The AusCannaPodcast S3 | E6

This week, I’m joined by Churchill Fellow Tom Forrest, a sustainable grower, educator, and long-time cannabis advocate, for a wide-ranging chat about the future of cannabis cultivation in Australia.Tom isn’t just growing cannabis… He’s growing a movement! In this episode, we explore what pulled him toward plant medicine and why true sustainability in cannabis is about action, not optics.We get into everything from terroir and transparency to Reddit rabbit holes and sketchy spray packs. There’s talk of potency, perception, and yes, a few cheeky munchie stories too!Tom also shares his thoughts on the Cannatrek and Heyday merger, what it could signal for the Australian scene, and why a bit of industry stability might be exactly what we need to spark real innovation.If you're a grower, patient, or just curious about where your cannabis comes from…This one's for you!👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email me at [email protected] — I love including questions from the community.💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:* Rapid Fire (1:46)* Who is Tom Forrest? (14:01)* What started Tom’s journey towards cannabis advocacy? (16:38)* Sneaky munchie moments (19:26)* The journey from cotton to cannabis (25:34)* What are some of the biggest misconceptions about the environmental impact of cannabis cultivation? (27:54)* Smoke and mirrors? We need to be able to tell OUR story (31:24)* Are there any significant differences in the potency or effects of cannabis grown with sustainable methods versus traditional methods? (37:03)* Terroir… It’s important! (37:50)* Excitement within cannabis breeding, we’re levelling up! (43:20)* Spray packs and other things that aren’t natural… We just don’t know (44:48)* More accountability… More carrots, fewer sticks (47:15)* Oh, Reddit, you’re wild (49:28)* Grow Zone Magazine (54:02)* Tom’s thoughts on the Cannatrek and Heyday merger, and what does that mean for Puro (59:02)* Stability breeds creativity (63:20)* Tom’s call to action (65:01)* Wise words from Thumper’s father (66:12)Where to find Tom Forrest:* @tomforrestcf on Instagram* Tom’s LinkedIn* Email [email protected]* Puro New Zealand Website* Grow Zone MagazineWhere to find me:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* Email [email protected]* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcastShownotes:* Bialetti Moka Pot* Tom Forrest - Cannabis Cultivation - Findings of a Churchill Fellowship - Q&A (Entheogenesis Australis)* Steve Cantwell* Thumper’s Father’s wise words (Bambi) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com