New year, new PR plan!

This episode: how cannabis profesionals can successfully get coverage across all types of media.

Longtime weed writer and SDSU Journalism professor Jackie Bryant walks us through how to best pitch to both cannabis journalists and mainstream outlets -- including where to pitch, how to approach your story, and what not to do.

Greenstate editor Rachelle Gordon discusses how to become a journalist's go-to source for quotes, and how to consider changing your pitch for different media channels.

Podcaster Sara Payan talks about how companies can evolve from canned press releases to authentic media interactions.

And former editor-in-chief of CannabisNow and High Times Magazine Ellen Holland covers the best ways for photographers to get their images into the right hands for online and print coverage. 

Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

1:00 -- We discuss our experiences at the 2025 MJ BizCon event in Las Vegas -- where Sara won Content Creator of the year and Rachelle won Journalist of the year! We cover what went down at the convention, the after parties, how it compares to other cannabis conventions, and who's sending weed seeds into space?!

25:00 -- Rumors have been swirling (again) that the president may sign an executive order to reschedule weed. We delve into the implications of potential cannabis rescheduling, how stock markets have been reacting, how rescheduling would likely benefit larger businesses over consumers, and how it may all just be a big political distraction.

38:40 -- We cover the NorCal Women in Cannabis events, how women are fostering weedcentric community-building gatherings, the 12 Jays of Christmas, and the importance of personal connections in the industry.

45:00 -- It's 60 years of the Grateful Dead! We discuss The Chambers Project Gallery in Grass Valley -- a NorCal event that celebrated the intersection of psychedelic art and cannabis culture, how men fit into celebrating the Grateful Dead's enduring influence, Phish vs. the Dead, and the growing recognition of psychedelic art in the cannabis community.


See you all in the new year!

Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

Don't panic - there may be some positives to the federal hemp ban signed into law last week. This episode:

1:00 -- Special guest MaryJane Gibson just wrote the new Rolling Stone article on the government shutting down the hemp industry. She discusses why big hemp players are not freaking out (and may even be happy with the ban,) what consumers may experience, and how businesses are responding.

14:50 -- Rachelle Gordon discusses the Minnesota market as a model for a new drink culture that sits THC and beer side by side,

20:00 -- Why has Republicans' support for cannabis and hemp fallen in the last year? And Mitch McConnell's getting big donations from the alcohol industry.

29:00 -- How the topic of hemp fit in to the Ignite It conference (formerly Benzinga) in DC last week.

34:30 -- Brit Smith covers state-level changes coming to Virginia and Massachusetts after recent elections.

37:50 -- Sara Payan discusses the rise of seniors using cannabis, and how Gen X women are being loud about their weed use for perimenopause and menopause.

Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

The federal government has passed a funding package to end the shutdown that will also end the hemp industry as we know it. This week:

1:00 -- It's official; the sales of hemp-derived cannabinoids like Delta-8, THCA, CBD and more will be coming to an end in one year. Journalists Brit Smith and Rachelle Gordon discuss the government's agreement, which includes an amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill that pulls the plug on a flourishing $28billion hemp industry. They cover the origins of it all, (ahem Mitch McConnell), which lobbyists may have pushed for the amendment to undo hemp sales, and the future of hemp in the U.S.

16:10 -- Ellen Holland asks the group what it's like to be known as 'the weed person' in their world, including how it impacts being a journalist, educator, and mother.


Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

1:00 -- Massachusetts and Maine voters are being asked to support attempts to repeal adult-use cannabis. Rachelle Gordon walks us through the reasons for wanting to repeal legalization laws, and likelihood of renewed prohibition in New England.

15:00 -- The Head of California's Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) Nicole Elliot is stepping down from her role. Sara Payan discusses why Elliot is bowing out and who could replace her in the post.

On the show this week:
Greenstate editor Rachelle Gordon
California Leaf editor Jacqui Bryant
Former High Times Editor in Chief and author Ellen Holland
Podcaster and Vice Chair of the CA cannabis advisory board Sara Payan

Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

The gang's back together! Your five favorite weed journos reunite in this supersize episode to share summer experiences, from the Humboldt Pheno Hunt to the cannabis market in New York and Minnesota to adventures in Iceland and Cape Cod.

3:00 -- Jacqui Bryant (of CannaBitch) discusses her new job teaching the next generation of pot journalists at SDSU, and recaps her time exploring the top pot farms in Eureka, CA.

13:40 -- Ellen Holland (former High Times EIC) discusses her travels pheno-hunting in Humboldt and experiencing weed-laden fog machines and whipped cream in Nevada City.

21:40 -- Sara Payan (of The Planted Podcast) covers her time at MJ Unpacked, Iceland's Hemp for the Future Conference, and Copenhagen's weed scene.

36:30 -- Rachelle Gordon (of Greenstate) reviews her experience at New York City's Revelry and Hall of Flowers events, and covers the news of Minesotta's tribal cannabis companies.

46:00 -- Brit Smith (of DIfferent Leaf) talks about her summer trip to Provincetown, Cape Cod MA gifting flower to jazz musicians, and upcoming trips to Texas and London.



Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

A deep dive this week on what makes 'good' cannabis with journalists Ellen Holland, Rachelle Gordan, and Brit Smith.

00:30 -- What is 'top shelf'? And can we make objective criteria to judge flower? (Including Ed Rosenthal and Caleb Chen's solid judging advice)
5:00 -- The nose knows, squeezing for the cure, experienced effects, and environmental impacts
13:00 -- The worst buds we've had, too much THC, and are strains over?
18:00 -- The most popular bud in America, and can anything overtake the Z-terps?
22:00 -- Our predicitons for the future of best-selling marijuana; will fruity bud always reign supreme or could garlic and gas make a comeback?

1:00 -- The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a new boss, and he doesn't seem too keen on rescheduling a dang thing. Brit Smith, Ellen Holland and Rachelle Gordon discuss the likelihood of cannabis being rescheduled at the federal level, and ask why wouldn't Trump want to distract us all with some legal adult-use weed?!

8:15 -- Things aren't looking much better at the state level; Texas is going back and forth on potential THC bans, while NYC has ordered over 150 dispensaries to move over... just a couple of feet!

11:45 -- Do we really write high and edit sober? As 3 longtime cannabis journalists, we dive into our individual writing processes from the weed news outlets, magazines, and books we've been fortunate enough to pen.

Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan

Phew! What a week! On our first mini episode:

1:00 - Amid ongoing ICE raids, Ellen asks whether legal weed could be the key to police reform.
5:30 - We get a little review of SF's hash week, and ask why aren't we playing more stoned mini golf?!
7:00 - And a quick check in on what we're all doing for our mental health as the tough times keep rolling in.

Take good care of yourselves, and each other :) We'll be back next week in full force.

Follow the show on social media: @puffpuffpresspod
Check out our website: www.puffpuffpresspodcast.com
Email us: [email protected]

Find us on social media:
@rachellethewriter
@jacqbry
@britthebritish
@hollandbuds
@saramitrapayan