Advertise on podcast: Hempresent

Doug McVay is a longtime drug policy reform advocate, researcher, and journalist. Doug has spent decades challenging the War on Drugs and pushing for policies rooted in public health, harm reduction, and human rights. He’s best known for his work with Drug War Facts and for elevating voices directly impacted by prohibition. Doug’s radio program, Free Culture Radio, airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, Oregon, and is also distributed via Pacifica. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Michael Krawitz is a U.S. Air Force veteran, longtime patient advocate, and one of the most influential voices in international medical cannabis policy. Michael has spent decades working at the intersection of veterans’ health, human rights, and drug policy reform. He served as a key civil society participant in the World Health Organization’s first-ever scientific review of medicinal cannabis — a historic process that helped reshape global scheduling policy. He also represents patients at the United Nations through the IACM Patient Council, where he advocates for non-discriminatory access to medical cannabis worldwide. Beyond global policy, Michael has been sounding the alarm about cannabis biopiracy, working to protect indigenous genetics and traditional knowledge. He’s also helping advance cannabis appellations, which aim to preserve regional plant heritage while supporting small farmers and patient choice. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Joy Beckerman has been involved in the hemp movement and industries for over 30 years, and her extraordinary knowledge and passion for this versatile, valuable crop is contagious! Often referred to as a "hemp encyclopedia," Joy is the Principal and Senior Paralegal at Hemp Ace International, a Seattle-based consulting, legal support, and expert witness firm serving the global hemp industries. She is also a sought-after regulatory specialist in the rapidly developing field of non-intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jasmine Johnson is the force behind GŪD Essence. Her Florida-based vertically integrated cannabis wellness company blends ancestral plant wisdom with cutting-edge clinical research, “building a bridge between cultural healing traditions and modern neuroscience." Jasmine talks about the journey, the vision, and the community power behind GŪD Essence, its emphasis on customer education, culturally informed research, equitable hiring, and its new Clearwater dispensary. Jasmine believes this moment represents both a homecoming and a bold new chapter for cannabis wellness in Florida, and she tells us why. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Michael Dalle Molle serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Mariposa Technology, where he oversees daily business operations, communications, and brand management. He is an entrepreneur, teacher, business advisor, and environmentalist with almost a decade of professional experience as a sustainability advocate in the design and construction industry. Before entering the cannabis industry, Michael taught at the Tulane University School of Architecture and ran his design+build studio in New Orleans. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lynnette Shaw is a trailblazing medical marijuana activist best known as the first legally licensed cannabis dispensary operator in the United States. As the founder of the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Fairfax, California, she became a central figure in the fight for patients’ rights after the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996.  For decades, Shaw battled DEA raids, federal injunctions, and financial ruin, refusing to back down even when the government tried to brand her a criminal. Lynnette’s work laid the foundation for today’s medical and recreational cannabis industries, though she remains outspoken about the movement’s roots in compassion, human rights, and grassroots activism rather than corporate profit. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Alicia Deals is a trailblazer in Arizona’s cannabis industry and a leading advocate for equity and justice. Drawing on her personal experience navigating the legal system after her father, Robert Deals, received an 18-year sentence for a cannabis-related conviction, she has made it her mission to reform the industry and help those still incarcerated for marijuana offenses.  Alicia is a social equity license holder and the first Black woman to own and operate a cannabis dispensary in Arizona. She partnered with Cookies, the international cannabis brand founded by Berner, to open the state’s first Cookies dispensary in Tempe.  Kaitlin DiMaggio is the founder and managing attorney of DiMaggio Law Office, a Scottsdale-based law firm dedicated to defending the rights and dignity of individuals navigating Arizona’s criminal legal system.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kim Richards possesses over 30 years of experience and a distinguished history of accomplishments in the music, film, and television industries. As CEO & Chairman at Allied Artists International, Inc., he has earned more than 70 gold, platinum, and diamond records, as well as numerous Grammy and Emmy nominations.  Chief among his credits is Pink Floyd's "The Wall," which has been certified diamond, selling 23 million copies, making it the third highest-grossing album of all time, behind only the Eagles' Greatest Hits and Michael Jackson's Thriller.  Richards' video productions have won at both the New York and Cannes Film Festivals. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Brad Zerman is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience founding and operating businesses in highly regulated industries, including cannabis, payments, and financial services. He is the founder and CEO of Seven Point Cannabis Dispensary and previously led one of Illinois’ first licensed dispensaries before selling it to a public company. Zerman also personally benefits from the medical effects of cannabis, which fuels his passion for building a responsible and community-focused cannabis ecosystem.  Beyond cannabis, Brad built and sold major companies in ATM operations and payment processing, managing thousands of machines and billions in transactions while ensuring compliance and security. His extensive regulatory, security, and financial expertise positions him as a strong leader in the evolving cannabis industry Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Todd McCormick's life’s work has been deeply rooted—literally and figuratively—in the fight for cannabis freedom. Todd is a lifelong cannabis activist, medical marijuana patient, author, and cultivator who has dedicated decades to advancing both the science and the culture of the plant. From being diagnosed with cancer at a young age and discovering the healing benefits of cannabis to playing an active role in medical marijuana research, Todd has lived the movement from the inside out.  His activism has taken him from courtrooms to grow rooms, from writing and speaking to hands-on cultivation, all while standing firmly for patient rights, legalization, and education. He’s written the influential book How to Grow Medical Marijuana and edited Jack Herer’s landmark hemp and cannabis book The Emperor Wears No Clothes. Today, breeder Todd is eager to share his years of expertise with the world through his seeds. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jason Dunlap is a photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, where he runs a studio producing cannabis-focused content, documentaries, and unscripted material in the historic Wiltern. With a career spanning fashion, music, and art industries, Jason has been documenting the cannabis space since 2003, capturing the work and stories of pioneers like Eddy Lepp, Jack Herer, Dennis Peron, Lynnette Shaw, and many more. His work blends cultural insight with visual storytelling, preserving the history and evolution of cannabis for a new generation. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Stoney Tark is a prolific writer based in Europe who is known for his articles about cultivation, breeding, hash making, interviews, and especially his top tips. Over the last 11 years, he has become one of the most recognized writers in the cannabis industry. Stoney is or has been the head cultivation writer for various magazines, including Soft Secrets, High Times, Skunk, Garden Culture, Weed World, The Emerald, Cannabis Culture, Dutch Passion, The Super Sativa Seed Club, Paradise Seeds, Humboldt Seed Organization, Atami, and ILGM. Stoney is also a breeder for Prana Medical Seeds, sponsored by SANlight, and he is the author of Stoney Tark’s Top Tips on Growing Cannabis available on Amazon. Stoney Tark is a producer of the YouTube channel The Roll Models Podcast. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tim Gruver reports for the Washington Observer in Olympia on housing, labor, and the environment. He's also a 2020 Poynter-Koch Media fellow whose work has appeared in Politico, The Oregonian, and Pluribus News. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jeff “The Dude” Dowd is an American film producer and political activist. He was a member of the "Seattle Seven," who were jailed for contempt of court following a violent protest against the Vietnam War.  He later moved to Los Angeles and became an independent movie producer and promoter, producing such films as Zebrahead. He met the Coen brothers while they were promoting their first film, Blood Simple. He was subsequently a key inspiration for their character Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski from the acclaimed movie The Big Lebowski. In 2011, Dowd was the subject of an 18-minute documentary short directed by Jeff Feuerzeig, which was broadcast on the USA Network as part of its "Character" series. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Since 1990, Christopher Boucher has been recognized as a co-founder of the modern-day American Industrial Hemp Industry. Chris founded The Hempstead Company, one of the first U.S. hemp clothing and seed businesses, with products sold in 4,000 stores across six countries.   He co-founded the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), and became America's first hemp cultivator, growing the first hemp research field at the USDA Center in Brawley, CA, in 1994.  Chris drafted the first U.S. hemp legislation in California and Colorado, leading to the establishment of the first hemp agricultural laws in these states and the U.S. From 1997 to 2000, Chris helped pass the first Native American hemp laws on the Navajo reservation. Currently, he has developed a breakthrough innovation with hemp leaf CBDA superfoods. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy