The Cannabis Connection

Shawn Colligan is a Santa Cruz, California native and cannabis industry pioneer. Born and raised on the Central Coast, he co-founded Lemon Tree and secured his own residential agriculture cannabis license in 2019. Over the years, he has collaborated with artists including Young Dolph, Kool John, and B-Legit, while earning recognition and awards at events such as High Times. Drawing on deep roots in both cultivation and culture, Shawn brings authentic insight, industry experience, and a loca...

Aaron Zeeman, better known as Professor Potgrower, is a Hawaiʻi Island cultivator, breeder, author, and cannabis culture writer who has spent more than 30 years in Hawaiʻi. He is the founder of Big Island Genetics, author of The Hemp Ritual Handbook: A Slightly Disrespectful Guide to Cannabis Culture, and a contributor to SKUNK Magazine. His work focuses on Hawaiʻi’s legacy genetics, the people and culture that preserved them, and what has been gained — and...

Our guest today is Danny Sheehan. Danny is a constitutional litigator who has worked on some of the most important cases in modern American history. From the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal to Iran-Contra, Danny now serves as Chief Counsel, President & Co-Founder of The Romero Institute. We explore the importance of mobilizing the citizenry to vote this coming November. We encourage everyone to join the Voting Rights in America town hall on September 19 at the 418 Project...

Today, we welcome Kerry Hurley, NorCal Weed Gal, an Emerald Triangle native and cannabis culture historian. At 16, she consciously decided to become a regular cannabis consumer to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol, drugs, or other addictions, like shopping. As a teen, Kerry noticed that every adult had a "vice" and wanted to design her life to avoid waking up at 30 and finding herself with a life-altering addiction. Kerry's parents were both civil servants and very responsible hippie cannabis con...

This week, we welcome Brian Applegarth, who is in town to celebrate Wo/Mans Alliance for Medical Marijuana WAMM and its place in Santa Cruz and California cultural history, adding it as a cultural landmark to the Cannabis Trail. The Cannabis Trail is a California cultural tourism initiative that preserves and shares the people, places, and stories that helped shape California cannabis history. Brian Applegarth is the owner and founder of Applegarth Intelligence, also known as A-Intel, a...

Richard Jergenson lives in the Emerald Triangle in the beloved community of Willits. Richard is a product of Berkeley, the baby boomer generation, and the 1960’s counterculture, as well as a co-founder of the Protopipe business, over 50 years ago. Richard is a natural archivist; as a young historian from the 1960’s Richard began saving and storing the amazing posters, books and cultural icons of the times, which continues to be a lifelong passion. The Counterculture Museum and Archive i...

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show, we welcome back Grant Palmer, CEO of Canna Cruz Dispensaries. Founded in 2008, Canna Cruz has grown into California's number one privately owned, vertically integrated dispensary chain, with five locations in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Aptos, Salinas, and Seaside—plus its own cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution. Canna Cruz Salinas took home 1st place in Best Dispensary, Central California, at the 20th Anniversary Emerald Cup. Grant has a unique an...

Canyon Creek Family Farms is a legacy, small outdoor family-owned and run farm in the Trinity Alps, Trinity County. Owner-operators Michael and Lorien Curran have a combined 50+ years of cultivation experience; this is Michael’s 32nd season growing cannabis here in Canyon Creek, where he was born and raised. Using organic and regenerative farming techniques, native soil, and alpine snowmelt, we grow unique strains for solventless extraction and flower for our small-farm collective brand POET,...

This week on the show, we welcome Michael Strupp to discuss his work pheno-hunting and cultivating some of the finest, award-winning cultivars in California. My personal goal this week was to investigate the source of this year's award-winning Dutch Treat cultivar, which captivated my imagination and evoked the nostalgic glory days of some of my first smokes, trim rooms, and grows. Michael and I explored his roots, cultivating the legendary Bubba Kush (U2 Mendo Cut), Mendo Purps, ...

Happy 710! Really enjoyed this chat with Ian. We covered deep insights into the history of key cultivation hubs across Humboldt County. We explored cannabis as a psychedelic and catalyst for neuroplasticity, contributing to protest movements across California. We also do a nice genetics segment shedding light on key lines from the Emerald Triangle and beyond. Ian C. H. Hogan is a writer from the outlaw cannabis era. He got his degree in chemistry from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2009. He start...

Today on the show, we welcome Genine Coleman to discuss the Legacy Cannabis Genetics: People and Their Plants Research Dissemination Event on June 26, 2026, from 1:30-4:30 PM at the Capital Events Center in Sacramento. This Free public event will present findings from a first-of-its-kind, multi-year community-based participatory research project examining California's legacy cannabis genetics and the communities that steward them. Funded by Proposition 64 cannabis tax revenues ded...

Today, we welcome Cole Chapman of High Hill Cannabis! High Hill Farms is a fully permitted, owner-operated cannabis farm nestled in the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Spanning 15,000 sq ft, we cultivate 100% organic, sustainable, and regenerative cannabis in native soil. Our plants thrive in greenhouses, basking in natural sunlight, with cool nights and warm days contributing to the exceptional quality of the cannabis we produce. Committed to a healthy, clean lifestyle, we prioritize environ...

