Talking Plant is your guide through the journey into the basics of cannabis, the cannabis industry, and where we try to answer all your questions about our favorite plant.

On this episode of Talking Plant my guests are Jayballa (Instagram) and LordJesusVega (Instagram) who are content creators who work specifically in the cannabis industry. The pair have build up over 70K followers for the High Farms brand which is a local, minority-owned cannabis brand here in the Southern California region.

Jayballa talks about the challenges they face by creating engaging content about cannabis. Since cannabis content is typically frowned upon by the major mainstream social media platforms, they have had to adjust their form of content by entertaining and engaging that revolves mostly around the daily community activities of Jayballa.

Jayballa shares with us how he and Jesus sometimes spend 50 hours a week creating content. Jesus is the man behind the camera and does all of the editing and social media interaction.  Jesus gives some advice on how to stay relevant on the platforms and the algorithms that manage the content.

I’d like to thank my sponsors:

Flower-Fest: Flower-fest.com

Ecomeds: Ecomeds.com

Local Cannabis Company: LocalCannabisCompany.com

HiBnB: HiBnB.us

QClub: QClub805 on Instagram

Talking Plant is your guide through the journey into the basics of cannabis, the cannabis industry, and where we try to answer all your questions about our favorite plant.

In this episode of Talking Plant I talk about new Assembly Bills making their way through the California legislature regarding cannabis at farmers markets and protections for employees who smoke cannabis.

But FIRST, I ask the question “Do you have to smoke cannabis to be an effective leader in the cannabis industry?” To be successful in this industry, you want to collaborate with those who understand the culture, the promise, the health benefits of cannabis.

I see so many people in the industry who I know damn well don’t smoke but there they are. Do I think less of them? As a person no, but as someone I want to collaborate with in this business, perhaps I do feel differently.

Some may question their motive for being in the industry. Is it a money grab? The IN thing? Do they advocate for it or are they merely cashing in?

I’ve actually been in conversations where a cannabis quote unquote “leader” of a business questioned whether or not hiring someone who did not smoke was the right move to make.

I’ve seen non-cannabis users thrive in the industry. As a LEADER though? That’s different.

I want to see them roll one up.

Employee Protections for those who use cannabis.

A.B. 2188, a new California bill offers employee protections for those who smoke cannabis. For far too long, many employers have tested applying, new or existing employees for drugs and any cannabis found in their system can be a cause for termination.

If the proposal becomes law, California will become the seventh state to protect adults who legally use cannabis from employer sanctions. An additional 15 states have narrower laws that protect medical marijuana patients from adverse treatment from employers for their legal use of cannabis, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.  

From farmer to consumer, cannabis may be sold at local farmer’s markets.

Assembly Bill 2691 could bring a lucrative revenue stream and new products to farmers markets in municipalities across the state. If it is passed, farmer’s markets could expand their products and access to the cannabis market could be further expanded. It would definitely signal a big change in how cannabis is regulated in the state of California because it would allow casual farmer’s market patrons to buy vegetables and cannabis products in the same open-air space. 

Talking Plant is your guide through the journey into the basics of cannabis, the cannabis industry, and where we try to answer all your questions about our favorite plant.

On this episode I talk about what to expect at your first cannabis dispensary shopping experience. Many of you who have never visited or shopped for cannabis in a dispensary may have preconceived notions that would prevent you from going. I want to detail the mindset you should be in when you go. It’s no big deal really, but you will want to know what your expectations are from a health standpoint. What medical issue are you trying to help solve? Is it insomnia, arthritic pain, or muscle pain? Whatever the issue is, note it and convey your needs to the ‘budtender’ who helps you. You’ll be rather pleased to know that shopping for cannabis is no different than any other retail experience other than the aroma is much better!

Just as important is to know that the budtender is there to help you so take your time and let them get to know you. You will hopefully be back and they will want to know how what they sold you, worked for you. I suggest that when you do make your first purchase, that you purchase only one product. If it’s flower, an edible, a tincture or a topical, only buy one of them. You do not want to be trying multiple cannabis at once. You want to know what is working for you and if you try multiple products at once, you won’t know which one is actually working for you. After that, you can make adjustments, dial in your dosage or try a completely different product altogether. 

I also talked about cannabis festivals and events. With cannabis becoming legal in municipalities all across California, so is the demand for consumption events. Normal community events are difficult enough. Imagine having an entire new set of ordinances and compliance requirements to deal with. Every cannabis festival must abide by the same regulations as if they were a dispensary. Every transaction has to be entered into the state’s tracking system whether is an eighth of cannabis or one joint. Consumption areas are restricted and cannot be visible from anywhere outside of the festival. There are so many other legal requirements that the promoter has to follow that it truly is one of the most challenging types of events to orchestrate.

Talking Plant is your guide through the journey into the basics of cannabis, the cannabis industry, and where we try to answer all your questions about our favorite plant.

On this episode my guests are Hueneme Beach Festival Director Maya Zumaya and David Moss, one of the founders of From the Earth, a cannabis dispensary in Port Hueneme.

The Hueneme Beach Festival is one of Ventura County’s most attended festivals. Set on the beach in Port Hueneme, near the iconic pier, the festival celebrates local music, culture, food and non-profit organizations. The organizers are expecting over 15,000 visitors per day at the two-day festival. The Hueneme Beach Festival is Saturday, August 27 and Sunday August 28 at Hueneme Beach Park in Port Hueneme, CA. Admission is free to this 2-day event.

One of the unique collaborations of this festival is the inclusion of local cannabis businesses including dispensaries who will be in attendance as sponsors. David Moss, one of the founders of From the Earth, a local cannabis dispensary, shares with us how he became involved with the Hueneme Beach Festival. From the Earth will be sponsoring the main stage at the festival. David has extensive experience in concert promotion and production and he will be utilizing his experience and contacts to bring some very talented artists to the festival.

Festival Director Maya Zumaya is also very active in the community as a homeless and mental health advocate. Maya shared with me the reason why she is so passionate about those two topics and how she helps spread awareness in the community.

Community service is very important to Maya and it shows with all the work she does to help those less fortunate. 

David Moss, a philanthropist at heart, shares how he came into the cannabis industry and how his giving attitude has guided his support for community needs and events like the Hueneme Beach Festival. David also shared the challenges of operating a cannabis business in California.

Join the podcast and learn all of the details of Hueneme Beach Festival and get to know the organizers who have worked so hard to bring the community such a culturally adverse event. For more information go to HuenemeBeachFestival.org

Talking Plant is your guide through the journey into the basics of cannabis, the cannabis industry, and where we try to answer all your questions about our favorite plant.

On this episode my guests are cannabis entrepreneurs from Southern California, Zahur Lalji and Sergio Burga. The partners own and operate several cannabis businesses including multiple dispensaries in the Los Angeles and Ventura County areas.

I wanted to give people an insight into what it takes to be in the cannabis industry. Most people think that it’s a gold rush of an opportunity but you will learn that is nothing of the sort. Zahur and Sergio share with us their previous working lives as banker and automotive dealership owner respectively.

After opening his first storefront in San Diego, which he was eventually forced to close, Sergio then partnered up with Zahur to focus on new ventures in the cannabis industry. 

After opening their first couple of dispensaries together, the pair worked on expanding their portfolio to include cultivation, distribution, and brand creation. They continue to face many of the challenges that plague the cannabis industry like over regulation, multiple taxes being slapped on their businesses and the application processes in new cities they are looking to expand in.

With such unique backgrounds in their respective fields, they explain what skill sets have helped them in their cannabis businesses. 

For those who are looking to invest in a cannabis business, they give some honest advice on how to look for the right business and how the city the business is in, may make the difference in start-up costs and eventual success.

Giving back to the community has always been a big part of how Zahur and Sergio operated in their previous professional businesses. As many cities mandate community giveback programs for cannabis retailers, the pair share how they reach out into the communities to give back to the most needy causes. 

As they prepare to hear the results of their most recent application in Ventura, CA, the two entrepreneurs also discuss their attitude to the competitive nature of the cannabis industry, especially in the retail sector.

If you’re interested in investing in a cannabis industry business, this program will give you a good insight of what business operators should look like to you as you take that leap into jungle of this business.

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Greetings from Green Coast Radio.  Rodney is on a break, he'll be back soon with fresh cannabis content.  In the meantime here's a little show we like to call Air Tight.  It's a weekly music show that is streamed on Green Coast Radio. There is no theme, it's just music from the station archive that The Alex feels like playing.  If you spot a theme in the shows, you could be genus or really high.  Listen to as much Green Coast Radio as humanly possible at https://www.greencoastradio.com/.

Air Tight #2

Even Dado - My Drug Buddy

EverClear - Normal like you

Ex-Models - It’s on Television

Existero - No Class

F.Y.P. - Animals

Faster Tiger - Control

Fear - I Love Living in the City

Fine Young Cannibals - I’m Not Satisfied

Fixtures - I Survive Today

Flogging Molly - Salty Dog

The Flying Lizards - What’s new Pussycat

Frank Black and the Catholics - I’ve seen your Picture

Free Kitten - Teenie Weenie Boppie

From Autumn to Ashes - Daylight Slavings

NY Loose - Pretty Suicide

Talking Plant is about educating the community at large about the health benefits of cannabis. We want to help dispel the stigma that has permeated through our society about cannabis since the early 1900’s.  We are here to educate on the WAR ON DRUGS and the effects it has had on communities of color all across this country.

In short, we are here to support and advocate for PLANT MEDICINE. Cannabis is a schedule one drug which means, according to the federal government, it has NO MEDICINAL VALUE. That it can be addicting. We all know different.

Today we are expanding our talk about PLANT MEDICINE to include psychedelics as medicine or plant medicine.  Psychedelic agents are experiencing a veritable renaissance. And this time, we’re not talking 1960s counterculture. In recent years a slew of psychedelic agents have filled the drug development pipeline. These therapeutics are being investigated for treating conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Psychedelic therapeutics have moved from the fringes of medicine to the mainstream

Between 2015 and 2021. 41 states and the federal government adopted these laws. The basic premise is that people with life threatening conditions don’t have time to wait for the long slow process of new drug approval.

In 2018, congress passed The Right to Try Act and it was signed into law by Donald Trump.  But, as we all know about what is happening to cannabis, politics always rears its ugly head when it comes to providing safe access to certain medicines, plant medicines,  to patients who in many cases are in their last stages of life.

Well there was a protest today.  The DEA unfortunately has stepped in and they are prohibiting access to psilocybin.

Psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, is an investigational drug which meets the requirements of duly enacted state and federal law to be available for therapeutic use for those with life threatening conditions.

Why can’t we take the politics out of humanity?  At today’s protest. Politics entered into the lives of cancer patients, some in their 80’s, when they were arrested for protesting. What were they protesting?

They were protesting at the DEA Headquarters in Arlington Virginia to bring attention to the DEA’s failure to open up a pathway to access psilocybin for therapeutic use for those who have life threatening conditions.

It's our own government, the DEA not following the laws of the United States government.  This is the law of the land and Joe Biden’s DEA is not following it.  Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps CEO David Bronner, who has been involved in numerous drug policy reform reform campaigns, also attended.

This is what he said about today’s protest.

“We’re not asking DEA to be compassionate, we’re asking them to follow established law.”

He was also arrested.

So what is Psilocybin? 

What are psychedelics?

Today, on Talking Plant I have Maria Robles, The Psychedelic Mexicana, who is going to talk with us about psychedelics as medicine. She’s going to share with us what she has learned about psychedelics as medicine. 

Welcome back. Today we’re talking about psychedelics as medicine. As I mentioned in the previous segment today there was a protest in Arlington VA at DEA Headquarters about their blockage of patients' access to psilocybin. Psilocybin is the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushtrooms.

Like cannabis, Psilycybin does not have a known mortality dose. You cannot consume enough of it to kill you.

Today I have Maria Robles, the Psychedelic Mexicana as she’s known on Instagram to help understand a little more about psychedelics as medicine.

Maria shared with us about her professional background and told us how it came to be that she came to study psychedelics as medicine. She also talked about other types of plant medicine with psychedelic properties and what investigations are occurring for varied health conditions, both mental and physical.

For anyone who may be considering microdosing psychedelics, she lays out what kind of research you need to do for yourself and what precautions you need to take for a safe experience.

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