BIOACTIVE

How do you make cannabis edibles that are consistent, properly dosed, and backed by science? What actually happens during decarboxylation, how long should cannabis infuse into butter or oil, and are common edible-making methods really as effective as people claim? In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with cannabis edibles expert, cookbook author, and educator Vanessa Lavorato to explore the science of cannabis cooking, infusion methods, potency, and edible safety.

With years of experience creating cannabis-infused products and conducting more than 200 lab tests for her cookbook, How to Eat Weed and Have a Good Time, Vanessa shares what she has learned about decarboxylation, homemade edibles, dosing calculations, cannabutter, tinctures, and infusion times. They discuss how different methods, temperatures, and solvents affect extraction, whether microwave decarboxylation works, why longer infusion does not necessarily mean greater potency, and what home edible makers should understand about estimating THC content.

The conversation also explores cannabis tolerance, edible nonresponders, sublingual absorption, CBN and sleep claims, lecithin and bioavailability, testing limitations, glycerin-infused beverages, and the use of homegrown cannabis in cooking. They also discuss common mistakes in homemade edibles, food safety, cross-contamination, and why clearly labeling and securely storing infused products is essential.

Whether you're interested in cannabis science, edible formulation, cannabis cooking, or understanding the chemistry behind infused foods, this episode offers an evidence-focused look at what happens when cannabis meets the kitchen.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Vanessa Lavarato

01:21 Branding and Internet Haters

02:53 Marigold Sweets Origin Story

05:04 Decarboxylation Basics

08:08 Edible Dosing and Tolerance

10:22 Switching from Smoking to Edibles

14:56 Science-Backed Cookbook Experiments

19:08 Infusion Myths and Solvents

24:38 Simple Cannabutter Step-by-Step

29:23 Dosage Calculators and THC Loss

30:41 Estimating Potency Percentages

30:59 CBN Creation and Sleep Claims

33:50 CBN Marketing and Terpene Shift

35:42 Lecithin and Edible Nonresponders

36:42 Sublingual Workarounds and Enzymes

38:22 At Home THC Testing Devices

40:20 Industry Misinformation and Courses

42:07 Glycerin Infusions and Craft Drinks

44:17 High Dose Edibles and Content

45:56 Dry Herb Vape Recommendations

47:24 Batch Cooking and Infusion Safety

49:58 Homegrow to Edibles Pipeline

52:46 Common Edible Making Mistakes

55:03 Dosing and Fast Hitting Drinks

58:14 Labeling Safety and Where to Find Her

Connect with Vanessa Lavorato

www.instagram.com/vanessa.marigold/

www.youtube.com/channel/UCkauGFLwcj4sLA9pJ2qQFKA

Patreon: The Edibles Club

Get the Cookbook: How to Eat Weed and Have a Good Time

https://amzn.eu/d/0iw8LfKV

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https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/

If you enjoy conversations exploring cannabis science, natural products, pharmacognosy, and better health, subscribe to the Bioactive Podcast and join us for more science-driven discussions.

This episode is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical or food-safety advice.
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What is living soil cannabis cultivation, and how do soil microbes, mineral balancing, and growing environments influence cannabis plants? On this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Luna Whitcomb, an organic cannabis cultivator, consultant, writer, and breeder, to explore the science of living soil, soil food web ecology, plant nutrition, and terpene expression. With more than 18 years of cultivation experience across indoor, outdoor, greenhouse, and large-scale hemp operations, Luna shares how organic cultivation practices can support soil health, nutrient cycling, and the unique expression of cannabis genetics.

This conversation explores the differences between hydroponic cultivation and living soil, the concept of terroir, and how soil composition, microbial diversity, mineral availability, and light exposure may influence plant structure and aroma. Luna explains soil mineral balancing, soil testing, reusing and re-amending soil, composting, worm castings, insect frass, and the role of companion planting in nutrient cycling. The discussion also examines the risks associated with improperly composted animal manures, the challenges of managing pests and pathogens, and the limitations of current cannabis lab testing when it comes to measuring the full range of aroma compounds.

Dr. Riley Kirk and Luna also discuss cannabis cultivation across different regions, from the differences Luna observed between British Columbia and eastern Canada to her experience judging a Thai landrace cannabis competition. They explore the challenges of growing equatorial genetics outside their native environments, auto-deprivation greenhouses, large outdoor plants, and even the debate around using urine as a fertilizer. Whether you're interested in organic cannabis cultivation, living soil, soil microbiology, terpene science, or sustainable growing practices, this episode offers a deeper look at the ecology behind the plant.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Luna Whitcomb