April is the creator of Weird Spooky Storytime and the spooky girl persona @spookygirl831. With a B.A. in Social & Behavioral Science and a passion for research, April began diving into local history, folklore, legends, and paranormal stories throughout Santa Cruz and the surrounding areas. What started as late-night research rabbit holes eventually turned into creating videos about the strange and unexplained stories she was uncovering, and she never looked back. Fascinated by the parano...

Budularo is a family brand. Founded by Tony Budularo, his son Isaac, and his son-in-law Dave Perkins. Tony Budularo has been growing for 53 years and is a world-renowned connoisseur known to have received many proven genetics from all over the world. His seed collection is coveted by growers from many continents. Led by his son Isaac and Dave, Budularo cultivates long-flowering sativas and hazes in a light-dep greenhouse in Mendocino County, many of which are exclusive to Budularo. Their pass...

Happy 420! This 420, we welcome James Leitz, the Creator and Executive Producer of the California Cannabis Awards & Experience at the California State Fair. With over 30 years in sports, media, and live event production - including two decades at WMEIMG - he's built global campaigns and experiences for some of the world's biggest brands. Today, he focuses on emerging industries, helping shape the future of cannabis through large-scale, culturally relevant events. Loved this conversa...

This week on the show, we welcome Jeremy Warren and Richard Philbrook of Dark Heart. Founded in Oakland, California in 2007, Dark Heart helped shape the modern cannabis industry through pioneering work in tissue culture, pathogen detection and large-scale genetic development-protecting and advancing the plant through years of meticulous cultivation. Jeremy Warren is the Director of Plant Genetics at Curaleaf. Jeremy has a PhD in Plant Pathology from UC Davis, has been leading Dark...

This week, we welcome Vanessa Lovarato to the show to share her wisdom on integrating weed into your favorite dishes and indulgences, such as chocolate, butter, and beverages. Born in California and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, television host, chocolatier, and food writer Vanessa Lavorato graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in art history and Italian. But the biggest lesson she took from school was that her calling sat at the crossroads of entrepreneurship, food, and cannabis. In ...

Today on the show, we welcome Kagyu of Coastal Seed Genetics. Our last show was 9 years ago. Kagyu's first cannabis garden in Santa Cruz was in 1969, and he has over 50 years of experience cultivating and preserving landrace lines. At Coastal Seed Co, our mission is to preserve and advance legacy plant genetics with integrity. We are committed to safeguarding heirloom and landrace lines, producing vigorous and reliable seed stock, and keeping authentic breeding traditions alive for futu...

Today on the show, we welcome Alex Tice to discuss Arizona Cannabis, Skateboarding Culture, Self Expression, and Radical Habits. Alex Tice is the COO and CRO of Flow Distribution and a founding member of the company, where he leads sales, manufacturing coordination, product development, and marketing strategy. He played a key role in growing Flow into one of the largest cannabis distributors and manufacturers in Arizona, while also helping shape the 22Red brand. Rooted in the skateboard...

Today on the show, this one is a long time coming, years in the making. Welcome Reba! Reba, also known as Grateful_Cultivator, is a friend of cannabis. She has been cultivating since the Prop 215 days in the late '90s in Humboldt. She has a deep reverence for the plant, healthy soils, and wild spaces, with experience in most cultivation methods and particular expertise in organic and regenerative cultivation, as well as organic integrated pest and pathogen management. Please check out h...

Today on the show, we welcome Q, Miguel, and Raven of Renegade Theater speaking about their April production of Reefer Madness. Renegade Theater Co. is a community-based theater company in Santa Cruz, CA. Renegade is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit that creates theatrical productions meant to challenge the standard expectations of theater. The show benefactor for Reefer Madness is The Last Prisoner Project. Gennevie "Q" Herbranson has served as the board president of Renegade Theater since its...

Indicus “Indy” Riggs owns and operates Galactic Farms, a second-generation regenerative farm and apiary. Indy is a founding member of the Cooperative Agriculture Network (CAN), an organization that aims to facilitate the development of cooperative enterprises in the agricultural sector. He is the vice-chair of the Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA) Board of Directors, a member of HCGA's policy committee, and a regional council representative for Origins Council. In addition to his ...

Barron Lutz is the founder of Nasha Hash, a Humboldt-based company specializing in premium solventless hash. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Barron has dedicated his career to refining cold water extraction and advancing solventless techniques inspired by traditional Himalayan methods. Known for his technical innovation, he has designed and developed custom washing and processing equipment to improve quality, efficiency, and consistency. Since founding Nasha Hash in 2016, Barron ha...

What do Neville Shoenmakers, Brownie Mary, Dennis Peron, Lawrence Ringo, and Rick Simpson have in common? Harry E. Rose. Today on the show, we welcome Harry Rose to share his life story and experience making medicine, healing others, and himself through the power of this sacred plant. Harry Rose is a Cannabis Industry Consultant, Cultivator, and Manufacturer currently holding 3 California state licenses in Humboldt County for legacy mixed light cultivation, Type 6 manufacturing, and di...

