Let's be Blunt with Montel

What does the science really tell us about medical cannabis, chronic pain, dementia, and healthy aging?

On this episode of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Dr. Blake Pearson, Canadian physician, researcher, and founder of Pearson Health, for a fascinating conversation about the evolving role of cannabis in modern medicine.

Dr. Pearson has dedicated much of his career to advancing cannabinoid medicine, educating healthcare professionals, and exploring how cannabis-based treatments may improve patients' quality of life.

Together, Montel and Dr. Pearson discuss groundbreaking research involving nearly 300 older adults using medical cannabis, the potential role of cannabinoids in dementia care, and whether cannabis could help some patients reduce their reliance on certain prescription medications.

In this episode:

• What new research reveals about cannabis, chronic pain, sleep, and healthy aging
• The potential benefits and risks of cannabinoids for dementia patients
• THC vs. CBD: Why personalized dosing matters
• Cannabis, opioids, and the challenges of managing multiple medications
• Why so many physicians still lack education about the endocannabinoid system
• What the United States can learn from Canada's medical cannabis experience
• The biggest unanswered questions in cannabinoid science

As a longtime medical cannabis advocate and someone living with multiple sclerosis, Montel brings a deeply personal perspective to this discussion about patient rights, scientific evidence, and the future of healthcare.

Is medical cannabis finally getting the scientific attention it deserves? Join us for an honest, evidence-focused conversation that challenges outdated assumptions while separating promising research from unproven claims.

Learn more about Dr. Blake Pearson:
https://www.pearsonhealth.org/

This episode is sponsored in part by LifeClaim.

Life insurance claims can be denied for many reasons, including toxicology findings involving cannabis, prescription medications, or other substances. If your family has experienced a denied life insurance claim, you may have legal options.

LifeClaim is a law firm dedicated to helping families challenge denied life insurance claims.

Learn more at https://lifeclaim.com/

Subscribe to Let's Be Blunt with Montel for more conversations exploring cannabis, medicine, science, policy, and the people shaping the future of the industry.

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Does cannabis really make sex better—or could it actually be hurting your sexual health?

On this episode of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with board-certified urologist, sexual health expert, and author Dr. Suelyn Hall for a candid conversation about cannabis, intimacy, libido, sexual performance, and the science of pleasure.

Dr. Hall, author of How to Get A-Head: Secrets to Male Sexual Pleasure from a Female Urologist, has spent more than 25 years helping patients navigate sexual health concerns. Now she's separating fact from fiction when it comes to marijuana and its effects on both men and women.

In this episode, Montel and Dr. Hall explore:

• Can cannabis increase sexual desire and pleasure?
• The connection between marijuana use and erectile dysfunction
• How THC may affect arousal, sensation, and orgasm
• Cannabis, testosterone, sperm health, and fertility
• Why women and men may respond differently to cannabis
• The importance of dosage, potency, and frequency of use
• Cannabis products marketed for sexual wellness: science or hype?
• Sexual health, aging, intimacy, and communication
• What everyone should know before combining cannabis and sex

From the potential benefits to the possible risks, this is an honest, science-focused conversation about a subject that deserves more attention—and less stigma.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Suelyn Hall is a board-certified urologist, founder of Quantum Health and Wellness Center, and author of How to Get A-Head. As one of the early women in the traditionally male-dominated field of urology, she brings decades of clinical experience and a refreshing perspective on sexual health and wellness.

This episode is sponsored by LifeClaim.

When life insurance or accidental-death claims are delayed or denied, including cases involving toxicology findings, LifeClaim helps families navigate the legal process.

Learn more at https://www.lifeclaim.com

Subscribe to Let's Be Blunt with Montel for more conversations about cannabis, science, health, wellness, and the issues that matter.

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health concerns.

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What if the future of cannabis isn't about getting higher, but about feeling better?

On this episode of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, Montel Williams sits down with Flavia Cassani and Michael Steinmetz, the husband-and-wife founders of FK+, a functional cannabinoid wellness brand on a mission to move the conversation from stigma to science.

Michael and Flavia are rethinking how cannabinoids can fit into everyday wellness by combining them with adaptogens and nootropics in formulations designed around specific functions.

From SLEEP+ and ENERGY+ to RELAX+ and FOCUS+, FK+ is challenging the traditional cannabis conversation by putting intention, formulation and the consumer experience front and center.

In this episode:

• The inspiration behind FK+ and the lessons learned from Flow Kana
• Why functional cannabinoids could represent the next evolution of cannabis wellness
• The science and philosophy behind combining cannabinoids, adaptogens and nootropics
• How FK+ approaches formulation, dosing and the consumer experience
• Why moving from "Stigma to Science" matters for the future of the industry
• The challenges of cannabis regulation, public perception and mainstream acceptance
• What it's really like building a business as husband and wife
• What's next for FK+ and the future of functional wellness

Join us for a conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation and the changing role of cannabinoids in modern wellness.