00:35 Origin Story Growing Cannabis

02:41 Living Soil vs Hydro

05:56 Terroir Microbes Minerals

08:51 Getting Started Living Soil

12:30 Soil Testing Reuse

15:00 Can You Taste Living Soil

16:56 Consulting And Microscopy

20:56 Why Living Soil Matters

22:59 Compost Worms Frass

25:05 Manure Pathogen Risks

27:44 Pests Ecosystems Canada

29:45 Canada Flower Quality

31:03 BC Terroir Talk

31:52 Thailand Landrace Judging

32:11 What Landrace Means

33:59 Got Sick From Smoking

35:15 Solo Trip Into Mountains

37:37 Lanterns And Bamboo Bong

39:30 Growing Equatorial Genetics

41:35 Auto Dep Greenhouse

42:21 Monster Outdoor Plants

44:50 Companion Planting Science

46:36 Pee As Fertilizer Debate

48:26 Where To Find Luna

49:01 Seed Laws And Landrace Sales

50:26 Final Wrap Up

Connect with Luna Whitcomb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunallday/

Website and seed inventory: https://moongrownbotanicals.com/

Support the Bioactive Podcast

Support the show on Patreon for more cannabis science and educational content:

https://www.patreon.com/Cannabichem

Sign up for updates and educational resources from Applied Pharmacognosy:

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/

Keep Up with Dr. Riley Kirk

https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem

https://www.instagram.com/cannabichem/

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/

If you enjoy conversations about cannabis science, organic cultivation, soil microbiology, terpenes, and plant chemistry, subscribe to the Bioactive Podcast, leave a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share this episode with someone interested in the science of growing cannabis.
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What are cannabis terpenes, how do they influence aroma and consumer experiences, and what do we know about their safety? On this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Dr. Shawna Vreeke, PhD, DABT, Head of Toxicology at True Terpenes, to explore the science of cannabis terpenes, terpene chemistry, cannabinoid interactions, and consumer safety. With a PhD in Chemistry focused on toxin formation in vape device aerosols and expertise in toxicology risk assessment, Shawna shares insights into what current research tells us about terpenes and where important questions remain unanswered.

They discuss the differences between cannabis-derived and botanically derived terpenes, how terpene profiles may influence cannabis effects, and why THC percentage alone doesn't tell the whole story. The conversation also examines terpene concentrations in vape cartridges, the effects of overheating and chemical degradation, vaping hardware standards, potentially harmful diluents, and the importance of science-based safety regulations. Shawna also explains how terpenes are studied in edibles, why consumer experiences matter, and how aroma, sensory testing, and quality control can help us better understand these complex compounds.

From the relationship between terpenes and the entourage effect to stereoisomers, cannabis aroma chemistry, and the limits of current research, this episode offers a deeper look at what we know about terpenes and what scientists are still working to understand.

Chapters

00:00 Meet Shauna Vrieki

02:27 Vape Crisis Lessons

03:55 Terpenes 101 Basics

05:06 Cannabis Aroma Diversity

08:16 Do Terpenes Affect You

13:02 Research Criticism Reality

14:31 Botanical vs Cannabis Terps

20:15 Terp Percent in Vape Carts

23:13 Hardware and Regulation Gaps

26:47 Overheating and Degradation

30:17 Edibles and Oral Metabolism

34:04 Safe Viscosity and Thinners

34:52 Safer Diluents Guide

35:36 PEG MCT PG Risks

36:53 Recalls And GMP Tracking

39:48 Terpene Myths And Shopping

42:03 Vape Habits And Safety

43:59 Indica Sativa By Aroma

46:45 Terpene Percent Ceiling

50:28 Isomers And Sensory QC

55:04 Loud Flavors Breakthrough

56:38 Favorite Terpenes Wrap

Connect with Dr. Shawna Vreeke

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svreeke

Learn More About True Terpenes

Website: https://trueterpenes.com/

Want Exclusive Content and Ad-Free Episodes?

Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.

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Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, pharmacology, and natural products!

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Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Dr. Miyabe Shields for a deep dive into cannabis real-world data, cannabis consumption patterns, dosing, neurodivergent cannabis use, and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). As co-founders of the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP), Riley and Miyabe discuss the newly accessible Real Data Project, including what large-scale consumer data can reveal about how people actually use cannabis in their everyday lives.

They explore why terms like “heavy cannabis consumption” are difficult to define, how consumption can vary by dose and frequency, and what the data shows across different populations and consumption methods. They also discuss the importance of making real-world cannabis data accessible to consumers, researchers, patients, and healthcare professionals rather than keeping it behind academic paywalls or within highly controlled research settings.

The conversation also covers cannabis and neurodivergence, cannabis and mental health, the challenges of interpreting cannabis research, product chemistry and consumer experiences, terpene levels, cannabis aging, and how chemical data can eventually be connected with the way individual consumers actually feel after using a product.

Finally, Riley and Miyabe discuss their ECS-focused e-book, created to make information about the Endocannabinoid System more accessible to both new and experienced cannabis consumers, including practical information about dosing, lifestyle, sleep, exercise, diet, and understanding your own ECS.