Today on the show, we welcome Pete Olander. We explore how cannabinoids like CBD can serve as a secret sauce to complement formulating clean and safe phyto therapies to optimize wellness. We know the wellness trend will not go away, and we can also branch out into the world of functional mushrooms, terpenes, and other compounds that can assist the horsepower behind THC to provide us with our desired state of well-being. Pete Olander is the founder behind Happie, a company built on the b...

Today on the show, we welcome John Casli of Huckleberry Hill Farms. Huckleberry Hill Farms is a legacy craft cannabis farm nestled in the hills of Southern Humboldt County. Founded by John Casali, who was raised on this very land during the Back to the Land Movement, the farm is built on a deep commitment to sustainability, community, and honoring tradition. After serving 17 years in the federal system for cultivating cannabis, John returned to continue the legacy he began with his late mothe...

Today on the show, we welcome Shanon Taliaferro of the Mateel Community Center to discuss Reggae on the River 2026! We explore Humboldt County history, the decades-long tradition of music festivals, kindred spirits between Jamaica and Northern California, and the ongoing legacy of love in healing through music and community. We look forward to Reggae on the River 2026, and we encourage you to consider a pilgrimage to the Lost Coast to explore the wonders of the redwoods in Humboldt and beyond.

Today, we welcome Justin Lee, the CEO and Founder of Ay Papi, an award-winning regenerative organic craft solventless brand innovating and pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the plant. Ay Papi is a health and wellness company specializing in award-winning craft solventless products. Ay Papi is committed to sourcing and phenohunting the cleanest sungrown regenerative cannabis through collaborations with legacy farms. Ay Papi is on a mission to bring the community rare,...

Today on the show, we welcome Eric & Jill of Hogwash Pharms and Most Wanted. Hogwash Pharms is a family owned and operated farm operating off-grid in Humboldt County-the cannabis heartland of America-known for its old growth redwoods, the lost coast, and traditional cannabis. Located in the Mattole watershed, growing seed cultivars adapted to our microclimate and created on-site. Hogwash Pharms’ THC & CBD strains are grown outdoor in full sun, using stored water from well ...

Today on the show, we welcome Dylan Mattole of Mattole Valley Sungrown from Honeydew, CA. Join us for an inspiring conversation behind the award-winning flowers and hash from the finest Clear Waters of the Emerald Triangle. At Mattole Valley Sungrown, we are a family homestead farm. We are connected to this land. We believe that if we care for this land as stewards, it will, in turn provide nourishment and fulfillment for us. Everything we do, we do with intention and purpose.&nbs...

Today on the show, we welcome Melanie and Craig of Alpenglow Farms. We connected in Las Vegas at the MJBowl awards, where Alpenglow won the MVP award for Best Outdoor Flower in California for their Jack Herer. This was a cathartic and inspiring conversation. I hope you enjoy. Welcome to Alpenglow Farms, our off-the-grid homestead where we practice the fine art of growing a garden and a family in the mountains of southern Humboldt County, California. For over two decades, we have poured ...

Viva The Cannabis Connection! Las Vegas edition. This was my first MJ Biz experience, and I was honored to serve as a judge at the first MJ Bowl, a bicoastal cannabis competition. Today, we celebrate the activation, a few MJ Bowl winners, and explore innovators in the industry with in-person interviews live from the Press Room above the expo. We will hear testimony on the floor, connect with the whole team behind Fire King, winners of best Pre-Roll overall MJ Bowl, Dave Peterson o...

There’s been some confusion about what the new federal hemp law means, so we welcome Steve DeAngelo to the show. Steve DeAngelo is a lifelong activist, author, and visionary. Steve is the Executive Director of One Plant Alliance. We dive deep into the recent developments with Hemp Laws, infighting within the community, and a way out of the madness, back to the roots of this movement by coming together in love and respect for one plant.

Demystifying the many misconceptions about cannabis with Santa Cruz expert Christopher Carr. We discuss Santa Cruz cannabis history of smugglers, musicians and botanists, the human cannabinoid system and how it relates to our health and so much more fascinating information about this wonderful yet notorious plant. Do humans have a unique connection to cannabis? And if so, can cannabis be considered a plant medicine? YES, a big fat YES according to our cell’s, YES according to recorded h...

Jocelyn and Claudio of Budist join the show to discuss their story and the inaugural MJ Bowl, the first nationally celebrated cannabis competition. Open to licensed brands in California and New York, the MJBowl features two tiers of recognition in each state: MVPs (Most Valuable Products) for first place and All-Stars for second and third place, awarded across every category. The entry window closes on Oct 12, and product transfers are due by Oct 24. Winners will be revealed at an...

Today on the show, we welcome Reggie Weedman of Canna Country Farms. Canna Country is a small multi-generational family farm operated in Southern Humboldt County. Utilizing full sun and organic cultivation practices, Canna Country focuses on genetics bred and selected on the farm for their top-shelf qualities and awe-inspiring effects. Really enjoy talking genetics, terroir, cultivar lineage, and connecting the dots with all themes pot with Reggie Weedman.

Maggie Philipsborn served as the Director of Membership and Education for over six years and is currently responsible for overseeing special projects at the Nevada County Cannabis Alliance. She contributes a wealth of experience in consumer relations, sustainability initiatives and community coordination. Maggie is co-host of the monthly KVMR community radio program, The Good Herb Report, highlighting cannabis news and culture. She resides in unincorporated Nevada City (unceded Nisenan territ...

Today on the show, we welcome Warren Bobrow. Warren is the "Cocktail Whisperer", a culinary innovator who bridges craft spirits, botanical traditions, and cannabis. His six books are: Apothecary Cocktails Whiskey Cocktails Bitters and Shrub Syrup Cocktails Cannabis Cocktails The Craft Cocktail Compendium Whiskey Cocktails Apothecary Cocktails (French version) Bobrow has published six books on mixology and written articles for Saveur magazine, Voda magazine, Forbes Magazine, Whole Foods-...

Today on the show, we welcome Matt, aka @dela_831sc. I first met Matt a decade ago when we opened Santa Cruz's largest cannabis dispensary, KindPeoples Collective. He is an encyclopedia of cannabis genetics and very well-versed in the crosses of the best breeders in cannabis. He continues to collaborate with notable breeders, including Bob Hemphill, Berner, CSI: Humboldt, Notsodog, and others. We explore cannabis lineage lore, the Santa Cruz Cannabis paradise, and the intersection of surf, sk...

Pat Malo was one of our first guests on the show a decade ago. Long-time community advocate and General Manager at Envirocann, Pat, shares his positive perspective on how right now is the best time in cannabis, minus the money. We also cover how the world has better access to a diverse selection of genetics and how Santa Cruz's culture of excellence in cannabis continues to make an impact around the world.

The Drive-Time Show with DJ Sage interviews Christopher Carr on KBCZ 89.3 about Ancestree and the upcoming KBCZ Music Festival, Saturday, August 9.

Today on the show, we welcome Edgar Peña, also known as Masonic Smoker, ⁠@masonicsmoker4.0⁠ is a Los Angeles-born, Compton-based home grower and breeder. He’s best known for creating Wilson and many other popular strains, and runs masonicseeds.co, where his passion for plants comes to life. Edgar is the founder of Free Seed Day in Los Angeles, a community-driven event that gives back through free genetics. He’s a dedicated husband, loving father, and animal lover. Today on the show, we welcom...

Today on the show, we welcome Del Potter to discuss his unique experience blending science, spirit, and survival in the underground, from psilocybin to sensimilla, as he travels the world to shed light on elevating craft cannabis and the future culture of connoisseurship in California.

Christopher Carr shares as a guest on Good Morning Monterey Bay, interviewed by Rosemary Chalmers, regarding the state of California Cannabis. We explore recent excise tax increase, AB 564, California Cannabis Awards at the CA state fair, and more!

Today, we welcome Brian Malin! Join us for a special in-person kitchen table conversation live from our family's ranch. Brian Malin is widely considered one of the Cannabis Industry's top experts on organic cultivation, so much so that when California decided to establish an organic certification program for Cannabis (OCal), it was Malin they called to help them write the rules. Founded in 2006, Vital Garden Supply is one of the nation's top organic nutrient companies, offering 20 certi...

On January 2025 The Moss Landing battery fire, a significant incident at Vistra's energy storage facility, caused widespread concer and disruption. The fire occured in a building housing thousands of lithium-ion batteries, triggering evacuations and raising concerns about the safety of large battery installations. Becky Steinbruner of the Community Matters show joins us to discuss a coalition of citizens with the goal to have Board of Supervisors approve a temporary moratorium on grid-scale l...

Today on The Cannabis Connection show, we welcome compost master/garden gnome/human tractor/animal whisperer/plant conductor/proud papa Daniel of Radicle Herbs & Folk Life Farm. Radicle Herbs cannabis is grown in the ground under the influence of the cosmos. Winner of the Emerald Cup Regenerative Farm Award in 2018, Radicle Herbs is a small-scale, diversified Cannabis farm that cultivates products that have a positive effect on us and the environment. Located in Round Valley, just...

Today on The Cannabis Connection show, we welcome Joey Burger, Educator, Consultant, and farmer. We dive deep into planting season best practices, breeding for your native terroir, selecting good washers for the best hash, legendary hash cultivars, jar tech, and pro tips for selecting the Ridge Sesh & Cured Cup happening Saturday, June 7, for the culture. Joey Burger is a Regenerative Cannabis Consultant, Dragonfly Earth Medicine Pure Certified Educator, and Permaculture Teacher with ove...

Today on the show, we welcome Jaime Evans, a four-time published Author, Certified Sommelier, and founder of The Herb Somm. Jamie Evans is the founder of The Herb Somm, a culinary-meets-cannabis blog and lifestyle brand focused on the gourmet side of the cannabis industry. She's also a four-time published author, certified sommelier, entrepreneur, and writer specializing in cannabis, infused beverages, wine/spirits, and the cannabis-culinary world.

Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya are well-known and respected worldwide for their knowledge of mindfully cultivated craft cannabis and spiritual guidance. For many years, they have been growing cannabis in native Mendocino soil under the full sun, moon, and stars in the heart of Northern California’s famed Emerald Triangle. Through their commitment to regenerative, responsible farming methods, combined with ancient sacred geometry and practices, they have shared their very special flowers w...

