BIOACTIVE

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/

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Dr. Riley Kirk has Dr. Denise Valenti on the podcast to discuss cannabis and driving, cannabis impairment, THC testing, and the challenges of determining whether someone is actually too impaired to drive. They explore why THC levels in the body do not necessarily correspond to impairment and how cannabis can affect vision, peripheral vision, contrast sensitivity, eye movement, balance, and pupil response.

They also discuss the limitations of current roadside cannabis testing compared with alcohol testing, including the challenges of using blood THC levels, cognitive tests, and field sobriety tests to determine cannabis impairment. Dr. Valenti explains her work developing technology that could combine multiple sensory measurements to identify impairment more accurately.

The conversation also explores how dose, tolerance, consumption method, individual differences, medical conditions, and baseline function can influence impairment and why there is no universal rule for how long someone should wait before driving after consuming cannabis. They discuss Drug Recognition Experts, the need for stronger scientific validation and national standards, and the importance of developing impairment-testing technology that is accurate and free from racial bias.

Finally, they discuss cannabis and driving research, harm reduction, the challenges of funding cannabis impairment studies, and why controlled, dose-specific research is needed to better understand the relationship between cannabis, impairment, and road safety.

Chapters

00:00 Cannabis Driving Question
01:08 Denise Valenti Background
03:57 Vision Loss and Driving Research
05:49 Dopamine Retina Link
07:34 Building Impairment Tests
09:38 Why THC Levels Fail
14:39 Courtroom Ready Tech
17:45 Four Part Roadside Goggle
19:56 Crash Data and Medical Use
23:33 How Long Impairment Lasts
28:41 Microdosing and Self Awareness
34:39 DREs and Legal Standards
37:05 Bias In New Tech
39:19 Glassy Eyes Mystery
39:48 Smell Changes And Munchies
41:46 THC In Tears Study
46:35 Roadside Vs Workplace Testing
48:04 Cannabis Vs Alcohol Risks
50:01 Road Design Harm Reduction
51:40 Road Rage And Crutches
53:31 Grant Funding Reality
56:30 Why This Work Matters
58:11 Health Risks And Research Limits
01:00:24 Final Safety Takeaways
01:01:25 Wrap Up And Next Topics

Connect with Dr. Denise Valenti
Dr. Denise A. Valenti, OD, FAAO
Founder & President, IMMAD LLC
Impairment Measurement Marijuana and Driving
🔗 Connect with Denise on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-a-valenti-53b72516/
🔬 Learn more about IMMAD: www.immadroadside.com
IMMAD is focused on the development of objective technologies for identifying marijuana-related impairment, including visual functions relevant to safe driving.

Want to Learn More About Cannabis Science?
Follow the Bioactive Podcast for more conversations about cannabis science, plant biology, pharmacology, health, and the research shaping our understanding of cannabis.

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#CannabisAndDriving #CannabisImpairment #THCImpairment #DruggedDriving #ImpairedDriving #CannabisScience #CannabisResearch #THCTesting #CannabisTesting #DrivingSafety

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In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley
Kirk sits down with Dr. Rick Pescatore, board-certified emergency
physician, Editor-in-Chief of Emergency Medicine News, and founder of
BellyMD, for a fascinating deep dive into the gut-brain connection and
what it means for cannabis users and patients dealing with unexplained
digestive symptoms.

Dr. Pescatore explains how the gut and brain communicate
through the vagus nerve, why the gut has been called the “second brain,”
and how genetics, diet, gut bacteria, inflammation, and cannabis can all
influence this complex system. The conversation also explores cannabinoid
hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) and why understanding CHS requires looking
beyond cannabis alone and considering the broader gut-brain system.

We also get into GLP-1 medications and gut-brain medicine,
nausea and vomiting, microbiome health, micronutrient deficiencies, vitamin B1
(thiamine), magnesium, and whether personalized health data could help us
better understand why someone feels unwell. Dr. Pescatore shares how emerging
tools, including phenomic data, wearable technology, AI, and the Menome
platform, could help patients identify patterns that traditional medicine may
overlook.

We also discuss cannabis and the gut microbiome, CHS,
thiamine deficiency, antibiotics and gut health, personalized medicine, patient
autonomy, and the future of gut-brain healthcare.

In this episode, we explore:

- What is the gut-brain axis and how does the gut
communicate with the brain?

- Why does the gut have such a major role in
neurotransmitters and brain health?

- What does the gut microbiome have to do with anxiety,
depression, and other conditions?

- What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), and how
does it fit into gut-brain health?

- Could underlying gut-brain dysfunction contribute to
cannabis-related symptoms?

- How do GLP-1 medications affect the gut-brain axis?

- What role do vitamin B1, magnesium, and micronutrients
play in gut-brain health?

- Can microbiome testing and wearable data help personalize
healthcare?

- Could AI help patients better understand their own health?

- What does the future of personalized gut-brain medicine
look like?