Chapters

00:00 Giveaway!

00:53 Welcome to another NAP Time episode

01:27 What is the Real Data Project?

03:00 Why “heavy cannabis consumption” is difficult to define

04:25 Dose, frequency, and different types of cannabis consumers

06:05 What the consumption data is beginning to reveal

09:20 Real-world data on cannabis-infused beverages

11:39 Cannabis use and neurodivergent populations

14:27 What the data can and cannot tell us

17:45 Cannabis research, stigma, and risk factors

19:13 Barriers to cannabis as medicine

23:09 Real-world data vs. clinical trials and meta-analyses

29:45 Why cannabis chemistry alone doesn't tell the whole story

34:41 Making cannabis data accessible to everyone

39:00 How cannabis aroma preferences change over time

41:26 Terpenes, harshness, and the importance of mouthfeel

47:49 Connecting product chemistry with real-world effects

49:15 What happens to cannabis as it ages?

51:46 Explore the Real Data Project

52:26 A new Endocannabinoid System e-book

58:14 Building research with community feedback

59:06 What Miyabe and Riley are consuming right now

01:02:14 Final thoughts

Resources

Explore the Real Data Project / RWD Exchange:

https://rwdexchange.com/

Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP):

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/

E-book Update

We really hope the e-book is ready by the time this episode airs, but we’re still working on finalizing the graphics! Once the e-book is ready, we’ll announce it on the podcast and through Patreon, so be sure to stay tuned for the official release.

Enter the Storz & Bickel VZ Giveaway:

https://forms.gle/gBLCEem9BwherVdYA

Connect With Dr. Miyabe Shields on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miyabeshields

Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes?

Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.

www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into cannabis science, plant biology, natural products, and more!

Sign Up for Emails!

www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org

Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk:

https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem

https://instagram.com/cannabichem

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/
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What if carbon is one of the most overlooked inputs in plant nutrition? In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Nik Nikolayev, CEO of Rooted Leaf Agritech, to explore the science of carbon-based fertilizers, plant nutrition, biostimulants, organic acids, and the chemistry behind plant growth, yield, and quality.

Nik breaks down how plants use carbon beyond simply taking up CO₂ from the atmosphere, and why forms of carbon such as acetate and citrate may provide important substrates that can enter plant metabolism. The conversation explores how carbon interacts with NPK nutrition, photosynthesis, energy allocation, nutrient uptake, and secondary metabolism, including the pathways involved in producing cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and sulfur-containing compounds.

They also dive into natural fertilizers and plant-based biostimulants, including kelp, hibiscus, moringa, anthocyanins, humic and fulvic acids, and other botanical inputs. Nik explains the idea behind using medicinal plants and their chemistry in agriculture, how organic acids can interact with minerals, and why the form of a nutrient may matter as much as the nutrient itself.

The conversation also explores the carbon economy of cannabis, trichome metabolism, terpene diversity, rare cannabinoids, sulfur chemistry, nutrient stress, and the challenges of testing compounds that occur at extremely low concentrations. Throughout the episode, Nik emphasizes the importance of connecting theoretical chemistry with practical growing results while acknowledging where the science is still developing.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Meet Nick Nikolaev

01:23 Fermentation Sparks Curiosity

02:19 Microbes Soil and Health

03:27 Medicinal Plants as Inputs

04:58 Biostimulants vs NPK

07:36 Feeding Plants Carbon

10:00 Citric Acid and Chelation

14:44 Extending the Rhizosphere

16:14 Energy Budget and Nitrate

19:01 Results More Terps Cannabinoids

21:19 CO2 The Carbon Lever

25:16 Terpenes vs Cannabinoids Pathways

26:18 Sulfur Thiols and Aroma

31:23 Stress Salts and Organics

33:04 Why Kelp Extracts Work

36:43 Medicinal Plant Inputs

37:52 Anthocyanin Foliar Shield

38:49 Carbon Four Rs Framework

40:17 Feeding Trichome Metabolism

42:07 Terpene Profile Shifts

43:59 Prenylation Chemistry Explained

45:42 Evolution Of Enzyme Promiscuity

48:56 Polyketide Pathway Variants

50:32 Rare Cannabinoids Potential

53:23 Testing Limits And Sulfur Trace

55:21 Bioavailable Carbon Forms

58:14 Bioaccumulation And Detox

01:02:58 Moringa Burn Lesson

01:05:30 Learning Loop And Field Data

01:09:40 Closing Thanks And Wrap

Connect with Nik Nikolayev

Nik Nikolayev

CEO, Rooted Leaf Agritech

Website: https://rootedleaf.com/

Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes?

Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.

www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into

cannabis science, plant biology, and more!

Sign Up for Emails!

www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org

Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk:

https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem

https://instagram.com/cannabichem

https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/
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