The Cannabis Connection

Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya are well-known and respected worldwide for their knowledge of mindfully cultivated craft cannabis and spiritual guidance. For many years, they have been growing cannabis in native Mendocino soil under the full sun, moon, and stars in the heart of Northern California’s famed Emerald Triangle. Through their commitment to regenerative, responsible farming methods, combined with ancient sacred geometry and practices, they have shared their very special flowers with conscious connoisseurs in search of true inspiration.

The Mendo Cup - the first cannabis competition organized by farmers, for farmers! It all started here, in the heart of the Emerald Triangle, in the County of cannabis Mendocino, where some of the best cannabis on the globe is grown. Now is the time to shine a spotlight on our OG farmers who, for decades & generations, have used organic methods to cultivate the finest flowers under full sun, for a full season, with local genetics that produce superior harvests.

Sunday, May 4, 2025 • 2:15-8:00 pmWillits Little Lake Grange291 School St., Willits, CA

The Awards Ceremony will be at 4:20 for the Top 5 licensed farmers of full-sun, full-season flowers grown in Mendocino County, plus a special award for the Top Breeder.

Today on the show, host Christopher Carr welcomes Anil Prajapati, Managing Director of Lille Aeske Arthouse. Lille Aeske organizes this festival in collaboration with White Rabbit Ink and The Vinguard. It is the 4th Annual May Day Festival, two days of music, two stages, and camping in a beautiful setting along the Hwy 1 coast at Pie Ranch.

Today, we welcome Ryan Lee, Plant breeder, scientist, and 25-year friend of David Watson, aka Sam the Skunkman. Ryan and I connect while he is in Amsterdam helping the family. The conversation explores the legendary life of a cannabis silverback and hero. 

Sam the Skunkman lived 15 years in Santa Cruz, down the road from the Haze brothers, and is responsible for providing the foundation to all the seed banks in Amsterdam. His life's work is behind modern cannabis medicines from GW Pharmaceuticals. 

Ryan, who has also done amazing work in the cannabis genome, research, and industry, takes us on a fantastic voyage of a truly epic individual who was like a Forest Gump of sorts in Cannabis. David Watson lived every day to wake up and be happy, learn something new about cannabis, or teach and make some mischief. 

Al Bundi is known locally as a music MC and artist but has dedicated most of his life to soil and plant science, specifically permaculture, horticulture, and plant breeding. With over 15 years in the cannabis industry, Al is a product of organic permaculture in Agriculture and is taking these approaches to understanding the source of potential benefits for people aned the planet in the vast cannabis genome.

Today on the show, we welcome Chris Cottingham, one of the owners and producers at Santa Cruz Recording Studios, along with legendary producer Jim Wirt. 
Santa Cruz Recording & Video Production Studios are located on the Westside of Santa Cruz. We explore the Santa Cruz Music Scene over the past 15 years, the role of a producer, and mentoring artists by taking an idea to an album from start to finish.

Today, on The Cannabis Connection Show, we welcome Todd McCormick. We discuss the primary colors of Cannabis and celebrate the life of Sam the Skunkman.
Todd McCormick is a former cancer patient who started using cannabis in 1979 under his mother's supervision while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Todd overcame the cancer and went on to become a lifetime advocate for medical cannabis. In 1984, Todd started cultivating cannabis and has never stopped. Beginning in 1994, Todd worked with Jack Herer as an editor of The Emperor Wears No Clothes, and after Jack’s passing, he released the 12th edition of the book with memorials to Jack. Todd also owns Authentic Genetics and supplies cannabis genetics worldwide at www.AGSeedCo.com

Today, we welcome Marcus "Bubbleman" Richardson to the show to share his story and celebrate the life of Sam the Skunkman. 
Marcus "Bubbleman" Richardson is an iconic figure in the cannabis world, renowned for his pioneering work in hemp cultivation and hash production. In the early 1990s, Marcus was at the forefront of the hemp movement in Manitoba, Canada, where he helped to reinitiate hemp growing after a 73-year hiatus His journey then took him to British Columbia in 1996, where he became one of the first cultivators for the British Columbia Compassion Club, providing medical cannabis for patients in need.
His most notable contribution to cannabis culture came with the founding of Freshheadies Ltd. in 1999, where he introduced the world to "Bubble Bags" - a series of nested bags designed for water-based trichome extraction that revolutionized the production of bubble hash. This innovation popularized bubble hash and established Marcus's nickname, "Bubbleman."
Beyond his extraction techniques, Marcus has also been instrumental in education and advocacy through his company, Whistler Technologies, where he has worked on improving industrial cannabis processing methods. His passion for educating the public is further evidenced by his YouTube show, "Hash Church," a platform where he discusses cannabis culture, science, and more with various experts.
Marcus's talents extend to macro photography, capturing the beauty of cannabis at a microscopic level, showcasing his work on his website, Bubbleman Brand. His brand and company have become synonymous with quality and innovation in the cannabis industry, reflecting his lifelong commitment to advancing the understanding and appreciation of cannabis.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Taylor Reinhold has discovered his passion for painting vibrant murals and crafting captivating logos. His expertise extends across various creative realms, including design, art curation, and the execution of large-scale installations. Tay's imaginative murals grace locations worldwide, from the streets of Brazil and Costa Rica to the landscapes of Tanzania and Thailand. Within the dynamic community of the Made Fresh Crew collective, he collaborates with fellow artisans, constantly innovating and producing original works of art.

In addition to his mural work, Tay finds joy in transforming urban objects into art pieces. He often utilizes recycled spray cans, signage, and other overlooked materials as his canvas for painting and silk screening.

In September 2021, Reinhold took the helm as Director of Sea Walls Santa Cruz, introducing the PangeaSeed Foundation's esteemed global program, Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans, to the shores of Santa Cruz, California—the initiative aimed to illuminate pressing ocean conservation issues by creating 19 thought-provoking murals.

The Sea Walls project came to fruition in just one week, thanks to the collaborative efforts of over twenty-five artists hailing from Santa Cruz and beyond. These expansive artworks are poignant reminders of locally relevant marine environmental challenges, including plastic pollution, ocean acidification, warming seas, biodiversity loss, and environmental justice.

The impact of this project reverberates throughout Santa Cruz, reshaping the city's public art landscape and heralding a new era of artistic expression intertwined with advocacy.

Today on the show, we welcome Andy and Pablo, two local musicians and culinary creators. We talk about local Santa Cruz music history, specifically traditional Italian music featuring waltz and mazurka, along with other rare genres of duo string music featuring guitar, mandolin, and banjo. Their new EP, Sounds From Squid Row, is now on Bandcamp. Sounds From Squid Row is a collection of tunes from the 1920s and earlier, Italian string music, and ragtime. It was recorded in Felton, CA, Live to Tape. 

https://andypablo.bandcamp.com/album/sounds-from-squid-row