation-sydney-university-21-nov-2025-atiyyah-ferouz-the-great-compliance-gap-australias-regulations-vs-the-rest-of-the-world/

Apologies for the sound on this one – you may need to turn up your volume

Ben Mostyn

Academic Fellow, LLB (UNSW) MA (South Florida)

Sydney Law School

Mr Mostyn’s primary research interest is global drug policy. His PhD is examining National Archives documents around Australia’s decision to sign the 1988 United Nations drug convention. He is looking at whether global forces and institutional forces caused Australia to sign the convention and further entrench the global War on Drugs. Related to this research, Mr Mostyn is interested in criminalisation, police powers, drug law reform and regulating global drug markets. Mr Mostyn has worked as a Legal Aid solicitor in human rights law, administrative law, and family law. He completed his Masters at the University of South Florida where he researched transnational social movements and the War on Drugs with a focus on South America.

Emeritus Professor The Hon Dr Geoff Gallop AC

Former Premier of Western Australia

Global Commission on Drug Policy

Dr Alex Wodak AM

President, Former Director of Alcohol and Drug Service

Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation

https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-279-presentation-sydney-university-panel-achieving-drug-law-reform-the-experience-in-wa-and-nsw/

Former Member of Victorian Parliament

Cannabis Law Reform Advocate

Fiona was first elected to Victoria’s State Parliament in 2014 and re-elected for a second term in 2018. During those eight years she was a champion for social justice and cannabis law reform. She established a medicinal cannabis taskforce in the first major attempt to fix the ridiculous Roadside Drug Testing laws and then was the driving force behind the Inquiry into the Use of Cannabis in Victoria. “I went into parliament in 2014 as the first MP to speak about using cannabis. Cannabis reform has always been high on my to do list and is unfinished business for me. To open up law reform in the states we need to change the federal law and I intend to do just that”. She was the first political party leader to admit using cannabis regularly to relax.

Presentation

00:00: How on Earth Can Australia Effect Change At The UN  – Reference Alex Wodok’s work on HIV & drug law reform

04:00: Political & National approaches to UN Conventions.. some appear to be sacrosanct some are completely ignored

04:30: UN Conventions & Colombia’s 2025 approach + the countries that have ignored UN cannabis scheduling conventions

05:30:  International drug policy & human rights connection being made albeit slowly at international bodies

06:50: Can Australia help? Australia out of step?

08:05: The power prohibition gives cartels and the illegal market – Australia 100 years of prohibition zero progress

10:00: Principles for regualted Australian market – Language / Linguistics when discussing drug policy

14:45 – 37:47: Q&A’s – Discussion