Give and Toke: Cannabis Conversations

In 1936, a low-budget propaganda film set out to warn the public about the dangers of cannabis. Instead, it became one of the most infamous examples of moral panic ever committed to screen. In this episode, Paul O’Donoghue of Give & Toke is joined by Joel and Bash of Exotican to revisit Reefer Madness, the film that tried to terrify audiences with tales of insanity, violence, and social decay. What was intended as a cautionary tale has since evolved into a cult classic and a cultural case study in misinformation. Together, they unpack the historical context behind the film, the forces that shaped early cannabis prohibition, and the unintended consequences of exaggerated drug messaging. More than just cinema, Reefer Madness reveals how fear-based narratives can influence public perception, policy, and stigma for generations. Was it effective public education or one of the greatest propaganda misfires in modern history? 🔗 Give & Toke: https://giveandtoke.com.au 🔗 Exotican: https://exotican.com.au Helping or Hurting? is a limited series from Give & Toke and Exotican examining how cannabis has been portrayed on screen, and whether those portrayals have shaped perception for better or worse.

Pharmacists don’t usually sit at the centre of conversations about plant medicine, but maybe they should. Jen and Nick Ravenswood are a husband-and-wife team with deep roots in community pharmacy, and the founders of Rays Wellness, a medicinal cannabis dispensary built on patient care, education, and professional standards. Their journey into cannabis didn’t start with hype. It started with a prescription and a system that didn’t work the way it should. What followed was a hands-on effort to improve access, raise the bar on patient care, and bring a pharmacist-led perspective into a space that often moves faster than its foundations. With experience across prescribing, education, clinic support, and regulatory navigation, Jen and Nick offer a grounded view of where medicinal cannabis sits today and where it’s heading. This is a conversation about partnership, progress, and what happens when healthcare professionals step forward to shape the future, rather than wait for it. Visit www.rayswellness.com.au Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Tanner Stewart is focused on one of the most challenging and consequential areas in health: how we understand and manage pain. Through Stewart Farms, he’s working to develop plant-powered alternatives that sit alongside conventional approaches, offering people more options in a space long dominated by pharmaceuticals. At the centre of that work is Arctic Heat, a topical wellness line designed with restraint, intention, and respect for both science and lived experience. Rather than chasing hype, Tanner speaks candidly about responsibility in wellness, the limits of what products can promise, and the importance of trust when people are seeking relief. In this episode: Thousands of Canadians supported each month (0:30) Prioritising integrity (4:20) Maintaining medicinal integrity (7:40) Cannabis, pain, PTSD and veterans (13:45) The safety profile of cannabis and opioid addiction (18:30) Taking on big pharma (24:15) Topicals 101 (31:40) Stewart Farms: From startup to scale (36:00) Hotbox Quiz (44:00) Pauls of Wisdom (49:00) Follow @tannerstewart.life on Instagram Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Get $10 off accessories with the code ‘CATCHUP’ at giveandtoke.com.au The Catch-Up is a collaboration between Give and Toke and AusCannaReviews with Paul and Christina coming together occasionally to explore what’s happening in Cannabis in Australia and around the world. In this episode: Unmissable talks: Gabriel Younes on aroma, and Chad Walkaden on Indigenous healthcare (2:30) The TGA Presentation: cautious optimism and takeaways (7:00) Community leading the way (12:00) Good vibes prevailing in a volatile time (14:30) Key takeaways - memories, challenged perspectives, finding common ground, breaking stigma (17:00) Improving UIC for patients (22:00) UIC is Cannabis School Camp (26:00) @AusCannaReviews on SubStack, Instagram and Twitter/X Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Justin Lee is the founder of Ay Papi, a California-based craft cannabis company focused on solventless, single-origin products made in collaboration with regenerative legacy cultivators. Before entering the cannabis industry, Justin worked in entertainment as an actor and producer, and competed as an MMA fighter. His path into cannabis was shaped by firsthand experience with injury, chronic pain, and