The Conversation, Cannabis & Christianity podcast

After fleeing cartel violence on the U.S./Mexico border, Lorena tells the story of how she began her cannabis career in Colorado with Charlotte's Web Hemp, then as the LATAM Operating Director for Concentrate USA. In the same year, she gave herself the task of founding CannabiSalud, the first int'l medicinal cannabis symposium in Mexico, which is now one of the most important educational platforms for the health and business sectors. In 2018, she moved to Mexico City and co-founded Endonatura Labs LLC, which focuses on research, product manufacturing and ancillary activities. Lorena has spoken at CannaTech in Israel and Panama, MjBiz in Las Vegas and Bogota, ExpoMedeWeed in Medellin and many more conferences in the United States and Canada. In early 2020, Lorena co-founded the non-profit Alianza LatinoAmericana de la Cannabis (ALCANN) with the objective to provide education to the public sector. Today, Lorena is the new CEO of the int'l cannabis consulting firm Gateway Proven Strategies (GPS) Mexico; and she is also a member of the Advisory Board at Regennabis, delivering ESG and sustainability advisory services. It is a jam packed episode with Lorena, and her story is inspiring!!!

Elana is the CEO of The Cannigma, an evidence-based cannabis education platform. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Elana speaks about her experiences with cannabis and how she came to meld her life's work into The Cannigma, and how Israel is bustling in the field of cannabis research. Then we move to the topic of growing up with a belief system. Three of Elana's grandparents were survivors of the holocaust and she describes growing up in Australia with the same Jewish traditions her grandparents held to while in concentration camps. She also discusses how her belief system has changed and how she views the world now. Does the supernatural exist? Is this universe and all life in it the result of a series of accidents, or is there an intelligent designer behind it? We have a good time discussing all of this and more!!! 

Brian has helped the world's largest brands develop recruitment & talent acquisition strategies for North American markets in technology, consumer packaged goods, food & beverage, retail, media & entertainment, & cannabis. He's worked in Shanghai, Dubai, Kampala, London, New York & Los Angeles. Based out of Toronto, Canada, he Co-Founded Careers Cannabis, a leading job search engine platform for cannabis jobs in the United States & Canada. He also authored 'Kids of Cannabis: My Mom & Dad Work in Cannabis; This is Our Story.' Join us as we discuss raising families in the cannabis industry, Brian's experiences studying the Abrahamic faiths & how he views the world now!   

Mary Biles is author of 'The CBD Book: The Essential Guide to CBD Oil,' as well as a regular contributing writer for the educational non-profit 'Project CBD' in California & she hosts Cannabis Voices podcast. She is respected within the CBD industry for her ability to create engaging content that explains in digestible terms the science behind cannabis & CBD in a way that consumers understand & relate to. Mary is also the Chief Editor at Cannabis Patient Advocacy & Support Services (CPASS) whose current projects include a Multi-Disciplinary Team series focused on the application of cannabis medicines in chronic pain, mental health, palliative care, oncology, neurological disorders & women's health. Plus, Mary talks about her motivations for forging ahead in the cannabis industry and how her belief system is reflected in her daily life! 

Greetings! It takes a thought to heal a thought. Guard your heart because out of it flow the issues of life. No one is too low or too far gone for Jesus to love. Do not let others disqualify you from His love and do not disqualify yourself from His love. Perfect loves casts out all fear, and a bruised reed He will not break. Plus, an update on my Mom and her use of cannabis products; communion and breaking bread from house to house!!!

Dr. Fiore provides his perspective to questions on why some denominations prohibit alcohol, why some denominations mandate only Church leaders can administer communion, why some denominations believe scriptural communion used grape juice instead of wine, and his thoughts on how some denominations address medicinal and recreational cannabis. After serving 30 years in Church leadership, Dr. Fiore founded Aprecis Group Leadership Services with the mission to help non-profit and for profit organizations at the executive, leader, team and organization levels. He is a conference and seminar speaker, author and a human being who truly puts the new commandment to love one another at the front of his daily life. 

Daphne has over 34 years of combined professional experience in finance, nursing & health & wellness. She holds undergrad degrees in Accounting and Nursing as well as a Master's in Nursing Administration. In March of 2016, Daphne's 20 year old daughter, Gloria, suffered psychosis side-effects from a commonly prescribed medication. When the side effects did not wane, doctors prescribed anti-psychotic medications to treat Gloria. The medications caused Gloria to quickly worsen, & complications were compounded when medical professionals tapered Gloria off the medications too quickly. As a result, Daphne & her family endured two years of daily psychotic episodes just to ween her off of the prescribed medications. Could cannabis improve Gloria's health & quality of life? Is God even real & if He is, does He care about people? Daphne's message: Give people mercy because you do not know what they are enduring, & you would want the same in return from others.    

Diana describes her experiences growing up in Mexico, where curanderos/shamans are acknowledged, and how near death experiences inspired her to study eschatology. She also describes how she changed her mind from believing God was against her to understanding and believing that God loves her and is for her. With Mexico's Federal government moving toward legalizing marijuana, a country some cannabis think tanks project to be the world's largest marijuana market, Diana discusses her observations & perspective on Mexico's efforts. She is the Founder/CEO of Hub Kamal (www.hubkamal.com) and hosts INDUCE The Real State/Sustainable Living podcast!!!  

ENERGY IS IN YOU!!! Welmar is doing something very cool with Plenertude (www.plenertude.co.za) in South Africa! Join us as we discuss the body's endo-cannabinoid system, food as medicine, the power of our thoughts and words, marriage, parenting, forgiveness of others and self, and how LOVE and LOVING ONE ANOTHER truly is the mission each of us is given in this life!!! 

Kia Baker is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and has dedicated her life to the telling & sharing of female veteran voices on platforms she created and hosts: "The Female Veterans Podcast" & "Woman Warrior Stories." She also created & hosts "Hot Topics Live" a livestream video series. Having participated in micro-dosing with psychedelics, Kia supports the use of psychedelics for veterans, or anyone, suffering from PTSD or other psychological challenges. We don't stop there! Kia's father was inspired by Malcolm X and converted his family to Islam. After her parents' divorce, her mother converted to Catholicism. As a child, Kia did not understand why Catholicism adhered to rituals that require believers to view priests and nuns as gatekeepers of communication with Jesus. Shortly after, she inspired her mother to convert to a Christian denomination where they stayed until she finished high school. Although no longer associating with organized religion, Kia definitely believes all people have intrinsic value and has dedicated her life to helping women veterans transition back to civilian status with love. In fact, Love is Kia's religion!