The Future of Cannabis Education with MM411: Trends, Innovations, and the Passion Fueling It
MM411’s president and co-founder, Chris DeVol, discusses challenges and trends in global cannabis education, plus upcoming initiatives of the company.
Founded in 2009, MM411 is a cannabis education platform offering dozens of science-based courses online. Throughout its 15-year journey, they have navigated challenges such as stigma and misinformation, the Schedule I status of cannabis, and the need for banking reform. Today, MM411 has its sights on launching new and innovative education topics, including veterinary medicine and horticulture.
In this interview, Cannabis Science and Technology Editor, Madeline Colli, sits down with DeVol for more insights. As DeVol explains, “It's the patient story that it absolutely drives me every day… I think it's going to be a fun journey to keep expanding.”
Be sure to also catch up on the first part of this interview with MM411's Journey: From Grassroots Beginnings to Global Cannabis Education Leader!
Watch the video clip and read a partial transcription below!
Madeline Colli: What's something that really excites you about the future of the cannabis space?
Chris DeVol: Making cannabinoid medicines, available across the globe to anybody who would like to use it. That excites me. I do think we will get there. I think we'll get there pretty fast, honestly. And I'm not even on either political thing, people are driving the conversation. People will continue to make things easier and legal. I think we have to have more testing. This whole Delta-8-THC situation has got to be put back in the box. I think that could be something that really could harm the industry, but I don't want to pivot to the bad stuff.
So back to what excites me. I think one of the stats that that we have in our courses that really drives me, is that currently, and this is a research study, 89.5% of medical professionals do not feel prepared to talk about medical marijuana. That's the gap that we got to fill. That's the piece. It's a large percent of medical professionals to this day are still not taught the endocannabinoid system [ECS]. The ECS is the largest receptor system in the human body. It's newly discovered, and what they found is that cannabinoids, we create our own endogenous cannabinoids, is it's like a lock and key, and what the early studies are showing – and I know Dr. Ethan Russo has some very strong opinions about this based on research and science – is that the deficiency, if you're deficient in endocannabinoids, that’s where cannabinoids come in from the plant that actually then get you back in balance. You can be deficient because of stress and just life events and all this other stuff. The ECS maintains all homeostasis of the human body. It's also all mammals, birds, pets – only exception are insects. So that's where the excitement and the veterinary side of things, for me is that your pet can't lie. If all of a sudden your dog Sam is coming up the stairs easier because you're introducing CBD into their diet, that's a big plus for your animal. There was a veterinarian on the Dr. Russo webinar, talking about studies about CBG and pets and the anxiety that they feel, especially like Fourth of July, or some of those events that where you see people going into the dispensaries to get product for their own animals. He said CBG is as effective, in his opinion, based on what his research shows, as for humans, the CBG side of things for us to reduce stress, increase mood, and just kind of give some balance back without having to be high.
That's the other misnomer that I get asked the most often is all of us had to start understanding the plant at square one, and most of us didn't know immediately that there's THC, which is psychoactive, there's CBD that's non psychoactive, and then there's I think it's 131 minor cannabinoids and they discovered new ones, so I might be wrong on that number, but a lot of them. The CBNs, the CBGs, the THCAs, and all the little pieces that now start the building blocks of your own wellness journey.
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.