Subscribe to Let's Be Blunt with Montel for more candid conversations with the entrepreneurs, scientists, advocates and innovators shaping the future of cannabis.

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The cannabis landscape is changing fast, and keeping up with the headlines isn't always easy.

In this solo edition of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, Montel breaks down the biggest developments in cannabis policy, industry news, global markets, and scientific research—and what they mean for consumers, patients, and businesses.

With major changes to federal hemp regulations approaching, questions surrounding marijuana rescheduling, and new research challenging long-held assumptions about cannabis, there's plenty to unpack.

In this episode, Montel covers:

• The Federal Hemp Countdown: How upcoming changes to federal hemp law could reshape the CBD and hemp-derived THC markets, and why retailers and consumers should pay attention.
• Marijuana Rescheduling: Where federal cannabis policy really stands, what Schedule III means, and why rescheduling isn't the same as legalization.
• The Business of Cannabis: Industry consolidation, regulatory challenges, taxation, and the growing tension between licensed marijuana businesses and hemp-derived THC products.
• Cannabis Around the World: Major developments in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Thailand—and what their different approaches reveal about the future of cannabis regulation.
• The Latest Cannabis Science: New findings involving chronic pain, cognition, stress, migraines, and driving impairment.
• Montel's Watch List: Five important developments to follow as the cannabis landscape continues to evolve.

Drawing on decades of advocacy for medical cannabis patients and responsible reform, Montel cuts through the noise to ask a fundamental question: Are we finally moving toward sensible, science-based cannabis policy, or creating even more confusion?

Whether you're a patient, consumer, cannabis industry professional, or simply curious about where cannabis is headed, this is a conversation worth hearing.

Subscribe to Let's Be Blunt with Montel for candid conversations, expert perspectives, and the latest developments shaping the future of cannabis.

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Survivor winner Ethan Zohn has faced challenges far beyond reality television.

In this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with Ethan — former professional soccer player, two-time cancer survivor, humanitarian and cannabis advocate — for a candid conversation about survival, serious illness, medical cannabis and finding purpose in the hardest moments of life.

Ethan opens up about his cancer journey, undergoing aggressive treatment and stem-cell transplants, and how cannabis became part of his experience managing some of the physical and emotional challenges surrounding treatment. He and Montel compare their experiences as patients who became outspoken medical cannabis advocates at a time when the stigma surrounding the plant was very different.

They also dig into responsible cannabis use, patient education, youth prevention, the changing attitudes toward cannabis in professional sports, and where the industry still has work to do.

Plus, Ethan takes us behind the scenes of Kicking Back, his High Times series that brings together two major parts of his life: soccer and cannabis. Traveling through World Cup host cities across America, Ethan explores how local soccer and cannabis communities help shape the culture of each city.

From winning Survivor: Africa to surviving cancer twice and turning his experiences into advocacy, Ethan's story is ultimately about what happens after you survive — and what you choose to do with the life you've been given.

Subscribe to Let’s Be Blunt with Montel for more conversations about cannabis, science, health, culture, policy and the people moving the industry forward.

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What happens when the same plant that once cost you your career later becomes part of your healthcare journey?

On this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with Jessica Humphreys, BSN, founder of CannaLife, for a deeply personal conversation about cannabis, healthcare, stigma and the consequences of decades of prohibition.

Jessica earned her nursing degree but lost her nursing license in 2001 following cannabis possession-related charges. She went on to build a 20+ year career across life sciences, toxicology and regulated markets. Then, following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2024, her relationship with cannabis came full circle when she became a legal medical cannabis patient.

Jessica and Montel discuss the striking contrast between being professionally penalized for cannabis and later using it legally as a patient, why many people still hide their cannabis use from healthcare providers, and what can happen when doctors don't have a complete picture of what their patients are actually taking.

They also explore Jessica's work with CannaLife and CannaRx, a consumer-controlled health platform designed to help people track cannabis alongside prescription medications, supplements and other wellness products—and bring that information into more informed conversations with healthcare providers. CannaRx is currently in live beta as the platform continues refinement and user testing.

Plus, Jessica introduces CannaLife MISFITS, which takes a very different approach to changing the cannabis conversation through Gen X-inspired humor, satire and storytelling.

It's a conversation about how far cannabis has come—and why changing the law doesn't automatically erase decades of stigma.

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What happens when survival, music, psychedelics and the search for consciousness all intersect?

On this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with Edward Crowe, a music-industry executive, entrepreneur and psychedelic guide whose remarkable journey began with a life-changing medical crisis at just 16 years old.

After a rare neurological syndrome left him paralyzed and on life support while still conscious, Edward had to relearn how to walk. He later built an unconventional career in music, working his way from selling merchandise on tour to becoming Yelawolf’s manager and eventually creating Sebek, a publishing and distribution platform focused on artist development and ownership.

Today, Edward is also deeply involved in the psychedelic community.

