Episode 108: Karma Koala Podcast 315: Kimberly Melgoza, Mushroom Churches USA (2026) – Initial Study

Episode 113: Karma Koala Podcast 320: Ricky Stone Lawyer (South Africa) The Monica Cromhout Case. Fungi is the real AI… ‘Ancestral Intelligence’

The Koalas speak with environmental lawyer Ricky Stone about the Monica Cromhout case and what they hope they can highlight and change with the case in regard to constitutional law in South Africa. There’s already some element of jurisprudence post the Dagga Couple [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagga_Couple] case. As i say in the introduction South Africa may well start to lead on this issue in the courts and once again it’s their constitution that allows for a wide ranging debate During the Hogsback Mushroom Festival and Symposium in mid-March 2026, environmental lawyer  Ricky Stone  announced a landmark legal challenge against South Africa’s criminalization of psilocybin (magic mushrooms) for therapeutic use.  Key Details of the Challenge * The Objective: Stone aims to challenge laws under the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act and the Medicines and Related Substances Act that currently ban the use, possession, and dealing of psilocybin. * The Catalyst: The case is centered on Monica Cromhout, an 84-year-old trauma counselor and healer from Somerset West. She was arrested in December 2014 after a client reported her to the police while still under the influence of psilocybin during a guided therapy session. * Legal Argument: Stone argues that these are “earth medicines” with thousands of years of ancestral and cultural use. He advocates for social interventions rather than “blunt-force criminal laws” to handle drug use, emphasizing their role in treating mental health struggles and protecting psychological integrity.  Read More at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-320-ricky-stone-lawyer-south-africa-the-monica-cromhout-case-fungi-is-the-real-ai-ancestral-intelligence/ [https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-320-ricky-stone-lawyer-south-africa-the-monica-cromhout-case-fungi-is-the-real-ai-ancestral-intelligence/]

Episode 112: Karma Koala Podcast 319: Bart Schaneman Author Of Novel, “The Pot Job” .. Denver in the time of the pre-covid cannabis goldrush

Great conversation with Bart who worked for MJ Biz as a journalist when the floodgates opened and yes it was the wild west of cannabis for a while. Bart captures the essence of that time and the people involved in what was then, the nascent cannabis industry. We talk about why he wrote the book, what he and his characters learnt, what he thinks now looking back at that time. Of the book, reviewers frequently compare Schaneman’s evocative, earth-toned style to authors like Joan Didion and John Steinbeck, so he’s doing pretty well there ! As they say in the publishing world here’s the blurb Denver, 2019: After one of their marijuana dispensaries is robbed, Taylor Hobson and Danielle Garcia hatch a plan to make back the money. When that ends in disaster, the two friends agree to allow their sales manager to implement aggressive and quasi-legal sales practices. Soon, their reputation as the go-to place to load up on marijuana beyond the legal limit spirals out of control. Meanwhile, Henry Kaufman is back from a multiple-year stint in Asia. As he attempts to adjust to the reverse culture shock of returning to America, he bounces around, looking for a decent job. He asks his old friends for work at one of their dispensaries, and they agree to hire him as a budtender. He finally has the material to write the investigative journalism piece to make his name as a writer, but at what cost? https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-319-bart-schaneman-author-of-novel-the-pot-job-denver-in-the-time-of-the-pre-covid-cannabis-goldrush/ [%20https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-319-bart-schaneman-author-of-novel-the-pot-job-denver-in-the-time-of-the-pre-covid-cannabis-goldrush/]

Episode 111: Karma Koala Podcast 318: The DeAngelo Chronicles – Part 5 – The 1980’s & It’s Time For Reagan, “The War on Drugs”, “The Parents Movement” and the Cocaine Blizzard

The koalas are back with the latest instalment of Steve’s long and storied life in cannabis. The 1980’s wasn’t all just funny haircuts, Wall Street  and the arrival of Bill & Steve it was also the Reagan adminsitration and the so called “war on drugs” , “Just Say No”, “The Parents Movement” and silly ads like this.. See it all at https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-318-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-5-the-1980s-its-time-for-reagan-the-war-on-drugs-the-parents-movement-and-the-cocaine-blizzard/ [https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-318-the-deangelo-chronicles-part-5-the-1980s-its-time-for-reagan-the-war-on-drugs-the-parents-movement-and-the-cocaine-blizzard/]

Episode 110: Karma Koala Podcast 317: Johan Mohamad, a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN

First up apologies for some of the gremlins on the host tal;king. Not sure what happened there! In this episode i speak with Malaysia based Johan Mohamad, a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN and we talk about what’s happening  across the region in terms of research, policy and government action. A lot more than you would imagine Thanks to Johan and enjoy Johan Mohamad is a pioneer in the hemp industry across ASEAN and the Chairperson of KannaHemp Summit 3.0, taking place in Chiang Mai this December. Johan began his journey in community advocacy, leading a zero-waste campaign that impacted over 200,000 students before co-founding MCARE Society to support patients and families. His path took a deeply personal turn when his son was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, leading him to explore alternative support systems and ultimately into the hemp industry. Today, Johan works at the intersection of policy, research, and international collaboration — building bridges between ASEAN and Europe to develop a responsible and sustainable hemp ecosystem Kannahemp Summit embodies the spirit of Southeast Asia collaboration, working together to engage relevant stakeholders from their respective countries. Members and partners interested in participating, collaborating, or supporting this regional initiative are warmly invited to join. ⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-317-johan-mohamad-a-pioneer-in-the-hemp-industry-across-asean/⁠ [https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-317-johan-mohamad-a-pioneer-in-the-hemp-industry-across-asean/]

Episode 109: Karma Koala Podcast 316: Sarah Strickler Grown Rogue (Oregon)

Sarah Strickler and her husband founded Grown Rogue over a decade ago. Operating out of southern Oregon the company is expanding nationwide. The koalas speak to Sarah about growing a company in Oregon and building it organically throughout the country while no overacrching federal regulatory system exists. An interesting conversation and certainly one that illustrates how legislatures across the country have stacked opportunities against companies like Grown Rogue who are looking to build on good product, consumer awareness of that product and a steady as you go philosophy. Thankyou Sarah for taking time to talk to the koalas. Learn more at  ⁠https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-316-sarah-strickler-grown-rogue-oregon/⁠ [https://cannabislaw.report/karma-koala-podcast-316-sarah-strickler-grown-rogue-oregon/]