Today on the show, host Christopher Carr welcomes Anil Prajapati, Managing Director of Lille Aeske Arthouse. Lille Aeske organizes this festival in collaboration with White Rabbit Ink and The Vinguard. It is the 4th Annual May Day Festival, two days of music, two stages, and camping in a beautiful setting along the Hwy 1 coast at Pie Ranch.

Today, we welcome Ryan Lee, Plant breeder, scientist, and 25-year friend of David Watson, aka Sam the Skunkman. Ryan and I connect while he is in Amsterdam helping the family. The conversation explores the legendary life of a cannabis silverback and hero. Sam the Skunkman lived 15 years in Santa Cruz, down the road from the Haze brothers, and is responsible for providing the foundation to all the seed banks in Amsterdam. His life's work is behind modern cannabis medicines from GW Pharma...

Al Bundi is known locally as a music MC and artist but has dedicated most of his life to soil and plant science, specifically permaculture, horticulture, and plant breeding. With over 15 years in the cannabis industry, Al is a product of organic permaculture in Agriculture and is taking these approaches to understanding the source of potential benefits for people aned the planet in the vast cannabis genome.

Today on the show, we welcome Chris Cottingham, one of the owners and producers at Santa Cruz Recording Studios, along with legendary producer Jim Wirt. Santa Cruz Recording & Video Production Studios are located on the Westside of Santa Cruz. We explore the Santa Cruz Music Scene over the past 15 years, the role of a producer, and mentoring artists by taking an idea to an album from start to finish.

Today, on The Cannabis Connection Show, we welcome Todd McCormick. We discuss the primary colors of Cannabis and celebrate the life of Sam the Skunkman. Todd McCormick is a former cancer patient who started using cannabis in 1979 under his mother's supervision while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Todd overcame the cancer and went on to become a lifetime advocate for medical cannabis. In 1984, Todd started cultivating cannabis and has never stopped. Beginning in 1994, Todd worked with ...

Today, we welcome Marcus "Bubbleman" Richardson to the show to share his story and celebrate the life of Sam the Skunkman. Marcus "Bubbleman" Richardson is an iconic figure in the cannabis world, renowned for his pioneering work in hemp cultivation and hash production. In the early 1990s, Marcus was at the forefront of the hemp movement in Manitoba, Canada, where he helped to reinitiate hemp growing after a 73-year hiatus His journey then took him to British Columbia in 1996, where he b...

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Taylor Reinhold has discovered his passion for painting vibrant murals and crafting captivating logos. His expertise extends across various creative realms, including design, art curation, and the execution of large-scale installations. Tay's imaginative murals grace locations worldwide, from the streets of Brazil and Costa Rica to the landscapes of Tanzania and Thailand. Within the dynamic community of the Made Fresh Crew collective, he collaborates with fellow...

Today on the show, we welcome Dan Pomerantz from Rebel Grown. Rebel Grown stands for those who live and preserve the cannabis lifestyle. We are the rebels of the past with a lifelong dedication to our craft. Our passion led us on a journey from the East Coast to the Emerald Triangle to work within the heart of cannabis culture and back to the Northeast to share the experiences we learned, lived, and survived. Now, our seeds and cannabis are created and bred organically. Our patients and patro...

Today on the show, we welcome Andy and Pablo, two local musicians and culinary creators. We talk about local Santa Cruz music history, specifically traditional Italian music featuring waltz and mazurka, along with other rare genres of duo string music featuring guitar, mandolin, and banjo. Their new EP, Sounds From Squid Row, is now on Bandcamp. Sounds From Squid Row is a collection of tunes from the 1920s and earlier, Italian string music, and ragtime. It was recorded in Felton, CA, Live to ...

Santa Cruz! California has provided funding to document the history of legacy cannabis genetics in select regions of the State. We are honored to have Santa Cruz represented, and now we would love to connect and hear the history hidden due to prohibition. No doubt Prop 64 and Cannabis policy is flawed. Still, this project is one opportunity to document our Santa Cruz Cannabis Community history and place it in the global context of a new legal era. Please consider contacting me or Dr. Dominic ...

Today on The Cannabis Connection, we welcome Joseph Haggard. What do the California State Fair, a state testing resolution and Woody Harrelson have in common? On the show, we explore all this and some special manifestations for 2025. Joseph Haggard is a farmer at Emerald Spirit Botanicals and co-founder of the Farm Cut Co-operative. He was born and raised in Mendocino County where his family has grown cannabis for over 20 years. Emerald Spirit Botanicals breeds cannabis varietals rich in m...

Greg Rose has a long history of fostering software Developer Communities at various large corporations in Silicon Valley. He is currently a Digital Marketing Manager for the New Paradigm Institute, a public policy and law non-profit based in Santa Cruz. The New Paradigm Institute (NPI) is focused on UFO disclosure and transparency. NPI is an initiative of the Romero Institute, which has a 50-year history of seeking justice and holding powerful people and institutions accountable.

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show, we welcome Jason Ortiz of the Last Prisoner Project. Jason Ortiz is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project. Jason was arrested for simple cannabis possession at the age of 16 in Norwich, CT, and that experience inspired him to become a cannabis justice advocate. After graduating from the University of Connecticut in Storrs with a degree in Public and Community Engagement, He was one of the founding board Members of the Minori...

This week on The Cannabis Connection Show, we welcome local comedy Sherpa DNA! Over the last 18 years, DNA has presented 2000 comedy shows in Santa Cruz and 11 festivals. Over 80% of these shows were free because he believes in building community through laughter. He recently signed to Punch Line Records and will be recording it at The Kuumbwa in March. DNA was Timothy Leary's chauffeur, a 5x mayoral candidate in Chico, had a hit song on radio stations in NorCal in the 90s, is vegan, a journa...

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show we welcome our good friend Jason Matthys of Equilibrium Genetics to discuss helping small farmers, cannabis policy, areas to improve for legacy operators, failing corporate cannabis, oral history’s of cannabis, Hawaiian cannabis culture and more. Founded in 2012 by Jason Matthys, Equilibrium Genetics is based in Mendocino County, California. All seeds available from Equilibrium Genetics are the product of years of collecting, preserving and hybridiz...

Today on The Cannabis Connection we welcome Will Moxham of Woodhouse Blending & Brewing. Woodhouse Blending & Brewing is an evolving project created to bring Santa Cruz more small batch craft beer, and showcase amazing talent and creativity. We want to be a major moving part within our community, and to be a place for everyone to come together and experience all that our beautiful city has to offer! We are a space that celebrates other entrepreneurs and creators - makers in every form...

The Bohemian Chemist was started by Jim Roberts and Brian Adkinson, partners in business and in life. Jim is a second generation cannabis cultivator, operating his family property Sugar Hill Farm and founder of The Bohemian Chemist, a micro-business showcasing sun-grown flower from Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. At the farm, Jim has been focusing in on minor cannabinoids and broad cannabinoid profiles as well as preservation work with landrace and heirloom cultivars. He has been collaborating w...

Matthew is one of the original farmers of the Lemon Tree Organics. Matthew and his brothers farmed Lemon Tree before the name and brand were created, initially called Lemon Diesel. As Prop 215 evolved into Prop 64, Matthew navigated the switch, jumped through the hoops, and successfully ran a fully licensed farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains called Rasta Cruz Farm. He recently crossed the Lemon Tree with Wedding Cake and created Tree Flip. Matthew crossed the Lemon Tree with a GMO, a Garlic Mus...

Daniel Morford comes from a legacy of cannabis breeders and is a third generation ganja farmer with 19 years of experience. Founder of Pride of the Lion Seeds and co-founder with his father of Heartrock Mountain Farm. This family has been saving and breeding seeds for decades in the mountains of Mendocino County. Daniel has published a book of poetry Love Grows and continues to write, farm, raise babies and make seeds.

Today on the show, we welcome Jacob Beau. This show is for all those wondering how to reach a larger audience and rise from the shadowbans. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Jacob Beau spent 3 years working on Facebook’s paid ads team, gaining deep insights into how the ad algorithm works. He’s using that knowledge to run highly effective ad campaigns on Meta, particularly in highly regulated markets. Recognized for his expertise, CEO Weekly even called Jacob the “human cheat code” to social med...

Bleezy and Old E, two brothers from Mendocino, not only cultivate culture in their original music but were awarded 2024 Emerald Cup Best In Show for their Sun Grown Flower "Headies" at the 20th Annual Emerald Cup. Personal Use Flower 1st Place and 3rd Place for Personal Solventless Concentrate. Their work graced the cover of High Times August 2024 issue, and their farm is in full glory this weekend with an exclusive opportunity to learn from these award-winning farmers and underdog fan favori...

Today on the show, we welcome Daniel Sheehan and Michael Smith to discuss a special gathering happening September 21 and new developments with UFO disclosure. Daniel Sheehan is an acclaimed civil rights attorney at the forefront of the unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) disclosure and transparency advocacy movement. In 2023, Danny founded the New Paradigm Institute (NPI) as an initiative of the Romero Institute. NPI's mission is to inform the public of the facts surrounding the UA...

Today on the show we welcome Genine Coleman! We discuss documenting the Legacy of California Cannabis. Proposition 64, the California cannabis legalization ballot initiative passed in 2016, created cannabis-specific taxes. A portion of these cannabis tax revenues are used to fund cannabis research initiatives through California’s public universities. On April 25th, 2023 the California Department of Cannabis Control awarded $2.7 million dollars to a group of academic researchers, scientists, a...

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show we welcome Grant Palmer ⁠@phenothepuppy⁠ CEO of Canna Cruz Dispensaries. ⁠@thecannacruzcollective⁠ started back in 2008 with locations in Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Salinas. Canna Cruz Salinas ⁠@cannacruzsalinas⁠ won 1st place Best Dispensary Central California for the 20th Anniversary Emerald Cup ⁠@theemeraldcup⁠ last weekend. We will explore his ongoing works in serving the people and cultivating award winning flower.

Today on The Cannabis Connection, we welcome Joel Perez! Joel is the Lead Extractor at Creme De Canna Extracts. He has worked in the industry for over 15 years. Back in 2013, Joel was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, with stage 4 Lymphoma. After multiple biopsies and surgery, Joel underwent a bone marrow transplant. After a relapse, despite years of extreme chemotherapy treatments, Joel had heard of RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) and started taking a gram a day. RSO paired with plant-based diet o...

Sleepy John Sandidge and Luigi Oppido host Christopher Carr live in the Santa Cruz Voice talk studio. We discuss the local music community, the industry, old smuggling and cultivation stories, Sleepy John's run-in with the law, and the potential for growing our Canna-Community as a legitimate and intrinsic part of Santa Cruz in the future.

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show we welcome Andy Lopez-The Invisible Gardener who shared “Don’t panic it’s organic” with the world. The Invisible Gardener grew up in New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Miami Florida, where he learned to use organics from his mother, who naturally grew her fruits and vegetables. In 1972, he founded The Invisible Gardener, Inc. to impact the world’s environmental problems and educate & provide alternatives to chemical products used in the home and garden. ...

Christopher Carr interviewed by Rosemary Chalmers live on Santa Cruz Voice covering major themes from Lookout Santa Cruz's recent article "Cannabis industry's sad state prompts changes across Santa Cruz County" by Christopher Neely. We explore local themes of the need for responsive policy in the county, a prevailing negative social stigma in the City of Santa Cruz and how Watsonville is leading the way with implementing reasonable regulations to keep what remaining Santa Cruz County cannabis...

Welcome Manny Alvarez to the show! We explore regenerative farming, wellness and Manny's experience journeying into the Amazon to heal through ayahuasca ceremony. Manny Alvarez is the highly dedicated and passionate co-founder of Bird Valley Organics, a regenerative farm renowned for its award-winning healing whole plant Full Spectrum Oil (FSO). Manny is committed to educating people about the regenerative agriculture movement. Alongside his partner Terry, they have been creating healin...

Today on The Cannabis Connection show we welcome Cody and Elise of SierraKind. SierraKind is a high-quality, ethically crafted mixed-light cannabis farm with a low carbon footprint born out of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with a perfect growing climate in a fittingly named town, Grass Valley. We use as many natural and organic products as possible, maximizing the sun for sustainable farming, and off-setting our mixed light carbon footprint with solar panels. We gro...

Tom Jenkins author of "The Next Run A UC Berkeley Student's Rise To Major 60s Pot Smuggler". Tom starts by smuggling pot hidden in cars, graduates to planes, resorts to waking sacks through the Rio Grande, and ultimately finds himself heading the Colombian end of an operation with a twin-engine cargo plane dropping bales to waiting speedboats off the coast of Florida. At the same time, his Mexican contacts are sending him tons at a time transported in semis past a bribed customs official. Tom...

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show we welcome Alex Halperin! Alex Halperin’s work on the weed beat has appeared in Fast Company, Slate, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, California Sunday (R.I.P.) and the Guardian, where he wrote the High Time column, an adult’s guide to legalization. He’s written the newsletter WeedWeek since July 2015. Its 11,000+ subscribers include many influential figures in the cannabis world. His book The Cannabis Dictionary (Octopus Books, Hachette) was p...

Dr. Riley Kirk is a cannabis research scientist and a cannabis educator. She obtained her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, specializing in natural product chemistry where she studied the traditional and contemporary uses of hundreds of medicinal plants. She has worked as an immunology scientist in the biotech industry, currently is an assistant associate professor at the University of Rhode Island and works in the cannabis industry on the medicinal value of the chemical synergies within the ...

Earth Rhythm Santa Cruz-based cultivators. Established in 2018, we are focused on quality, small-batch, Soil-Grown loved-up Cannabis, working with the best genetics and community to provide the best cannabis to the people. Fuego Family Farms Santa Cruz cannabis cultivators in living soils with the finest genetics. A small collaborative of Santa Cruz cannabis farmers who have grown, bred, loved, and consumed cannabis plants for most of their adult lives. We have meticulously developed a system...

Today on the show we welcome Seba Beca of @greenmagicyoga to discuss all things psychedelic, technology and AI, ethics and safety, music + more. Seba (he, him) is a licensed psychotherapist based in Santa Cruz, specializing in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy. Seba has trained with CIIS, Polaris and other medicine communities as well as in Gestalt Therapy and incorporates mindfulness, ecotherapy and somatic awareness practices as a means to support clients and groups heal from trauma, depre...

Javiera “Javi” Kostner (she/her) is an Advanced Therapeutic Yoga teacher, Mindfulness-Based Psychedelic Therapist & Guide, Breathwork Facilitator and Coach. Specializing in Trauma Recovery Yoga and Mindfulness-Based Somatic practices, and cannabis specialist, Javi is a Ganja Yoga training lead and steward. Her sessions are infused with cannabis, community, relaxing vibes, grounded spirituality, and a touch of Latino spice. Originally from Chile, Javiera is a bilingual cannabis guide, and ...

Jesse Daniel has been a well respected name within traditional country music fans for years. Known for his relentless work ethic, roaring live shows and true to life songwriting, he has earned his place among the heavy hitters of today’s industry. The California native is blazing the trail for a new wave of traditional artists, bringing his kind of country music to stages all over the world. With three full length studio records and a newly released live album, he continues to rival the great...

This week on The Cannabis Connection show we debut our first local showcase of Santa Cruz restaurants to enjoy starting with Watsonville's traditional Japanese Restaurant Miyuki. We welcome Paul Tashiro on the show to shed light on Japanese culture, traditional dishes and history of Miyuki. Paul Tashiro is the new owner and executive chef of Miyuki Japanese Restaurant, in Watsonville, California. Miyuki has been in business since 1982! Miyuki has generations of families that have been dining ...

Today on the show we welcome ⁠@safaamodir⁠ of ⁠@thebaytals⁠ another installment in our ⁠#santacruz⁠⁠#music⁠⁠#community⁠⁠#showcase⁠. Safaa Modir is a San Jose based musician and leader of the Bay Area Reggae & Ska band The Baytals. As a cannabis enthusiast, he is passionate about the healing potential of the plant for psychological & mental afflictions that he believes are at the roots of humanity’s struggles.⁠#roots⁠⁠#music⁠⁠#831⁠⁠#thecannabisconnectionshow⁠⁠#smileygreen⁠⁠#talkradio⁠⁠...

Today on The Cannabis Connection we showcase our fourth installment celebrating the music community of Santa Cruz with multi-instrumentalist, sound healer and magic maker Justin Mosley! Blessing the world with the healing vibrations of music from a young age, he provides energetic performances with a plethora of instruments: Harp, Flutes, Bass, Piano, Percussion, and more. His life’s purpose is cultivating connection and healing for those suffering from trauma, addiction, and who are recoveri...

Today on the show we welcome Valerie Corral of WAMM Phytotherapies. @wamm_phytotherapies Also, another strong voice in the local Santa Cruz Cannabis Community Bayley Logan of The Hook. @thehookoutlet Lots to discuss and lots to do in the service of compassion and continuing the legacy and leadership in Santa Cruz Cannabis Community. 1:38 - City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission Meeting Outcome 5:45 - Bayley Logan Evolution with Cannabis 8:30 - WAMM Phyto & The Hook Partnership 12:40...

This is our 4th installment of our showcase celebrating #santacruz #music this one been in the works for some time big ups @labratofficial LabRat is not just a music producer, he is a sonic architect pushing the boundaries of sound and creativity. With an insatiable curiosity for the uncharted realms of music, LabRat concocts intricate auditory experiments that connect with listeners on an emotional and physical level. Hailing from the vibrant and eclectic underground music scene of San...

Today on The Cannabis Connection show we welcome our third installment in the Santa Cruz Music Showcase Mak Nova. Mak Nova aka Mak Daddie The Prince, is not your average rapper. She is a true poet; a mystic. Her live and recorded music are often coupled with the words innovative, transformational, and spiritual. She is a sensual, alluring, queer icon.

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show we welcome Eleanor Kuntz and Ryan Harner representing LeafWorks, Candor and Tangled Roots. We will discuss preserving and protecting the work of cannabis breeders. Join us! Tangled Roots Tangled Roots Seed Collection is a place where stories intertwine and journeys converge. Tangled Roots is more than just a seed bank, it's a sanctuary of tradition, diversity, and the shared human experience. The Emerald Triagnle's premier seed bank representing brands li...

Today on The Cannabis Connection Show, we welcome our second guest and installment into our local music showcase, Herb Daly. HERB DALY, a longtime resident of the beautiful Santa Cruz area, has shared his lifelong love of Jamaican music for almost 5 decades. First visiting Jamaica in 1976, he ended up living there for the better part of a year, meeting and working with many of the island’s top artists and musicians, and laying guitar on a number of tracks in the main Kingston recording...

Alwa Gordon- Inspired by Tupac’s lyricism and Mac Dre’s “hyphy” party music influence at a young age, Alwa Gordon’s sound combines melodic rap flows and catchy melodies with beats that make you want to bounce and move. His music is a collection of songs that encapsulates Alwa’s growth over the past few years, with heavy hip-hop lyricism and self produced, independently distributed records that will catch the ears of Drake and J. Cole fans. Mak Nova -Mak Nova is an enigmatic rapper/singer/ per...

Daniel Morford lives off grid in the mountains of Northern California near where he was born and raised by his "back to the land" parents. Daniel is a regenerative farmer, author, and father of three. A lover philosophy, meditation, yoga, and the outdoors. His writing reflects these passions of farming, spirit, nature, and his family. twiter @theheartrockpoet instagram @heartrocks_for_peace 1:40 Wim Hoff Method 3:23 The Seed Office at the Oak Seed Desk 5:20 New Era - Great American Thistle Bo...

Seibo Shen combines the worlds of technology and wellness as an inventor, product designer, and transformation coach. With an impressive track record, he has contributed to the successful exits of six tech companies and led three cannabis brands to win multiple Cannabis Cup awards. Currently, he’s the Chief Innovation Officer at Form Vape Technologies and the head coach at I AM Self Mastery Academy. Beyond his professional life, Seibo is passionate about gardening, meditation, and spending qu...

First Cut Farms, in magical Mendocino County, breeds and produces the highest quality, organically grown cannabis available worldwide. First Cut Farms is rooted in Covelo, in the Heart of the Emerald Triangle. Founder and Cultivator, Jerry Munn is a long-time, passionate cannabis activist with over 30 years of experience in cannabis cultivation and advocacy. His life's journey is dedicated to providing world-class cannabis to you. Jerry has grown and cultivated indoor, outdoor, and hydroponic...