Montel and Edward explore psychedelic experiences and consciousness, the responsibilities and risks of psychedelic guidance, the importance of integration, and what this rapidly growing movement can learn from the legalization and commercialization of cannabis.

They also discuss the tension between ancient and underground psychedelic traditions, modern medicine and the growing business surrounding psychedelic therapies—and the question of who should help shape this movement as it enters the mainstream.

Plus, Edward shares details about the Phoenix Rising Psychedelic Speakeasy, taking place November 5 in Nashville.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about survival, independence, consciousness, responsibility and what it really means to heal.

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Cannabis may be legal in much of America, but has legalization repaired the damage caused by decades of prohibition—or simply changed who is allowed to profit from the plant?

On this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with journalist, author and photographer John Veit, who has covered cannabis and international drug policy for High Times and other independent publications since 1992.

John’s new book, Botanical Apartheid: Impacts of Drug Wars on Politics, Culture and the Environment, brings together more than three decades of reporting, research, photography and interviews examining the global consequences of the War on Drugs.

Montel and John explore the political and racial forces behind cannabis prohibition, the expansion of policing and incarceration, and the role independent media played in preserving cannabis culture when speaking openly about the plant carried significant personal and professional risks.

They also examine the complicated transition from legalization to commercialization. Did legacy growers and communities harmed by prohibition receive a fair opportunity to participate in the legal industry? Can expensive licensing systems and burdensome regulations become a new form of exclusion? And what happens when the people who preserved cannabis knowledge and genetics are pushed aside as the plant becomes a corporate commodity?

The conversation also travels beyond the United States to examine South Africa’s history with cannabis—known locally as dagga—and the intersection of drug policy with colonialism, apartheid, indigenous cultivation and economic inequality.

Finally, John explains the environmental consequences of the global drug war and what policymakers, regulators and today’s cannabis industry must learn from the past.

After decades spent fighting to legalize the plant, the question is no longer simply whether cannabis should be legal. The question is: What kind of cannabis system are we building?

Learn more about John Veit and Botanical Apartheid at VeitPublishing.com.

Subscribe to Let’s Be Blunt with Montel for candid conversations about cannabis science, policy, business, medicine and culture.

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The cannabis industry didn’t begin with dispensaries, slick branding, and billion-dollar companies. Long before legalization went mainstream, activists and marginalized communities were fighting for compassionate access—and the LGBTQIA+ community played a critical role in that history.

On this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with his friend Rich Magaña, founder of Queer in Cannabis, for a candid conversation about cannabis, queer history, culture, representation, and where the industry goes from here.

Rich shares the story behind Queer in Cannabis and its mission to educate, elevate, and empower while preserving the stories of LGBTQIA+ advocates who helped shape cannabis reform.

Montel and Rich dig into the role the queer community played during the AIDS crisis and the early medical cannabis movement, why so much of that history has been overlooked, and what happens when an activist-driven movement becomes a multibillion-dollar industry.

They also tackle some tough questions: Is cannabis really as progressive and inclusive as it claims to be? What’s the difference between authentic allyship and “rainbow-washing”? Are social equity programs delivering meaningful opportunity? And what responsibility do today’s cannabis brands and retailers have to the communities that helped make legalization possible?

Rich also discusses the business side of inclusion—from brand loyalty and consumer experience to budtender education, inclusive dispensaries, the QIC Certified Shoppe initiative, and why authentic community engagement can be both socially responsible and good business.

It’s a conversation about remembering where cannabis came from while deciding what kind of industry we want to build next.

Learn more about Rich and Queer in Cannabis at QueerInCannabis.com.

Subscribe to Let’s Be Blunt with Montel for conversations about cannabis education, science, business, policy, culture, and the people moving the industry forward.

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What happens when you faithfully pay for life insurance to protect your family—only for the insurance company to deny the claim when it's needed most?

On this episode of Let’s Be Blunt with Montel, Montel sits down with Michael Hoover, founder of LifeClaim, a law firm focused exclusively on delayed and denied life insurance claims.

With roughly 140 million life insurance policies in the United States and tens of millions of Americans using cannabis, there is a growing intersection between the two—and Michael says the insurance industry hasn’t always kept pace with the rapidly changing cannabis marketplace.

Michael takes Montel inside real cases involving THC toxicology reports, hemp-derived products, accidental deaths, contestability investigations, and insurance denials. He explains why the presence of THC doesn't necessarily establish impairment, how postmortem toxicology can be misinterpreted, and why the difference between marijuana and legal hemp-derived THC can have enormous consequences for a grieving family.

They also break down what Michael calls the four major problems that can derail a claim—human error, scientific error, legal error, and procedural landmines—and discuss the complicated rules surrounding employer-sponsored policies governed by ERISA.

Most importantly, Michael shares what families should know before speaking with an insurance company, why a denial letter isn't necessarily the final word, and how getting the right professional guidance can make all the difference.

Whether you use cannabis or not, if you have life insurance—or someone you love depends on your policy—this is an episode you need to hear.

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