Can a small craft cannabis producer survive when government gatekeepers control which products reach consumers?

Kirk visits Edmonton’s New Life Canna to speak with co-founder Robert Raposo. A former firefighter-paramedic and entrepreneur, Robert explains how a casual idea about growing cannabis became a 6,000-square-foot micro-cultivation and processing operation.

Robert takes us inside the difficult economics of Canada’s legal cannabis industry—from rotating SKUs to provincial product listings. He explains how government-controlled distribution can limit consumer choice, and why successful products can still be delisted.

The conversation also explores the BC cannabis distribution strike, farmgate retail, cannabis marketing restrictions, funding barriers and the challenges of supporting local growers. Robert shares why New Life Canna works with independent cultivators to create “win-win” partnerships while producing distinctive craft cannabis strains.

Listen now to discover what it really takes to build a craft cannabis company—and why growing exceptional cannabis is only one part of surviving the regulated market.

New Life Canna Ltd - website

Robert Raposo - LinkedIn

Patrick Neary - Research Gate

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

What happens when the medical cannabis system veterans depend on becomes more expensive, less accessible and increasingly disconnected from their needs?

In Part 2 of this candid conversation, veterans Rob Sipes and Natalie Forcier—joined by cannabis nurse Kala Knudslien—explore how education, professional guidance and intentional cannabis use can help veterans manage PTSD-related sleep disturbances, chronic pain and inflammation.

Rob shares how he incorporates CBD, THC edibles and topical cannabis into a carefully structured routine while living with serious medical challenges, including hemodialysis, neuropathy, two lung conditions, oxygen therapy and a complex medication regimen. His experience reinforces one of the episode’s most important messages: veterans using medical cannabis, especially alongside multiple prescription medications, benefit from individualized assessment, ongoing follow-up and knowledgeable healthcare support.

The conversation also examines Veterans Affairs Canada cannabis reimbursement limits, the potential relationship between medical cannabis and polypharmacy, and the widening gap between Canada’s medical and recreational cannabis markets. As recreational producers increasingly prioritize high-THC products, Kirk and Trevor ask whether veterans and other medical patients are losing access to consistent CBD-rich formulations, balanced cannabinoid products and the clinical guidance needed to use them safely and effectively.

This episode is a thoughtful, human look at medical cannabis for veterans—and a warning about what could be lost if Canada’s medical cannabis system continues to shrink.

Listen now to hear Rob and Natalie’s stories and learn why cannabis education, professional support and reliable access remain essential parts of veteran care.

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

What happens when veterans turn to medical cannabis after conventional treatments leave them exhausted, foggy or still unable to sleep?

Former Canadian Armed Forces medics Natalie Forcier and Rob Sipes share how PTSD, chronic pain, anxiety, nightmares and service-related injuries shaped their journeys with medicinal cannabis.

Together with cannabis nurse Kala Knudslien, Natalie and Rob discuss administration routes like cannabis gummies, oils, creams and other non-inhaled products. Then they get into how various cannabinoids like CBD, CBN, CBG and lower-dose THC, cannabis tolerance effect their individualized care. Natalie also explains how non-intoxicating cannabis topicals can help cautious veterans and first responders reconsider medical cannabis as a pain-management option.

The conversation also examines Veterans Affairs Canada cannabis coverage, including the three-gram daily limit, reimbursement reductions and the widening gap between recreational and medical cannabis prices. It raises important questions about access, veteran advocacy and whether commercial interests are influencing Canada’s medical cannabis system.

Listen now to hear two veterans speak candidly about PTSD, sleep, pain, cannabis education and the struggle to access the care and benefits they earned through service. 

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

Could cannabinoids eventually help protect athletes’ brains from the repeated impacts of contact sports?

In Part 2 of Kirk’s conversation with University of Regina researcher Dr. Patrick Neary, the focus shifts from proving that athletes can safely tolerate high doses of CBD to investigating whether cannabinoids may provide neuroprotection against concussions in contact sports.

A double-blind crossover design compares a THC-free, broad-spectrum cannabinoid formulation with a placebo. Researchers measure cerebral blood flow, brain oxygenation, cardiovascular function, blood biomarkers and neural activity before and after treatment. Athletes who experience a concussion receive additional testing and symptom monitoring throughout their recovery.

Dr. Neary also previews a planned pain-management study comparing CBD, THC, full-spectrum cannabinoids and placebo in former professional and junior athletes experiencing neuropathic or orthopedic pain. Kirk and Trevor discuss CBD safety, medication interactions, cannabis stigma and why rigorous research could change how professional sports leagues approach athlete recovery.

Listen now to learn how Canadian researchers are testing cannabinoid concussion protection, brain health and chronic pain in contact-sport athletes.

Patrick Neary - University of Regina - website

Patrick Neary - LinkedIn

Patrick Neary - Research Gate

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

Can cannabinoids change the future of concussion care in contact sports?

Kirk follows up with Dr. Patrick Neary, PhD, from the University of Regina, to see how his NFL-funded research into CBD, concussions, pain management, and athlete health is going now that the study has moved from planning to execution. Recorded on 4/20, let's dive in: can CBD help reduce concussion risk, support brain recovery, and offer athletes an alternative to opioids?

