Cannabis Culture

Jeff Lowenfels is Teaming with Bacteria (From Isn’t Life Curious?) | #76

In this feature from the Isn’t Life Curious? podcast, we meet virtually with gardener and author Jeff Lowenfels to discuss the magic that occurs in the microscopic world just beyond our eyes. Jeff just published a new book, Teaming with Bacteria, that unveils the incredible role of the Rhizophagy cycle by which plants act as “ranchers” to tend bacteria, bring them in for shearing, and then send them back to pasture for a time before the process starts again. Jeff explains how plants feed on these bacteria in a mutually beneficial way to get nitrogen and growth hormones while the bacteria get a safe space to exist with minimal competition.

But what does all of this mean for the common gardener or farmer? It means we can grow plants in an even smarter, mindful manner that takes advantage of the Rhizophagy cycle to reduce the need for fertilizers and excess inputs!

Check out Teaming with Bacteria (as well as the other three books from the “Teaming…” series) from Timber Press: https://www.workman.com/products/teaming-with-bacteria/hardback

Life is a curious thing. Let’s explore it together! Subscribe to Isn’t Life Curious? and learn more about the show at http://www.isntlifecurious.com

Catching Up with Murphy Murri on Benzene, Medusa Stones, and Owning the Quality of Your Lab | BTS #75

In this behind-the-scenes episode we caught up with Murphy Murri for an extended discussion about the current state of the Cannabis industry, extraction supply chain quality issues, medusa stones, mushroom extraction and more.

Medusa stones are concentrated lumps of cannabinoids that, rather than having a clear “diamond” appearance, has a chalky appearance. And like you might expect, the “diamond” disintegrates after being handled, turning into a sticky, chalky mess. So what causes the medusa stone phenomenon in Cannabis extracts? During this conversation, Murphy breaks down the phenomenon and the controversy surrounding the hunt for the cause behind these disappointing creations.

Due to some technical difficulties on the day of recording, this discussion was recorded on Zoom instead of our usual platform, resulting in some compromised audio quality.

Sniffing Out the Skunk in Cannabis with TJ Martin of Abstrax Tech | BTS #74

In this behind-the-scenes episode we caught up with TJ Martin of Abstrax Tech to discuss their research into Cannabis extracts and the chemistry that impacts the plant’s aromas and flavors. We talk about their discovery of a family of sulfur compounds in Cannabis that are largely responsible for the skunk smell of Cannabis. We also discussed their prior research into vape pen additives and what kinds of compounds may be emitted from heated vape pen additives.

To learn more about Abstrax Tech, visit www.abstraxtech.com

Abstrax is a flavor and fragrance manufacturer that specializes in cannabis and hop raw materials, terpenes, and aroma compound research to innovate terpene driven product formulations that shape consumer packaged goods. Abstrax specializes in botanical research, ingredient manufacturing and formulation science with a specific focus on terpene research.

T.J. Martin graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from CSU Polytechnic Pomona. He gained experience with a wide array of analytical techniques and research applications by collaborating with groups in the fields of chemistry, solid state physics, green chemistry, materials science, and polymer science. Currently T.J. is the VP of Research and Development at Abstrax where he creates custom flavor solutions and research fundamental and applied facets of cannabis science via Abstrax Labs.

Research Articles Mention in This Episode:

Identification of a New Family of Prenylated Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Cannabis Revealed by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography

Iain W. H. Oswald, Marcos A. Ojeda, Ryan J. Pobanz, Kevin A. Koby, Anthony J. Buchanan, Josh Del Rosso, Mario A. Guzman, and Thomas J. Martin. ACS Omega 2021 6 (47), 31667-31676. http://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c04196

Characterization of Vaping Emission Products from Commonly Used Vape Juice Diluents
Huanhuan Jiang, C. M. Sabbir Ahmed, Thomas J. Martin, Alexa Canchola, Iain W. H. Oswald, Jose Andres Garcia, Jin Y. Chen, Kevin A. Koby, Anthony J. Buchanan, Zixu Zhao, Haofei Zhang, Kunpeng Chen, and Ying-Hsuan LinChemical Research in Toxicology 2020 33 (8), 2157-2163. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.0c00174

Cracking the Cannabis Enigma with Elana Kirsh Goldberg CEO of The Cannigma | BTS #73

In this behind-the-scenes interview we speak with Elana Goldberg, CEO of The Cannigma, an educational website focused on bringing readers scientifically-backed and reliable information about Cannabis. In our discussion we talk Elana’s history as a content creator and journalist working for The Jerusalem Post, the early days of The Cannigma and how the platform has evolved, lessons learned regarding Cannabis content creation and science reporting, core understandings about Cannabis that stand out to Elana after years of creating Cannabis content, and more! We also spin out into a discussion about Elana’s interests in mindfulness meditation and how Cannabis can sometimes be a tool for mindfulness.

