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The Karma Koala Podcast by Sean Hocking the founder and editor of Cannabis Law Report
This podcast is one on one conversations , long-form and short-form covering all aspects of cannabis law, biz, compliance, issues, updates etc from around the world.
Listen in - learn something new
I speak with lawyers, politicians, CEO's, founders, regulators about the new global push for regulating cannabis use.
91 Episodes
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An honour to speak with Rose one of the generation i read avidly about and, wished I was there, when back in my salad days.She experienced psychedelics before the US govt decided to schedule them and then has spent her life working with psilocybin, educating and helping people.She is , the real deal.We talk solidly for half an hour on all issues psychedelic and the crossroads we now stand at in 2026 as legislatures discuss regulation, the medicalization of compounds as well as the fraught issue of companies wishing to monetize something beyond their comprehension.For me, this, as they say, is one for the ages.Rose does not suffer fools and presents concise and concrete arguments born of experience and learning, always with compassion, I hasten to add.If we could somehow bottle her learning and share freely we might well be in a much better place than we currently are.Thankyou Rosehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-297-rose-moulin-franco/
Great to talk to Juliana.She’s just joined NY powerhouse cannabis law firm RLG (Rudick Law Group) and is based in Bogota.She moved into the world of cannabis and law in Colombia a number of years ago on her Mom’s suggestion!We discuss the country’s constitutional and regulatory approach to cannabis , how it relates on regulated cannabis to the big neighbor to the North as well as the giants below, Brazil & Argentina.I hope you enjoy the discussion.
In this episode we were nominally talking about the rise of the influencer shaman, retreats and money money money but as always it’s psychedelics so off we head on various tangents.But those tangents are leading to the same conclusion time again in my conversations with many of those have played a part in the USA’s 20th & 21st century psychedelic history and they are all saying the same thing. Put these compounds in boxes and try to make money out of them is not a wise path for humanityI cam acroos Jim via this article in Lucid NewsAn Open Letter to Psychedelic JournalistsBY JIM TATEJANUARY 7, 2026Ilike writing about aspects of the psychedelic ecosystem, as well as interviewing people who I find interesting. I don’t consider myself a journalist in the classic sense simply because I am not objective. I have too many opinions and frequently sprinkle them throughout my work.I’ve become aware of a troubling trend in the rise of a new breed of content creators: psychedelic journalists who are not only reporting on psychedelic issues but are also rapidly becoming high-profile influencers.Historically, journalism has served as a critical, objective lens through which the public understands complex issues. In the realm of psychedelics, the past decade has seen an explosion of reporting on clinical trials, personal narratives, retreat centers, and policy reform. The digital age has blurred the boundaries between journalism and social media influence. Some journalists are now building personal brands, amassing large followings, and being tempted to monetize their platforms and receive other benefits without transparency. This shift is particularly pronounced in the psychedelic sphere, where the line between reporting, advocacy, and self-promotion is increasingly indistinct.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-295-jim-tate-psychedelics-writer-thinker-podcaster-the-new-psychedelic-monetization-the-psychedelic-aristocracy-shamans-retreats-everywhere-you-look-all-is-not-well-in-th/
We dive in with Steve again and that wonderful age of innocence combined with India, European travels and back to the US to start high school and the discovery of you know what !See photos athttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-294-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-2-india-travels-through-europe-back-to-the-usa/
A very enjoyable conversation with Griffen.We were going to talk about that EO prior to Christmas but both decided that was somewhat boring so just dived into the state of the cannabis industry in the US today and how state and federal politics play a much larger role in the industry than many commentators and industry “leaders” would like to openly admit.Very refreshing to speak to someone working with the cannabis industry but not beholden to it.The koalas thank Griffen for her openess and lack of fence sitting especially when it comes to discussing how much policy and legislation thinking in 2025 and 2026 in the US suggests an increasing bias towards the top end of town rather than the middle and those developing new business in the space from the ground up.It’s a pattern being seen throughout the the US economy and won’t serve the country well over the longer term. As former Greek finance minister,Yanis Varoufakis,is arguing these days it looks more like a 21st century version of feudalism than capitalism as we understand it from a 20th century prism.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-293-griffin-basden-alpha-root/
The koalas are trying to speak to as many lawyers as possible who have been on a law journey in their professional life and a psychedelic journey in their private life and learn how and where to the two interconnect in the personal and professional sense.Will psychedelics change the law or visa versa>We think it’s a bit of both and talking to people like Ronald really explores those connections. I hope you enjoy the conversation and much as we do.Ronald McNutt studied Religion at Tufts University in the mid/late 1970s. After taking an impactful psychology course on Altered States of Consciousness that included well-known guest speakers such as Walter Huston Clark, Ram Dass, and Roland Fisher, among others, McNutt organized the Tufts Altered States of Consciousness Organization, a student group which hosted lectures by prominent speakers in the field of consciousness.McNutt went on to study law at the University of Georgia, where he became the executive research editor of the Georgia Law Review and wrote a research paper on the first amendment protection for psychedelics. He practiced as an attorney based in Nashville for forty years, with a focus on civil rights litigation and workers’ compensation cases. He worked on numerous cases involving police misconduct, employment discrimination, and unsafe confinement.His appreciation for plant medicine and mysticism remained ardent during the entirety his adult life, with a particular interest in indigenous traditions. He is active in the Nashville Psychedelic Society and as a discussion leader and journalist in other psychedelic-community-spaceshttps://archives.lib.purdue.edu/agents/people/3670 Ronald on Acedemia.comI have been primarily a litigation attorney since I came to Nashville in 1983. I am a steward of the Litigation and Advocacy Committee of the Psychedelic Bar Association and an administrator of the Nashville Psychedelic Society. For over ten years, I litigated plaintiffs’ civil rights, employment discrimination and constitutional law cases. For over twenty-four years, I worked for the state of Tennessee, primarily doing workers’ compensation litigation for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. I have a B. A. degree from Tufts University, in religion, from 1978. I was the executive research editor of the Georgia Law Review during law school. I was the founder and director of the Tufts University Altered States of Consciousness Organization during college. I am a chaplain resident and a lay pastor with the Presbyterian church (USA).Read his papershttps://independent.academia.edu/McNuttRonaldhttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-292-ronald-mcnutt-40-years-of-psychedelics-law-insights-thoughts-the-future-of-law-with-psychedelic-input-thinking/
An honour, or as I’m in the US i should say honor, to speak with Alice who with her husband Robert changed the paradigm back in 1976 as they ignored the word “impossible” and brought into reality the US’s first medical cannabis prescription since 1937!For the last 50 years Alice has been working to build on that developmentRead all about it here https://www.aliceolearyrandall.com/We chat through the hows’, whys’ and whereforefores and then jump into Alice’s thoughts about cannabis regualtion in the USA in 2026.
Where are we?
Why are we here?
What’s good?
What’s bad?
Where do changes need to be made?
We discuss human rights and medical cannabis, creating change at federal and/or state level and lots lots moreProfound thanks to Alice for speaking with the Koalas we are somewhat in awe and had to chew a lot of eucalyptus ag=fter our conversation to calm down from all the excitement of talking with a cannabis legend.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-291-alice-oleary-randall/
Jason has been running the Harris Sliwoski Denver office for a while now and he's pretty clued into what's happening around the world in cannabis.Which is lucky, because every time time i try and get my head around cannabis regulation in France I get........ le migraine terrible!Brazil I find equally confusing.So, Jason has come to my rescue (and yours) and guides us through the current ins and outs of both these jurisdictions.Although we do try to avoid the topic of Trump's EO it bubbles up, like the sulphurous smell it is.So we highlight a few issues.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-290-jason-adelstone-harris-sliwoski-whats-happening-in-france-the-rest-of-europe-brazil-we-try-to-avoid-the-topic-of-us-rescheduling/
I came across Jarid on Linked In and he’s making inroads with sustainable indoor cannabis grows and developing ideas and systems to do so on larger scaling.Well worth a chat so we got him on the Karma Koala podcast to see where this stuff is heading.Read Morehttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-289-jarid-turner-sustainable-indoor-cannabis-farming-in-the-usa/
Over the past 16 months or so the Karma Koala Postcast has been catching time with Steve De’Angelo whenever we can to dig much deeper into his life, his family his formative childhood experiences and then into his teens and 20’s, Yippies and life on the wrong side of the law in the 70’s and 80’s and the long road that led him to being known now as the father of Amercian medical cannabis.As always with the Karma Koala podcast it is all about raw unedited conversation to dive into the nooks and crannies of Steve’s experiences and the wider world of cannabis around him.We’ve recorded over 10 hours of conversation that you’ll see appear over the next few months where you learn more about Steve and his life than you could imagine and how his world echoed the changes in cannabis and American culture & society from the 1970’s through to today.In episode 1 we learn about his Italian family immigrant story, growing up as a young child in Washington DC in the Kennedy years and his boyhood experiences of India in late 60’s.Here are some family snaps that Steve kindly provided the Karma Koala podcast to accompany the story of his childhood years.see at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-288-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-1-family-and-a-60s-childhood-split-between-washington-dc-india/
Great chat with Pamela holed up in DC in the middle last week’s east coast snowstorm about all things hemp.Nexus create products from industrial hemp and that lands them in the middle of every sort of storm imaginable.Snowstorms, perfect storms and yes, shitstorms too.With years of experience in the sector Pamela provides some clarity about creating and building business around human centered products that not only comply with a myriad of US regulation but also international regulatory environments.We dive into the detail, learn what they think they know in Washington, growing up with the Cali market and watching it slowly approach a calmer maturity.Also we chat about what it is like to run a team in this highly complicated and some confusing business.Thankyou, Pamela, for spending time with the Koalas.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-287-pamela-epstein-chief-legal-regulatory-officer-nexus-agriscience-re-hemp-we-are-children-of-metamorphosis/
Where the hell is Guernsey some of you might be asking?A few weeks ago we spoke to Simon Harrison of “End Cannabis Prohibition Jersey” in the UK Channel Islands, so I thought it would also make sense to see what’s happening over in Guernsey, Jersey’s little sibling.Simon introduced the koalas to Bruce Caruso, former native of Portland Oregon, who came to Guernsey for work in 2020 and never left!He now runs one of the island’s two small cannabis clubs, The Green Retreat , where people can consume their prescriptions.The island, with its population of around 65,000, has already issued over 17,000 prescriptionsITV x wrote in a 2025In Guernsey, the latest statistics have revealed there were 17,000 prescriptions issued last year, compared to 12,000 the year before.The Green Retreat is Guernsey’s first ‘cannabis club’ and has had a successful first year, allowing islanders to use medicinal cannabis in a shared social setting.However, upon entry, islanders must provide proof of their prescription, a form of ID showing they’re 18 and above.There is no charge for people to enter the lounge, but instead, bosses wanted to create a welcoming environment for consumption.There is a similar business also operating in Jersey too; The Vaporizer Hut. Both have to self-regulate, abiding by strict restrictions and only allowing those with prescriptions to enter.There are about 1,500 to 2000 people who have cannabis prescriptions.”Medicinal cannabis was legalised on the island in 2019 but work continues to decipher what exactly the health benefits are.Read more athttps://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-01-08/cannabis-club-new-spaces-designated-for-medicinal-cannabis-in-channel-islands In our chat we learn where Guernsey currently stands with cannabis regulation, what the next developments are, What products are issued as prescriptions, where they are sourced and what effects a semi-regulated environment has had on the black market.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-286-guernsey-channel-islands-uk-even-in-microcosm-the-same-issues-turn-up/
I chat with Sasha of NY's Housing Works a nonprofit organization that has been running a dispensary for a while in the wild east of cannabis.Against all odds they are surviving and thriving and building the sort of approach to cannabis retail and social equity that many had hoped for .We touch on the growth of the market, the OCM, METRC, the possibility of expansion, 280e and much moreThankyou SashaSasha Nutgent serves as Vice President of Retail for Housing Works Cannabis Co (HWCC) and oversees all aspects of the dispensary’s operations. Leveraging her skills as a gifted connector and relationship builder, Sasha has built the HWCC team from the ground up. Day to day, her responsibilities include not only recruitment and training but also inventory management, scheduling, customer service, cannabis education, creative problem solving and building both revenue and morale.Prior to stepping into the Vice President of Retail role, Sasha enjoyed a long, rewarding relationship with the Housing Works team. She began her career at the Crosby Street thrift store and was promoted to assistant manager within six months. After a year, she was managing the whole store. From there, Sasha contributed her talents to the flagship Housing Works store in Chelsea and was invited to participate in the Miami Design on a Dime event as well as other special projects. Sasha also enjoys activism and advocacy with the Housing Works team, including taking part in demonstrations for affordable housing, safe consumption and AIDS awareness.https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-285-sasha-nutgent-vice-president-of-retail-housing-works-cannabis-co-whats-going-on-in-new-york-as-we-enter-2026/
It’s been a while since the Koalas have chatted with Bob.The dust is settling on the Trump EO prior to Christmas so it’s time to speak to Bob and dive into some of the details especially so the nexus between cannabis and politics in the US and how it progresses both medical cannabis and hemp derivatives in 2026.What does it actually mean?The issues include who qualifies as Schedule 3 Licensees / US standards & International standards / International Trade / DEA Operators / 280e / Private Sector Researchand plenty more from an international perspective tooBob quickly mentions his forthcoming TV show, The Green Frontier”.We finish off remembering German cannabis lawyer and leader, Peter Homberg,Enjoy the showhttps://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-284-bob-hoban-that-presidential-executive-order-hemp-derivatives-us-politics-trade-international-cannabis/
We start our conversation about our very English mums,psychedlics & cannabis and that’s how it carries on!I thought the best way to start the year is a fun wide ranging conversationTopics covered include
Jarred Shaw, low hanging fruit drug mules in Bali & Indonesian legal system
Mattha’s work for the Guardian
Living the new psychedelic renaissance
Time & psychedelics use
Doing on a story on Oct 7. Interviewing Israeli rave survivors tripping on the day
How psychedelics informs being a journalist & journalism
Critical thought & psychedelics
Psychedelics & guru dynamics
Capitalism & psychedelics
Conservative politics & psychedelics in the US “the counter counter culture”
more at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-283-mattha-busby-uk-drugs-psychedelics-journalist-now-based-in-vancouver/
Just before Christmas this news came in from Jersey via the government’s Health MinistryRead more at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-282-simon-harrison-end-cannabis-prohibition-jersey-talks-to-us-about-new-proposals-regulation-of-cannabis-in-jersey-channel-islands-uk/
We speak to Lelehnia who founded Humboldt Grace to empower communities impacted by the drug war.https://humboldtgrace.org/ We empower community to heal and thrive through facilitating and/or creating educational opportunities, social impact events, research, and projects that provide education and resources.Protecting genetics with ethics is her main push ..Also Co-founder CGO – Leaf Culture LabManaging, curating, and hunting the genetic library.NJ’s Commercial Tissue Culture labClean Disease Free TC ClonesGenetic Preservation & DNA IndexingTC Clone Subscription ProgramMother Room Replacement SolutionsScalable Propagation for Commercial Growers First White Paper – Published April 20, 2022Learn more and read the white paper at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-281-lelehnia-dubois-humboldt-grace-leaf-culture-lab-ethics-genetics/
Atiyyah Ferouz – The Great Compliance Gap: Australia’s Regulations vs The Rest of the WorldFounder, ICQSA & AgCannInternational Cannabis Quality Standards AssociationTransitioning to the cannabis industry in 2018, I have spent the past 7 years finding ways to drive the industry forward, whether it’s educating the newest additions to the cannabis space, consulting producers in emerging markets, or launching an international cannabis quality association. At the ICQSA (International Cannabis Quality Standards Association) we are focused on the globalization of the cannabis supply chain. Our association contributes to this mission through the development of best practice guides and the advisement of policymakers in emerging markets. At AgCann, our goal is to help cannabis producers bridge the gap between where they are, and where they want to be. We utilize our expertise in operations, quality assurance, and tissue culture to help producers develop or optimize their processes. In addition to my entrepreneurial efforts, I am an active thought leader in the cannabis space, frequently participating in webinars, workshops, and speaking at global cannabis events.More info at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-280-presentation-sydney-university-21-nov-2025-atiyyah-ferouz-the-great-compliance-gap-australias-regulations-vs-the-rest-of-the-world/
Apologies for the sound on this one – you may need to turn up your volumeHostBen MostynAcademic Fellow, LLB (UNSW) MA (South Florida)Sydney Law SchoolMr Mostyn’s primary research interest is global drug policy. His PhD is examining National Archives documents around Australia’s decision to sign the 1988 United Nations drug convention. He is looking at whether global forces and institutional forces caused Australia to sign the convention and further entrench the global War on Drugs. Related to this research, Mr Mostyn is interested in criminalisation, police powers, drug law reform and regulating global drug markets. Mr Mostyn has worked as a Legal Aid solicitor in human rights law, administrative law, and family law. He completed his Masters at the University of South Florida where he researched transnational social movements and the War on Drugs with a focus on South America.PanelistsEmeritus Professor The Hon Dr Geoff Gallop ACFormer Premier of Western AustraliaGlobal Commission on Drug Policy Dr Alex Wodak AMPresident, Former Director of Alcohol and Drug ServiceAustralian Drug Law Reform Foundation https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-279-presentation-sydney-university-panel-achieving-drug-law-reform-the-experience-in-wa-and-nsw/
Former Member of Victorian ParliamentCannabis Law Reform AdvocateFiona was first elected to Victoria’s State Parliament in 2014 and re-elected for a second term in 2018. During those eight years she was a champion for social justice and cannabis law reform. She established a medicinal cannabis taskforce in the first major attempt to fix the ridiculous Roadside Drug Testing laws and then was the driving force behind the Inquiry into the Use of Cannabis in Victoria. “I went into parliament in 2014 as the first MP to speak about using cannabis. Cannabis reform has always been high on my to do list and is unfinished business for me. To open up law reform in the states we need to change the federal law and I intend to do just that”. She was the first political party leader to admit using cannabis regularly to relax. Presentation00:00: How on Earth Can Australia Effect Change At The UN – Reference Alex Wodok’s work on HIV & drug law reform04:00: Political & National approaches to UN Conventions.. some appear to be sacrosanct some are completely ignored04:30: UN Conventions & Colombia’s 2025 approach + the countries that have ignored UN cannabis scheduling conventions05:30: International drug policy & human rights connection being made albeit slowly at international bodies06:50: Can Australia help? Australia out of step?08:05: The power prohibition gives cartels and the illegal market – Australia 100 years of prohibition zero progress10:00: Principles for regualted Australian market – Language / Linguistics when discussing drug policy14:45 – 37:47: Q&A’s – Discussion
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