The Cannabis Connection

Brandon Parker joins our broadcast! Brandon is the man behind 3rd Gen Family Farms.
3rd Generation Family Farms is a pioneer cannabis company located in the heart of the Emerald Triangle. For many generations, 3rd Gen has cultivated sun grown cannabis using organic methods, paired with unrivaled passion for the cannabis plant, gave birth to some of the finest cup winning strains celebrated around the world.
With over 96 cups and counting, 3rd Gen Family Farms has cemented their legacy of breeding excellence in cannabis history. 3rd Gen always aims to be the number one, bringing the most stable genetics and unique terpenes to fellow cannabis enthusiasts worldwide.

Humboldt Fungi join us on the show to discuss deepening the appreciation and relationship with all mushrooms especially those native to the redwood forests of the Emerald Triangle. We discuss pro-tips in foraging for mushrooms, ways to research and build community in fungi and mushroom cultivation hacks!

We welcome Marty Clein to the show to discuss his roots in cannabis cultivation, breeding, preserving cannabis culture and the future of legal cannabis in Mendocino and his farm in Covelo, CA. 
Marty Clein is a longtime cannabis enthusiast, a seed breeder, and top notch plant cultivator. He will serve as an Ambassador for the 2022 California State Fair's first ever Cannabis Competition. Marty has always been an entrepreneur, owning various small businesses. While it seems like a natural step, nothing could have prepared him for the chaos of California's Cannabis industry.

Annick Goldsmith has a contagious passion for cannabis that is pure and her energy is electric, with knowledge that runs deep. We explore her journey in cannabis and taking on challenges over the years to deepen her relationship with the plant and the communities that have kept it alive during prohibition specifically recording artists in the Hip Hop space and Emerald Triangle farmers.  We explore the differences in the hemp markets and legal licensed cannabis markest in California. It was a joy to learn and connect with Annick and exchange thoughts on where the industry is at and the potential to help so many in the future.

Michael Backes is best known as the author of the book titled, Cannabis Pharmacy and opening the first science based dispensary in Southern California called Cornerstone Wellness in 2005. Michael is a respected pioneer in the cannabis industry and dubbed the "Morpheus" of cannabis after being convinced that the cannabis plant could be a legitimate medicine, because it helped him deal with migraines that had plagued him since childhood. Michael has helped patients find relief through cannabis since increasing his understanding of cannabis as medicine and providing better quality of life. Michael co-founded the cannabis company called Perfect Blends which designs blended formulations using 100% cannabis and cannabis oil, combined with breakthrough terpene preservation methods that result in dialed in effects, extended shelf life, product consistency and low dose, functional products. Most recently, Michael was tapped by the Emerald Cup to optimize and reinvent the Terpene Categorization system for competition entries and spearheaded the advisory board leading the reclassification for the world renowned Emerald Cup Competition.

It was a joy to have Tony Bowles on the show. We discuss his expereience defending himself in court, setting legal prescedences for patients and how to not incriminate yourself, educating the public about terpenes and co-creating cannabis activations in the Bay Area.

Tony has been involved in the cannabis industry for 20+ years, a long-time patient advocate and organizer with Americans for Safe Access (ASA). He’s currently Chair of the Bay Area Safe Access chapter, and works as customer support specialist for Sava, a premier cannabis delivery company in San Francisco.

He has also been in Coffee, and Tourism for 20 years. He studied Tour Management with the International Tour Management Institute in SF. He’s conducted SF and DC city tours, and wine country tours as well. He’s worked with many successful commercial cannabis operations and organized many successful grassroots advocacy campaigns since 2002. He has also been trained by and worked with some of the best in the coffee industry.

He was a plaintiff in ASA’s successful lawsuit against the California Highway Patrol. As an original member of the SF ASA Chapter, he played a role in passing Article 37, SF's medical cannabis law.

He moved to the DC Metro Area in 2008, when ASA opened their national office to focus on influencing Congress and the federal government. While living in Maryland he organized and trained patients around the state of Maryland in concert with Drug Policy Alliance in the interest of passing medical cannabis legislation. He also founded the original ASA-Maryland Chapter and participated in the ASA-DC chapter briefly, before returning to the Bay Area.

Since returning to the Bay Area he has been involved with multiple successful cannabis operations, and political campaigns, including the passing of The Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA), which was established through a series of bills passed by the California State Legislature in 2015 and 2016, as well as The Brownie Mary and Dennis Peron Act bill SB 34 in 2019, which allows cannabis to be given out as compassion. He is currently involved in legislative efforts at a local, state, and federal level to expand and strengthen patient access to cannabis.

He specializes in building relationships and working together with operators, budtenders, patients and consumers to provide education and knowledge.

He’s also creator of the original Terpene Flashcards www.terpeneflashcards.com

A lifelong member of the Southern Humboldt Community, Garberville-born Chris Anderson owns and operates Redwood Roots Family, a craft cannabis distributor that gathers legacy Northern California Farmers under its banner and brings them to market statewide. 
We explore the ties that bind in our cannabis community coming back to hope, resilience and a love & reverance for the spirit of cannabis! 

Dan Pomerantz is the founder of Rebel Grown, an award winning cannabis genetics company, lifestyle legacy & equity brand. Rebel Grown is  focused on sustainable, organic, sun-grown cannabis from the legendary Palo Verde appellation of Southern Humboldt County.

Heather Dunbar is a passionate, mission driven sustainability advocate with years of experience in the cannabis industry including cultivation, education, sales and marketing, communications and strategy.
She is currently the Director of Communications and Marketing for Sun+Earth Certified and Brand Manager for Brother David's Sacred Allies.

Jimi Devine has been involved in cannabis reform since 2005 and has worked in the Berkeley cannabis industry since 2009 when he moved to California from Lynn, Massachusetts. Currently serving as Cannabis Columnist and Critic for L.A. Weekly, you can also find his writings on cannabis products and policy in the San Francisco Chronicle, The Village Voice, The Boston Globe, The Hill, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Cannabis Now, Marijuana.com, High Times, Irvine Weekly, Weedmaps News, 7×7 Magazine, The East Bay Express, Leafly, Civilized, Thrillist and Ed Rosenthal’s book This Bud’s for You. Jimi is one of the main journalists in the world covering the top shelf flower market. Jimi has a BA in Journalism and Media Studies from Franklin Pierce University.