This is a conversation about cannabis, medicine, the
microbiome, nutrition, neuroscience, personalized health, and the emerging
science connecting them all.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 CHS Big Picture

01:17 Podcast Welcome

02:18 Meet Dr Pescatore

03:50 Defining Gut Brain Axis

05:50 Second Brain Neurons

06:42 Leaky Gut Explained

07:44 Omics And AI Boom

11:18 GLP1s As Gut Brain Drugs

13:57 GLP1 Risks And Nausea

16:46 Supplements And Diet Basics

18:28 Personalized Testing Options

19:57 Menome Phenomic App

23:46 Digital Biomarker Score

24:56 CHS Telemedicine Pipeline

27:32 Scromiting Dopamine Clue

28:28 What Really Causes CHS

29:14 Dopamine Targeted Treatment

30:06 Genetics And Dopamine Links

31:49 Gut Inflammation Hypersensitivity

32:52 Microbiome And Vitamin Deficits

34:29 Probiotics Versus Supplements

35:54 Thiamine Magnesium Protocol

37:33 Side Effects And Vivid Dreams

40:33 Can Patients Use Again

41:48 FMT And Antibiotic Fallout

43:44 Cannabis Heart Risk Reality

45:34 ER Priorities Psychosis CHS

46:25 Prevention Tips And B1 For All

47:25 Social Media And The App

50:10 Patient Autonomy And Wrap Up

Explore Dr. Rick Pescatore & BellyMD

🌐 Rick Pescatore: rickpescatore.com
🌐
BellyMD: belly-md.com
📱
Menome: menome.belly-md.com

Bioactive Podcast listeners can get 3 months of free
access to Menome with code MGBSUB1MO.

🌿 MGB+ Calm: BellyMD
MGB+ Calm
Use code RILEY15 for discount.



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Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and
informational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical
advice.
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What actually happened inside the DEA’s cannabis rescheduling hearing? In this timely episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Max Jackson, former commercial cannabis cultivator and founder of Cannabis Wise Guys, to unpack what he witnessed firsthand at the DEA hearing on moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.

Max spent most of the hearing inside the room, taking handwritten notes because recording and livestreaming were not permitted. As someone who previously managed a commercial cultivation facility with approximately 13,000 flowering cannabis plants, he offers a unique perspective on the arguments being made about cannabis, medical use, public health, research, and the plant itself.

Together, Riley and Max break down who opposed rescheduling, what the government and opposing parties argued, and some of the surprising claims and misconceptions that came up during the proceedings. They discuss the difference between whole-plant cannabis and isolated cannabinoids, the challenges of dosing and medical education, cannabis research limitations, adverse effects, and why the lack of cannabis research is itself connected to decades of Schedule I restrictions.

The conversation also explores what rescheduling to Schedule III could actually mean, what happens next in the process, why the administrative judge does not make the final decision, and why the DEA ultimately holds that decision.

Whether you're a cannabis consumer, home grower, medical professional, researcher, cultivator, cannabis business owner, or simply trying to understand the future of cannabis policy in the United States, this episode gives you an inside look at a hearing most people never had the opportunity to see.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:40 Max Jackson Background

01:36 Why He Attended Hearing

02:52 Security and Closed Doors

06:46 Who Opposed Rescheduling

08:18 Bias and Expert Framing

10:58 Psychosis and CUD Claims

17:08 IV THC and Syringe Confusion

19:16 Plant vs Single Molecule

23:36 No Medical Use Argument

26:45 Youth Access and Regulation

31:13 Humboldt Crime Fears

33:07 Hearing Strategy Angle

33:57 Drugged Driving Testing

35:50 Tolerance And Impairment

38:30 Research Collaboration Gaps

41:10 Breastfeeding And Postpartum

42:54 ER Harms And Education

45:48 Schedule Logic Debate

51:21 DEA Museum Narrative

54:26 Van Check At DEA

57:49 What Happens Next

59:27 Wrap Up And Resources

Connect with Max Jackson

Cannabis Wise Guys

https://cannabiswiseguys.com/

Cannabis Fact Book

https://thecannabisfactbook.com/

Email: max@cannabiswiseguys.com

IG: www.instagram.com/cannabiswiseguys/

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cannabis science, plant biology, and more!

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In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk
sits down with cannabis research scientist Ben Cleary to unpack
groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports examining THC
variability in cannabis flower and what it means for consumers, cultivators,
laboratories, and regulators.

If you've ever wondered why the same strain can feel
different from batch to batch—or why chasing the highest THC percentage often
leads to disappointment—this conversation explains the science behind it.

Ben shares how his team's research demonstrates the natural
variability of THC within a single cannabis plant and why reporting one THC
percentage may not accurately represent what consumers actually purchase.
Together, Riley and Ben discuss the future of cannabis labeling, range-based
THC reporting, lab testing variability, terpene science, chemical diversity,
and how better education can improve purchasing decisions and consumer trust.

They also explore why aroma may be a better guide than THC
percentage alone, how Canada's cannabis industry is beginning to implement THC
ranges, the role of laboratory variation in cannabis testing, and what future
cannabis packaging could look like as science continues to evolve.

Whether you're a cannabis consumer, cultivator, scientist,
budtender, regulator, or simply curious about how cannabis testing really
works, this episode offers an evidence-based look at one of the industry's
biggest conversations.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Meet Ben Cleary

01:04 Inside Village Farms

02:56 Why Study THC Variability

07:19 What the Data Shows

10:28 Range Based Labels

14:08 Low Dose Access Debate

16:37 Health Canada Pilot

19:06 Beyond THC Terpenes

22:56 Lighting and Scale Limits

30:31 Sampling Protocol Shortcut

33:23 Lab Testing Variability

35:26 Measured THC Reality

36:56 Quality Metrics Beyond THC

38:56 Industry Adoption Push

40:48 Why Village Farms Did It

43:05 Next Research Frontiers

45:11 Real World Data Approach

46:20 Science Community Stories

49:02 Medical Education Gap

52:50 Chemical Diversity Score Idea

56:15 Simplifying Labels for Consumers

57:39 Where to Follow the Research

59:40 Closing and BC Invite



Read the Scientific Reports paper discussed in this
episode:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06962-2

Connect with Ben Cleary
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cleary-746b00172/

Village Farms International: https://villagefarms.com/

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Kirk one-on-one.

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bell for more expert insights into

cannabis science, plant biology, and more!



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https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/
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