Published in Effective Cannabis Newsletter 12/11/24 (LINK to article)

The first time I inhaled that sweet cheeba was the first time I felt like my life could possibly, just maybe, with a lot of effort (and with a lot of weed), be doable. The quieting of my mind, the warmth from laughing until I cried, and the way the In N’ Out fries exploded in my cheeks left a lasting impression. But paired with that joyous experience was the gut-clenching panic and anxiety that I have always been somewhat prone to.

The stigmatization of cannabis and the negative stereotyping of the cannabis community comes from a history of propaganda, including the intentional devaluation of medical cannabis use. Some of our initial analysis highlights the need for more research that focuses on the benefits. Introducing the “Stoner Neurotype” - a perspective shift in how we view higher needs medical cannabis patients, or daily consumers, to be more neurodiversity-affirming.

NAP Co-founder Dr. Riley Kirk, PhD is the host of the Bioactive Podcast, a bi-weekly podcast which disseminates the chemistry and pharmacology of natural products covering current news and research surrounding cannabis, psychedelics, toxins, pharmaceuticals & other bioactive substances. We will be airing special NAPTIME episodes where Dr. Miyabe Shields joins as a special guest to discuss the ongoings of the non-profit and current research updates!

The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) is a fiscally sponsore nonprofit organization focused on studying the real world applications of cannabis and other natural products from the lens of patient and consumer priorities.