The AusCannaPodcast

Bill grew up with the message that cannabis was bad news. For years, he accepted it without really questioning it. Then curiosity got the better of him.What followed became the story behind his book, Drenched in Wonder.In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Bill joins Christina for a wide-ranging conversation about cannabis, creativity, stigma, vulnerability and what happens when you finally start questioning what you’ve been told.He shares how cannabis became intertwined with his creative process, why he believes it can help him connect seemingly unrelated ideas, and how holding onto a sense of childlike wonder has shaped the way he experiences the world.But this isn’t a story without difficult chapters.Bill opens up about one of his most challenging experiences with cannabis, what he learned from getting too high, and how a lack of meaningful education contributed to what happened. That experience ultimately became part of the reason he decided to share his story publicly.From there, the conversation expands into the wider cannabis community, stigma, advocacy and Bill’s first real deep dive into the Australian cannabis industry.And yes, somewhere along the way, we compared the cannabis industry to high school.At its heart, this is a conversation about curiosity, education and the power of honest stories. About being willing to question what we’ve been taught, stay open to new ideas and, perhaps most importantly, hold onto a little bit of wonder along the way.Chapters:* Rapid Fire (2:45)* Creativity, Curiosity and the Inner Child (16:36)* Stop and Smell the Flowers (20:28)* Why We Need to Talk About Cannabis Honestly (22:09)* From “Bad News” to Curiosity (27:42)* When “Too High” Becomes a Reality (32:00)* What We Weren't Taught About Cannabis (35:35)* The Problem With “Just Say No” (39:11)* Where Is the Cannabis Industry When Change Is Happening? (41:25)* Is There Stigma Inside the Cannabis Industry? (50:49)* What Comes Next for Bill? (54:09)* Be the Change You Want to See (56:38)* You're Not Alone (58:03)* Respect the Plant (59:04)* Wrap Up (1:03:30)Show Notes:* Bill’s Drenched In Wonder Spotify Playlist* Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey* World Domination Summit* The Midnight Gospel* This is your brain on drugs commercial Where to Find Bill Simpson:* @tapdancingbill on Instagram* Bill on Facebook* Drench In Wonder WebsiteWhere to Find Christina:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email [email protected]* 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, I sit down with Jenny Hillam, one of the people who was willing to stand up and fight for cannabis patients long before doing so was easy, accepted, or particularly safe.Jenny shares the story of how cannabis became part of her own life, how that led her into advocacy, and what happened when helping other people turned into something much bigger than she ever expected.We talk about the early days of cannabis advocacy in Australia, making medicine when there was very little information available, the patients who came looking for help, and the moment the police came knocking.Jenny also opens up about the legal battle that followed, facing the possibility of 18 years in prison, the decision to plead guilty, and the part of that experience she still struggles with today.But this conversation goes well beyond Jenny’s story.We talk about where Australian cannabis advocacy has come from, where it has fallen short, the importance of evidence, the role of patients, and what Jenny thinks needs to happen if we actually want to see meaningful change.There are some stories you hear and move on from.And some that stay with you.I think Jenny’s is one of them.Chapters:* Rapid Fire (2:00)* If You Don’t Try, You’ll Never Know (15:34)* From Patient to Advocate (15:51)* Figuring It Out When Nobody Would Tell Her How (18:16)* “I Was Playing God” (26:27)* When Helping People Came at a Cost (27:09)* “If You Haven’t Got Haters, You’re Not Doing It Right” (31:49)* The Raid (31:54)* Eighteen Years, $300,000 and No Way Out (38:51)* The Hardest Day of Her Life (41:51)* Criminal, Pariah, Legend (43:34)* Free the Fucking Plant (48:28)* Stop Watching. Start Fighting (51:05)* We Need to Support Each Other (54:20)* What Jenny Wishes People Understood (55:01)* Still Fighting (56:52)* The Next Fight Is the Evidence (58:18)* Get Mad. Get Involved. (61:25)* Wrap Up (62:12)Show Notes:* Cannabis oil advocate Jenny Hallam spared conviction for supplying medicinal cannabis* Norman Rockwell Where to Find Guest:* Jenny on InstagramWhere to Find Christina:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email [email protected]* 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com

Most conversations about cannabis reform focus on policy.This one focuses on people.In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Christina McMullan sits down with Xavier Menta to explore the relationship between lived experience, advocacy, and political engagement and what it looks like when someone chooses to step beyond frustration and into participation.Xavier shares how his journey through injury and recovery led him into the cannabis space, and eventually into grassroots organising, election campaigns, and community-led initiatives like The Grassroots Collective.Rather than speaking about the system from the outside, this conversation looks at what happens when patients step inside it and the challenges, tensions, and opportunities that come with that.This episode explores:🌿 The gap between patients and policy🗳️ Why cannabis reform requires more than observation🧠 What happens inside polling booths and election campaigns🤝 The role of community in shaping the future of cannabis in AustraliaIf you’re interested in where cannabis reform is heading, and the role individuals play in shaping it… This conversation offers a grounded, real-world perspective.Chapters:* Rapid Fire: Meet Xavier Menta (01:54)* The Workplace Injury That Changed Everything (08:08)* When the Painkillers Weren't Enough (14:32)* Why Cannabis Changed Everything (20:47)* From Recovery to Advocacy (27:15)* What I Learned Working Election Booths (35:02)* The Biggest Myth About Voting (43:26)* Building The Grassroots Collective (50:41)* Why Community Beats Complaining (57:18)Show Notes:* Sir Joseph Banks and the Question of Hemp by Dr John Giggins* Kyla Canna Curious* Daniel Let’s Budvocate* Hemp Building Directory* Anthony Bourdain Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly* The Grassroots Collective on Facebook* The Grassroots Collective on Instagram* The Grassroots Collective Email [email protected] to Find Xavier:* Xavier on Instagram* Xavier on LinkedIn* Xavier on FacebookWhere to Find Christina:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email [email protected]* 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com

In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Christina sits down with Columbia University chemist and professor Colin P. Nuckolls and systems strategist Alec Koudijs to unpack a hard truth about medicinal cannabis.👉 It is far less predictable than most people think.Patients are often making decisions with limited information. Strain names, basic COAs, and a whole lot of trust. But even when the label is accurate, it still does not tell you how a product will actually affect you.So why can two people take the same product and have completely different experiences?🧠 This conversation explores metabolism, delivery methods, and the biology behind why cannabis behaves so differently from one person to the next.🌿 Flower, oils, and edibles are not interchangeable. This episode breaks down what is happening in the body, including first-pass metabolism, and why oral products can feel delayed, inconsistent, or sometimes ineffective for certain patients.⚡ The discussion then shifts into emerging approaches like nanotechnology, and what a faster onset and improved absorption could mean for predictability, control, and overall patient experience.No scripts. No polished answers. Just an honest, science-informed conversation about what is actually happening beneath the surface, and what patients really need from modern cannabis medicine.Chapters:* Rapid Fire (3:00)* Patient Reality: Limited Info & Blind Trust (7:00* Cultivar Names vs Real Genetics (10:30)* Trust vs COAs: What Matters (13:30* Why Cannabis Affects Everyone Differently (17:00)* Flower & Vaporisation Explained (20:00)* You’re Not Just Consuming the Plant (25:30)* Why Oils Are Inconsistent (30:00)* When Oils Don’t Work (34:00)* Edibles: Same Dose, Different Outcomes (37:30)* First-Pass Metabolism Explained (42:30)* What Is Nanotechnology? (46:30)* Why Nano Works (50:30)* Not All Nano Is Equal (55:00)* Predictability & Dosing Control (58:30)* The “Clean” Nano Experience (1:02:30)* Future of Delivery Systems (1:06:30)* Wrap Up (1:10:30)Show Notes:* Dr Adder Book* Pink Boost GoddessWhere to Find Colin & Alec:* Colin on LinkedIn* Alec on LinkedInWhere to Find Christina:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email [email protected]* 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com

What happens when the science is advancing, patient numbers are growing, and outcomes are improving... yet stigma and misinformation continue to dominate the conversation?In this episode of the AusCannaPodcast, Christina sits down with Matt Shales, Founder and CEO of MediCann Health and MediCann Clinics, for a wide-ranging discussion about the current state of medicinal cannabis in Australia and where the industry may be heading next.From patient access and clinic models to prescribing trends, product quality, education, and policy reform, Matt shares his unique perspective from the front lines of one of Australia’s leading medicinal cannabis clinic networks.They also explore some of the emerging research that isn’t getting nearly enough attention, including promising studies involving CBD and endometriosis, concussion recovery, and why real-world patient outcomes often tell a very different story from headline-grabbing laboratory studies.Along the way, they discuss:🌿 Why high-THC products aren’t always the answer🌿 The growing disconnect between experienced patients and traditional healthcare models🌿 How stigma continues to influence policy, prescribing, and public perception🌿 Why Australia’s driving laws remain one of the biggest barriers facing patients🌿 The role education will play in the next phase of industry growth🌿 What a truly patient-centred cannabis system could look like in AustraliaMost importantly, this conversation explores a question that continues to shape the future of medicinal cannabis:How do we bridge the gap between what the evidence is showing, what patients are experiencing, and what the broader community understands?Whether you’re a patient, healthcare professional, industry stakeholder, or simply curious about the future of medicinal cannabis, this episode offers an honest, balanced, and insightful look at where we are today and where we may be headed tomorrow.Chapters:* Rapid Fire (3:17)* The Endometriosis Trial No One’s Talking About (16:00)* Cannabis & Concussion: New Research (19:20)* Cannabis Stigma in Science & Medicine (21:00)* From Diver to Cannabis Founder (23:00)* Why Matt Started a Cannabis Clinic (25:25)* Are Clinics Actually Helping Patients? (26:58)* Managing Patient Expectations (Reality vs Hype) (29:15)* “We’re Not the Gatekeepers” (32:31)* When Doctors Get It Wrong (34:15)* The Truth Behind Product Recommendations (36:00)* CBD vs THC: What Patients Get Wrong (37:00)* The Future of Over-the-Counter CBD (39:00)* Aussie Growers Are Struggling (40:00)* The Ideal Cannabis System… Matt’s Vision (44:02)* Driving Laws vs Reality (49:45)* Matt’s Call to Action… Hemp for Animals, Environment & More (56:01)Show Notes:* Ananda Hemp and Ecofiber* Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics* Hemp Brothers* Cannabinoids in Traumatic Brain Injury Study (Funding for this project was provided by MediCann Health Aust Pty Ltd.)Where to Find Matt Shales:* Matt on LinkedIn* MediCann Health WebsiteWhere to Find Christina:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* 👉 Got a Rapid Fire question? Email [email protected]* 💚 Want to support the podcast? Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com