42 - From Parliament to Plant Medicine: Bee Mohamed on Advocacy, Integrity & Reform.

In this episode, Kyla sits down with Bee Mohamed for a deep, behind-the-scenes conversation on health policy, patient advocacy, and the realities of building change inside broken systems.Bee shares her journey from working in Parliament House under the Minister for Women, to frontline advocacy work during the rise of prescription medication dependency and overdose, to entering the medicinal cannabis sector with a simple hope: access, affordability, and human rights for patients.Together, Kyla and Bee unpack the difference between “advocacy” as branding versus advocacy as lived experience, why harm reduction conversations can be uncomfortable (but essential), and what brave leadership looks like when profit pressures collide with patient care.This episode touches on heavy topics including female genital mutilation (FGM) and medication-related deaths  with care, context, and a strong focus on how change actually happens.Content NoteThis episode includes discussion of:Female genital mutilation (FGM)Prescription medication dependency, overdose, and deathPlease take care while listening.What We CoverWhat it’s like to witness “political will” actually create changeThe rise of prescription dependency: opioids, benzodiazepines, and polypharmacyWhy reforms like real-time prescription monitoring matter (and what they can/can’t fix)How Bee entered medicinal cannabis — and what she hoped would be differentThe ongoing barriers for patients: access, affordability, stigma, and driving lawsWhy roadside drug testing debates often miss the point (presence vs impairment)What “patient advocacy” really looks like in practiceThe tension between values and commercial structures — and how misalignment shows up in the bodyCan harm reduction exist inside a commercial model?“Corporate cannabis” and the missed opportunity to build true patient educationGrief, integrity, and the moment you realise you can’t self-compromise anymoreBee’s definition of brave leadership: remembering why the industry exists at allLinks & Resources Bee Mohamed: @mata_gatheringHarm Reduction Australia: Harm Reduction Drive Change campaign (drug driving reform): https://www.drivechangemc.org.au/tag/drug-driving/SafeScript / real-time prescription monitoring (Vic): [link]If this episode hit something in you  send it to a friend who’s tired of “just coping.”And if you’re a clinic, brand, or organisation in this space: come talk to us. Harm reduction doesn’t have to be scary. Patient safety is not optional.Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share your thoughts with me on Instagram: @CannaCurious (or wherever you want them to find you)."Send us a message"Support the showConnect with Kyla de CliffordInstagram: @cannacuriousausTikTok: @cannacuriousauYouTube: @cannacuriousIf you enjoyed this episode, please follow, share, and leave a review - it helps the podcast reach more curious minds just like you.Sovereign Creator • https://sovereigncreator.ioDisclaimer:We are not doctors, and this is not medical advice. Everything shared here is based on our personal lived experiences and the stories of others. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or wellness routine.