Karma Koala Podcast

New titles about cannabis keep on coming and when i found out about.. Ganja Matters: Empire & the Pursuits of Cannabis in British India.  I knew i had to speak to Dr. Utathya Chattopadhyaya.Learn Morehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-333-dr-utathya-chattopadhyaya-assistant-professor-of-history-at-uni-of-california-santa-barbara-author-of-ganja-matters-empire-the-pursuits-of-cannabis-in-british-india/

To paraphrase the Lizard KingThe west is the bestThe west is the bestGet here and we’ll do the restThe blue bus is calling usThe blue bus is calling usDriver, where you taking us?It’s time for Steve to move from DC and embrace California’s somewhat more accepting. (if slow) understanding of the future of medical cannabis.Although, as always, the politicians were a little behind the 8 ball. “This is not medicine, this is a Cheech and Chong show.” General Barry McCaffrey (US Drug Czar)We discuss1996 California Proposition 215The birth of HarborsideHarborside Health Center was founded in Oakland, California, in 2006 by cannabis activists and industry veterans Steve DeAngelo and Dress Wedding (along with Steve’s brother, Andrew DeAngelo)Founding and Early Innovation First Licenses: Harborside was granted one of the first six medical cannabis licenses issued in the United States.  Industry Standards: It became the first dispensary in the country to require rigorous product testing for purity, potency, and pesticide-free quality, setting a gold standard for the modern legal market.  Holistic Model: Operating originally as a non-profit, Harborside focused heavily on patient care, offering free holistic health services, counseling, and education for seniors, veterans, and families. At its peak, it was widely considered the largest and most influential cannabis dispensary in the world.  Media Spotlight: The dispensary gained global fame as the central subject of the Discovery Channel reality television series Weed Wars in 2011.  Steve also talks about run ins with the IRS as various agencies all pounded on the door for their pound of flesh Also see https://www.clm.com/code-%C2%A7280e-planning-observations-harborside-case-hinges-on-definition-of-consists-of/https://www.taxnotes.com/research/federal/court-documents/court-opinions-and-orders/ninth-circuit-affirms-tax-court-on-dispensarys-inventory-costs/52h0chttps://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R46709https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-332-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-7-the-west-is-the-best/

I spoke to Same last year about the policy work he is doing with multiple jurisdictions in the Caribbean.He has now published the report"From the Code Noir to GACP/GMP: Cannabis and the New Colonial Economy"The Caribbean is dismantling prohibition. The harder task is ensuring that legal cannabis does not reproduce an older economic order in which the South grows the commodity while standards, capital, certification and value are controlled elsewhere.In May 2026, France's National Assembly adopted at first reading a bill providing for the repeal of the Code Noir, the 1685 edict that helped organise slavery in France's American colonies. The measure is not yet final and remains in the parliamentary process. One detail of the debate, however, is revealing. The text uses the language of abrogation. An amendment proposed replacing that word with annulment. The distinction is not merely semantic. Abrogation removes a rule from the legal order. Nullity goes further by challenging its legal validity at the root. France used that stronger logic after the fall of the Vichy regime, including for measures that established or applied discrimination based on Jewish status. The amendment on the Code Noir was withdrawn, and the text retained the language of abrogation. [1][2][3]There is no moral or legal equivalence between the Code Noir and modern cannabis standards such as Good Agricultural and Collection Practice or Good Manufacturing Practice. GACP and GMP are quality systems. The Code Noir belonged to a legal order of slavery. Nor is there a direct legal genealogy connecting them. The comparison is narrower and more useful. A society can remove a rule without necessarily dismantling the economic structures and relationships of power that developed around it.That question matters for cannabis reform. Caribbean governments are gradually removing prohibition, creating regulators and writing the rules of legal markets. But ending criminalisation does not decide who will own the industry that replaces it, who will define quality, who will finance compliance or where the highest-value parts of the value chain will sit. The plant can become legal while its value chain remains externally controlled. That is the new colonial question. We speak about the work he is doing with regulators throughout the region as well as the report and his websites including the International Society of CannabisSame is a prominent commentator and strategist who tracks the development of legal cannabis frameworks, market infrastructure, and regulatory rollouts across the regionhttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-331-same-francis-the-caribbean-new-report-from-the-code-noir-to-gacp-gmp-cannabis-and-the-new-colonial-economy/ 

The koalas speak with Tia about the new organisation she is setting up with Linda Siboto (Cheeba) to take cannabis to the regions. Cannabiz Africa have the background story Cannabist ‘activist-entrepreneurs’ Tia Ramfate and Linda Siboto are behind the formation of a new grassroots cannabis organization, the TRCA. Their idea is to translate indigenous knowledge skills into entrepreneurship opportunities for rural and township cannabis businesses.John Makoni, Africa EditorFormer Soweto Cannabis Association chair and AfuRaka Institute founder Tia Ramfate  and new U Grow business development director and Cheeba Africa co-founder, Linda Siboto, have set up the Township and Rural Cannabis Association (TRCA) with the aim of integrating indigenous knowledge skills into grassroots cannabis economies.Learn morehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-330-tia-ramfate-new-south-african-grassroots-cannabis-organization-launches-the-trca-township-and-rural-cannabis-association/

The koalas speak to Lelehnia about the report she has been working on for the past six years REPORT AT A GLANCE - ONE PRESERVED SELECTION. MANY ENVIRONMENTS.Ten completed Grow-Off samples documented differences in measured cannabinoid and terpene composition among samples from one preserved selection produced under independent cultivation conditions.MEASURABLE VARIATION. A RECURRING THC-DOMINANT, MYRCENE-LED PATTERN.Total THC ranged from 8.88% to 25.35%; total terpenes ranged from 0.58% to 1.78%, while the completed samples remained THC-dominant and myrcene-led.VALUE BEYOND POTENCY.Among the ten respondents who answered the primary-choice question in a small exploratory consumer survey, none selected THC percentage as the primary reason for interest.PEOPLE, HISTORY, AND RESPONSIBILITY.The project combines scientific evidence with provenance, community knowledge, consent, and ethical stewardship.WHAT THIS REPORT INCLUDESPROVENANCE • GENETIC RESEARCH • LABORATORY DATA GROW-OFF • CONSUMER RESEARCH • ETHICAL FRAMEWORK Executive Summary The Humboldt Legacy Project was launched by Humboldt Grace in 2020 to explore ethical and practical ways to protect, document, and value cannabis genetics and the knowledge connected to them. HLP Skunk #1 became the project’s first cultivar-level case study.The work centered on two preserved selections donated to the project: HLP Skunk #1 No. 1 and HLP Skunk #1 No. 3. HendRx Farm served as the primary preservation partner. No. 1 supported consumer research and was later lost as living material. Both selections were registered through Canopyright; No. 3 was used for DNA-supported lineage research and the multi-farm Grow-Off. Distinguishing the selections was essential because findings from one plant cannot automatically be assigned to the other or to every plant sold as Skunk #1.The project combined historical research and private interviews with David Watson; provenance and acquisition records; whole-genome sequencing through Medicinal Genomics; a THC synthase gene comparison; Canopyright distributed-ledger registration; cultivation by independent growers; cannabinoid, terpene, and exploratory thiol testing through Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs; consumer research; educational programming; and finished-concentrate analysis involving ArcataX, Lightwork Distributors, and SC Labs. Twenty-nine farms and cultivators registered for the Grow-Off, and ten completed samples were represented in the primary Certificate of Analysis dataset. The research was community-led and conducted with approximately $1,463 in direct cash funding, extensive volunteer labor, and donated professional services.The scientific work contributed useful evidence, but it did not provide a complete answer. HLP Skunk #1 No. 3 showed consistency with the Weiblen Skunk #1 reference at the THC synthase gene examined. This supports continued investigation of the reported lineage; it does not prove complete cultivar identity, ownership, authenticity, or chain of custody. The project therefore uses the language “DNA-supported lineage research” rather than claiming that a laboratory test authenticated all of Skunk #1. Read more: ⁠https://cannabislaw.report/wp-admin/post.php?post=288782&action=edit⁠

Anybody involved with keeping up to date with all things cannabis will have seen the recent plethora of media reports saying that cannabis poisonings are inundating ER departments. But what is the reality behind the headlines?What are the numbers?What are the numbers?Ruth analysed publicly available data for California since 2016 and unsurprisingly the results show a more nuanced, complex narrative where context is key.Listen, read the report  https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-328-ruth-fisher-behind-the-scare-headlines-ruth-takes-a-close-look-at-the-data-on-california-cannabis-related-poisonings-since-2016/