About Elana: Elana is the CEO of The Cannigma. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she currently lives in Israel with her two kids and neurotic dog. She has 15 years of experience developing online content products, including publications such as JPost.com, Goodnet.org, and Top10.com, and is passionate about delivering clear, compelling messages that anyone can understand. When she’s not in front of the computer or pacing around on the phone, you can find her meditating, lifting weights, or camping with her family.

Learn more about The Cannigma here: https://www.cannigma.com

Use discount code “cannigma” for 1 FREE month access to The Curious About Cannabis Membership Platform at http://member.cacpodcast.com/

Insects and Cannabis with Matthew Gates of Zenthanol Consulting | BTS #71

In this behind-the-scenes conversation we join for the second time on the podcast, integrated pest management specialist Matthew Gates. For this episode we focus exclusively on Cannabis pests and what Cannabis cultivators should be on the lookout for this coming outdoor season, as well as pests that indoor cultivators need to be thinking about. Our chat spins out into an interesting discussion on insect – plant adaptations and evolution that I hope you will enjoy.

Stay curious, and take it easy!

More from Matthew Gates:

https://www.zenthanol.com

Zenthanol YouTube Channel

Research References From This Episode:

Genomics of adaptation to host-plants in herbivorous insects

Simon JC, d’Alençon E, Guy E, Jacquin-Joly E, Jaquiéry J, Nouhaud P, Peccoud J, Sugio A, Streiff R. Genomics of adaptation to host-plants in herbivorous insects. Brief Funct Genomics. 2015 Nov;14(6):413-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/bfgp/elv015 . Epub 2015 Apr 6. PMID: 25846754.

Interactions between plant defence signalling pathways: Evidence from bioassays with insect herbivores and plant pathogens

Moreira, X, Abdala-Roberts, L, Castagneyrol, B. Interactions between plant defence signalling pathways: Evidence from bioassays with insect herbivores and plant pathogens. J Ecol. 2018; 106: 2353– 2364. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12987

Susceptibility Genes 101: How to Be a Good Host

Chris C.N. van Schie and Frank L.W. Takken. Susceptibility Genes 101: How to Be a Good Host. Annual Review of Phytopathology 2014 52:1, 551-581.

I am Curious About Cannabis with Jason Wilson MS | BTS #69

It’s time to get personal in this unique behind-the-scenes episode as I take time to talk about my own personal history with Cannabis and how the Curious About Cannabis platform came to be!

Learn more about my journey at www.jason-wilson.com

Learn more about Natural Learning Enterprises at http://www.naturaledu.com

Unraveling the Mysteries of Integrated Pest Management with Matthew Gates | BTS #68

In this episode I cross paths with Matthew Gates, an Integrated Pest Management specialist with a passion for helping cultivators understand the ecology and biology of the grow environment to limit pests and help the overall ecosystem thrive. In this conversation we begin to unpack some basic concepts about IPM while highlighting important misconceptions. We discuss the basic philosophy behind IPM, the subtleties of symbiosis and mutualisms, common mistakes made when developing an IPM strategy, and more!

Check out Matthew’s YouTube Channel for more content from Zenthanol Consulting: https://www.youtube.com/user/Zenthanol

About Matthew:

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Matthew has consulted with various agricultural crops on IPM best practices since 2010 in crops such as Gerbera, Rose, Citrus, Tomato, Pepper, and Cannabis, focusing on the last crop more prominently for the latter half of this time. Related to this work is his science communication and educational endeavors on social media, where he shares useful pest prevention and curative strategies alongside academically-sourced information. Matthew is affiliated with the Cannabis Horticultural Association based in Humboldt, and regularly travels across the USA to evaluate cultivation sites for improved readiness against biosecurity threats. He is currently Staff Writer for SKUNK Magazine, has been featured in magazines such as Terpenes and Testing and 1000 Watts, and has spoken about rare and newly documented pests in the Cannabis cultivation industry, as well as novel treatments, using over 2000 academic sources composed in a personal database.

