The Conversation, Cannabis & Christianity podcast

Dave Chappelle's show did a sketch comedy skit on the term, "Wrap it up, B!" This has nothing to do with the Chappelle's Show skit, it's better. You will be reminded of what some ideas actually mean when you put them through testing. Where do they land?

Shannon Donnelly directs the cannabis hospitality certificate program at Metropolitan State University of Denver, the first program of its kind housed within a university School of Hospitality. She founded The New Lavender, a women-owned Cannabis media company, and serves as Board President of Expunge Colorado, a nonprofit focused on criminal record sealing. She is also a town trustee in Lochbuie and building Afterward, a tool that helps families navigate estate settlement. Her work lives where cannabis education, social equity, and community building meet.

WAY, BACK and HOME can be interpreted several ways, with flavors of nostalgia in all. It is good practice to ensure your way back home is not designed by nostalgia, but by sound understanding. Nostalgia has been hijacked by those who design generational lifestyles for sale. Authenticity is within.

It comes or goes in measurements of time, your choice.It can soothe or thrash, your choice.What you believe, what you believe will become much more within you. What do you believe?

A lifelong 'numbers person' who learned the value of faithful stewardship at a young age, Mary is the founder of Green Goddess CFO, where she uses her years of financial and tax expertise to help businesses in the cannabis and hemp space. Above all of her professional achievements, Mary is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. She credits God entirely for her calling into the financial sector, believing that all of her wisdom, knowledge, and professional abilities are gifts from Him to be used for His glory. By combining her deep faith with her financial expertise, Mary strives to approach her industry with integrity, stewardship, and a heart for serving others.

When trusted entities, institutions and individuals are discovered to be conducting nefarious actions towards those they are serving, people begin to look for doubt, joke about doubt with cynicism and before long bitterness takes root. Yet, in this land of deception there is a trustworthy Maker who loves you. You can stake your life on His love for you.

When humans here the term, "Time is up!" there is either a deep sense of satisfaction from knowing what was done ahead of time to prepare. Or, there is deep life regret from too much ignoring, too much time spent in listless places, too much lack of belief. But the man or woman who pushes nonsense aside while many others remain engaged will be more than satisfied with the One they put their trust in when time is up.

This was recorded before Episode 66 with, Tóta Jónsdóttir and in this conversation Tóta and Miguel discuss life in Iceland, cannabis, hemp and religion. She is the founder and driving force behind Health for the Future, an international summit taking place in Reykjavík, Iceland, September 18–20, 2026.For more than a decade, Tóta has stood alongside patients who have been left without answers, safe treatment options and too often without a voice. Her work is deeply personal and driven by the belief that everyone deserves dignity, honest information and the freedom to participate in decisions about their own health.She co-founded the Icelandic Hemp Association, helped pioneer legal hemp cultivation in Iceland and produced the documentary The Green Revolution. Today, her work has grown into something much bigger.Health for the Future is a three-day international gathering bringing together leading doctors, scientists, patients, advocates, policymakers and changemakers for honest and courageous conversations about health.September 18 is an immersion and connection day with workshops, expert roundtables and a relaxed meet and greet. September 19–20 are the main summit days, featuring keynotes, talks, panels, patient stories, wellness experiences and meaningful opportunities to connect.The program explores medical access and science, women's health, plant medicine, human rights, harm reduction, patient choice, nature, sustainability and wellness economics.Tóta believes real change begins when we stop working in separate boxes, listen to patients and bring the right people together. Her mission is to challenge outdated systems, break down stigma and help create a healthier and more compassionate future in Iceland and beyond.Health for the Future is not only a conference. It is a space to share real knowledge, build relationships and turn important conversations into meaningful change. 

Þórunn “Tóta” Þórs Jónsdóttir is the founder and driving force behind Health for the Future, an international summit taking place in Reykjavík, Iceland, September 18–20, 2026.For more than a decade, Tóta has stood alongside patients who have been left without answers, safe treatment options and too often without a voice. Her work is deeply personal and driven by the belief that everyone deserves dignity, honest information and the freedom to participate in decisions about their own health.She co-founded the Icelandic Hemp Association, helped pioneer legal hemp cultivation in Iceland and produced the documentary The Green Revolution. Today, her work has grown into something much bigger.Health for the Future is a three-day international gathering bringing together leading doctors, scientists, patients, advocates, policymakers and changemakers for honest and courageous conversations about health.September 18 is an immersion and connection day with workshops, expert roundtables and a relaxed meet and greet. September 19–20 are the main summit days, featuring keynotes, talks, panels, patient stories, wellness experiences and meaningful opportunities to connect.The program explores medical access and science, women's health, plant medicine, human rights, harm reduction, patient choice, nature, sustainability and wellness economics.Tóta believes real change begins when we stop working in separate boxes, listen to patients and bring the right people together. Her mission is to challenge outdated systems, break down stigma and help create a healthier and more compassionate future in Iceland and beyond.Health for the Future is not only a conference. It is a space to share real knowledge, build relationships and turn important conversations into meaningful change. 

The spirit or heart of a human being is commonly understood to be or mean the inner-person, the inner-man or inner-woman, and there are personal storylines connecting our Maker and our spirit, or heart. There are also storylines designed to enslave, storylines that are never satisfied. Storylines of pride confused with virtue; storylines your inner-person does not recognize as sovereign.

Jenny is a national cannabis compliance consultant and the founder of ICS Consulting, with more than 17 years of hands-on experience in regulated cannabis and more than 20 years of hospitality experience. She began working in Colorado's cannabis industry in 2009, during the transition from an emerging, largely unregulated market to one of the most established regulated cannabis markets in the country. Her operational experience includes six years operating vertically integrated cannabis facilities in Denver, culminating in her role as Chief Operating Officer of a vertically integrated cannabis operation by 2014.In 2015, Jenny founded ICS Consulting to bring that firsthand operational experience to licensed cannabis businesses nationwide. ICS provides cannabis compliance consulting, fractional compliance services, regulatory compliance support, cannabis licensing assistance, compliance audits, operational readiness, federal readiness, technical writing, and startup support.Jenny's approach is grounded in practical experience. Rather than simply interpreting regulations, she helps cannabis businesses understand how to implement compliance requirements into day-to-day operations and prepare for evolving regulatory expectations.She has also been actively involved in cannabis policy and regulatory work since 2015, including government workgroups, regulatory development, lobbying efforts, and advocacy initiatives at the state and federal levels, including work in Washington, D.C.Today, Jenny works with cannabis businesses across the United States and internationally, helping operators build compliant, inspection-ready, and operationally sound businesses while preparing for an evolving regulatory landscape.

The concept of 40 days having a profound sense of meaning deeper than the average perception of daily life is from deep biblical truths that cannot be explained by a simple query into a manmade box via the internet. Most know of Jesus in the wilderness without food and water for 40 days, at which point Lucifer attempted to deceive Him. Moses was with God for the span of 40 days, twice. After his stand against the prophets of baal, Elijah fled to the wilderness out of fear for his life. An angel put him at rest and fed him bread and water. Like Moses' two spans of 40 days with God, Elijah ate and was told to go back to sleep a second time because he'll need rest for the journey he was about to be sent on. When he woke, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

Notifications can help people remember what they are not thinking of in a given moment. Notifications can also wall individuals into the monetized developments of digital marketing. The choice to do so or not belongs to each individual. Dig through the wall.

Brett Puffenbarger is an Appalachian American, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, married pet parent and he's coming up on 10 years in the cannabis industry. He is also a managing partner of a revenue and marketing consultancy, Good Highdeas and he is the CEO of Old Dominion Cannabis.

"From Heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place he watches all who live on earth - He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield."

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of His household.

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Clichés abound in this life, we love and hate hearing them at certain moments of joy and suffering. Love because the idea of someone else understanding you in the gravity of a moment brings camaraderie and togetherness, a shared and empathetic understanding that is not abused or made fun of. Hate because many humans do not fully understand the depth of our words, and when we use them carelessly in a cliché it not only wreaks of disrespect but it also reveals a lack of mature understanding. Let these ways become old and dying ways, and look deeper still.

Dr. Ruth Fisher, PhD economics, is a systems design researcher, modeler and analyst who studies markets to determine how environments shape outcomes. Dr. Fisher has 30 years of experience in the technology and healthcare industries and has worked on behalf of technology companies, early-stage researchers, physicians and technology start-ups. Dr. Fisher came to cannabis in 2016 to help her brother figure out how to use medical cannabis to address his multiple sclerosis induced neuropathic pain. She is the author of, The Medical Cannabis Primer: Ushering in the Golden Age of Marijuana. Check it out!

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber."

Kwame Manu is a founder, financial educator and former municipal law enforcement officer with 15 years of service in Ontario, Canada. Today, he focuses on, Exit Grid Group which is an AI automation agency helping small businesses grow with modern digital systems. He is also part of a diaspora land development project in Begoro, Ghana, connecting the diaspora back to the motherland through land ownership and community-first development.

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month."

Dan Roberts grew up in a small town in Newfoundland, Canada and moved to Ontario when the attacks on 9/11/2001 negatively impacted the sawmill his Dad employed by, causing its closure. Dan joined the Canadian Army at the age of 18 and was posted in Valcartier, Quebec where he was stationed with the Vandoos (Quebec's infantry unit), and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. Dan's transition back into civilian society included work in security, and after understanding and working to control PTSD, he has engaged with the work of helping others through the challenges in their lives. He has a lot of tattoos, and we talk about some of them as Dan conveys his journey on this earth.

Roger Hargreaves wrote a series of children's books that may sound familiar to your ears: Mr. Happy, Mr. Greedy, Mr. Messy and Mr. Topsy-Turvy. He wrote a series of books for girls, as well. They are stories designed to teach children about a world that is upside down. Mr. Topsy-Turvy does everything backwards and when he visits a town he causes chaos among the people, leaving the negative effects of his upside down ways to linger with the town's people, even after they threw him out. If one is comfortable and enjoys the injustice of a topsy-turvy world, one would go to great lengths to push away the new wine because they want the old. Only in an upside down world would avarice be sold as holy righteousness.

From the structure of a bee colony to the sweetness of the honey they make, and of course their sting, there is nothing like the bee. Jodeci's Alternative Daily Enhancements (JADE) is Jodeci Gonzalez's brainchild where she combines bees, honey, cannabis and wellness education into her medicinal products.

Everyone is born naked and everyone dies naked, taking nothing with us but what we have on the inside, the inner-man and the inner-woman. Titles, possessions, claims of being first and the greatest remain in the temporary land of the living when one dies. Legacy is often spoken of in the land of the living. Yet, the one who is remembered is no longer with the living. They have become a memory for better or worse. What an individual believes is what goes with them when the time has come to exit the land of the living. What have you chosen to believe?

Jackson Wayne O'Herer does not exist. But the individual using this name is a professional, a husband and a father of two. He is not a medical or mental health professional and does not give such advice. However, he has come to believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be and loves him the way He promises to love him. Jackson's family tree is from the Appalachian Mountains and foothills and he grew up in a culture that used plants as medicine. He's suffered from depression, anxiety and chronic pain and has come to understand the medicinal value in marijuana that supersedes the false stigma surrounding the marijuana plant and those who use it.

How we perceive moments in life is based on our knowledge and understanding from the number of years we have lived. Everything from culture to education to experiences and most certainly from what one believes about the value and purpose of their life shape how decisions are made. In a world where deception is openly used to mislead masses, how can one be sure their knowledge and understanding of light is truly light, and that one has not been misled by a false image of light?

Steele Clarke Smith III is a pioneering healthcare innovator best known for leading the development of the first standardized cannabinoid tablet formulated to meet FDA‑level pharmaceutical standards. Through his work with C3 International, Inc., he helped establish a pharmaceutical‑grade foundation for cannabinoid therapeutics—bringing precision dosing, safety and clinical reliability to a space previously dominated by inconsistent products.Driven by a mission to elevate patient care, Steele continues to champion medical solutions that merge scientific rigor with compassionate innovation, setting new benchmarks for how cannabinoid‑based therapies can be delivered to doctors and patients worldwide.

Russell Brown is a seasoned strategic leader whose career spans high‑level operations, organizational development, and national program expansion. With a proven track record of building scalable systems,strengthening institutional partnerships, and guiding organizations through periods of rapid growth, he brings a critical operational lens to emerging healthcare innovations.In his role supporting Idrasil® and its parent company C3 International, Russell's expertise directly advances the company's mission to deliver the first standardized, pharmaceutical‑grade cannabinoid tablet to patients across the country and around the world. His background in complex program management and national‑level coordination positions him as a keydriver in expanding Idrasil's footprint, strengthening regulatory alignment, and building the infrastructure required for sustainable global distribution.

Natasha Rester serves as the Director of Military Affairsfor C3 International, where she leads outreach, education, and strategic engagement with U.S. service members, veterans, and military‑support organizations. Drawing on her background in military community advocacy and her academic foundation from Southern New Hampshire University, she works to expandaccess to Idrasil®, the first standardized, non‑addictive cannabinoid‑based therapeutic designed to deliver consistent, pharmaceutical‑grade dosing.In her role, Natasha builds bridges between militarycommunities, clinicians, and wellness leaders—advancing responsible, science‑based approaches to pain management, recovery, and long‑term resilience. Her work supports C3 International's mission to provide safe, consistent, and medically guided alternatives for those who have served.

Tim Barnhart is part Indigenous Mohawk and part Irish and he resides on the sovereign Mohawk land of Tyendinaga. His minor years were lived in the United States before moving to Canada and eventually Tyendinaga, and he is the founder and owner of, Legacy 420 Cannabis Dispensary. Legacy 420 does far more than grow marijuana, and Tim is far more than a high quality marijuana farmer. This conversation spans several years of Tim being a guest on the podcast, and it is about the timing of happenings in one's life.

Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Veronica Castillo is The Traveling Cannabis Writer - a nationally published journalist, author, and storyteller  who has spent almost a decade documenting the cannabis industry across the United States and internationally. She's the author of Cannabis Legacy Chronicles, and has been published in over 20 publications including High Times, Leafly, and Marijuana Venture.She recently completed, The High Road: Beyond Borders tour in Thailand, connecting cannabis markets across continents. Her work focuses on amplifying minority voices, legacy operators, and the communities building this industry from the ground up. From living in her car to chase stories to covering global cannabis markets, Veronica has built a career documenting the people and places mainstream media overlooked.

Micah Stover is an author, educator and therapist. She earned a B.A. in philosophy with an emphasis on Buddhist studies as well as an M.A. in Creative Writing, both from Belmont University. Micah is a Nashville native and has spent a collective 10 years living abroad in other cultures, studying in various indigenous communities in both Asia and Mexico. She published her first book in November of 2024, Healing Psychedelics: Innovative Therapies for Trauma and Transformation. Her focus in this book is to bring caution and measure to an exploding field, encouraging people to understand the risks of appropriation and the necessity of conjunctive therapy to yield results.

Clara Parati is a Psychosynthesis and Psychedelic Integration Coach who supports people through periods of deep change, emotional challenge, and awakening. Drawing from transpersonal psychology, somatic awareness, and her own lived experience, she helps individuals process transformative inner journeys, especially those connected to psychedelics, identity shifts, and life transitions. Her work focuses on creating meaningful change while helping people become more grounded, connected, and aligned with who they truly are.

There is a difference between being told how a thing works and knowing the thing yourself. Personal knowledge from experience with the thing itself. There are no middle men or women between you and Jesus. You will have to unwind your presuppositions, but is not the change from false to true what humans seek in the land of the living?

Clothes to be worn are chosen daily, and new clothes are worn when they are received. Human beings do the same with our thoughts. But in a world where harm and pain are commodities, what and who can be trusted? Let Peace be your guide.

We humans are easily distracted and often forget the solution to trouble is peace. How do we understand peace? How far into our thoughts do we allow peace to flow?

Are love and forgiveness simply feel good emotions satisfying our shallow subjective truths? Love and forgiveness flow deeper in the human life than many understand. Where does one go to find love and forgiveness that does not require a toll, and if there's a toll is it really love and forgiveness? Each soul needs love and forgiveness, and each soul needs to give love and forgiveness. Love came with forgiveness in Jesus; it cannot be purchased by money or sweat.

Matt McCollum is the co-founder and Head of Marketing at Drink Contento, a premium hemp-derived THC beverage brand launching in Texas. With degrees in Public Relations and Psychology from Texas Tech University, Matt cut his teeth in consumer packaged goods at the helm of Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce, a brand he was able to grow from a handful of local accounts to national and international distribution through scrappy guerrilla marketing and relationship building on a shoestring budget. He achieved this success all while spending nights and weekends behind a bar at the beach, slinging drinks and talking to every walk of life. Over 15 years behind the stick, he learned human behavior the way no textbook can teach it: watching people unwind, connect, and make decisions in real time. That foundation in behavioral psychology and lived experience has shaped how he thinks about brands and consumers.In recent years, Matt has also found himself on an unexpected but welcome spiritual journey, developing a relationship with God that has quietly shaped both the man and the mission behind the brand.

Born at the Right Time and at the Right Place, you are.

Veterans For Healing CEO & Founder Fabian Henry, from Nova Scotia, is a former Canadian Armed Forces soldier deeply dedicated to veterans' well-being. With a dynamic career, Fabian specialized in combat engineering, serving on six deployments including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Pakistan.  Post-military, Fabian leads in developing precise veteran recovery processes. As an award-winning social entrepreneur and advocate, he's founded corps and non-profits, forging an integrated platform for veterans navigating post-service life. His commitment arises from facing adversity, enduring PTSD, hearing loss, and addiction due to prescription painkillers. Fabian's own journey drives his mission to transform veteran care. His visionary leadership creates a compassionate space for veterans to heal, find hope, and renewed purpose. He is the subject of a Kim Saltarski produced documentary titled, 'About Turn The Documentary'.

Dr. Anderson graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2011 and finished her residency in Family Medicine, and she is proud to say she is a Metis physician born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Anderson's passion for Cannabinoid medicine started in 2017, when her son with intractable epilepsy had failed all treatments and she was forced to close her practice. Seizing multiple times per hour she knew the outlook was dire, and after one dose of CBD she saw dramatic results. Since then, Dr. Anderson has committed herself to helping other children who have failed all options explore cannabinoids, and she has seen amazing results.

After 13 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army, Adam found the transition to civilian life full of pitfalls, untrustworthy "gurus", and of course, thousands of courses and communities promising everything under the sun. Adam's goal for The Strategic Veteran is to ensure military transition to civilian life is smooth and frictionless as possible. Helping to curb veteran suicide is the ultimate purpose that goes far beyond business. We're here for you. Veterans of all walks of life.

Megan is the revolutionary force behind EntheaCare (Trusted Canna Nurse) and she is a registered nurse with over 13 years of experience in nursing. In 2022, she founded Trusted Canna Nurse to bridge the gap between patients and the powerful benefits of cannabis as medicine. She and her team also crafted a therapeutic line of hemp products, including tinctures, edibles, topicals, and suppositories.After transforming her life through a micro-dosing program in 2023, Megan expanded her offerings to include micro-dosing programs and transitioned the company name to EntheaCare in July of 2025. With a master's degree in medical cannabis therapeutics, Megan is passionate about educating others on the healing power of cannabis and psychedelics, sharing her expertise both in person and online, and ending the stigma of plant medicine. 

Emily Knife, RN, MSN, is a visionary nurse leader and founder of Modern Nurse Fest and the School of Modern Nursing. With over a decade of clinical experience, she pioneers the field of somatic nursing, blending neuroscience, somatic healing, and integrative health to empower nurses and healthcare leaders. As a sought-after speaker, educator, and host of the Modern Nurse Podcast, Emily inspires nurses to embrace resilience, authenticity, and innovative career paths through her Somatic Nurse Coach Certification, retreats, and global events like Modern Nurse Fest, redefining nursing for the modern era.

Lee Simpson is the founder of King Harvest Wellness and kingharvest.org - A critical illness medical cannabis oil provider that focuses on no obligation patient consultation and education. King Harvest makes - flower only - 3rd party lab tested medicines for critical illness and disease eradication. Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO) - Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) in critical illness has allowed for organizations to take a Christ centered approach by providing sun grown medical cannabis oils “as they were created” and naturally intended by the Lord himself. We focus on getting people “better” instead of getting people “high” - We have a Christ centered conservative and responsible approach designed to eliminate the underlying cause of the disease itself and allows for direct ministry with patients at critical times. 

Gary Hess is the founder and Executive Director of the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives (VAHA), CEO of Teleleaf, and Founder of, Warrior Tribe Assembly – organizations he founded to help destigmatize and provide access to medical cannabis.Gary served in the Marine Corps for 11 years, both enlisted and as an Infantry Officer. After serving during the heaviest levels of fighting in Irag, Gary experienced the challenges of living with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, and pharmaceutical dependency first-hand. He used cannabis not only to manage his conditions safely on his path to recovery, but also to catalyze and expedite Post-Traumatic Growth. He is now an advocate and activist for the use of medical cannabis in post-traumatic recovery – both for veterans and trauma survivors.

Mark and Michele's path began in 2019 with their first ayahuasca experience — a moment that opened the door to deep healing, clarity, and transformation. What started as a personal awakening quickly became a calling to help others find the same freedom, connection, and inner truth.Walking their medicine path reshaped their lives, their purpose, and their relationship. Guided by the belief that healing should be accessible, safe, and supported, they set out to build spaces where people could learn, connect, and grow together.From that vision came The Plant Medicine Path, a thriving community dedicated to education, integration, and conscious living. Alongside it, they launched Mama Dose, offering micro-dosing support and high-integrity products for daily mental clarity — and Medicine with the Medals, a podcast sharing real stories, wisdom, and heartfelt conversations about plant medicine and personal transformation.

All natural ingredients, no synthetics. Mandy Lile's dedication to safe, effective skincare began at a young age. Witnessing firsthand the transformative power of botanicals in her skincare spa, Mandy was drawn to the potential of cannabinoids. After incorporating this ancient ingredient into her formula, the results were undeniable. In 2018, Potency No. 710 was born with authentic ingredients, not synthetics. Interestingly, Mandy's Dad spent 14 years in prison on marijuana charges. Mandy grew up with stigma but never succumbed to it, she ascended.