Dr. Neary explains the first phase of his research: a CBD dose-escalation safety study in athletes, including very high daily doses, brain blood-flow testing, cardiovascular monitoring, pharmacokinetics, biomarkers, and side-effect tracking. The episode also previews two related studies: a double-blind placebo-controlled concussion study and an upcoming pain study comparing THC, CBD, full-spectrum cannabinoids, and placebo.

Listen now to learn how a multidisciplinary Canadian research team is studying cannabis, neuroprotection, inflammation, chronic pain, and the future of sports medicine.

Patrick Neary - University of Regina - website

Patrick Neary - LinkedIn

Patrick Neary - Research Gate

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

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What happens when medical cannabis is legal—but medical patients are still left without meaningful guidance?

Part 2 of Kirk’s conversation with Ted Smith of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club explores the widening gap between legalization, Health Canada’s medical cannabis framework, and the real-world needs of patients. It seems many Canadians using cannabis for medical reasons are now being pushed toward recreational stores, where staff are not equipped to discuss drug interactions, dosing, high-potency extracts, suppositories, cancer care, or complex chronic conditions.

Kirk, Trevor, and Ted dig into why compassion clubs still matter after legalization, how cannabis coaches, and community-based educators are filling gaps left by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and regulators, and why “legal cannabis” is not the same as “medical cannabis.” The conversation also touches on RSO, cytochrome P450 drug interactions, CBD and prescription medications, harm reduction, stigma, raids on the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, and Ted’s long-term vision for integrated cannabis-focused palliative care.

Listen now to understand why medical cannabis advocacy did not end with legalization—and why patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers still need to pay attention.

The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club - website

Ted Smith - LinkedIn

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

What happens when a cannabis compassion club gets raided again despite previous Supreme Court decisions on their side, fervent public support, and years after cannabis legalization?

Kirk visits Ted Smith at the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC) just days after its latest raid. Ted discusses ongoing legal challenges, compassionate access, Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), cannabis harm reduction, pharmacist-led patient screening, CBD drug interactions, and the future of medical cannabis in Canada.

This is a thought-provoking conversation about patient care, cannabis policy, and why some Canadians still struggle to access the products they need.

Listen now to learn how advocacy, healthcare, and cannabis policy continue to collide in post-legalization Canada.

The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club - website

Ted Smith - LinkedIn

Additional Music:

Desiree Dorion desireedorion.com

Marc Clement - Facebook

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

Why is cannabis research so much harder than researching other medicines?

Dr. Lauren Kelly—Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba, Cannabis researcher and Trialist, CCIC President, and CMCN Co-Lead—joins Reefer MEDness to explain why cannabis clinical trials face unique barriers in Canada. Learn how Health Canada regulations, GMP vs GPP standards, product consistency challenges, and gaps in the Cannabis Act affect research, patient care, and evidence generation.

Discover why researchers often can't study the same cannabis products patients actually use, how clinical trials begin from real-world observations, and what Canada can do to become a global leader in cannabis science.

Listen now to understand the hidden challenges behind cannabis research and the future of evidence-based medical cannabis.

Dr. Lauren Kelly - LinkedIn

-University of Manitoba

Canadian Medical Cannabis Trials Network - CMCN -Website

Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids - Website

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

Can medical cannabis help children—and what does the evidence actually show?

Pediatric pharmacologist, Dr. Lauren Kelly, joins Trevor and Kirk to discuss medical cannabis in children. This wide ranging conversation includes discussion about epilepsy, autism, pediatric oncology, and the unique challenges of studying cannabinoids during development. Learn what researchers know about CBD, THC & kids, why evidence remains relatively limited, and how stigma, policy, and education continue to affect patient care.

Listen now for an evidence-based discussion on pediatric cannabis research, safety, and the future of cannabinoid medicine for children.

Dr. Lauren Kelly - LinkedIn

-University of Manitoba

C4T - The Canadian Collaborative for Childhood Cannabinoid Therapeutics -Website

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

Could CBD help your dog with seizures, chronic pain, or relentless itching—and is THC really as dangerous for pets as we've been told?

Trevor and Kirk sit down with Dr. Kevin Toman, a California-based veterinarian specializing in pet longevity and preventive care. Drawing on more than 40 years of veterinary experience, Dr. Kevin explains why CBD has become an important tool in his practice, particularly for managing seizures, joint pain, inflammation, and skin conditions in dogs.

The conversation explores the science behind cannabinoid therapy in pets, common misconceptions about THC toxicity, the challenges veterinarians face when recommending cannabis products, and why product quality matters. Dr. Kevin also shares his perspective on modern veterinary medicine, proactive wellness strategies, and helping pets live longer, healthier lives.

Whether you're a dog owner, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about veterinary cannabis medicine, this episode offers a balanced, evidence-based look at a fast growing area of pet health care.

Listen and learn how cannabinoids can fit into a comprehensive wellness plan for your dog—and what every pet owner should know before choosing a CBD product.

Dr. Kevin - LinkedIn

Helping Pets Live Longer -Website

Transcripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca