Once again, VanHoot is traveling northern prairie highways and Kirk is stopping to make cold calls to recreational stores along the way. In this episode, he revisits some of the shops he visited in past trips to ask specific questions about how people are using Rec Shops to obtain their medicine.  Have a listen as he also discovers what budtenders are selling in the 2025.

Ontario entrepreneurs are solving a problem that Trevor confronts on a weekly basis. People going to recreational cannabis stores with health questions like, "Are these gummies okay with my seizure meds?" We know that a large percentage of customers at recreational cannabis stores are using their cannabis for health and wellness purposes. Yet, budtenders are limited in the health information that they can provide. In this episode, Kirk and Trevor learn how two businesses owners are filling in the gaps left by governments’ lack of attention within the Medical Cannabis program. Lisa Bigioni is the Co-Founder and CEO at Stok'd, a retail cannabis store. Anushya Vijayaraghevan is a pharmacist and Co-Founder of Apothecare. Their niche filling collaboration is that Stok'd, an experiential cannabis retail shop, gives customers access to Apothecare, a pharmacist-led virtual consultation service. Together, these businesses provide a pathway for those searching to learn how to use cannabis for their health and wellness. This is another example of how the Cannabis Industry is meeting the needs of those looking to learn the health benefits of using cannabis.

Newton Zheng is a good Canadian guy. (That seems important to mention, lately). Listen to his rise in athletics (we're calling him the Rocky of Badminton now), to Newton taking a different career path than Elon Musk, to Newton becoming a digital marketing entrepreneur. Newton and his team at ePropel Digital has found a niche helping cannabis dispensaries and other cannabis businesses. Cannabis businesses have many, many rules and regulations about how or if they can advertise. And if you can't let potential customers know that your business exists, how are they going to buy from you? ePropel Digital helps cannabis businesses increase their sales using an organic digital marketing system. It doesn't break any restrictions. ePropel helps businesses to be found at the top of Google when their potential customers search for their products or services. After you listen to the episode, Newton has one more surprise for you. Click the referral link below to get a deal on marketing your business from Newton and the folks at ePropel!

This EV5 video represents the entire interview. Enjoy! 

In the audio podcast, we continue our discussion with Dr. Genester Wilson-King about the use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The episode starts with a discussion on the various routes of administration for cannabis, including inhalation, tinctures, edibles, and topicals. She discusses the use of cannabis for hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, and the potential risks and benefits. Dr. Wilson-King also addresses the transfer of cannabinoids into breast milk and recommends oral forms over inhalation for breastfeeding mothers. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of consulting with knowledgeable healthcare providers when considering cannabis use during pregnancy and postpartum.

In 2018, the Federal Cannabis Act was proclaimed. This federal act gave the provinces many of the responsibilities of managing the recreational use of cannabis. Although the recreational consumption of cannabis became legal throughout Canada, the Manitoba conservative government of 2018 placed several restrictions on cannabis, including not allowing Manitobans to grow cannabis at home. This despite our neighbors in Saskatchewan and Ontario being allow to grow their 4 plants at home as laid out in the federal act.  As of May 1, 2025 the New Democratic Party government, made some changes to the Manitoban cannabis regulations. In this episode Amanda Creasy, MBA, a Director within the Liquor Gaming and Cannabis Authority (LGCA), discusses the new Manitoba regulations. She explains the rational for the changes that were made and also why other changes were not made. Have a listen to discover how Manitobans can now grow four indoor plants and why the prohibition of public consumption of cannabis remains.

Dr. Genester Wilson-King is an experienced OB-GYN and cannabis specialist practicing in Florida. In the first part of this two-part episode, Dr. Wislon-King explains how the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present throughout the female reproductive system. The ECS plays a surprisingly large role in women's health. All health professions, including Dr. Wilson-King and Kirk & Trevor, agree that the best pregnancy requires a good diet, regular sleep, daily exercise, and most importantly, no drugs. However, some pregnant people use cannabis. In consultation with their pregnant patients, some health care professionals use cannabis for conditions like anxiety, pain, nausea/vomiting, and seizures. This is the episode for those who want to better understand how cannabis works in the field of prenatal care. 

Kirk and Trevor once again chat with Owen Smith, a key figure in the Canadian Cannabis movement. Owen has recently written a book chronicling his Cannabis experiences and is also on social media advocating for a "Buy Canadian" movement within the Cannabis industry. This episode is a catch up with both Owen and the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club exploring their collective legal battles establishing medical Cannabis access. The discussion touches on the challenges of navigating the medical and recreational Cannabis frameworks in Canada, as well as the potential for Cannabis as a harm reduction tool compared to more dangerous substances.

Kirk and Trevor meet Sean Boyd, a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and discuss the operations of Little Beach Harvest, a cannabis dispensary owned and operated by the Shinnecock tribe. The key to this episode is the community leverages its sovereign status to create its own cannabis regulations, allowing for indoor cultivation and a more customer-centric approach. The community has created a welcoming, community-oriented experience and supports Shinnecock entrepreneurs and businesses. The episode touches upon the history of economic development challenges and the ongoing fight for sovereignty. Little Beach Harvest is in a unique position as a tribally-owned cannabis business operating on sovereign land.

The conversation with BioSource Botanicals continues. In Part 2 Kirk and Trevor look deeper into the use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products offered by BioSource Botanicals. The expert panel discuss the differences in absorption and bioavailability between topical, sublingual, and edible cannabis products. They emphasize the importance of using whole plant extracts rather than isolated compounds, as well as the potential benefits of targeting mitochondrial health. The discussion also touches on the challenges of regulating the cannabis industry and the need for more scientific research to ensure quality and consistency in cannabis products.