Dr. Riley Kirk is a cannabis research scientist and educator with a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, specializing in natural product chemistry. Her new book is Reefer Wellness: Understanding Cannabis Science, Culture, and Medicines.
Episode Cheatsheet
The Big Idea
Dr. Riley Kirk, a cannabis research scientist, breaks down the misconceptions and stigma around cannabis, emphasizing an informed, personalized approach to use—especially when it comes to anxiety, sleep, chronic pain, and mental health. The episode’s core message: cannabis can be a safe, effective wellness tool if used intentionally, with awareness of its risks, the right dosing, and respect for individual differences.
Key takeaways:
Cannabis isn’t one-size-fits-all medicine: Individual responses vary wildly based on dose, product type, body chemistry, and even genetics. Careful experimentation and education matter.
THC vs. CBD is a crucial distinction: THC gets you high and can trigger anxiety or paranoia (especially at high doses or for sensitive people), while CBD can bring medicinal benefits like anxiety and inflammation relief without altering perception.
The history is heavy: Racism, criminalization, and propaganda shaped cannabis laws and stigma, and there are lingering effects with people still imprisoned for cannabis offenses.
Addiction and risk boil down to use and context: Daily use can be dependency, but not all dependency is addiction—it’s the continued use despite adverse consequences that signals a problem.
6 practical tips for smarter, safer cannabis use:
Listen to this episode with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Dan Harris to listen to this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.