P.S.

This is our last episode of 2021! Thanks so much for being apart of our journey this year. We already have a lot of fun plans for 2022 and cannot wait to start bringing you more content after we take a short break for the winter holidays.

Erika Tingey on Making Better Decisions with Better Data with Backbone | BTS #67

In this behind-the-scenes conversation we sit down with Director of Product for Backbone, Erika Tingey. Backbone is a supply chain management software system that is fully customized to any process in the Cannabis lifecycle that helps producers make better decisions with a better view of their own data. Erika breaks down some of the things that make Backbone powerful and unique for Cannabis cultivators, extractors and product manufacturers, positioning it to be a fantastic tool for operators in the Cannabis industry that are seeking GMP compliance or ISO accreditation. We also discuss the importance of thinking critically about data collection and why it is important to understand what you need to measure and why so that operations can truly benefit from data collection rather than data collection becoming a burden.

Learn more about Backbone at https://backboneiq.com/

Stay curious, and take it easy!

Support our work by becoming a Curious About Cannabis member and get access to early releases of episodes, a catalog of self-paced Cannabis science courses, exclusive events, merchandise discounts and more at http://member.cacpodcast.com/

Delta-8-THC and Other Obscure Cannabinoids | Narcotica #63

Recently I spoke with Troy Farah on the podcast Narcotica all about cannabinoid science, delta-8-THC, issues around vaping and legalization, and more! Thanks to the team at Narcotica for allowing us to share this episode! I hope you enjoy! Stay curious, and take it easy.

About this Episode of Narcotica:

“Nearly half the U.S. population now have access to adult-use cannabis. Marijuana is a medicine, if it’s cultivated or extracted right, and millions of people find relief or pleasure from this fantastic plant. But as legalization accelerates, regulations have struggled to keep up. Most experts and maybe many consumers would agree that cannabis is not well regulated or could use some improvements.

Meanwhile, new cannabinoids like delta-8-THC, THC-O and more are hitting the streets, licit and illicit. This is a rapidly changing environment, which is far beyond THC and CBD, the two most well-known drugs in marijuana. It leaves a lot of questions: Are these ‘new’ cannabinoids safe? What do they do in the body? What about vaping them?

Narcotica co-host Troy Farah speaks with Jason Wilson of Medford Oregon, host of the Curious About Cannabis podcast, and author of the book of the same name, which can be found at CACpodcast.com. Jason is a biologist and science educator that has been studying the biochemistry of the cannabis plant and cannabis-derived products for nearly a decade. Jason has done work with groups like the International Institute for Cannabinoids (ICANNA) and serves as a member on the board of directors for the Oregon Cannabis Education and Resource Center.

Follow Jason on Twitter @AboutCannabis

If you liked this episode, here are others you might enjoy:
Episode 53: A Life of Getting Lit with Tommy Chong
Episode 49: Salvia: Psychedelic Oddity (Plus, Canada’s Emerging Psilocybin Scene)
Episode 25: Banning Kratom Will Escalate the Opioid Overdose Crisis with Walter Prozialeck

Producers: Christopher Moraff, Troy Farah, Zachary Siegel
Co-producer: Garrett Farah
Music: Glass Boy / Done With Fish
Intro voice: Jenny Schaye
Image: Flickr — Willpower Studios // edit: Troy Farah

Shaping Fire with Shango Los | BTS #66

In this behind-the-scenes conversation I connect with Shango Los. Shango is founder of Shaping Fire and host of the Shaping Fire podcast, currently in its fourth year of production. In addition to the podcast, Shango’s personal YouTube channel features exclusive cannabis how-to videos and expert interviews and has served over a million viewers.

Shango is founder of VIMEA on Vashon Island where he lives, which has evolved into a patient outreach and education organization hosting some of the top cannabis speakers in the world. Shango has been working in brand strategy and marketing for 25 years and since 2013 has been helping cannabis folk bring their products to market.

In this conversation we discuss the palpable changes in the Cannabis market vibe when states began flipping from medical to full legalization, Shango’s journey to discover the therapeutic properties of Cannabis, some of the biggest insights he has gained from his conversations on the Shaping Fire podcast, the results of his recent foray into indoor Cannabis cultivation, why he is excited for the future of autoflower Cannabis, and more!

To learn more about Shaping Fire, visit https://www.shapingfire.com/

Stay curious, and take it easy!

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