The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati

Potcast S2 E12 - Diamonds & Hash: Cannabis Concentrates with The Bubbleman & Diamonds by Douglas  

On this episode of The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati, we’re talking to some folks who have made a name for themselves by separating the cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant and turning them into highly concentrated forms for consumption, specifically bubble hash, rosin and diamonds. 

The legendary “Bubbleman” Marcus Richardson, creator of Bubble Bags and Hash Church, regales us with potent tales of his longtime love affair with bubble hash. And, we’ll talk to Ryan Douglas...

What do you get when you have trichome and cannabinoid-rich cannabis plant material? 

#podcast 

Potcast S2 E11 - Forget THC - Let’s Talk Terpenes

THC has been dominating the conversation around cannabis since legalization, but it’s starting to lose steam as people realize this plant has much more to offer than its potency. 

That’s why this episode of The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati is dedicated to terpenes – the natural chemical compounds that not only contribute to the flavours and aromas of your favourite cannabis cultivars, but may also contribute to how they make you feel… things that should factor into your purcha...

THC has been dominating the conversation around cannabis since legalization, but it’s starting to lose steam as people realize this plant has much more to offer than its potency. 

#podcast 

Cannabis Tourism: From Amsterdam to Vancouver Island

Cannabis might not be legal worldwide… yet. But that doesn’t stop the global cannabis tourism industry from buzzing along. In fact, Forbes values the U.S. cannabis tourism industry alone at USD $17 billion.

In this episode of The Potcast, we’re taking you on a journey from the pioneering cannabis tourist destinations, to North America’s first 420-friendly cafe, to the budding industry growing right here in beautiful British Columbia. 

After all, BC weed is world-renowned, and we’ve...

Cannabis Tourism.

About Ross.

A Canadian snowboarder who won a gold medal in the men's giant slalom event at the 1998 Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee initially stripped him of the medal due to a failed drug test for cannabis use, but was overruled by an appeals court two days later, resulting in the medal being restored.

Since the 1998 Olympics, Rebagliati has become an outspoken advocate and entrepreneur for cannabis. Rebagliati was the subject of full-page coverage in the July 14, 2008, edition of Sports Illustrated, which profiled his...

Cannabis & Sex: A Love Story as Old as Time 

Why is a love story that began thousands of years ago still struggling to come out from under the covers? That’s the question we’re asking in this episode of The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati, where we’re exploring the passionate relationship between cannabis and sex.  

We’ll take you on a journey from tantric rituals in 7th century India, to the secret writings of Carl Sagan, to important research today that’s making a strong case for the connection between cannabis and s...

Cannabis and Sex a Love Story as Old as Time

Why is a love story that began thousands of years ago still struggling to come out from under the covers? That’s the question we’re asking in this episode of The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati, where we’re exploring the passionate relationship between cannabis and sex.  

We’ll take you on a journey from tantric rituals in 7th century India, to the secret writings of Carl Sagan, to important research today that’s making a strong case for the connection between cannabis and sexual e...

Ross’ Story: Turning Olympic fame into green gold 

Show Notes: 

In this episode of The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati, we’re putting our host in the hot seat to address the question on everyone’s mind: was Ross able to turn all that fame and attention from his 1998 Winter Olympics controversy into piles of green gold after legalization?  

We’ll find out how Ross went from smoking joints with the Rolling Stones and appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, to struggling with cannabis-related stigma, to becoming the b...

#podcast #olympics 

Trust the Budtender: the unsung hero of the cannabis industry

Show Notes:

This episode of The Potcast with Ross Rebagliati is dedicated to the folks on the front lines of recreational cannabis retail: Budtenders. 

What is a Budtender? Advertising and promotion restrictions in the Cannabis Act make it difficult for cannabis brands to connect with consumers outside of age gated environments, meaning many consumers walk into a store with very little knowledge about the products on the shelves. This lack of experience could lead t...

About Ross.

A Canadian snowboarder who won a gold medal in the men's giant slalom event at the 1998 Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee initially stripped him of the medal due to a failed drug test for cannabis use, but was overruled by an appeals court two days later, resulting in the medal being restored.

Since the 1998 Olympics, Rebagliati has become an outspoken advocate and entrepreneur for cannabis. Rebagliati was the subject of full-page coverage in the July 14, 2008, edition of Sports Illustrated, which profiled his life since his Olympic...

The Aqua Culture

In this episode of the Potcast, we dive into the world of sustainable farming and cannabis: aquaponics. Combining hydroponics and aquaculture, aquaponics uses aquatic animals like fish to create nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants to grow in an environment without soil. It’s an inland, symbiotic farming system that yields two products. Host Ross Rebagliati speaks to Rudi Schiebel and Justin Henry, a couple of guys behind Habitat Life, a craft cannabis producer from Chase, British Columbia that uses decoupled aquaponics to grow both healthy coho salmon and really good cannabis. 

<...

The Aqua Culture

In this episode of the Potcast, we dive into the world of sustainable farming and cannabis: aquaponics. Combining hydroponics and aquaculture, aquaponics uses aquatic animals like fish to create nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants to grow in an environment without soil. It’s an inland, symbiotic farming system that yields two products. Host Ross Rebagliati speaks to Rudi Schiebel and Justin Henry, a couple of guys behind Habitat Life, a craft cannabis producer from Chase, British Columbia that uses decoupled aquaponics to grow both healthy coho salmon and really good cannabis. 

<...

Cannabis without borders

Ross is one of many growers who need to get their products to consumers, so how can he work well with distributors? Ross is talking to the guys from Herbal Dispatch to find out how he and other producers can get their cannabis to the market in the most effective way. Then we’re looking outward to the international cannabis trade. That trade has been suppressed by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics… but things are changing, so we’re going inside the UN with the only cannabis reporter at the organization to find o...

Ross is one of many growers who need to get their products to consumers, so how can he work well with distributors? Ross is talking to the guys from Herbal Dispatch to find out how he and other producers can get their cannabis to the market in the most effective way. Then we’re looking outward to the international cannabis trade. That trade has been suppressed by the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics… but things are changing, so we’re going inside the UN with the only cannabis reporter at the organization to find out what the ambassadors there...

While growers are innovating with new strains of cannabis there are other innovators developing new ways to consume THC and CBD. It’s not easy in an industry as heavily regulated as cannabis, bit it’s easier than it was under prohibition. We’re exploring the new cannabis products on the market, speaking to the scientists behind them, and asking: “how do you innovate in a space so tightly controlled?”

Same plant, new products

While growers are innovating with new strains of cannabis there are other innovators developing new ways to consume THC and CBD. It’s not easy in an industry as heavily regulated as cannabis, bit it’s easier than it was under prohibition. We’re exploring the new cannabis products on the market, speaking to the scientists behind them, and asking: “how do you innovate in a space so tightly controlled?”

Cannabis has been getting stronger for decades, but recently the numbers on labels have been getting really high, really quickly. Too high, in fact. The Potcast team reports from the front lines of the THC wars: why are producers chasing ever higher potencies, and how are they getting such high results? When you talk to industry folks off-the-record they’ll mention lab shopping and inflated figures, so we get a cannabis testing lab to walk us through what happens in those labs, and how we might finally bring an end to the war.

Produced by...

Cannabis has been getting stronger for decades, but recently the numbers on labels have been getting really high, really quickly. Too high, in fact. The Potcast team reports from the front lines of the THC wars: why are producers chasing ever higher potencies, and how are they getting such high results? When you talk to industry folks off-the-record they’ll mention lab shopping and inflated figures, so we get a cannabis testing lab to walk us through what happens in those labs, and how we might finally bring an end to the war.

Produced by...

The Canadian Potcast has a new host. In 1998 Ross Rebagliati became the first Olympic snowboarding gold medalist, but it was what happened next that made his name synonymous with cannabis: his medal was revoked for a positive drug test, then reinstated on appeal when it turned out that cannabis wasn’t actually banned. In the 25 years since then he has reinvented himself as a campaigner, entrepreneur and advocate… so we’re really excited to welcome him to the Canadian Potcast as our new host. Don Shafer isn’t going anywhere though, and in this episode he gets to know our new...

Cannabis strains are as varied as wine grapes, so how do cultivators select and curate their stable of strains? Phenohunting is the process of creating strains and our host Ross Rebagliati is joined by two craft cultivators to talk about the art and the science behind it. Then our reporter Jay heads to a cannabis farm in Ontario to see how phenohunting fits into the growing process, and to pull back the curtain on growing such a heavily regulated plant.

Produced by Everything Podcasts in partnership with Ripco.pro

Cannabis strains are as varied as wine grapes, so how do cultivators select and curate their stable of strains? Phenohunting is the process of creating strains and our host Ross Rebagliati is joined by two craft cultivators to talk about the art and the science behind it. Then our reporter Jay heads to a cannabis farm in Ontario to see how phenohunting fits into the growing process and to pull back the curtain on growing such a heavily regulated plant.

Produced by Everything Podcasts in partnership with Ripco.pro

The Canadian Potcast has a new host. In 1998 Ross Rebagliati became the first Olympic snowboarding gold medalist, but it was what happened next that made his name synonymous with cannabis: his medal was revoked for a positive drug test, then reinstated on appeal when it turned out that cannabis wasn’t actually banned. In the 25 years since then he has reinvented himself as a campaigner, entrepreneur and advocate… so we’re really excited to welcome him to the Canadian Potcast as our new host. Don Shafer isn’t going anywhere though, and in this episode he gets to know our new...

Some people study cannabis, and some people study sex. There are not many people who study both, but we’ve found one of the few: Amanda Moser is a sexologist who studies cannabis and intimacy and she is on the show to run us through the science of sex with cannabis and how to incorporate the plant into the bedroom. Plus we have cannabis content creator and influencer Wu Russell on the show to talk about how she has journeyed into using cannabis in her own sex life as a self-described “canna-mom”.

Guests

In this episode of The Canadian Potcast, Green Light in the Grey Zone: Navigating Cannabis Marketing Without the Smoke, delves into the unique challenges cannabis producers face in navigating the stringent marketing regulations set by the Cannabis Act, which severely limits advertising and mandates plain packaging. We explore producers' innovative strategies to inform consumers about their products. Featuring Kaya Arai, a renowned cannabis marketing specialist from Nine Points Agency and a cannabis sommelier, the episode reveals the pivotal role of educational content in cannabis marketing (hint: it's more influential than you might think). Additionally, our reporter participates in an...

In this episode of Potcast titled, "Beneath the Buzz" we explore our health and the planet. First, we’re talking to the doctor who has been working with cannabis for sixteen years about how the body works with cannabis, and why it does what it does in our brains. Dr. Bonni Goldstein says that even doctors don’t often know about the body’s endocannabinoid system and that makes it hard to find or administer treatments. Then we’re going to delve into pot’s problem with plastic: from Ziploc baggies to doob tubes, cannabis is almost always wrapped in plastic...

Not many names are as closely associated with cannabis as Tommy Chong. He’s a legendary comedian, musician and actor who has shaped the way we view the plant and its place in culture for over half a century. Tommy joins the show for this special episode dedicated to him and his life. We learn how his time growing up as a racialized kid in 1940s Alberta set the stage for his career. Tommy talks about being signed to Motown Records and sharing a prison cell with the real Wolf of Wall Street. We’re honoured to have him laun...

Hundreds of products are available in the legal market, so we’ve brought in two chefs to help us be more savvy about what we eat. Alexandre Poulin has travelled the world cooking with cannabis, and now he’s launched a range of edibles where every ingredient has a specific purpose, not just cannabis.

Then we have Chef Romain Avril, a molecular chef who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants. He’s appeared on Food Network, CBC, and he creates custom cannabis infused menus in clients’ homes through Canolio. He’s here to talk to us about how to choose...

On this episode of Canadian Potcast: Bongs and Bylines. Rachelle Gordon is one of the world’s leading cannabis journalists. She’s the editor of GreenState and she’s travelled the globe covering cannabis. She joins us to talk about her life in cannabis media and the changing landscape of weed journalism. Plus – we’ve made it to 12 episodes! Let’s celebrate by revisiting our favourite stories from a year of The Canadian Potcast.

Guest: Rachelle Gordon, cannabis and psychedelics writer and editor of GreenState.  

S1E12

On this episode, of The Canadian Potcast you'll discover how five kids and a Chevy Impala invented 420. You'll meet Thomas O’Neill, “The Butter Baron”. A former black market dealer in Toronto who went legit around legalization… or tried to. His business was immediately shut down for violating cannabis regulations at the time. Now he’s founded the CCTA, The Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance, a non-profit that advocates for better policy to allow for cannabis tourism businesses to flourish. Plus we go back to 1971 to discover the origins of “420”. The story involves the Grateful Dead, A Chevy Impala, and the US coast g...

Ross Rebagliati won the first-ever Olympic Gold Medal for snowboarding, then swiftly lost it when he tested positive for cannabis. The medal was reinstated on appeal, but he’d already become a sort of stoner anti-hero. That infamy led to the end of his snowboarding career. Ross joins us to help tell the story of that whole saga, and everything that came after it. Plus we speak to a medicinal cannabis user and paralympian Tyler Mosher about using cannabis as an athlete.

S1E11

Legalizing cannabis didn’t create the cannabis industry. Don Briere was one of BC’s biggest cannabis producers until the police shut him down in 1999 before he went on to open the first recreational cannabis storefront in North America: Da Kine Smoke and Beverage. In the first part of this two-part series, we tell the story of his life as an illegal grower. Plus we talk to Ted Smith, founder of a Victoria medicinal cannabis club, about how he got medical edibles legalized in Canada.

S1E8

Da Kine Smoke and Beverage was the first recreational cannabis storefront in North America, and it created a media storm when it opened in 2004. The pot shop became internationally famous, with tourists traveling from around the world to visit during its short tenure on Vancouver’s commercial drive. Don Briere, who ran the store, tells the second part of this story. We also speak to Jaclynn Pehota about diverse representation in the cannabis industry, and ask who gets to sit at the table when policy is being made?

Guests

In 2000, the Ontario Court of Appeal struck down all cannabis laws in Canada because of one man and his lawyer. Terry Parker has serious epilepsy and the only thing he claimed would stop his life-threatening seizures was cannabis. In this episode of The Canadian Potcast, we speak to his lawyer, Aaron Harnett, about how he took the case through the courts and proved that outright cannabis prohibition violated Terry’s Charter rights. Plus, we speak to Dr. Stephanie Lunn, director of medical affairs for Aurora Cannabis, about current research and the future of medicinal cannabis.

S1E3

Cannabis tourism is more than just coffee shops in Amsterdam. It’s an emerging world of experiences, retreats, adventures, and pot-friendly accommodations… but how to find them? We talk to Elizabeth Becker of HiBnB about how she’s helping cannabis consumers navigate this new world. Then we go to Thailand, where cannabis has gone from a 5-year prison sentence to a big tourist draw in under a year.

Interview: Elizabeth Becker, CEO and founder of HiBnB

S1E7

In the USA cannabis is classified as medically useless, and as dangerous as heroin since 1971, on the federal level at least. Cannabis was first banned in the U.S. in 1937. In this episode of Potcast, we tell the story of Harry J Anslinger, the man whose political ambition and racism led to that ban. Also, while cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, businesses that operate in legal states have to jump through all kinds of hoops to do their banking. We talk to a cannabis banker about how to navigate that bureaucratic mess.

S1E5

Cannabis used to be the second most-grown plant in Japan, after rice. Today most Japanese people don’t know that the plant is a key part of Shinto rituals. We tell the secret history of how the USA led Japan to have some of the strictest weed laws on earth, with the help of Japanese activist Naoko Miki. Plus, if cannabis is illegal but sacred in Japan. in Canada, it’s legal and big business. Our producer Karen Habashi goes to the Vancouver Lift Expo to explore the bleeding edge of the pot market.

Guests:

Cannabis may be legal in Canada, but in the US it’s patchy, and even here the regulations around marketing can be a little murky. So how do you market a product online, where your marketing could be seen in a state where weed isn’t legal? We talk to one cannabis marketer about how to navigate that world, and then we tell the story of Magu, the chinese hemp goddess, and of one woman’s quest to revive the goddess and rediscover her culture through cannabis/

Guests:

“The word assassin comes from hashish” is a myth that you may well have heard. It’s been in popular culture for literal centuries. So what truth is there in this myth? We explore the legends of Hassan-i-Sabbah and figure out what this myth tells us about the people who perpetuated it to begin with. Also: Samuel Gerges, Founder of Mary Jane’s Cannabis, one of Toronto’s most successful cannabis entrepreneurs talks to us about the state of the Ontario cannabis market and what he’d like to see from provincial regulation.