Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2024: Interview with Keynote Speakers Allison Justice, PhD and Riley Kirk, PhD
Drs. Allison Justice and Riley Kirk share a preview of their research project that will be presented at Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2024.
As keynote speakers for Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2024, Drs. Allison Justice and Riley Kirk will take us on a deep dive into their multiyear study, the Science of Smokeability (SOS), a multiphase experiment into the variables that contribute to the cannabis smoking experience. Dr. Justice conducts photobiology research and co-founded the Hemp Mine, an innovative hemp farm and product manufacturer. Dr. Kirk is a natural product chemist with a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences. She previously presented on ongoing cannabis education and psychedelics at Cannabis Science Conference Fall 2023.
Check out the video, read a partial transcript below, and register here for Cannabis Science Conference Spring 2024! See you in Kansas City, Missouri May 7–9, 2024!
Here, Dr. Kirk explains details of their study:
Riley Kirk: So it's the science of smokeability. It's something that our industry has needed for a really long time. And as Dr. Justice was saying, this isn't just one experiment. This is going to be like a 20-30 part experiment where we're looking at these different variables that really contribute to the smoking experience, and also help explain why so many people, especially medical patients, prefer smoking over other consumption methods.
I think the group that's working on this project, Science of Smokeability, is the perfect group of people. There's a lot of medical doctors or physicians or maybe other researchers that would look at smoking and say, “That's objectively bad for you. Don't do it.” Right? Period. That's it. People are still going do it, and they're always going to do it because it feels better, and it works better for them. So we're not trying to say, “hey, you should smoke or you should not smoke.” We're trying to say, what is so unique about the smoking experience specifically for really good flower? How can we cultivate a really good product and make that smoking experience a very positive experience from the feelings, but also reduce the amount of harm entering your body by understanding if there are cultivation metrics, or if there are drying cure metrics that can allow for a healthier product to be produced so that when the smoke enters your body, it's not producing a lot of the harmful compounds, more of the beneficial compounds, and then we can start to kind of delve into like what that chemistry is. Once we learn that chemistry, we can dive into this way deeper if we want to, but it's really just about learning more about the smoking experience because our industry has not done any of this really baseline fundamental research in understanding from plant to smoke entering the body, what is happening on a biochemical level? What is happening with these different molecules? Are there different levels of transformation happening? And can consumers actually pick up on these little nuances? Or can they not? So we're going to learn a lot about the palettes of consumers as well.
Each study is probably going to have a different number of participants. But I don't think we're going to have any trouble getting people to participate in the study. The first video we put out saying, “Hey, we're looking for people to participate,” got so much attention that we're already closing phase one, and moving on to recruiting for phase two of the study, because, you know, we only can accept so many people into each phase. So I'm most excited about how excited other people are for this research. Because really talented cultivators like Dr. Justice here, she knows that some flower smoke is really, really good, it feels really good. Consumers know this too. And then some flower is harsh, it hurts, it burns hotter, there's differences in the feeling, and in the chemicals that are present in these different experiences. And we're trying to dive into the nuance of what makes a quality smokeable product.
Cannabis, US Presidential Election 2024, and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion, Part II
December 17th 2024With the recent 2024 presidential election behind us, the future of cannabis still has many unknowns moving forward and questions still to be discussed. In this roundtable discussion with four knowledgeable industry leaders, we explore the nuanced political landscape of cannabis legalization and rescheduling in the context of the election, including state and federal policies and possible paths forward for testing standardization. Join us in the second part of a compilation of responses from Kim Anzarut, CQA, CP-FS, CEO of Allay Consulting; Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC; Zacariah Hildenbrand, PhD, research Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso; and David Vaillencourt, CEO of The GMP Collective.
Cannabis, US Presidential Election 2024, and Beyond: A Roundtable Discussion, Part I
December 16th 2024With the recent 2024 presidential election behind us, the future of cannabis still has many unknowns moving forward and questions still to be discussed. In this roundtable discussion with four knowledgeable industry leaders, we explore the nuanced political landscape of cannabis legalization and rescheduling in the context of the election. We discuss what drives support or opposition from both sides of the aisle, the complexities of balancing state and federal priorities, and more. Join us in the first part of a compilation of responses from Kim Anzarut, CQA, CP-FS, CEO of Allay Consulting; Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC; Zacariah Hildenbrand, PhD, research Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso; and David Vaillencourt, CEO of The GMP Collective.
Empowering Women in Cannabis: Susan Audino, PhD, on Inclusivity, Integrity, and Industry Challenges
December 11th 2024Founder of S. A. Audino & Associates, LLC, Susan Audino, PhD, recently co-founded Saturn Scientific, LLC, a collaboration of five experienced individuals providing unbiased evaluations on the data and science for stakeholders in the cannabis industry. In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Dr. Audino shares her unexpected path into analytical science and the cannabis industry as well as the obstacles she’s faced throughout her career. She highlights the gender bias she’s observed, such as unequal recognition of credentials and workplace challenges, while advocating for inclusivity and mentorship to empower women in science. Additionally, Dr. Audino recounts her experiences of navigating the male-dominated cannabis space, pushing for transparency, collaboration, and integrity in laboratory practices. Ultimately, Audino believes fostering mutual respect and knowledge-sharing is vital for the industry’s growth and resilience.
Collaboration, Gender Diversity, and Progress: Julie Kowalski on Advancing Cannabis Science
December 10th 2024In this interview with Cannabis Science and Technology, Julie Kowalski, an experienced analytical chemist, discusses her path into the cannabis industry, starting with early work in gas chromatography. Kowalski reflects on her perspectives as a female scientist, highlighting biases she’s experienced and the benefits of gender inclusivity in the cannabis space. Greater unity and professionalism could benefit the industry as a whole, she explains. She also encourages collaboration and more women in leadership positions in order to build a stronger scientific community, and also urges women to advocate for themselves, noting that women in cannabis face unique obstacles but often demonstrate consensus-building strategies and solutions.
Gender Diversity and Innovation in the Cannabis Space: Insights from Tess Eidem, PhD
December 9th 2024Cannabis Science and Technology sat down with Tess Eidem, PhD, PCQI, member of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to discuss her journey from antibiotic research to cannabis microbiology and her observations throughout her career. Dr. Eidem highlights challenges women face in this male-dominated industry, including limited representation in leadership roles and frequent experiences of bias and discrimination. She emphasizes the importance of gender diversity in fostering innovation, improving product safety, and addressing women’s health needs in cannabis applications. Her advice to women scientists is to build strong professional relationships and carefully evaluate work environments to advance their careers in this evolving and often challenging space.