recovery, which led him to explore cannabis not just recreationally, but as part of a broader, more intentional approach to health and wellbeing. Ay Papi operates without outside capital and rejects volume-driven models, tier systems, and artificial flavouring. Instead, the brand centres genetics, farming practices, and flavour as expressions of place, people, and process. In 2024, Ay Papi’s Whitethorn Rose Single Origin Live Rosin Infused Gummies received Gold and the Golden Bear at the California State Fair, recognised for doing the opposite of most edibles: allowing the cannabis itself to define the experience. Justin is also a certified Ganjier and a vocal advocate for solventless production, regenerative agriculture, and greater cannabis literacy. His work sits at the intersection of culture, craft, and responsibility, with a strong emphasis on honouring farmers, hashmakers, and the systems that make high-quality cannabis possible. In this episode: Justin Lee on being Annyong on Arrested Development (2:00) Abbott Elementary cannabis activation (6:30) Cannabis as medicine: overcoming concussion, ceasing opioids and bio-hacking (9:00) Self-care to Ay Papi (19:00) What does craft mean? (23:00) What does organic and regenerative mean? (27:00) Live Rosin (32:00) Quiz: Hellos around the World (39:30) Real time habit changes (41:30) Regulatory and industry changes needed in California (43:00) Will rescheduling happen? (45:00) Pauls of Wisdom (48:00) Follow @yoswaggylee on Instagram Follow @aypapico on Instagram Visit https://aypapi.co/ Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Julian Stefanou is the founding partner of West Coast Palms, an Australian medicinal cannabis producer and importer that sits at the intersection of cannabis culture and clinical medicine. With a national footprint across Australia and a growing international outlook, West Coast Palms is now expanding product availability into key global markets including the Netherlands, Thailand and Barcelona, reflecting a belief that cannabis is moving toward a more unified, international future. Julian operates in the space where “legalisation is inevitable” and culture must evolve alongside regulation. His work is grounded in building brands and supply chains that respect the plant’s history, while navigating the realities of modern medical frameworks, compliance and patient access. At his core, Julian represents a new generation of cannabis leaders who see culture not as a risk to medicine, but as an essential part of its future. In this episode: Who are West Coast Palms? (1:30) Improving the sentiment about Australian products (2:15) From “weed nerd” to founder (5:15) Improving the regulations (8:00) Understanding, balancing clinic and culture (9:15) Quiz: Around the Globe in Cannabis (13:00) West Coast Palms around the world (26:30) Mature cannabis industries - can medicinal and adult-use co-exist? (30:00) Traveling with Cannabis (34:30) West Coast Palms in the future (37:30) Pauls of Wisdom (38:30) Visit www.westcoastpalms.com Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Rachel Payne returns to Give & Toke for a candid and wide-ranging review of cannabis policy in 2025. Rachel reflects on the year’s most significant developments, including Victoria’s long-awaited drug driving reforms, the government’s continued refusal to legalise cannabis despite overwhelming evidence, and what this means for the thousands of Victorians still being arrested each year. We also unpack the TGA consultation process, workplace drug testing, hemp reform, and the broader conservatism shaping Australian drug policy. Beyond cannabis, Rachel shares key non-cannabis legislative wins from 2025, including reforms to Working With Children Checks and progress on Treaty and First Peoples’ Assembly work. In this episode: A big driving win in 2025 (1:30) The Victorian Government fail to legalise again… (10:30) Do MPs use cannabis? (14:00) The TGA Consultation (22:00) Conservatism in Australia (27:30) The Hemp Industry Bill (30:45) Workplace Drug Testing Inquiry (33:30) How does cannabis influence romantic relationships (36:00) Protecting the progressive crossbench (39:00) Non-cannabis wins in 2025 - Vicarious Liability (45:30) Reforming Working with Children Checks (48:00) Victorian First People’s Treaty (51:30) Let’s stop arresting our people in 2026 (35:45) Pauls of Wisdom (56:30) Visit www.rachelpayne.com.au Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelpayne_mp Follow Rachel on Twitter @rachelpaynemp Visit giveandtoke.com.au Follow Give and Toke on Instagram @giveandtoke Email Us giveandtoke@gmail.com

In this episode, Paul is joined by the Interim CEO and Founder of SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals, Michael Sassano - a man with a track record for global market predictions. Together they look back at 2025, and explore what's in store across the world in 2026. In this episode: Trump Reschedules Cannabis in the US (1:30) Not All Pharmaceuticals are the same (4:30) Regulatory Curveballs across the world - UK, Germany and Australia (7:45) Australia in 2025 (14:00) Collaboration is the key to success (15:30) The rise of emerging markets - France, Spain, Slovenia, Poland, New Zealand (19:00) Preserving medicinal frameworks whilst achieving better access (24:00) Operational challenges in Portugal in 2025 (28:30) Meeting patient needs (31:00) What’s coming in 2026 (34:30) Patients need different formats (38:00) Visit www.somaipharma.com.au Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Mimi Sener is one of the most respected and quietly influential leaders in the Australian medicinal cannabis industry. Mimi’s journey into cannabis was shaped by lived experience, supporting a partner through cancer and questioning the limits of traditional pharma. Since then, she’s built a career spanning early-stage industry growth, clinical education, consulting and senior leadership, including her current role as General Manager of Alma Cannabis Australia. Together, Paul and Mimi unpack the real state of the Australian cannabis industry, the fallout from the TGA consultation, and what it actually takes to professionalise a sector still finding its feet. They explore leadership, standards, and the realities of operating in a volatile, politically charged market. In this episode: An affinity for cannabis in spite of stigma (2:00) The TGA consultation forgot about patients (8:00) Big Pharma contradictions (13:45) A highly personal drive to cannabis (20:00) Montu and the early years of the industry (26:00) Declining excitement and increasing fear in Australia (36:00) Fallout from the TGA consultation: limiting education, access, and reduced limits (43:00) Questions from a Friend (61:00) Alma in a nutshell (75:00) The eyes on us have knives out (82:00) Pauls of Wisdom (89:45) Find Mimi Sener on LinkedIn Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

In this special episode of The Catch-Up, Christina and Paul reunite to unpack their recent trip to Thailand. They share insights from their visits to Iridescent Med and the facility cultivating Cookies California genetics, reflect on the world-class standards they witnessed, and express gratitude for the hospitality extended by the teams. Expect thoughtful reflections, genuine appreciation, and excitement about the innovation shaping Thailand’s cannabis landscape. @AusCannaReviews on ⁠SubStack⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Twitter/X⁠ Email ⁠AusCannaReviews@gmail.com⁠ Visit ⁠www.giveandtoke.com.au⁠ Follow @giveandtoke on ⁠Instagram⁠ Email ⁠giveandtoke@gmail.com

This week on Give & Toke, Paul is joined by Angus Murray - a cultivator who’s taken lessons from Vancouver to Victoria and everywhere in between. From his time growing in Canada’s legendary BC cannabis scene to shaping cultivation in Australia, Angus brings a unique perspective on what it takes to deliver consistent, high-quality medicine to patients. Paul and Angus stroll down memory lane in Vancouver, dive into the realities of cultivation on both sides of the Pacific, and even test Angus’s loyalty with an Australia vs Canada quiz. It’s a lighthearted yet insightful chat about cannabis, culture, and the future of cultivation in Australia. In this episode: The Vancouver Influence (5:30) Getting Started at Tantalus (9:40) Returning to Australia (14:00 From Craft to Major (18:00) Delivering a Consistently High Quality Product (22:00) A Vision for Adult Use (25:00) Canadian Australian Quiz (31:00) Cultivators Shaping the Industry (39:30) Managing Stigma and Judgement (42:00) Golden Days Cultivators (52:30) Pauls of Wisdom (55:15) Visit www.goldendayscultivators.com.au Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Dr Bryce Joynson is a neuro-affirming Specialist GP based on the Gold Coast, with a practice that blends clinical rigour and holistic care. Known for his work across ADHD, autism, hyper-mobility disorders, and medicinal cannabis, Dr Joynson is at the forefront of progressive medicine in Australia. From pioneering Australia's first paediatric cannabis prescribing protocols to developing brain imaging strategies for mental health, Bryce brings a unique perspective to the conversation around neurodiversity, chronic illness, and how we approach care in the 21st century. He’s a passionate educator, medical advisor, and vocal advocate for a future where patients are seen, heard, and supported. In this episode: Discovering the importance of relationships (2:00) Adapting your consult time and reading the room (5:00) Developing meaningful relationships (8:00) Remaining present and mindful in consults and life (14:00) What is neuro-affirming care? A boom in self-diagnosis (23:00) Gaps in neurodivergent care (30:00) Rapid Fire Quiz (38:00) Medicinal Cannabis at a tool (42:00) Stigma in the medical space (44:45) Limitations of medicinal cannabis (49:00) AHPRA and TGA cracking down? (53:00) Pauls of Wisdom (55:00) Visit www.drbryce.com.au Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

With over a decade of experience spanning both the legacy market and the medical industry, Jessica Peros brings a rare dual perspective to Australia’s evolving cannabis space. In this episode of Give & Toke, Paul sits down with Jessica to talk about her journey from co-founding The Green Room Hydro to creating The Green Room HQ - a space for patient advocacy, industry insight, and community connection. We explore how Jessica’s work and life have shaped her understanding of patients, and prescribers, and why championing local growers is critical to the future of cannabis in Australia. In this episode: Follow @thegreenroom.hq on Instagram Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

From community pharmacy to cannabis advocacy, Jessica-Li Verschoor is redefining frontline care in the medicinal cannabis space. In this episode of Give & Toke, Paul speaks with the 2025 Cannabiz Awards Industry Newcomer of the Year about her journey into plant medicine at Green Street Dispensary and Plant Pharm in Western Australia. Jessica-Li shares how her pharmacy background shapes her approach to cannabis, the role of social media in education and stigma reduction, and why so many people are asking how to break into the industry. We also explore what sets WA’s cannabis landscape apart — and how her personal view of the plant has evolved. In this episode: Plant Playground and Cannabis Events (0:30) From Community Pharmacy to Cannabis (3:45) California Living and Global Perspectives (7:30) Cannabiz Industry Newcomer of the Year (15:00) Social Media to Build Community (18:15) Getting into the Industry (19:30) Green St Dispensary and Plant Pharm (24:00) Disneyland Quiz (28:00) Cannabis in Western Australia (35:00) Pauls of Wisdom (47:30) Visit planthpharm.shop Visit greenstdispensary.com Follow @greenstdisp on Instagram Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

We're Ruth and Paul - the husband and wife duo behind Give & Toke. Join us as we sit down for a candid conversation about cannabis, relationships, and the power of shared purpose. While Paul’s passion for the plant is no surprise to regular listeners, Ruth brings a unique perspective as a non-consumer who’s become an advocate for reform. Her support is rooted in education, empathy, and a deep belief in cannabis’s potential for both mainstream healthcare and responsible adult use. Together, we explore what it takes to navigate relationships between consumers and non-consumers, the mutual respect required to make it work, and how breaking down stereotypes can lead to greater understanding and more mindful access in adult-use markets. In this episode: First Impressions: Dating a cannabis user for the first time (1:30) Breaking the Stereotype: Overcoming stoner stigma and personal bias (5:00) From Rehab to Retail: The irony and insights of working in opposing spaces (15:00) Shifting Spirits: How our views on alcohol have changed over time (20:00) Love & Limits: Navigating relationship challenges and shared responsibility (25:00) The “Babe Ruth” Quiz: How well does Ruth know... Ruth? (31:00) Life in Canada: How access and attitudes differ in adult-use markets (34:00) Would She Ever?: Ruth reflects on the possibility of personal cannabis use (37:00) Pauls of Wisdom (…Should have called it’s Ruth’s Truths) (44:00) Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

In this powerful episode of Give & Toke, we’re joined by healthcare strategist, author, and global cannabis advocate Melanie Wentzel. From working with governments and peak bodies to rewriting the narrative around women and weed in her groundbreaking book Cannabis Queens, Melanie brings sharp insight and deep heart to the conversation around equitable, person-centred care and the plant that’s changing lives. We explore the radical role of women in the cannabis industry, the challenges of reforming conservative healthcare systems, and why storytelling may be the most transformative tool of all. It’s medical. It’s political. It’s revolutionary. In this episode: What does it mean to be a Cannabis Queen? (1:30) The feminine role in dismantling stigma (7:45) Self-Discovery through storytelling (13:30) The intersection of culture and medicine (33:45) Navigating criticism of women forward causes (44:30) The legacy of Cannabis Queens (53:30) Quiz: Wentzel or Not? (58:30) Integrated Healthcare (60:30) Cannabis in mainstream in healthcare? (72:15) Cannim’s research initiatives (77:30) Visit www.melaniewentzel.com Visit www.cannabisqueens.world Follow Melanie Wentzel on LinkedIn Contact Mel: mel@melaniewentzel.com Lumir Mission Primary Dysmenorrhea Study RECRUITING NOW: www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm/research/participate-in-research/canndyshelp Lumir Mission Menopause Study RECRUITING NOW: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm/research/participate-in-research/menocann Lumir Mission Study (For all medicinal cannabis patients in Australia) LAUNCHING JULY 23: www.lumirmission.com/home-au/ Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS SHOW ARE PERSONAL AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYER.

In this episode, we're joined by two industry trailblazers who’ve gone from the frontlines of patient care to the frontlines of cannabis supply. Bashar Al-Humrany (a pharmacist) and Joel Green (a nurse) first crossed paths at Melbourne’s Astrid Dispensary, one of the first dedicated medicinal cannabis dispensaries in the country. Together, they saw firsthand where the system was helping... and where it was falling short. Now, they’ve teamed up to launch Exotican, an Australian medicinal cannabis importer built from the ground up by people who understand patients, products, and prescriptions. We’re talking clinical insight, industry gaps, and of course the Bash Brothers of cannabis. In this episode: Clinical experience informing patient care (4:00) The inception of Exotican (9:30) Setting standards in medicine (12:30) Imports vs. Aussie Grown (18:00) Mighty Ducks Quiz (24:30) What GPs need to know (31:30) Managing culture and medicine (33:40) When patient is “on the edge” (37:30) Exotican’s Values (41:00) Product Innovation (42:50) The importance of education (48:15) Pauls of Wisdom (50:00) Follow @exoticanau on Instagram Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS SHOW ARE PERSONAL AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYER.

In this episode, we sit down with Fiona Patten, former Victorian MP and current Senate candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party, to discuss her run for the Senate in the lead up to this weekend's federal Australian election, the future of cannabis legalisation in Australia, and why legalising cannabis is not a "single issue". Learn more about the Legalise Cannabis Party: legalisecannabis.org.au Visit Fiona Patten's candidate profile at Fiona Patten – Legalise Cannabis Party

Sean Maloney is the sole Legal Counsel and Commercial Manager for MediCann Health - an Australian based medicinal cannabis company focussed on improving the quality of life of people in need through the use of affordable, reliable and science backed medicinal cannabis products. With a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Western Australia, Sean has worked as a Senior Consultant & Solicitor at a Big 4 firm, along with holding senior advisory and compliance roles at the Australian Securities Exchange. In this episode:Reflections on UIC (1:30) Legal Cannabis: Exciting or Daunting? (2:40) Pathway to Cannabis and MediCann (5:10) The legal framework in Australia (10:15) Is there a proclivity to break the law in cannabis work? (19:30) What changes are coming? (23:00) Staying in the loop (28:00) Cannabis around the world (30:00) Quiz: Lionel Hutz (35:00) Cannabis and the ASX (40:45) Crowdfunded Cannabis (47:00) Pauls of Wisdom (53:30) Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com

Rhys Cohen is a self-confessed “drug nerd” who has held countless cannabis-related roles over the past decade as he has become a trusted voice within the industry. With a Masters in Research and Sociology, Rhys has been a cannabis consultant, editor, advisory board member and today is the Policy Officer at Penington Institute. Penington Institute is an independent drug policy non-profit that is currently developing a comprehensive model for cannabis regulation which prioritises community health and safety. They champion an open, rational, and compassionate approach to building and sharing knowledge to reduce drug-related harm and are pushing for an effective regulatory framework for cannabis defined by public health goals, prioritising targeted prevention, education, and treatment. In this episode: Reflections on UIC (1:45) Why Rhys pursued cannabis (5:00) The state of Australian medicinal cannabis (9:20) Protecting the medicinal market (15:30) People are overwhelming still using illicit cannabis (17:15) What is the Penington Institute (19:40) The Annual Overdose Report (21:00) Cannabis regulation in Victoria - Regulate it! (23:45) Rhys’ Pieces Quiz (34:45) Vape Battery Ban (40:00) Pauls of Wisdom (42:20) Visit www.penington.org.au Take the Quiz at www.penington.org.au/regulate-it-cannabis-campaign/ Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram Email giveandtoke@gmail.com