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Episode 24

CBD vs THC: What Every Consumer Should Understand

In this special educational episode of Just Say KNOW with Maria, Maria Calabrese explores one of the most misunderstood topics in cannabis and wellness today: CBD vs THC. Featuring insights from physicians, neuroscientists, cannabis educators, veterinarians, and cannabinoid wellness experts, the conversation breaks down cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, full spectrum vs broad spectrum products, terpenes, product transparency, lab testing, and responsible consumer use. Guests include Dr. David Bearman, Dr. Manesh Girn, Dr. Tim Shu, the Aspen Green team, and educators from Mary Jane University. Whether you’re canna-curious, wellness-focused, or new to CBD, this episode offers an approachable guide to understanding cannabinoids with greater confidence and clarity.

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Episode Transcript

00;00;06;26 - 00;00;42;15
Maria
Welcome to Just Say KNOW where curiosity meets clarity and cannabis education starts with understanding, not assumptions. I'm your host, Maria Calabrese is founder of Green Bee Life. Broadcasting to you from the Inland Empire on KCAA Radio 10:50 a.m. 106.5 FM on your dial or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Today's episode is one I've wanted to do for a long time, because few topics create more confusion for consumers than this one.

00;00;42;17 - 00;01;12;28
Maria
CBD versus THC. You know, we hear these terms constantly. We see them everywhere on gummies, oils, beverages, skincare products, wellness products, dispensary menus, even pet products. But there's still so much confusion around what the difference actually is. Do they work the same way? Does CBD get you high? Why do some people prefer THC while others avoid it entirely?

00;01;13;01 - 00;01;54;26
Maria
And what role do cannabinoids actually play in our bodies? Wait a minute. What the heck even is a cannabinoid? The truth is, cannabis is far more nuanced than most people are led to believe. So the confusion is real. CBD and THC both come from the cannabis plant, but they interact with the body differently and can produce very different personal experiences depending on dosage formulation, consumption method, body chemistry, and everyone's individual tolerance.

00;01;54;29 - 00;02;34;11
Maria
Today we're going to unpack all of it in a way that's approachable, grounded, and educational. Honestly, this is why a growing belief we we work so hard to try to cut through the hype and focus on the education, because the more informed people are, the better decisions they can make for themselves. And that's always been important to me personally, helping people feel less intimidated in this space by being more informed when it comes to cannabis and wellness products.

00;02;34;14 - 00;03;21;04
Maria
So throughout today's program, I'll be joined by voices and experts from past just, you know, conversations, including physicians, cannabis educators, researchers, veterinarians and wellness professionals to help break down cannabinoids. The endocannabinoid system, CBD and THC products. Responsible use and why understanding what you're consuming matters more than ever in today's rapidly evolving cannabis marketplace. Whether you're canna curious, wellness focused, completely new to cannabinoids or cannabis, or just simply trying to better understand the products now flooding the market in our inboxes, this episode is for you.

00;03;21;07 - 00;03;44;01
Maria
So get ready to grow your know with us, because when we come back, we're going to start with the foundation of it all. What are cannabinoids and why does the human body respond to them in the first place? Because, like it or not, cannabis is exploding.

00;03;44;04 - 00;03;56;17
Intro Music
By 2020.,ank of America Merrill Lynch estimate that will grow to $35 billion. And many experts believe it could eventually reach $200 billion each and every year.

00;03;56;19 - 00;04;23;16
Intro Music
You make me feel bad. I know one day I just want everyone to see what happen. Sky blue coming up. Wait till I go higher and you lift me up. Now I can see so much farther. While you’re not rising.

00;04;23;19 - 00;04;30;05
Intro Music
While you’re not rising.

00;04;30;07 - 00;04;42;03
Intro Music
I'm a butterfly who has only begun to give me a while to get it. I had to live and cry. To appreciate life. Then what? You get this way when you hold me.

00;04;42;03 - 00;04;45;29
Intro Music
When your hand is so close. Someone better in under your skin.

00;04;46;01 - 00;04;55;05
Intro Music
When I leave I might. So that I can be sure to remember why I be satisfied.

00;04;55;07 - 00;05;23;09
Maria
Welcome back to Just Say KNOW. I'm your host, Maria Calabrese, and you're listening to KCAA Radio 10:50 a.m. 106.5 FM on the dial or wherever you get your podcast. All right. We're returning to unpacking cannabis CBD versus THC. Before we can truly understand CBD and THC, it helps to understand why cannabinoids affect the body at all. What many people don't realize.

00;05;23;11 - 00;05;53;05
Maria
I didn't. Is that the human body already contains a built in signaling network known as the endocannabinoid system, often referred to as the Ex. I want to revisit part of a conversation. The wonderful physician and cannabis medicine expert, Doctor David Berman, who explains why education around cannabinoids and ECS has become increasingly important with modern medicine in medical schools.

00;05;53;07 - 00;06;28;02
Dr. David Berman
And what's important, I think, is that we get the medical schools to start, educating doctors not only about the endocannabinoid system, which in 2014, only 13% of medical schools did. I think there's a little bit of an increase in that. And we are beginning to see, some medical schools actually have a focus on cannabinoid medicine. UCLA has started a program under the direction of Doctor Jeffrey Chen, UC Irvine, under the direction of Daniel Parmelee.

00;06;28;04 - 00;06;56;00
Dr. David Berman
And the, organization has been around the longest in California at a medical school is the California medical Cannabis Research Center at the University of California, San Diego Medical School. So we need more and more of that, because there aren't enough doctors who appreciate not only the incredible, spread of therapeutic applications of cannabis, but also its impressive safety.

00;06;56;07 - 00;07;05;04
Dr. David Berman
And, it's very mild or modest, side effect profile. One of the things that I think it's important to know is that there's no one size fits all,

00;07;05;06 - 00;07;06;09
Dr. David Berman
Whatever suits you.

00;07;06;14 - 00;07;24;24
Dr. David Berman
And the other thing that I think it's worth mentioning that I tell my patients is just because cannabis was illegal for 75 years doesn't mean that it treats every condition for every person. I mean, some people are going to have some relief from cannabis, some people are going to have a lot and some people it's not going to benefit them.

00;07;24;28 - 00;07;57;05
Dr. David Berman
But the really good thing about cannabis is that it has so few side effects. And the side effects that it has are mild, and all you need to know when you start taking cannabis is to start with a low dose and only slowly increase the dose, because what I found is that with things like anxiety and attention deficit disorder, that relatively low doses of THC, by which I mean two and a half to five milligrams, 2 or 3 times a day is sufficient to provide that anxiety release to help with the focus and concentration.

00;07;57;07 - 00;08;22;22
Dr. David Berman
And I can't recall anybody that ever complained about dysphoria or even euphoria at five milligrams of THC. Basically, we're reinventing pharmacy here. The fact of the matter is, is that cannabis has been in medicine for over 4000 years, and it was in the United States Pharmacopeia from the 1850s until 1942, at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century.

00;08;22;28 - 00;08;57;14
Dr. David Berman
Cannabis was the third most common ingredient in doctors prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, after opium and alcohol, and in the 1920s, American physicians wrote 3 million prescriptions a year that contain cannabis. In fact, in 1937, the American Medical Association, in the person of Doctor Williams Woodward, former Commissioner of Health for Washington, D.C., Health Commissioner for Boston, former president of the American Public Health Association, a doctor and an attorney, and the AMA's chief legal counsel since 1924.

00;08;57;16 - 00;09;19;16
Dr. David Berman
In his testimony, he said that the AMA knew of no, problems with the medical use of cannabis, that there were there's no difficulty with that. And that was in 1937. And by the way, at that time, there were 25 over-the-counter medications that you could get without a prescription available in pretty much every drugstore in, in the land.

00;09;19;23 - 00;09;43;12
Dr. David Berman
So what we have here is one of the most successful propaganda campaigns in history, the fact that, we have used, drug policy to marginalize discriminated against people, ever since, Pope Innocent the sixth declared that cannabis was a tool of the devil in the 15th century. And he did that because it helped relieve the pain of childbirth from women.

00;09;43;12 - 00;10;08;22
Dr. David Berman
And we know that they have that pain because of Eve's sin. Right? And also of course, the midwives, were healing people with herbs, which, to my way of thinking, was God's medicine. And they weren't using faith, or relying on the priests, in order for the healing. So, you know, you have to, you have to burn those witches because the heretics, and we've continued with that.

00;10;08;24 - 00;10;29;03
Dr. David Berman
There's a new book that's going to be coming out, that is sort of designed for nurses and doctors, and I hope it will be used as a textbook. And it covers a lot of the science related to, cannabis, cannabinoids in the endocannabinoid system, called the cannabis medicine a guide to the practice of cannabinoid medicine.

00;10;29;07 - 00;10;56;13
Dr. David Berman
It's, got a lot of science in it, but most of it is readable and understandable. I really appreciate you giving me the opportunity to, bring these to the attention of your audience. The American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine is there to certify those cannabinoid medicine specialists who are practicing good quality medicine. We want to marginalize those doctors like the Doc in Venice Beach, who has the gal in the bikini out in front saying, evaluation is 3995.

00;10;56;19 - 00;10;59;14
Dr. David Berman
Cannabis is a real medicine. It deserves more respect.

00;10;59;15 - 00;11;03;29
Pending 1
Yes, absolutely. We just have to be more proactive and more doctors.

00;11;03;29 - 00;11;04;28
Pending 1
Need to learn more.

00;11;04;28 - 00;11;12;24
Pending 1
About the endocannabinoid system. As well as treating humans with cannabinoid therapy.

00;11;12;26 - 00;11;47;09
Maria
You know, one of the most important takeaways there is that cannabinoid experiences are highly individualized. People ask me all the time, how is it going to make me feel well, how CBD is going to make me feel versus THC. It's individualized. There is no universal response. No one size fits all product and no single cannabis experience. And that's part of why understanding CBD and THC can feel so consuming for so many.

00;11;47;11 - 00;12;35;15
Maria
It could just feel, not consuming part in the bud. It can just feel. That's very funny. It could just feel so confusing for consumers. Cannabis contains far more compounds than most people are led to believe, and researchers are still learning how cannabinoids interact with the body and each other. In this next conversation, cannabis educators and advocates Frances Shauwecker and Barbie Sommars OG founders of the Mary Jane University, they further the conversation in a really relatable and enjoyable way, and they demonstrate why cannabinoid education is so needed and becoming such an important part of modern culture.

00;12;35;16 - 00;12;37;16
Maria
Let's have a listen.

00;12;37;18 - 00;12;41;14
Frances Shauwecker
It really starts with our endocannabinoid system.

00;12;41;16 - 00;12;44;05
Maria
So everybody has an endocannabinoid system?

00;12;44;08 - 00;12;48;25
Frances Shauwecker
Yes. Even in animals, plants, animals and plants.

00;12;48;26 - 00;12;50;20
Maria
Plants. Wow.

00;12;50;21 - 00;12;57;27
Frances Shauwecker
The endocannabinoid system was actually discovered in Israel when they were doing some studies on how does THC work.

00;12;57;28 - 00;13;01;08
Maria
Israel and Canada are probably the most advanced with studies.

00;13;01;10 - 00;13;26;12
Frances Shauwecker
Yes, yes, they were allowed to do this research. And, you know, that was the question. How does THC work? And they actually found that we have a system that's indigenous and it's very individual, much, much like our own fingerprint. So my endocannabinoid system is different from yours and different from Barbie’s is different from Lindsay's. And that's why cannabis is such an individualized medicine.

00;13;26;14 - 00;13;42;22
Frances Shauwecker
Now, when you hear about the endocannabinoid system, what does it do? How does it all work? So this is where the magic, the plant magic actually comes in with these cannabinoids and the terpenenoids That's where all the medicine is in the plant.

00;13;42;24 - 00;13;51;24
Barbie Sommars
I mean. CBD is one thing that really throws people for a loop. There's a lot of confusion. THC and CBD are the two most well known cannabinoids.

00;13;51;25 - 00;13;53;15
Maria
THC is a Cannabinoid.

00;13;53;18 - 00;14;05;03
Barbie Sommars
Yes. And cannabinoid two.

00;14;05;05 - 00;14;14;28
Barbie Sommars
Yes. I love to remind people there’s more than two. You’re really cutting yourself short. If you’re only going to focus on these two. And even people that are all about just CBD because it's non-psychoactive. I love to share with them the benefits of raw cannabis and getting the benefit of full spectrum cannabinoids.

00;14;15;05 - 00;14;36;22
Frances Shauwecker
We don't even know how many chemical compounds are in cannabis right now. We've been able to isolate a few of them and see some benefit from them. We can find out what their therapeutic benefit is. Have you ever had experience with a terpenes before? I wouldn't know. Well, let me ask you a question. Have you ever smelled a rose?

00;14;36;24 - 00;14;41;14
Barbie Sommars
Yeah. Have you smelled lavender? Sure. Then you have plenty of experience with terpenes.

00;14;41;14 - 00;14;43;00
Maria
So they're not specific to marijuana?

00;14;43;02 - 00;14;47;04
Barbie Sommars
No, no. They're how plants talk to each other.

00;14;47;06 - 00;14;48;25
Maria
Yeah. What?

00;14;48;26 - 00;14;59;23
Barbie Sommars
Terpenes. Our nature. Limonene is my. What makes a lemon? Smells like a lemon. Guess what makes lemon haze smell like lemon limonene? It's the same Turpin.

00;14;59;25 - 00;15;09;25
Frances Shauwecker
And what we're finding out about terrapins is that number 100. So it gives it the taste and it gives the smell, but it also gives the therapeutic benefits.

00;15;09;25 - 00;15;35;14
Barbie Sommars
There's a feminine spirit to this. If you believe in plant medicine and into the spiritual side of it. Some plants are categorized as feminine energy and some are masculine. So this is very much a feminine plant, and its roots are in compassion and caregiving. And as women, you know, we're kind of programed to do that. And yeah, I've always felt that way.

00;15;35;16 - 00;16;03;09
Barbie Sommars
And I just love the way some of these growers, I think it's very important to have the plant grown with love and care, because I feel that that translates into the power of the medicine. Yes, we can mass produce it. And that is happening. There's large scale growth and that's one of the side effects of prop 64. But we're still champions of the small grower, and we still encourage people to have their own grow in their house, have a plant, have cannabis as a house plant.

00;16;03;13 - 00;16;29;24
Barbie Sommars
When you start to talk about hemp and also go into the realm of CBD, what I like to say to just really clearly help people understand they are of the same genus. There's the hemp, which is a low resin plant, and cannabis, which is a high resin plant. So the higher resin plants tend to have more cannabinoids and more terpenes and therefore more therapeutic benefits.

00;16;30;00 - 00;16;53;01
Pending 1
Okay. Now single molecule CBD is a very popular product that doesn't speak to whole plant medicine, which we very much are believers of. We believe the plant was meant to be used in its entirety all the cannabinoids, not just the two that we happen to have memorized. There are many, many more than CBD and THC. Also cannabis in its raw form.

00;16;53;01 - 00;17;26;11
Barbie Sommars
We highly celebrate there's therapeutic benefits. Actually, the government's patent addresses that CBDA is the precursor to CBD. So once you apply heat, you decarboxylate it. That's what we say in the industry. So you'll hear people saying is that Decarbed or raw? Both are very important. So the decarb turns THCA, the acidic precursor to THC, into THC. Once you apply heat and that's what gets you high.

00;17;26;13 - 00;17;45;02
Barbie Sommars
But you can enjoy THCA and not get high. You can eat this nug right now and get great therapeutic benefits with no high. Come on. Yes, there's many applications for this in the kitchen too. I even like to get a flower and taste it, you know. Oh, I'm a bud.

00;17;45;03 - 00;17;48;04
Maria
So is this the infamous bud?

00;17;48;07 - 00;17;48;26
Barbie Sommars
Yes.

00;17;48;28 - 00;17;49;29
Maria
So the bud.

00;17;50;02 - 00;18;20;15
Barbie Sommars
Nug. What else can we call it? Fluffy pillow of goodness. Oh, one strain is the right strain for everyone. But as we move towards pharmaceutical companies getting more and more involved in cannabis and sort of creating the strain of their dreams in the laboratory, once we isolate all the different cannabinoids and all the different terpenes, that's already happening from a flavor and mood perspective in the marketing and the branding of cannabis, you see a lot of vape pens.

00;18;20;15 - 00;18;33;04
Barbie Sommars
They don't tell you what strain it is. They call it relax because they've pulled together the cannabinoids that they want. They've created their dream mood.

00;18;33;06 - 00;19;15;23
Maria
You know, it's so true. We often hear CBD and THC discussed as though they are completely separate experiences. But once you find good cannabis education, you realize you come to learn. It's far more nuanced than simply CBD versus THC. Cannabinoid products can affect everyone differently depending on dosage formulation, metabolism tolerance, and your own individual body chemistry. As more educators continue talking openly about cannabinoids, many consumers are realizing and coming to learn.

00;19;15;23 - 00;19;56;27
Maria
There's so much more to cannabis than they may have originally understood. Given the limited information. So, you know, just looking at CBD versus THC, let's just look at CBD, CBD in and of itself. There's isolate, there's broad spectrum. There's full spectrum. And that can become very confusing. So want to have a listen to cannabis educator Barbie Sommers as she breaks down some of the basics behind CBD, specifically while addressing cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system.

00;19;57;00 - 00;20;13;13
Barbie Sommars
There is quite the CBD bandwagon going on right now. That's the hot topic. It's the hot ingredient in skincare, cocktails, food, everything. Everything. Everything. Everything.

00;20;13;15 - 00;20;40;12
Maria
Whether you're new to CBD or have a high level understanding of how it works. With the explosion of new products coming to market containing CBD as an ingredient, let's face it, it's hard to separate the hemp from the chaff. I'm joined by Barbie Sommers, cannabis enthusiast, educator who is the founder of Mary Jane University and High Dinning. So, Barbie, thank you for trying this product.

00;20;40;12 - 00;20;49;23
Maria
I know that you've used cannabis products on your skin for years. Let's just back up and start with what is CBD.

00;20;49;26 - 00;21;11;21
Barbie Sommars
Or CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is an extracted cannabinoid from the cannabis plant or the hemp plant. It is one of over 140 cannabinoids. THC also happens to be one, so we're still learning about all of them. How do they affect our bodies internally and externally? And it's really an exciting frontier.

00;21;11;21 - 00;21;13;18
Maria
So how does CBD work?

00;21;13;21 - 00;21;37;25
Barbie Sommars
Well, CBD interacts with our endocannabinoid system, which all animals have, and that is a network of receptors in our body that interact with these cannabinoids, as well as the ones that we make endogenously, which are called endocannabinoids. These are phyto cannabinoids, which we get from plants. The incorporation of these phyto cannabinoids can help bring our bodies into a state of homeostasis.

00;21;38;00 - 00;21;42;07
Maria
And one of our body's biggest organs is the skin. Exactly.

00;21;42;09 - 00;21;57;00
Barbie Sommars
Which is why people might want to supplement their diet as well as topically inside. And out. With phyto cannabinoids, conceivably, it makes sense to include CBD and other cannabinoids in skincare products.

00;21;57;00 - 00;22;05;03
Maria
There is a difference between a CBD isolate, broad spectrum and full spectrum. So can you just kind of unpack that for us?

00;22;05;05 - 00;22;15;23
Barbie Sommars
Yes, those are the three categories that consumers need to know. So isolate means there's been more laboratory intervention where they've isolated not one particular molecule.

00;22;15;23 - 00;22;16;25
Maria
It's just the CBD.

00;22;16;26 - 00;22;44;05
Barbie Sommars
Just the CBD. Now, there are also scientific studies that report that CBD is much more effective with the presence of some THC, which is why exactly. And that's why I gravitate more towards broad and full spectrum products. That's why I do like this, because it's broad spectrum and actually on the label you can see it has not only CBD but also CBG and CBN, which I think is really great.

00;22;44;06 - 00;22;50;14
Barbie Sommars
Full spectrum and broad spectrum contain more of those cannabinoids and sometimes the terpinoids.

00;22;50;14 - 00;22;56;17
Maria
Have there been any reports on effects of CBD and CBN.

00;22;56;22 - 00;22;57;28
Barbie Sommars
not topically. Internally, yes.

00;22;58;00 - 00;23;03;07
Maria
Topically. We did find a study that CBD is associated with having a moisturizing effect.

00;23;03;12 - 00;23;32;11
Barbie Sommars
Yeah, I read that study you sent me. I do think that there is benefit to my skin. I definitely feel moisturized, which is important to me since I live in a dry climate and I usually have a pretty even skin tone. I don't have any breakouts or inflammation. I'm a believer. Can I attribute it all to CBD? Well, first of all, I normally use full spectrum products or broad spectrum, so who knows, it could be some of those other cannabinoids or other phytochemicals.

00;23;32;17 - 00;23;40;25
Barbie Sommars
And I think it's an additive. I don't mean for it to be a replacement, but I like to add it into my skincare routine.

00;23;40;27 - 00;23;44;19
Maria
And well put.

00;23;44;22 - 00;24;32;06
Maria
And it is an exciting frontier. But another big challenge for today's consumers isn't just understanding the cannabinoids. It's understanding the products terms like full spectrum, broad spectrum isolate, tinctures, gummies, cannabinoids, terrapins. You know, CBD dominant, THC dominant. They're everywhere. And not all cannabinoid products are created equally understanding product quality, sourcing, transparency and lab testing., quality, sourcing, transparency and lab testing has become one of the most important parts of responsible cannabinoid use.

00;24;32;09 - 00;24;56;15
Maria
I want to revisit part of a conversation with the amazing team at Aspen Green about different cannabinoid products, different delivery consumption methods, and what consumers should actually look for when shopping for CBD products. These guys this team is is just fantastic.

00;24;56;17 - 00;25;07;28
Maria
Question. I'd like to talk to you guys about different consumption methods and why someone might choose gummy over a tincture over a topical.

00;25;08;00 - 00;25;09;27
Maria
Who wants to take that?

00;25;09;29 - 00;25;11;06
Stephanie S
I can take it.

00;25;11;09 - 00;25;14;18
Maria
All right. Go for it.

00;25;14;20 - 00;25;49;02
Stephanie S
Yeah. So I would say, some, you know, depending on just like a person's composition and just their metabolize, like how they metabolize food in general. Some people have a better chance at, you know, getting the experience they desire from, let's say like a CBD oil versus a gummy, because gummy is completely contingent on your metabolism. And whereas a sublingual product is going to kind of enter the bloodstream via the receptors in your mouth, and the GI tract plays a very little role in it, that's usually how will guide, you know, customers into choosing

00;25;49;04 - 00;25;53;27
Stephanie S
a gummy versus an oil, or vice versa.

00;25;53;29 - 00;26;13;19
Rebecca A
Yeah. So, at Aspen Green, we work with farmers who are based in Colorado, and the farms themselves also have a USDA, organic certification, which is amazing. They, we work with a couple of main strains of cannabis that they grow for us. And it's kind of broken up between two.

00;26;13;20 - 00;26;34;11
Rebecca A
We have our products, like the relief products, the rest in calm products, all products that are supposed to be a little bit more like relaxing and calming to your system. For those, we utilize hemp plants that are a little bit more like indica leaning. They're all full spectrum. So we utilize all cannabinoids found in the hemp plant.

00;26;34;14 - 00;26;58;16
Rebecca A
But these tend to be more of like a, like a relaxing composition to the plants. And then we also have our bliss products, which is a super popular product that we offer. And we have the bliss oil and gummies and those we use a different plants, those have a higher concentration of like CBDV and THCD, which are cannabinoids that studies have found to be a little bit more like uplifting and energizing.

00;26;58;18 - 00;27;26;06
Rebecca A
So those are a great product for people who are wanting to. Yeah, maybe more like daytime use or just like, you know, feel a little bit more energized and uplifted from taking CBD products, and ask for the quality of the flower, like coming from a, a growing background on small and large scales. I can definitely verify just how insanely difficult it is to not only grow organic, but also to get USDA certified organic.

00;27;26;07 - 00;27;33;07
Rebecca A
Well, so yeah, USDA organic is no like small feat. And I think it's really cool that we offer that.

00;27;33;10 - 00;28;00;17
Maria
It's, very, very rare. And it's, it's it's super impressive, super impressive. And as impressive is their commitment to education and transparency because let's face it, education and transparency matters, not just marketing hype. They can market till the cows come home. But if we don't know what the heck it is they're selling, we're not going to pick up what they're putting down.

00;28;00;24 - 00;28;33;15
Maria
We've got to understand what the choices are. And that's all through education, because in today's cannabinoid marketplace, understanding what's actually in a product and how different products behave, what do they do, how are they going to improve my life? That's what will help you make more informed decisions. And one of the most fascinating aspects of cannabinoid science that I find is that the endocannabinoid system isn't unique to humans.

00;28;33;17 - 00;29;05;08
Maria
So if you're a pet parent, like myself or an animal lover, it's exciting because help is on the way for our furry friends as well. Researchers and veterinarians have been studying cannabinoids across the animal kingdom, and leading the charge is veterinarian doctor Tim Shu,, who's going to explain how cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system throughout much of the animal world, and why scientists continue studying these compounds so closely.

00;29;05;09 - 00;29;10;05
Maria
How does CBD hemp oil work in the animal's body?

00;29;10;07 - 00;29;35;23
Dr. Tim Shu
So, you know, cannabinoids will interact with a number of different receptors that are all throughout the body, but they will also act with what's called the endocannabinoid system. And so the endocannabinoid system is a bodily system that is intertwined with all other aspects of our physiology and animals as well. Because the endocannabinoid system is found throughout the animal kingdom, you know, it exists in dogs, cats, horses, ferrets, pigs, birds, you name it.

00;29;35;24 - 00;30;00;18
Dr. Tim Shu
It doesn't exist in insects. But throughout the animal kingdom, especially all vertebrate animals, it's ubiquitously present. And this system consists of the cannabinoid receptors that cannabinoids bind to, the endocannabinoids that our own produce. So you and I, you know, your dog, we all produce our own cannabinoids within our body. And then the third component in the endocannabinoid system is the enzymes that make and break down these endocannabinoids.

00;30;00;20 - 00;30;25;02
Dr. Tim Shu
So what cannabinoids will do is they interact with this endocannabinoid system in the cannabinoid receptors to create therapeutic functions and therapeutic benefits. It also interacts with other receptors that are not a part of the endocannabinoid system, to help create these therapeutic benefits. So, you know, CBD is really interesting because it's been listed to interact with over 40 different cellular targets.

00;30;25;08 - 00;30;50;21
Dr. Tim Shu
So not just ones within the endocannabinoid system. You know, one example is that it has been shown to interact with the 5 to 1 receptors, which are serotonin receptors. And that's hypothesized is that that's one way it helps to decrease anxiety when we get down to the basis of it. It's all cannabis. But there's a lot of different terminology out there now that gets confusing to a lot of people, you know, what's marijuana and what's hemp?

00;30;50;21 - 00;31;24;22
Dr. Tim Shu
The easiest way to understand it is that, you know, hemp is now a legal definition. So hemp is cannabis plants that are less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. So when you take the actual plant and you dry it out, if you test it, it has less than 0.3% THC, then that can be classified as hemp. If it has more than 0.3% THC, then that's technically marijuana, even though marijuana is an outdated term, and we tend to use cannabis on the marijuana side, which gets even more confusing.

00;31;24;24 - 00;31;53;29
Dr. Tim Shu
But for us, as a company, we separate it as cannabis and hemp, even though technically hemp is cannabis. So we have our vet CBD cannabis line that has been around since 2015. And then this year we're launching our CBD hemp line, which is going to be available online and in non dispensary retail outlets. Now, when it comes to product formulation, there's a general category that CBD products can be broken down into that's full spectrum products, broad spectrum products and Iceland.

00;31;54;02 - 00;32;11;16
Dr. Tim Shu
So you know starting with the most simple is what we call isolate. So CBD isolate is just 99 plus percent pure CBD. So when you're using that in a formulation or you're getting a CBD, you're not really getting any of the other cannabinoids that come from the cannabis plant. Now on the other.

00;32;11;18 - 00;32;12;08
Maria
And terpenes as well, right?

00;32;12;08 - 00;32;41;04
Dr. Tim Shu
Right. So it's pretty much stripped of everything else except just CBD. And then on the other end of that, you have what we call full spectrum products. There's been over 120 different cannabinoids that have been identified. Now, that's not to say that every single plant has all 120 of those cannabinoids, because the largest amount of cannabinoids are found in THC, CBD, o CBG, CBC, CBN, and then the other cannabinoids that are found tend to be much, much smaller quantities, if at all.

00;32;41;11 - 00;33;01;01
Dr. Tim Shu
So, for example, you know, there's a lot of, plants out there that are very, very high THC but have very little in terms of any other cannabinoids. And then there's other strains out there that can have a really nice full spectrum. Whereas they have, you know, high amount of CBD, they have some THC, some good amounts of CBC and CBD as well.

00;33;01;04 - 00;33;34;00
Dr. Tim Shu
So it also depends on the strain that you're working with is on, one end. And then on the other end, you have what it's called full spectrum. And so full spectrum does contain small amounts of THC as well as other cannabinoids, usually CBC and CBG. And sometimes CBN. And the reason why this is important is because there's been a lot of studies, both preclinical studies in, you know, lab animals in petri dishes or test tubes, but also in humans as well that have shown that when using a full spectrum product versus an isolate, you actually get greater therapeutic benefits.

00;33;34;06 - 00;33;45;27
Dr. Tim Shu
You're able to use lower doses, and you can have fewer side effects than compared to using an isolate. So that's why we use full spectrum products. Because you get greater therapeutic benefits from a full spectrum product.

00;33;46;00 - 00;33;57;29
Maria
We've got the the differences between the CBD isolate, the full spectrum, but then little confusing to viewers and even myself is what is it that they're marketing in the middle calling broad spectrum.

00;33;57;29 - 00;34;18;18
Dr. Tim Shu
Broad spectrum is essentially the THC taken out. So, you know, broad spectrum, it's done through a chemical process in which the THC is removed out of full spectrum. Now, a lot of times what happens is when that THC gets removed, we see a lot of other the might of the other minor cannabinoids like CBC and CBG tend to drop out as well.

00;34;18;21 - 00;34;38;13
Dr. Tim Shu
There are some, improved techniques out there now that preserve some of those minor cannabinoids like CBC and CBG. But generally what happens is broad spectrum is somewhere in the middle between isolate and full spectrum. What it does is it strips out some of those cannabinoids, like THC. We covered a lot. And.

00;34;38;16 - 00;35;17;00
Maria
We did cover a lot. And, the pet area is is so important and near and dear to my heart. And, I very much like the best CBD formulations. I've used them on my dogs. The full spectrum in particular for more severe older senior arthritis. So that's an exciting area to and but it's important to understand the choices and, and, to get the right product.

00;35;17;00 - 00;35;54;01
Maria
So as cannabinoid research continues to evolve, scientists are learning more not only about cannabinoids themselves, but also how cannabis interacts with our bodies and more importantly, or most importantly, or as importantly, with our brains, with brain behavior and long standing cultural perceptions. And perhaps one of the biggest shifts we're seeing today is a move away from fear and stigma toward evidence, education and more nuanced conversations.

00;35;54;01 - 00;36;25;01
Maria
But we have to have the vocabulary to have the conversations. And, I think will be catching up. So more nuanced conversations about cannabis and wellness and, to help us move, become more exposed. I want to revisit part of a conversation with a very gifted neuroscientist, Doctor Manesh Girn, who studies consciousness. Neuroplasticity has that one. Neuroplasticity.

00;36;25;01 - 00;37;08;13
Maria
I thought decarboxilation and endocannabinoid system was a mouthful. Oi!,, neuroplasticity and the evolving science surrounding cannabis and related compounds? Very, very, very, important conversation to listen to. So without further ado, we're going to bring back, Doctor Manesh Girn because it was a really, really valuable conversation, very, very, very, very, very, very important. And,

00;37;08;16 - 00;37;11;10
Maria
He's a vegetable and an herb. Can you verify that?

00;37;11;10 - 00;37;37;24
Dr. Manesh Girn
And certainly, I mean, we can call cannabis a plant, a herb. And it's, it's a different class than fungi. Obviously, it's not a mushroom, but similar in that it's a naturally occurring, organism. It's been used for hundreds, if not thousands of years in different cultures across the world. And it's quite interesting that we were very idiosyncratic in the modern world as defining these compounds as drugs to be outlawed.

00;37;37;27 - 00;37;56;18
Dr. Manesh Girn
Because cannabis, as well as magic mushrooms, have been revered as almost as sacraments, as inducing these spiritual and healing experiences that should be used in a ritual kind of way. And so they, you know, they've been kind of revered as use parts of the natural world as a gift to us that we can use for our own benefit.

00;37;56;20 - 00;38;02;08
Dr. Manesh Girn
And so it's really interesting. We have this view of them as these dangerous drugs in the modern context.

00;38;02;15 - 00;38;08;02
Maria
Doctor, and what exactly is neuroplasticity?

00;38;08;06 - 00;38;38;08
Dr. Manesh Girn
It's a fascinating topic that's actually becoming more and more of interest in the mental health fields as well as neuroscience. So neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change itself, to rewire connections, and to change itself in response to experience, in response to injuries. It allows us to learn. It's involved in a variety of processes. And the old dogma, you know, maybe 20 years ago was that once for an adult, our brains don't change.

00;38;38;08 - 00;38;46;05
Dr. Manesh Girn
They're not plastic anymore. We're set in our ways. That's just how we are. And now we know from decades of research that it's not true.

00;38;46;08 - 00;38;55;26
Maria
So if my heart is, if if my husband tells me, stop trying to teach an old dog new tricks now, don't let him get off on that.

00;38;55;28 - 00;39;15;16
Dr. Manesh Girn
Yeah, I would not let people get away with that. I think that's an excuse that people like to use. But I think the research has told us time and time again that the brain has this remarkable ability to change. And, and that might be your last when we're older, but it's not zero. It's still there. And if you believe it's there, you can you can recreate the change.

00;39;15;22 - 00;39;18;08
Dr. Manesh Girn
If you believe it's impossible, you're going to create that for yourself.

00;39;18;13 - 00;39;31;27
Maria
You could speak to whether the barriers of research are coming down. And if you could tell me a little bit about, the research on CBG or how certain cannabinoids affect the brain.

00;39;31;29 - 00;39;44;09
Dr. Manesh Girn
Certainly. And so cannabis, as you were saying earlier, has a whole variety of different compounds within it. It's not just THC, which is what we usually associated with, because that's what gives the typical highly associated with cannabis.

00;39;44;15 - 00;39;56;03
Maria
And not to and to not to interrupt you. Maybe you could just explain the difference as well THC before it is heated up. It's actually in its raw form THC is that correct?

00;39;56;05 - 00;40;00;21
Dr. Manesh Girn
Right? It is correct. Yeah. TCA when hot, when warmed up. When heated it turns into THC, yes.

00;40;01;02 - 00;40;09;15
Maria
Which has so even only THC has the, the psychotropic effect.

00;40;09;17 - 00;40;31;22
Dr. Manesh Girn
Yeah certainly. And the, the three cannabinoids as are called cannabinoids are just cannabis molecules, molecules that occur in the cannabis plant, the most popular ones that are studied and looked at for their benefits and effects are THC, as we just mentioned, CBD and then CBG, which you also briefly mentioned. And so I can just walk through each of these really briefly.

00;40;31;22 - 00;40;55;29
Dr. Manesh Girn
So THC is the compound you know, that makes people high. It makes people stoned. That's what people associate with cannabis. And this has the typical effects. And in addition to that, it can also it's often obviously in Maine, people know this used to relieve anxiety in lower doses particularly, it can really calm people's anxiety and also help with things like chronic pain.

00;40;56;02 - 00;41;22;11
Dr. Manesh Girn
And that's THC. But then also of CBD is also permanently reduces anxiety and has been found in studies to do that. Studies have also found that it could be antidepressant. And not only that, it's also anti-inflammatory. So people even with arthritis and different inflammatory conditions, are experiencing relief from CBD. Not to mention also its effects for reducing epileptic seizures.

00;41;22;11 - 00;41;44;13
Dr. Manesh Girn
So reducing seizures for people with epilepsy. And it's actually FDA approved for that. It is a compound CBD based drug that does that. So CBD has no psychological effects. Acutely like you, it doesn't make you high. But behind the scenes of our biology, through our endocannabinoid system, which I could talk about, is actually has all these different health benefits.

00;41;44;15 - 00;42;13;15
Dr. Manesh Girn
And then the last one is CBG, which is a kind of simpler molecule than CBD or THC. And actually, you know, can be considered a precursor of them. It's, can turn into them with different steps. And that's also very much involved in reducing inflammation. It modulates our immune system. And it also relieves, oxidative stress, meaning it's an antioxidant, which again, it means it clears up cellular damage.

00;42;13;15 - 00;42;15;28
Dr. Manesh Girn
It's healthy for ourselves as well. Throughout our bodies.

00;42;15;28 - 00;42;24;05
Maria
There are actual peer reviewed studies for cannabis on on those indications would is that correct?

00;42;24;07 - 00;42;32;08
Dr. Manesh Girn
Yeah, certainly. These are the most rigorous randomized controlled trials done at esteemed institutions with cannabis and for psychedelics for that matter.

00;42;32;10 - 00;43;07;14
Maria
Great. And on our show page will list, references for our listeners. Yes, for anti seizures. Epidiolex CBD is used in Epidiolex pharmaceutical drug, which that'll be a whole other episode is caused quite confusion because once the FDA approved it as an ingredient in a prescription drug, they didn't speak to it as an ingredient in food or in supplements which is holding things up when it comes to food and supplements.

00;43;07;14 - 00;43;14;29
Maria
Do you believe there is an. It should be available in tinctures, gummies, topicals.

00;43;15;02 - 00;43;42;27
Dr. Manesh Girn
100%. I think they're trying to monopolize by making it into a psychiatric drug that they can profit off of in patent and IP place, you know, it's really just a psychiatry pharmaceutical play. That's what that is. I think CBD should be widely available in a variety of different forms. It's non-psychoactive it's not addictive. It's not harmful, outright for the, you know, brain or body, if anything is really beneficial for it when used in the right, in reasonable doses.

00;43;42;29 - 00;43;47;13
Dr. Manesh Girn
And so there's no reason why it should be outlawed the way it should be. This doesn't make any scientific sense.

00;43;47;13 - 00;43;56;16
Maria
What are some of the common misconceptions you've encountered? And, can you debunk them with what the research says?

00;43;56;19 - 00;44;16;28
Dr. Manesh Girn
Certainly. So let's start with cannabis. So one of the most common ones, and we were talking about this before the show started as well, is the idea of cannabis as a gateway drug. Now I heard this growing up a lot of people did. It's just part of basically drug war propaganda. Essentially, it is what it is, and there's no evidence in the epidemic.

00;44;17;01 - 00;44;45;18
Dr. Manesh Girn
Epidemiological studies and large scale survey studies that that's the case. The things that lead cannabis to they get cannabis to lead to other drug use are related to your social environment, socioeconomic status, all these different factors, social factors and cultural factors. It's there's no evidence that cannabis use alone leads people to try other drugs. And, I think that's the same myth that should really does not exist anymore, but people seem to still believe it.

00;44;45;21 - 00;44;47;14
Dr. Manesh Girn
But there's no evidence for it.

00;44;47;16 - 00;44;52;16
Maria
A big part of that is because they're both classified. It legally is schedule one.

00;44;52;18 - 00;45;17;16
Dr. Manesh Girn
Yeah. Which is absurd. And this is really funny, Maria, because you mentioned earlier the US had a patent on the medicinal use of cannabinoids going back two decades. Well, at the same time the FDA was saying and DEA, it's schedule one, it's no, potential for medical use and high abuse potential when they had a patent showing that it's not that, you know, it's absurd.

00;45;17;18 - 00;45;23;01
Maria
As a neuro protectant and they weren't allowing the NFL and the football players. Oh my God.

00;45;23;02 - 00;45;50;01
Dr. Manesh Girn
Yeah. Who could it really benefit that from a concussion recovery. And that's a topic we didn't talk about. But CBD is can be really helpful for, you know, recovery from a brain injury or a stroke for that matter. There's studies on this. So it's it's quite terrible. To me it's like anti-scientific. So another one is that, and this is a nuanced one, but the idea that cannabis damages your brain.

00;45;50;03 - 00;46;13;15
Dr. Manesh Girn
So I've looked personally at a lot of research literature on how brain imaging has shown differences in the brain. As with lots of cannabis use, we reviewed every study, ever done on whether, cannabis use changes the structure of our brain. And we found is that a lot of, studies found increased size in certain brain regions.

00;46;13;17 - 00;46;36;22
Dr. Manesh Girn
A lot of studies found decreased size in a lot of brain regions. When we bring them all together, they cancel each other out. So what that means is this it's a mess of research that there's no conclusions that can be drawn on actual structural changes that last in your brain as a result of cannabis use. And, in terms of like, what that means from brain damage, it means that there's no reliable effect.

00;46;36;22 - 00;47;00;17
Dr. Manesh Girn
And, if if we could say anything, it's that heavy. Chronic use in adolescence likely does cause, potentially damage or developmental changes in the way, you know, impairments in the way the brain might develop in certain ways. And that's a risk factor. I would certainly not advocate for a heavy chronic use, in teenagers or early adults for that matter.

00;47;00;19 - 00;47;22;04
Dr. Manesh Girn
It's all about moderation. And the research that's it, suggests that using it at reasonable dosages, not every day, but in a moderate way, has minimal to no harmful effects. There's no evidence that that damage to the brain damages the brain, per se. And in fact, as we've been saying, depending on the strain, especially if it's a high CBD ratio strain, it can be even good for the brain.

00;47;22;04 - 00;47;49;09
Dr. Manesh Girn
It can even be anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which are the two things that basically mean neural protectant and protecting the health of your neurons. Yeah. I want to add here, actually important is that if you look at the effects of alcohol on the brain, the amount of brain damage that alcohol creates, whether you're an adult or adolescence, is far, far greater than cannabis because alcohol is directly neurotoxic, cannabis isn't.

00;47;49;09 - 00;47;55;08
Dr. Manesh Girn
Cannabis. over time will create changes in your brain and, you know, in a more subtle way.

00;47;55;11 - 00;48;14;23
Maria
So Willie Nelson's 91 years old and I could say, I don't know how many decades he's been smoking cannabis for many decades. And, thank God it wasn't, alcohol. I don't know if he'd be here for his 91st birthday, let alone still doing concerts.

00;48;14;29 - 00;48;40;28
Dr. Manesh Girn
Because alcohol also speeds up dementia and Alzheimer's and cognitive decline. Alcohol does that in a way cannabis doesn't. Cannabis. It can even protect against that. CBD is used to help with people with Alzheimer's. And so is there. An important distinction is the how we we culturally we're growing up in certain cases, and there's a lot of maturity around these things and awareness just, you know, it's hard because that's what you were taught growing up.

00;48;41;02 - 00;49;02;05
Dr. Manesh Girn
But I think we need to be open to the facts and what's real and what the science is telling us. Otherwise, we're closing ourselves off from a potentially extremely beneficial, holistic resource for our health. Right to change. If you believe it's impossible, you're going to create that for yourself.

00;49;02;07 - 00;49;28;28
Maria
If you believe it's impossible, you're going to create that for me or for yourself. You don't want to close ourselves off to healthy alternatives or at least exploring their potential. So as we begin wrapping up today's conversation, I want to leave you with a few quick takeaways and answer some of the questions I get asked most often about CBD, THC, and cannabinoid products.

00;49;29;01 - 00;50;17;22
Maria
What's the biggest difference between CBD and THC? THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid associated with euphoric, intoxicating effects or the traditional cannabis high. While CBD is generally considered non intoxicating and is more commonly associated with wellness focused products, why do cannabis products affect people differently? Because cannabinoid experiences are highly individualized factors like body chemistry, dosage, metabolism, product formulation, tolerance, and delivery method.

00;50;17;25 - 00;50;56;17
Maria
Consumption method. If you inhale as opposed to ingest, the inflation goes to the lungs directly to the bloodstream. It has a faster onset when you consume through digestion something you eat an edible. It's got to go through your digestive system and it can take longer for the onset. A topical, different reaction all of the different factors influence how a product feels from one person to another.

00;50;56;20 - 00;51;23;22
Maria
Coffee I can't drink after 3 p.m.. I know people who can't have it after 12 noon. I know people who take it right before bed. It hits people differently depending on body chemistry, dosage, metabolism, the product formulation, your tolerance level and how you take it. So this leads us right into why do edibles feel different than smoking or vaping?

00;51;23;25 - 00;51;50;29
Maria
Well, edibles move through the digestive system first, which means they often take longer to kick in and can sometimes feel stronger or last longer than an inhaled product. That's why the experts recommend starting with low doses and waiting before consuming more. The answer? It's going to take longer. And, you know, start with a low dose. Don't get impatient.

00;51;50;29 - 00;52;25;20
Maria
Wait an hour, see how you feel. See how it hits you. If you keep piling it on higher and deeper. Oh, boy. When it hits, you're not going to be able to back out of it. And the answer does take a little bit longer. What should consumers look for when shopping for cannabinoid products? Well, consumers, you, me, all of us should look for third party lab testing, transparent ingredients on the labels, cannabinoid potency information.

00;52;25;20 - 00;52;58;06
Maria
I never buy a flower unless it tells me exactly the percentage of THC in the flower or CBD in the flower, and is backed by a third party lab test. And you want to look for reputable brands operating with regular, within regulated systems whenever possible. Guys, we have to support the reputable brands that are operating within a tightly regulated, inconsistent system which cost so much money to do it right.

00;52;58;09 - 00;53;27;15
Maria
So brands that are well-meaning, that are third party labs, testing, that are using quality ingredients that are transparent about their ingredients right on their labels, that are transparent and and have the cannabinoid potency information backed by third party lab testing. These are reputable, well-meaning brands. They're doing it right. And it's and they're not they're not it's not they're not incentivized to let's put it that way.

00;53;27;17 - 00;53;57;11
Maria
The cost of compliance makes many, many, many wonderful brands not be able to survive legalization. And some of the best hemp products I've ever seen come and go. I've watched them literally die on the vine, on the shelves of warehouses because of such of an inconsistent patchwork of regulations. So again, it all starts with education and, that's what we need.

00;53;57;11 - 00;54;27;20
Maria
We need to know what we're dealing with, how it could help us and not, you know, throw the baby out with the bathwater. So what does full spectrum mean? Full spectrum products generally contain multiple cannabinoids and terpenes naturally found in a cannabis plant, rather than isolated CBD alone or, CBD., and having the THC extracted. It's it's full spectrum.

00;54;27;22 - 00;55;04;28
Maria
I like to compare, CBD alone to maybe going to a concert and having a violin soloist versus hearing the whole orchestra together, which sometimes highlights the violinist or drowns it out. So that's the entourage effect. So that's full spectrum. What's one of the biggest misconceptions about cannabis? That there's you a universal cannabis experience? There's not. And I know everybody, you know, you want to know how's it going to hit me?

00;55;04;28 - 00;55;34;18
Maria
How did you how did you feel after you took it? I could feel groggy after having a cup of coffee where someone else can feel energized. It it there's not a universal cannabis experience. It's very individualized medicine, even though it's used recreationally as well. It is a medicine and it's individualized. So cannabinoid experiences, they vary significantly depending on the individual and the product involved.

00;55;34;21 - 00;56;12;28
Maria
So again check it out, go low and slow and finally make informed choices. The education matters not just the marketing hype, not just the regulatory jargon, not just, flying traffic language, which is sometimes intimidating. We have the language in, in an accessible way so that you can really discern and navigate your cannabis experience to being a good one.

00;56;13;00 - 00;56;55;02
Maria
You know, cannabis conversations are evolving quickly. Research is evolving. Product innovation is evolving. And understanding cannabinoids, even at a basic level, can help you make a more informed and intentional decision. I'm excited to see education evolving. So as we wrap up today's conversation, I think the biggest takeaway is this CBD and THC are not competing conversations. They're part of a much larger discussion about cannabis, cannabinoids, wellness science, and informed consumer choice.

00;56;55;04 - 00;57;29;26
Maria
And perhaps most importantly to remember, there is no universal cannabis experience. You know, at the end of prohibition, there was no universal kind of alcohol experience. Everyone had to learn on their own how they react to whiskey versus wine. And as it evolved and we went from spirits to different wines and beer, you there's no universal experience. Everybody reacts differently and everyone has to find their way.

00;57;29;28 - 00;57;58;12
Maria
They weren't as in the dark or restrictive because there wasn't a decades of not only prohibition, but misinformation and a horrible stigma attached to it. So what works for one person may feel completely different for another, depending on the product type is it CBD? Is it THC? Is it CBD combined with THC? If it's CBD only, is it from the hemp plant?

00;57;58;12 - 00;58;45;09
Maria
Is it from the cannabis plant aka marijuana? If it's CBD, is it an isolate? Is it broad? Spectrum is a full spectrum. So if you ever tried a CBD gummy and felt nothing or had a bad reaction, find out what's an isolate was a broad spectrum was a full spectrum. Don't write it off. This takes patience, but it's a very exciting frontier and it's really worth looking into because unlike figuring out, you know, which which wine agrees to you, whether a merlot versus a Chardonnay gives you a headache, this has the real promise of some very, very, very exciting, wellness potential.

00;58;45;09 - 00;59;10;23
Maria
So, you know, and could be the next healthy alternative to drinking less alcohol, taking less prescription drugs. We have to see. But it all starts with education. And, there's enough products out there with enough product price promise it's worth checking out. So what works? One person may not feel.

00;59;10;25 - 00;59;40;18
Maria
The same for another. It depends on the product type, the dosage, the cannabinoid ratios, your individual body chemistry, and your individual sensitivity. That's why access to clear, reliable consumer information matters real, relevant and rooted in truth. That's what I'm here to do, because in a marketplace filled with products, marketing opinions, and misinformation, understanding the basics can help consumers make more thoughtful and informed decisions.

00;59;40;21 - 01;00;06;22
Maria
I want to thank all of the experts and past guests whose voices helped shape today's special episode. And thank you. And if today's conversation sparked your curiosity, you can continue exploring beginner friendly cannabis education, wellness insights, recipes and product guides at greenbeelife.com. Until next time, I'm Maria Calabrese and this has been Just Say KNOW. Stay informed, stay curious and always Just Say KNOW.

01;00;06;23 - 01;00;12;27
Maria
That's with a K-N-O-W. Take care guys.

01;00;12;29 - 01;00;45;26
Maria
Just say know is a greenbeelife presentation airing live weekly on Friday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m. Pacific on KCAA radio and KCAA TV. Archived audio episodes are on greenbeelife, greenbeelife.com, iHeart Radio, Spreaker and most third party major platforms. For archived videos, check them out on GBL TV on greenbeelife, YouTube and Rumble.

01;00;45;28 - 01;01;20;12
Maria
To follow us! Our Instagram and Facebook is at Just Say Know Radio to apply to be a guest on the show or for sponsorship and advertising opportunities, go to greenbeelife.com/just-say-know and feel free to reach out to me Maria for any questions. I’m at Maria@greenbeelife.com or call me at (818) 758-6925.

Guests

Dr. David Bearman

Executive VP, American Academy of Cannabinoid Research; Certified Cannabinoid Medicine Specialist

Barbie Sommars

Founding Member, Mary Jane University; Founder, Desert Concierge Services

Dr. David Bearman — Executive VP, American Academy of Cannabinoid Research; Certified Cannabinoid Medicine Specialist

Barbie Sommars — Founding Member, Mary Jane University; Founder, Desert Concierge Services

Frances Schauwecker — Founder & CEO, Mary Jane University

Rebecca A. — Aspen Green Customer Specialist

Stephanie S. — Aspen Green Customer Specialist

Dr. Tim Shu — Veterinarian; Founder, VetCBD

Dr. Manesh Girn — Neuroscientist; Co-Founder, Five Discovery

Sources

Featured Work

  • From Dr. David Bearman Cannabis Medicine: A Guide to the Practice of Cannabinoid Medicine

    A physician-focused guide exploring cannabinoid medicine, the endocannabinoid system, and the evolving role of cannabis in healthcare.

  • Lifestyle-forward cannabis education, curated experiences, and wellness insights from cannabis educator Barbie Sommars.

Featured Work

 

From Dr. David Bearman

Cannabis Medicine: A Guide to the Practice of Cannabinoid Medicine
A physician-focused guide exploring cannabinoid medicine, the endocannabinoid system, and the evolving role of cannabis in healthcare.

Drugs Are Not the Devil's Tools
An examination of drug policy, stigma, discrimination, and the history shaping modern cannabis regulation.

From Barbie Sommars

High Desert Concierge by Barbie Sommars 
Lifestyle-forward cannabis education, curated experiences, and wellness insights from cannabis educator Barbie Sommars.

From MJU

Mary Jane University 
Cannabis education focused on approachable learning, lifestyle integration, and reducing stigma through consumer awareness.

From Dr. Manesh Girn

Five Discovery
Research and education focused on neuroplasticity, consciousness, and emerging cannabinoid and psychedelic science.

 

Related Reading

“What Are Cannabinoids? A Beginner’s Guide to CBD, THC & Beyond” — Green Bee Life Learning Center
A foundational overview of cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and how cannabis compounds interact with the body.

“CBD vs THC: Understanding the Differences” — Green Bee Life Learning Center
A consumer-friendly guide exploring psychoactive vs non-intoxicating cannabinoids, product types, and responsible use.

Does CBD Work for Dogs and Cats [A Guide for Pet Parents]— Green Bee Life Learning Center
A discussion exploring cannabinoid research in animals and the growing interest in veterinary cannabinoid science.

 

Additional Learning

“What Is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)? A Beginner’s Guide” — Green Bee Life Learning Center
A foundational introduction to the ECS and why cannabinoids affect the body differently from person to person.

“CBN vs CBD vs CBG: What’s the Difference?” — Green Bee Life Learning Center
A beginner-friendly comparison of several major cannabinoids and their unique characteristics.

“Be in the KNOW: How to Read a CBD Label Like a Pro” — Green Bee Life Learning Center
A practical consumer guide explaining cannabinoid potency, ingredient transparency, and labeling terminology.

“Certificate of Analysis (COA): All the Basics You Ought to Know”— Green Bee Life Learning Center
An educational overview of third-party lab testing and why COAs matter when shopping for cannabinoid products.

 

Scientific References

“Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series”The Permanente Journal (2019)
A frequently cited clinical review exploring CBD’s potential relationship to anxiety and sleep outcomes.

“Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency Reconsidered”Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (2016)
An overview examining the endocannabinoid system and its possible role in overall physiological balance.

“Towards an Understanding of Psychedelic-Induced Neuroplasticity”Nature Neuroscience (2022)
A review exploring how psychedelics may influence neuroplasticity and brain connectivity.

“The use of cannabidiol (CBD) in animals” — RCVS Knowledge (2026)
An evidence-based veterinary resource exploring cannabidiol products in animals, including current research, regulatory considerations, and evolving clinical interest in CBD for companion animals.

 

Resources

Learn & Explore

 

American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine
Educational resources and professional information related to cannabinoid medicine and research.

Desert Concierge by Barbie Sommars
Educational cannabis content designed to make cannabinoid learning more approachable and accessible.

 

Shop Responsibly

Aspen Green
A hemp-derived cannabinoid brand emphasizing transparency, lab testing, and USDA Organic certification.

VetCBD
Veterinarian-formulated cannabinoid products developed specifically for animals.

 

Understand the Science

Five Discovery
Research exploring neuroplasticity, consciousness, and evolving cannabinoid and psychedelic science.

Extras

Watch

 

“Maria’s Kitchen — Separating Cannabis Fact from Fiction” — GBL TV
Featuring Barbie Sommars and Frances Schauwecker discussing cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, stigma, and evolving cannabis education.

“Quick Hits — The History of Cannabis as Medicine” — GBL TV
A concise educational segment featuring Dr. David Bearman exploring the long history of cannabis in medicine and the evolution of cannabinoid science.

“Know n’ Go — How to Calm an Anxious Dog” — GBL TV
Dr. Tim Shu discusses cannabinoid considerations for anxious pets and responsible product selection.

“Know n’ Go — 3 Things to Know Before Giving CBD to Your Pets” — GBL TV
A quick educational guide covering cannabinoid basics, formulations, and safety considerations for pet parents.

Listen

 

Related Episodes

Episode 22 -“From Seed to Self-Care: How to Choose the Right CBD for You” — Just Say KNOW with Maria
A consumer-focused conversation with the Aspen Green team exploring different forms of CBD, how to read Certificates of Analysis (COAs), product transparency, and what consumers should understand before purchasing cannabinoid wellness products.

Episode 12 — “Cannabis Questions? Ask a Nurse” featuring Katherine Golden
A practical conversation addressing common cannabis questions, dosing concerns, and patient education.

Episode 3 — “Cannabis, Psychedelics & Brain Health” featuring Dr. Manesh Girn
Exploring neuroplasticity, cannabinoids, psychedelics, and evolving brain science.

Episode 2 — “Cannabis for Pets? Insights from a Veterinarian Expert" featuring Dr. Tim Shu
A foundational conversation on cannabinoids, pets, and the veterinary endocannabinoid system.

Go Deeper

 

“What Are Cannabinoids? A Beginner’s Guide to CBD, THC & Beyond” — Green Bee Life Learning Center
For readers looking to better understand cannabinoids, the ECS, product terminology, and responsible shopping considerations.

Watch Just Say KNOW on GBL TV

Listen Live on NBC's KCAA Radio 1050 AM/106.5 FM

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