Kudos to Tim he’s just enabled one of the biggest changes to the Australian hemp landscape and globally we should all be paying attention.This could be a game changer for both Australia and the region.I talk to Tim about how he got the enquiry up and running and its findings and proposals includingA) A Review of the advice of early 2025 from the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board with a view to reducing or simplifying, where appropriate, the licencing obligations imposed on stakeholders in the hemp industry.B) The committee recommends that the Australian Government, through the National Cabinet process, facilitates the recognition of state and territory licences across all jurisdictions.C)) The committee recommends the Australian Government establish a taskforce to develop a national hemp framework to harmonise hemp regulations nationally.See all 14 proposals detailed belowWe also talk about recent developments in NSW with the state government pumping investment into processing.Tim says, thank Cannabis party member Jeremy Buckingham. He made it happen. This puts NSW at the top of the Australian hemp reportcard with states like QLD  & Vic now seriously lagging due to repeated refusals to enage with the crop.Learn More⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-327-australia-tim-schmidt-the-tasmanian-farmer-behind-the-just-published-30-july-2026-australian-senate-report-opportunities-for-the-development-of-a-hemp-industry-in-austral/⁠

It’s not the sexiest of topics, I grant you that, but i thought it would be interesting to talk to an expert in the space.Jerry works in the worlds of Cannabis, Vapes & Tobacco and lays bare some of the complexity for small and medium sized US businiess working in the space.Multiple layers of taxation that fleece the consumer and the retailer and much of it, it seems, purposefully designed to put pressure on smaller  end of cannabis retail.My first takeaway. If you are in a jurisdiction outside the US and you want to find out how not to do cannabis sales tax, the US is a good place to learn from.My other takeaway is that i’ve never really noticed the cannabis regulators in each of the states pay much attention to the issue.They are happy to pretend to support smaller business and equity set ups in words alone but little else.They’ll make them wait months even years for licenses then actually expect them to run a business with punishing overheads and city and sales taxes that up prices for the consumer and force producers to create mass market high THC cannabis that they have to wholesale at silly prices so that the consumer thinks they are getting some advantage for the cannabis they are buying.My analaogy would be the fast food market in the US. huge plates of food that aren’t nutritionally balanced or healthy for humans to consume, the same applies to cannabis except substiute large helpings with high THC levels which as we’re all learning isn’t the best for human health.Legislators, adminsitrators and regulators in states and cities actually have the power to do something about this, but they wont because as we all know a sin tax is a great earner and the thinking will never go beyond that. Learn more⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-326-jerry-donnini-founder-and-ceo-of-salestaxhelper-the-complexity-of-us-sales-tax-regimes-in-highly-regulated-sectors/⁠

Thankyou to Ryan for joining the Koalas to talk about the challenges of growing cannabis on a commercial basis both in the early days of legalisation in Canada when Canopy brought him in from the US where he was working with ornamentals to get their first facilities up and running and more recently as the US market consolidates and is trying to get the best opearting structures for profit that they can..Ryan has worked in Canada, the US & Colombia both as a grower and consultant and brings a decade and a half experience in cannabis and 20 + years in ornamentals to the tableWe talk about those early years and what he learnt and what companies need to learn now.Like all other industries cannabis companies are making the same mistakes. Head office is getting increasingly separated from where the real action happens, the grow room and management always see solutions in tech and not people. Ryan reckons that’s a big mistake and i’d suggest he’s on the mark.Learn Morehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-325-ryan-douglas-commercial-cannabis-grower-consultant-talks-about-his-new-book-from-seed-to-success-how-to-launch-a-great-cannabis-cultivation-business-in-record-time/

The koalas are back with the latest instalment of Steve’s long and storied life in cannabis.The 80's see many changes in Steve's life.Time for law school!The university tours continue engaging with students rather than faculty and it's time to decamp to the west coast, Berkeley specifically as California develops an understanding of "medical" cannabis and cannabis in the community.Two prominent names become more public in their cannabis activism and Steve starts a new phase in his life.Read More https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-324-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-6-mid-80s-early-90s-law-school-the-nut-house-jack-herer-touring-universities-the-move-to-berkeley/

Great to chat with James who became somewhat more involved with changing attitudes to cannabis after an encounter with the NSW police whilst spending a year in AustraliaHe's now trying to build an education network about cannabis and using the medium of film and documentary is part of his arsenal.We talk about his time engaging with growers in NW Pakistan and how things have changed in that part of the world since the Taliban came back into power. James also learnt about various corporate type outfits quietly moving in and making themselves known, he couldn't tell me too much but it sounds like the classic extractive industry playbook may be happening behind closed doors in that part of the worldListen and learn more. Thanks James⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-323-kk-james-gallagher-ireland-filmmaker-exploring-the-current-cannabis-world-of-pakistans-nw-provinces/⁠

I came across Kwasi's paper i knew i had to speak to him about a hidden legal history and the changes in approaches to engendering change through the courts in common law countriesWe also get to talk about Mr Tosh and the changes in language since the 1970's and how legal language is struggling to keep up.Anokye's research draws heavily on African legal history, focusing on landmark decisions like Ghana's historic Nyameneba v. The Republic case. In that case, the court recognized a distinct worldview where cannabis is revered as the "herbs of life"—not a criminal drug. Anokye warns that when a government simply "legalizes" cannabis for commercial gain, it leaves spiritual users vulnerable. True freedom requires the state to fully step back and dismantle the colonial laws that banned the plant in the first place.⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-322-kwasi-anokye-paper-rastafari-sacramental-use-the-limits-of-legalization-2025/⁠

I came across Neil’s report and his newly launched service.We discuss his first comparative report and how ai can help develop cannabis policy in jurisdictions around the worldCannavec aiA patient-governed, evidence-first organisation that stewards the cannabis industry’s most rigorous knowledge base. We exist to ensure that the science behind cannabis is accurate, transparent, independent and accessible to everyone who needs it.The cannabis industry has a knowledge problem. Patients make decisions based on marketing claims. Clinics prescribe without standardised evidence. AI chatbots hallucinate dosing advice. Product labels use unsubstantiated therapeutic language.The Cannabis Knowledge Foundation was created to fix this. We maintain a curated, evidence-graded knowledge base covering cannabinoid mechanisms, clinical protocols, safety data, drug interactions, product formulations and regulatory frameworks — all reviewed by a named editorial board with real expertise and lived experience.Through the Cannavec API, this knowledge becomes infrastructure that any clinic, platform, brand or researcher can build on. The result is an industry where every piece of cannabis information traces back to evidence.⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-321-neil-cartwright-uk-medical-cannabis-and-driving-law-international-comparison-using-ai-to-draft-cannabis-policy/⁠

The Koalas speak with environmental lawyer Ricky Stone about the Monica Cromhout case and what they hope they can highlight and change with the case in regard to constitutional law in South Africa.There’s already some element of jurisprudence post the Dagga Couple case.As i say in the introduction South Africa may well start to lead on this issue in the courts and once again it’s their constitution that allows for a wide ranging debateDuring the Hogsback Mushroom Festival and Symposium in mid-March 2026, environmental lawyer  Ricky Stone  announced a landmark legal challenge against South Africa’s criminalization of psilocybin (magic mushrooms) for therapeutic use. Key Details of the Challenge The Objective: Stone aims to challenge laws under the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and the Medicines and Related Substances Act that currently ban the use, possession, and dealing of psilocybin. The Catalyst: The case is centered on Monica Cromhout, an 84-year-old trauma counselor and healer from Somerset West. She was arrested in December 2014 after a client reported her to the police while still under the influence of psilocybin during a guided therapy session. Legal Argument: Stone argues that these are “earth medicines” with thousands of years of ancestral and cultural use. He advocates for social interventions rather than “blunt-force criminal laws” to handle drug use, emphasizing their role in treating mental health struggles and protecting psychological integrity.  Read More athttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-320-ricky-stone-lawyer-south-africa-the-monica-cromhout-case-fungi-is-the-real-ai-ancestral-intelligence/

Great conversation with Bart who worked for MJ Biz as a journalist when the floodgates opened and yes it was the wild west of cannabis for a while.Bart captures the essence of that time and the people involved in what was then, the nascent cannabis industry.We talk about why he wrote the book, what he and his characters learnt, what he thinks now looking back at that time.Of the book, reviewers frequently compare Schaneman’s evocative, earth-toned style to authors like Joan Didion and John Steinbeck, so he’s doing pretty well there !As they say in the publishing world here’s the blurbDenver, 2019: After one of their marijuana dispensaries is robbed, Taylor Hobson and Danielle Garcia hatch a plan to make back the money. When that ends in disaster, the two friends agree to allow their sales manager to implement aggressive and quasi-legal sales practices. Soon, their reputation as the go-to place to load up on marijuana beyond the legal limit spirals out of control.Meanwhile, Henry Kaufman is back from a multiple-year stint in Asia. As he attempts to adjust to the reverse culture shock of returning to America, he bounces around, looking for a decent job. He asks his old friends for work at one of their dispensaries, and they agree to hire him as a budtender. He finally has the material to write the investigative journalism piece to make his name as a writer, but at what cost?https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-319-bart-schaneman-author-of-novel-the-pot-job-denver-in-the-time-of-the-pre-covid-cannabis-goldrush/

The koalas are back with the latest instalment of Steve’s long and storied life in cannabis.The 1980’s wasn’t all just funny haircuts, Wall Street  and the arrival of Bill & Steve it was also the Reagan adminsitration and the so called “war on drugs” , “Just Say No”, “The Parents Movement” and silly ads like this..See it all athttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-318-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-5-the-1980s-its-time-for-reagan-the-war-on-drugs-the-parents-movement-and-the-cocaine-blizzard/

First up apologies for some of the gremlins on the host tal;king. Not sure what happened there!In this episode i speak with Malaysia based Johan Mohamad, a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN and we talk about what’s happening  across the region in terms of research, policy and government action. A lot more than you would imagineThanks to Johan and enjoyJohan Mohamad is a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN and the Chairperson of KannaHemp Summit 3.0, taking place in Chiang Mai this December.Johan began his journey in community advocacy, leading a zero-waste campaign that impacted over 200,000 students before co-founding MCARE Society to support patients and families.His path took a deeply personal turn when his son was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, leading him to explore alternative support systems and ultimately into the hemp industry.Today, Johan works at the intersection of policy, research, and international collaboration — building bridges between ASEAN and Europe to develop a responsible and sustainable hemp ecosystemKannahemp Summit embodies the spirit of Southeast Asia collaboration, working together to engage relevant stakeholders from their respective countries. Members and partners interested in participating, collaborating, or supporting this regional initiative are warmly invited to join.⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-317-johan-mohamad-a-pioneer-in-the-hemp-industry-across-asean/⁠

Sarah Strickler and her husband founded Grown Rogue over a decade ago.Operating out of southern Oregon the company is expanding nationwide.The koalas speak to Sarah about growing a company in Oregon and building it organically throughout the country while no overacrching federal regulatory system exists.An interesting conversation and certainly one that illustrates how legislatures across the country have stacked opportunities against companies like Grown Rogue who are looking to build on good product, consumer awareness of that product and a steady as you go philosophy.Thankyou Sarah for taking time to talk to the koalas.Learn more at ⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-316-sarah-strickler-grown-rogue-oregon/⁠

I noted via Linked In that Kimberly had written a paper on mushroom churches in the US.She’s just started her study but initial findings are interesting ( and not that surprising) In the main churches appear to operate as businesses, there’s little or no link to indigenous history and the majority of shamans appear to be just someone deciding they are a shaman.The conversation told me one thing.Things are going to get worse before they get betterThankyou to Kimberly for making these initial investigations. She promises there is more to come.Learn more⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-315-kimberly-melgoza-mushroom-churches-usa-2026-initial-study/⁠

As the koalas have spent hours speaking to Steve De'Angelo we thought we should also talk to his younger sibling Andrew who has also been involved with the plant for the last 40 or so years as well.He might not have the same public profile as his older brother but that doesn't mean he's not been as involved in both the business and political side of changing pereceptions towards the plant in the US.This is the first of our two conversations with Andrew .. enjoy with us.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-314-andrew-de-angelo-business-storytelling-in-the-world-of-us-cannabis/

We talk about Arron's website and why he built it, which in turn, sends us down the rabbit hole that is the UK medical cannabis "system" / "set up".So he built CannabiasIn June 2025, after months of waiting, I finally had my first appointment to be prescribed medical cannabis.Like many patients, I felt relieved — legal, safe, and finally confident in what I was consuming.Or at least, that’s what I believed.Then reality set in.A month later, I needed a new prescription. My tolerance had changed, and I wanted to explore my options.But as I copied product names into Google, I quickly realised the truth:Verified patient experiences? Nowhere to be foundIf you’ve felt that same frustration, CannaBias was built for you.It started with a question nobody could answer.Reviews were vague and difficult to trustBatch numbers were missingRead more⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-313-arron-dando-uk-cannabias-a-new-website-built-for-british-patients-to-provide-data-and-knowledge-on-the-provision-of-medical-cannabis-in-the-country/⁠

Thato & I discuss his work on cannabis testing in the South African workspaceWe discuss his research of other jurisdictions around the world,  Canada, UK, Australia & New Zealand and how some of their solutions / approaches may work in the South African context.Thato will be talking about his research at the Cape Town International Cannabis Symposium 25-27 on the following panelLearn More⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-312-thato-lentsoe-law-lecturer-labour-law-constitutional-law-and-human-rights-university-of-kwa-zulu-natal-employments-rights-cannabis-testing-in-south-africa/⁠

The koalas love a chinwag with a psychedelic lawyer because there’s always tangents but they fundamentally all they all return to the same place, respect & humanism.Amongst the things we discuss areApplying law mindfullyTalking about what psychedelic lawyering might meanThe embodiment of learning in lawWorking toward new outcomesLawyer as healerWhat counsellor at law might meanInternational indigenous legal traditionsLearn more here⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-311-christian-holden-psychedelic-law-embody-the-law-not-just-regurgitate-it/⁠

In episode 4 Steve comes across a new concept, airport security ….and with $USD27K in his case + some thai sticks things got a bit serious.Hear about his first experience of incarceration and dealing with the US legal system.We also learn about the life of a Yippe in the 1970’s and activism vs the Grateful Dead culture permeating the SF side of the bay.In the conversation we also take in Nelson Rockerfeller, Jerry Rubin, Paraquat and morehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-310-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-4-the-mid-1970s-first-bust-and-experience-of-the-us-legal-system-being-a-full-time-yippie-paraquat/

This episode was recorded and broadcast the morning of Good Friday (3 April) 2026 the day that Trump sacked Pam Bondi & Hesgeth cleaned out the existing military hierarchy of the US military so as to appease his boss and work towards his  bizarre dream of a radical right Christian warrior ethos within the US military.Meanwhile christians of many sects around the world remember Jesus of Nazareth’s death.I thought that this would be the perfect day to talk to Mike about the type of christianity that most would identify with through readings of the James II new testament. The desire to help others less fortunate than oneself.Mike talks about his initiative, The Gaza Free People’s Kitchen, and his hopes to set up a  similar initiative in the Lebanonat a time when it estimated that there are a million displaced people in the country.We also talk about cannabis and activism in general and the fact that although  it might be down at the moment  it definitely isn’t out in the USA .Mike is positive that cannabis and activism is on the return and the more people i talk to in 2026 i feel that groundswell too.Thanks for listeningConnect with the kitchen here⁠https://www.instagram.com/free_peoples_kitchen__gaza/⁠⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-309-special-good-friday-episode-mike-fantasia-cannabis-consultant-usa-and-his-initiative-the-gaza-free-peoples-kitchen/⁠

In a world of Trumps, Hesgeths & Millers it is sometimes hard to remember that the real voice of American exceptionalism still exists at the grassroots.Ken is one of those voices and i’ll be listening to this conversation of mine with him  every time the news drives me crazy , which is about daily at the moment.We discuss the current us industrial agricultural environment, the food crisis in America, working globally on an equal footing with partners, education, helping the next generations and changing the story about hemp as a crop.Essentially, all the good stuff!Talking to him I’m reminded of a US farmer & president from the 1970’s.. Maybe it’s time for Ken Elliott for president!Although I think I’d prefer he stay with us in the world of hemp and cannabisLearn More⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-308-ken-elliott-ind-hemp-montana-building-a-grassroots-global-network-respecting-everybody-else-do-what-you-to-create-change/⁠

Great to speak to Vikram who discovered the joys of cannabis/hemp in Nimbin (Australia)That discovery as a young man doing a hospitality degree in NSW has led him to the world of hemp and his company Delta Botanicals and Research a Government of India’s DIPP recognized startup.Their vision is to lead India in establishing the development & production of safe, regulated hemp/cannabis derived commercial products, medical therapies & validated research protocols. Vikram Mitra grew up in the State of Odisha with aspirations towards one day entering the medical field.  His studies eventually led him to Australia where he was first introduced to the most recent legal, technological and ideological advancements in hemp related product development.His passion for the subject grew as he considered the potential for a legitimate hemp industry in his homeland, despite decades of legal challenges imposed on this herb utilized by Indians for thousands of years.  Upon his return to India in 2009, Mr. Mitra, full of youth and optimism, set out to break logistical barriers.When a family member was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a lethal brain tumor, he was reminded how impossible it was to find legal, effective palliative remedies made with hemp/cannabis and he was forced again to reconcile with complex legal and political realities.  In the many years since,Mr. Mitra has devoted his work towards assisting with regulation development and research related to realizing a path to safe, legal and effective cannabis based therapies and hemp industrial pathways.I could talk about things India all day and all night!⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-307-vikram-mitra/⁠

It’s been a while since we’ve chatted with Rob. His just about the publish the 2nd edition of his titleThe Essential Cannabis Book: Understanding, Appreciating, Cultivating, and Cooking with MarijuanaA thorough, accessible guide to exploring the world of cannabis, with tips and insights for beginners and seasoned users alike.The cannabis landscape is quickly evolving as legalization efforts expand across the US and around the world. Research increasingly shows the health benefits of cannabinoids and their promise as alternative treatments for pain, insomnia, seizures, anxiety, and more. But after decades of stigma and criminalization, many who would like to start using, growing, or cooking with cannabis don’t know where to begin. The Essential Cannabis Book is the road map for anyone curious about this booming new industry. Rob Mejia’s journey into the world of cannabis education began when his family sought treatments for his sister’s pain in her final days battling cancer, and he quickly found himself fielding questions about cannabis from friends and colleagues who were frustrated with the lack of reliable information. Mejia breaks down the complex history and science of this ancient plant, explains the current legal and regulatory framework in different states and countries, and shares personal stories from those in the cannabis community, from a hemp-farming nun to one of the first patients to receive medical cannabis from the US government.With a glossary of terms, detailed lists of the effects of different cannabinoids and strains, steps for visiting a dispensary or starting to homegrow, and delicious recipes for aspiring canna-chefs, this guide is the essential resource for anyone curious about cannabis.We also talk about cannabis eduction- See his website to learn more ⁠https://robmejia.com/⁠Rob teaches at Stockton and we talk about how the curriculum has developed over the years⁠https://stockton.edu/employee-directory/mejia-robert.html ⁠We also chat about his home state NJ and what recent developments of note are worth a discussion.⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-306-rob-meija-stockton-university-the-2nd-ed-of-his-title-the-essential-cannabis-book-understanding-appreciating-cultivating-and-cooking-with-marijuana/⁠

Sharon was introduced to the koalas after a discussion about who we should have speaking at our Cape Town conference in June of this year.We discuss her discovery of medical cannabis via a you tube video after the death of her sister and her subsequent engagement with the South African medical community and decade of learning about the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).As well as Carol’s Oil, Sharon spends a lot of her energy these days educating others on medical training with regard to plant medicine.The Truth Is Out There.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-305-sharon-price-carols-oils-medical-cannabis/

The koalas really do get to speak to some amazing people in cannabis and Mike is no exception.Of Native American and Italian heritage Mike found himself heading to prison in his late teens because a friend had stashed some weed under the seat in his car.His lawyer said he’d beat the rap but he didn’t. So, as a late teen it was off to prison and a rapid education plus networking in the world of Massachusetts drug distribution. Out of prison at 19 nobody would give him a job so the only way to pay the bills was entry into what they call  the legacy market in the US.Inevitably another spell in prison followed in his mid 30’s at the same time legalization hit the state.This time he came out found work as a budtender, learnt the ropes of a nascent industry and now runs his own consultancy advising cannabis companies how to operate in Massachusetts.But that’s only the half of it Mike has spent his adult life involved in native rights and after seeing a perfunctory report on American news media a decade ago about a children’s hospital in Gaza being attacked he decided to contribute rather than just watch and has opend up a food kitchen in Gaza with a new one to be opened in the Lebanon as we speak.Frankly i can’t understand why it isn’t people like Mike running the Massachusetts CCC and similar state and national organisations rather than the legions of halfwits and less than savoury lawyers that dominate the cannabis NGO space in the country. I doubt he’d want their jobs but the state  and the industry should be paying much more attention to him and people like him if they want something that works and delivers on equity.In a world where the ugly American currently rules the popular imagination it is an honour to speak to the real, authentic soul of the country through Mike and others like him who remind me of the type of characters John Dos Passos wrote about prior to WW2.I’ll be speaking to Mike in the next couple of months about his work in the middle east.The Massachusetts CCCAll they do is screw around in a conference room, it’s a shit showMassachusetts Cannabis MarketSaturation, there’s  too much cultivation,  way too much retail , too much of everything. Mass is currently producing 10x of the distillate and biomass that it estimated the market of the state needsMost important changes that need to be made in the state?Make access for medical patients easierConcentrate on education normalise cannabisTalking about the Netherlands & The USThe coffeeshop vibe, I think that’s the right approach. In the states it was Business 101  straight out of the gate and there’s an element of failure in thathttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-304-mike-fantasia-massachusetts-cannabis-felon-to-cannabis-consultant-who-also-runs-a-food-kitchen-in-gaza/

The koalas talk with Craig about his experience of being arrested on a cannabis conspiracy charge, spending 19 years in a Federal prison and being released in the first Trump administration to home confinement under the Covid scheme designed to help older vulnerable detainees with health issues.You would have thought that’s where his troubles might have ended, but no, the politics of non-profits involved in aiding the release of non violent cannabis prisoners were about to add a few more chapters to the saga that still sits with him today.Read morehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-303-craig-cesal-federal-cannabis-prisoner-19-years-discusses-oversight-in-the-role-of-non-profits-involved-in-advocating-the-release-of-incarcerated-individuals/

The Karma Koalas have for a long time wanted to speak to somebody in Nepal, so it is an absolute pleasure to converse with Pratik Karki Co-Venturer, Chairperson and CEO of the wonderfully named ReEvolution JV who look to spread the message of high quality hemp fibres and products from Nepal to the world through a sustainable and co-operative approach to growing, production and distribution.Anyone who is a serious follower of political developments outside the North Americal imperial bubble will know that out there in the hinterlands there’s been a Gen Z led cultural and political revolution in Nepal that aims to change the country from top to bottom and talking to Pratik he epitomizes those changes in thinking.. not the old guard, not the maoists but something new for the 21st century that draws on the country’s community and spiritual beliefs without forgetting that they are part of a bigger wider world.We talk, hemp, cannabis, India, China, sustainability and capitalism, Buddhism and more.These young Nepalese want to do things differently and in hemp and cannabis their thinking is a very refreshing antidote to what i’m reading daily about “the industry” .Pragmatism & practicality not forgetting community, sustainability and spirituality whilst engaing with the world, capital & technology that adds rather than detracts. Pratik’s tagline is “Steering Holistic Development”. Sound good to me.As always I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

Another wonderful conversation for the koalas that will lead to a couple more before we leave Joseph alone!Joseph came to hemp via a series of, as Lemony Snicket would put it, unfortunate events.But those events led to inquisitive acts, research,  political action and global connections and consolidation.On the way he ended up in the Kentucky Governor’s office as well the state’s Supreme court along with his newfound fellow traveller, actor Woody Harrelson and also connecting with hemp activists and experts around the world.Once again it is a story of the people vs capital and politics, but that is as it is,  and Joseph’s telling of the story explains why in the end why he and all like him are on the right side of history.I’m not one much for old testament analogies as I veer towards Mr Hitchen’s view of religion, but that being said,  the story of Joseph and his coat of many colours rising from slavery to save Egypt from famine has somewhat of a hemp / cannabis ring to it.Thankyou Joseph and I look foward to our next chat to discuss all those things happening in hemp at the moment that give us reason the celebrate.More at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-301-josesph-hickey-snr-adventures-in-hemp-totally-different-from-any-crop-out-there-it-can-house-clothe-feed-medicate-you-yet-capital-and-politics-conspire-to-control/