BIOACTIVE

What if carbon is one of the most overlooked inputs in plant nutrition? In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Nik Nikolayev, CEO of Rooted Leaf Agritech, to explore the science of carbon-based fertilizers, plant nutrition, biostimulants, organic acids, and the chemistry behind plant growth, yield, and quality. Nik breaks down how plants use carbon beyond simply taking up CO₂ from the atmosphere, and why forms of carbon such as acetate and citrate may provide important substrates that can enter plant metabolism. The conversation explores how carbon interacts with NPK nutrition, photosynthesis, energy allocation, nutrient uptake, and secondary metabolism, including the pathways involved in producing cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and sulfur-containing compounds. They also dive into natural fertilizers and plant-based biostimulants, including kelp, hibiscus, moringa, anthocyanins, humic and fulvic acids, and other botanical inputs. Nik explains the idea behind using medicinal plants and their chemistry in agriculture, how organic acids can interact with minerals, and why the form of a nutrient may matter as much as the nutrient itself. The conversation also explores the carbon economy of cannabis, trichome metabolism, terpene diversity, rare cannabinoids, sulfur chemistry, nutrient stress, and the challenges of testing compounds that occur at extremely low concentrations. Throughout the episode, Nik emphasizes the importance of connecting theoretical chemistry with practical growing results while acknowledging where the science is still developing. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Meet Nick Nikolaev 01:23 Fermentation Sparks Curiosity 02:19 Microbes Soil and Health 03:27 Medicinal Plants as Inputs 04:58 Biostimulants vs NPK 07:36 Feeding Plants Carbon 10:00 Citric Acid and Chelation 14:44 Extending the Rhizosphere 16:14 Energy Budget and Nitrate 19:01 Results More Terps Cannabinoids 21:19 CO2 The Carbon Lever 25:16 Terpenes vs Cannabinoids Pathways 26:18 Sulfur Thiols and Aroma 31:23 Stress Salts and Organics 33:04 Why Kelp Extracts Work 36:43 Medicinal Plant Inputs 37:52 Anthocyanin Foliar Shield 38:49 Carbon Four Rs Framework 40:17 Feeding Trichome Metabolism 42:07 Terpene Profile Shifts 43:59 Prenylation Chemistry Explained 45:42 Evolution Of Enzyme Promiscuity 48:56 Polyketide Pathway Variants 50:32 Rare Cannabinoids Potential 53:23 Testing Limits And Sulfur Trace 55:21 Bioavailable Carbon Forms 58:14 Bioaccumulation And Detox 01:02:58 Moringa Burn Lesson 01:05:30 Learning Loop And Field Data 01:09:40 Closing Thanks And Wrap Connect with Nik Nikolayev Nik Nikolayev CEO, Rooted Leaf Agritech Website: https://rootedleaf.com/ Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes? Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one. www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, and more! Sign Up for Emails! www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem https://instagram.com/cannabichem https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Riley Kirk has Dr. Denise Valenti on the podcast to discuss cannabis and driving, cannabis impairment, THC testing, and the challenges of determining whether someone is actually too impaired to drive. They explore why THC levels in the body do not necessarily correspond to impairment and how cannabis can affect vision, peripheral vision, contrast sensitivity, eye movement, balance, and pupil response. They also discuss the limitations of current roadside cannabis testing compared with alcohol testing, including the challenges of using blood THC levels, cognitive tests, and field sobriety tests to determine cannabis impairment. Dr. Valenti explains her work developing technology that could combine multiple sensory measurements to identify impairment more accurately. The conversation also explores how dose, tolerance, consumption method, individual differences, medical conditions, and baseline function can influence impairment and why there is no universal rule for how long someone should wait before driving after consuming cannabis. They discuss Drug Recognition Experts, the need for stronger scientific validation and national standards, and the importance of developing impairment-testing technology that is accurate and free from racial bias. Finally, they discuss cannabis and driving research, harm reduction, the challenges of funding cannabis impairment studies, and why controlled, dose-specific research is needed to better understand the relationship between cannabis, impairment, and road safety. Chapters 00:00 Cannabis Driving Question 01:08 Denise Valenti Background 03:57 Vision Loss and Driving Research 05:49 Dopamine Retina Link 07:34 Building Impairment Tests 09:38 Why THC Levels Fail 14:39 Courtroom Ready Tech 17:45 Four Part Roadside Goggle 19:56 Crash Data and Medical Use 23:33 How Long Impairment Lasts 28:41 Microdosing and Self Awareness 34:39 DREs and Legal Standards 37:05 Bias In New Tech 39:19 Glassy Eyes Mystery 39:48 Smell Changes And Munchies 41:46 THC In Tears Study 46:35 Roadside Vs Workplace Testing 48:04 Cannabis Vs Alcohol Risks 50:01 Road Design Harm Reduction 51:40 Road Rage And Crutches 53:31 Grant Funding Reality 56:30 Why This Work Matters 58:11 Health Risks And Research Limits 01:00:24 Final Safety Takeaways 01:01:25 Wrap Up And Next Topics Connect with Dr. Denise Valenti Dr. Denise A. Valenti, OD, FAAO Founder & President, IMMAD LLC Impairment Measurement Marijuana and Driving 🔗 Connect with Denise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-a-valenti-53b72516/ 🔬 Learn more about IMMAD: www.immadroadside.com IMMAD is focused on the development of objective technologies for identifying marijuana-related impairment, including visual functions relevant to safe driving. Want to Learn More About Cannabis Science? Follow the Bioactive Podcast for more conversations about cannabis science, plant biology, pharmacology, health, and the research shaping our understanding of cannabis. Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes? Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one. www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, and more! Sign Up for Emails! www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem https://instagram.com/cannabichem https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ #CannabisAndDriving #CannabisImpairment #THCImpairment #DruggedDriving #ImpairedDriving #CannabisScience #CannabisResearch #THCTesting #CannabisTesting #DrivingSafety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Dr. Rick Pescatore, board-certified emergency physician, Editor-in-Chief of Emergency Medicine News, and founder of BellyMD, for a fascinating deep dive into the gut-brain connection and what it means for cannabis users and patients dealing with unexplained digestive symptoms. Dr. Pescatore explains how the gut and brain communicate through the vagus nerve, why the gut has been called the “second brain,” and how genetics, diet, gut bacteria, inflammation, and cannabis can all influence this complex system. The conversation also explores cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and why understanding CHS requires looking beyond cannabis alone and considering the broader gut-brain system. We also get into GLP-1 medications and gut-brain medicine, nausea and vomiting, microbiome health, micronutrient deficiencies, vitamin B1 (thiamine), magnesium, and whether personalized health data could help us better understand why someone feels unwell. Dr. Pescatore shares how emerging tools, including phenomic data, wearable technology, AI, and the Menome platform, could help patients identify patterns that traditional medicine may overlook. We also discuss cannabis and the gut microbiome, CHS, thiamine deficiency, antibiotics and gut health, personalized medicine, patient autonomy, and the future of gut-brain healthcare. In this episode, we explore: - What is the gut-brain axis and how does the gut communicate with the brain? - Why does the gut have such a major role in neurotransmitters and brain health? - What does the gut microbiome have to do with anxiety, depression, and other conditions? - What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), and how does it fit into gut-brain health? - Could underlying gut-brain dysfunction contribute to cannabis-related symptoms? - How do GLP-1 medications affect the gut-brain axis? - What role do vitamin B1, magnesium, and micronutrients play in gut-brain health? - Can microbiome testing and wearable data help personalize healthcare? - Could AI help patients better understand their own health? - What does the future of personalized gut-brain medicine look like? This is a conversation about cannabis, medicine, the microbiome, nutrition, neuroscience, personalized health, and the emerging science connecting them all. CHAPTERS: 00:00 CHS Big Picture 01:17 Podcast Welcome 02:18 Meet Dr Pescatore 03:50 Defining Gut Brain Axis 05:50 Second Brain Neurons 06:42 Leaky Gut Explained 07:44 Omics And AI Boom 11:18 GLP1s As Gut Brain Drugs 13:57 GLP1 Risks And Nausea 16:46 Supplements And Diet Basics 18:28 Personalized Testing Options 19:57 Menome Phenomic App 23:46 Digital Biomarker Score 24:56 CHS Telemedicine Pipeline 27:32 Scromiting Dopamine Clue 28:28 What Really Causes CHS 29:14 Dopamine Targeted Treatment 30:06 Genetics And Dopamine Links 31:49 Gut Inflammation Hypersensitivity 32:52 Microbiome And Vitamin Deficits 34:29 Probiotics Versus Supplements 35:54 Thiamine Magnesium Protocol 37:33 Side Effects And Vivid Dreams 40:33 Can Patients Use Again 41:48 FMT And Antibiotic Fallout 43:44 Cannabis Heart Risk Reality 45:34 ER Priorities Psychosis CHS 46:25 Prevention Tips And B1 For All 47:25 Social Media And The App 50:10 Patient Autonomy And Wrap Up Explore Dr. Rick Pescatore & BellyMD 🌐 Rick Pescatore: rickpescatore.com 🌐 BellyMD: belly-md.com 📱 Menome: menome.belly-md.com Bioactive Podcast listeners can get 3 months of free access to Menome with code MGBSUB1MO. 🌿 MGB+ Calm: BellyMD MGB+ Calm Use code RILEY15 for discount.   Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes? Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.  www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem  Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, and more! Sign Up for Emails!  www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org     Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/  https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem  https://instagram.com/cannabichem  https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/   Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually happened inside the DEA’s cannabis rescheduling hearing? In this timely episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Max Jackson, former commercial cannabis cultivator and founder of Cannabis Wise Guys, to unpack what he witnessed firsthand at the DEA hearing on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Max spent most of the hearing inside the room, taking handwritten notes because recording and livestreaming were not permitted. As someone who previously managed a commercial cultivation facility with approximately 13,000 flowering cannabis plants, he offers a unique perspective on the arguments being made about cannabis, medical use, public health, research, and the plant itself. Together, Riley and Max break down who opposed rescheduling, what the government and opposing parties argued, and some of the surprising claims and misconceptions that came up during the proceedings. They discuss the difference between whole-plant cannabis and isolated cannabinoids, the challenges of dosing and medical education, cannabis research limitations, adverse effects, and why the lack of cannabis research is itself connected to decades of Schedule I restrictions. The conversation also explores what rescheduling to Schedule III could actually mean, what happens next in the process, why the administrative judge does not make the final decision, and why the DEA ultimately holds that decision. Whether you're a cannabis consumer, home grower, medical professional, researcher, cultivator, cannabis business owner, or simply trying to understand the future of cannabis policy in the United States, this episode gives you an inside look at a hearing most people never had the opportunity to see. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:40 Max Jackson Background 01:36 Why He Attended Hearing 02:52 Security and Closed Doors 06:46 Who Opposed Rescheduling 08:18 Bias and Expert Framing 10:58 Psychosis and CUD Claims 17:08 IV THC and Syringe Confusion 19:16 Plant vs Single Molecule 23:36 No Medical Use Argument 26:45 Youth Access and Regulation 31:13 Humboldt Crime Fears 33:07 Hearing Strategy Angle 33:57 Drugged Driving Testing 35:50 Tolerance And Impairment 38:30 Research Collaboration Gaps 41:10 Breastfeeding And Postpartum 42:54 ER Harms And Education 45:48 Schedule Logic Debate 51:21 DEA Museum Narrative 54:26 Van Check At DEA 57:49 What Happens Next 59:27 Wrap Up And Resources Connect with Max Jackson Cannabis Wise Guys https://cannabiswiseguys.com/ Cannabis Fact Book https://thecannabisfactbook.com/ Email: [email protected] IG: www.instagram.com/cannabiswiseguys/ Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes? Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one. www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, and more! Sign Up for Emails! www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem https://instagram.com/cannabichem https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with cannabis research scientist Ben Cleary to unpack groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports examining THC variability in cannabis flower and what it means for consumers, cultivators, laboratories, and regulators. If you've ever wondered why the same strain can feel different from batch to batch—or why chasing the highest THC percentage often leads to disappointment—this conversation explains the science behind it. Ben shares how his team's research demonstrates the natural variability of THC within a single cannabis plant and why reporting one THC percentage may not accurately represent what consumers actually purchase. Together, Riley and Ben discuss the future of cannabis labeling, range-based THC reporting, lab testing variability, terpene science, chemical diversity, and how better education can improve purchasing decisions and consumer trust. They also explore why aroma may be a better guide than THC percentage alone, how Canada's cannabis industry is beginning to implement THC ranges, the role of laboratory variation in cannabis testing, and what future cannabis packaging could look like as science continues to evolve. Whether you're a cannabis consumer, cultivator, scientist, budtender, regulator, or simply curious about how cannabis testing really works, this episode offers an evidence-based look at one of the industry's biggest conversations. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Meet Ben Cleary 01:04 Inside Village Farms 02:56 Why Study THC Variability 07:19 What the Data Shows 10:28 Range Based Labels 14:08 Low Dose Access Debate 16:37 Health Canada Pilot 19:06 Beyond THC Terpenes 22:56 Lighting and Scale Limits 30:31 Sampling Protocol Shortcut 33:23 Lab Testing Variability 35:26 Measured THC Reality 36:56 Quality Metrics Beyond THC 38:56 Industry Adoption Push 40:48 Why Village Farms Did It 43:05 Next Research Frontiers 45:11 Real World Data Approach 46:20 Science Community Stories 49:02 Medical Education Gap 52:50 Chemical Diversity Score Idea 56:15 Simplifying Labels for Consumers 57:39 Where to Follow the Research 59:40 Closing and BC Invite   Read the Scientific Reports paper discussed in this episode:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06962-2 Connect with Ben Cleary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cleary-746b00172/ Village Farms International: https://villagefarms.com/ Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes? Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.  www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem      Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, and more!   Sign Up for Emails!  www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org     Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/  https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem  https://instagram.com/cannabichem  https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices