This week on Give & Toke, Paul is joined by Angus Murray - a cultivator who’s taken lessons from Vancouver to Victoria and everywhere in between. From his time growing in Canada’s legendary BC cannabis scene to shaping cultivation in Australia, Angus brings a unique perspective on what it takes to deliver consistent, high-quality medicine to patients.
Paul and Angus stroll down memory lane in Vancouver, dive into the realities of cultivation on both sides of the Pacific, and even test Angus’s loyalty with an Australia vs Canada quiz. It’s a lighthearted yet insightful chat about cannabis, culture, and the future of cultivation in Australia.
In this episode:
The Vancouver Influence (5:30)
Getting Started at Tantalus (9:40)
Returning to Australia (14:00
From Craft to Major (18:00)
Delivering a Consistently High Quality Product (22:00)
A Vision for Adult Use (25:00)
Canadian Australian Quiz (31:00)
Cultivators Shaping the Industry (39:30)
Managing Stigma and Judgement (42:00)
Golden Days Cultivators (52:30)
Pauls of Wisdom (55:15)
Visit www.goldendayscultivators.com.au
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
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Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Dr Bryce Joynson is a neuro-affirming Specialist GP based on the Gold Coast, with a practice that blends clinical rigour and holistic care. Known for his work across ADHD, autism, hyper-mobility disorders, and medicinal cannabis, Dr Joynson is at the forefront of progressive medicine in Australia.
From pioneering Australia's first paediatric cannabis prescribing protocols to developing brain imaging strategies for mental health, Bryce brings a unique perspective to the conversation around neurodiversity, chronic illness, and how we approach care in the 21st century.
He’s a passionate educator, medical advisor, and vocal advocate for a future where patients are seen, heard, and supported.
In this episode:
Discovering the importance of relationships (2:00)
Adapting your consult time and reading the room (5:00)
Developing meaningful relationships (8:00)
Remaining present and mindful in consults and life (14:00)
What is neuro-affirming care? A boom in self-diagnosis (23:00)
Gaps in neurodivergent care (30:00)
Rapid Fire Quiz (38:00)
Medicinal Cannabis at a tool (42:00)
Stigma in the medical space (44:45)
Limitations of medicinal cannabis (49:00)
AHPRA and TGA cracking down? (53:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (55:00)
Visit www.drbryce.com.au
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
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Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
With over a decade of experience spanning both the legacy market and the medical industry, Jessica Peros brings a rare dual perspective to Australia’s evolving cannabis space.
In this episode of Give & Toke, Paul sits down with Jessica to talk about her journey from co-founding The Green Room Hydro to creating The Green Room HQ - a space for patient advocacy, industry insight, and community connection.
We explore how Jessica’s work and life have shaped her understanding of patients, and prescribers, and why championing local growers is critical to the future of cannabis in Australia.
In this episode:
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Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
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From community pharmacy to cannabis advocacy, Jessica-Li Verschoor is redefining frontline care in the medicinal cannabis space.
In this episode of Give & Toke, Paul speaks with the 2025 Cannabiz Awards Industry Newcomer of the Year about her journey into plant medicine at Green Street Dispensary and Plant Pharm in Western Australia.
Jessica-Li shares how her pharmacy background shapes her approach to cannabis, the role of social media in education and stigma reduction, and why so many people are asking how to break into the industry. We also explore what sets WA’s cannabis landscape apart — and how her personal view of the plant has evolved.
In this episode:
Plant Playground and Cannabis Events (0:30)
From Community Pharmacy to Cannabis (3:45)
California Living and Global Perspectives (7:30)
Cannabiz Industry Newcomer of the Year (15:00)
Social Media to Build Community (18:15)
Getting into the Industry (19:30)
Green St Dispensary and Plant Pharm (24:00)
Disneyland Quiz (28:00)
Cannabis in Western Australia (35:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (47:30)
Visit planthpharm.shop
Visit greenstdispensary.com
Follow @greenstdisp on Instagram
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
We're Ruth and Paul - the husband and wife duo behind Give & Toke. Join us as we sit down for a candid conversation about cannabis, relationships, and the power of shared purpose.
While Paul’s passion for the plant is no surprise to regular listeners, Ruth brings a unique perspective as a non-consumer who’s become an advocate for reform. Her support is rooted in education, empathy, and a deep belief in cannabis’s potential for both mainstream healthcare and responsible adult use.
Together, we explore what it takes to navigate relationships between consumers and non-consumers, the mutual respect required to make it work, and how breaking down stereotypes can lead to greater understanding and more mindful access in adult-use markets.
In this episode:
First Impressions: Dating a cannabis user for the first time (1:30)
Breaking the Stereotype: Overcoming stoner stigma and personal bias (5:00)
From Rehab to Retail: The irony and insights of working in opposing spaces (15:00)
Shifting Spirits: How our views on alcohol have changed over time (20:00)
Love & Limits: Navigating relationship challenges and shared responsibility (25:00)
The “Babe Ruth” Quiz: How well does Ruth know... Ruth? (31:00)
Life in Canada: How access and attitudes differ in adult-use markets (34:00)
Would She Ever?: Ruth reflects on the possibility of personal cannabis use (37:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (…Should have called it’s Ruth’s Truths) (44:00)
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
In this powerful episode of Give & Toke, we’re joined by healthcare strategist, author, and global cannabis advocate Melanie Wentzel.
From working with governments and peak bodies to rewriting the narrative around women and weed in her groundbreaking book Cannabis Queens, Melanie brings sharp insight and deep heart to the conversation around equitable, person-centred care and the plant that’s changing lives.
We explore the radical role of women in the cannabis industry, the challenges of reforming conservative healthcare systems, and why storytelling may be the most transformative tool of all.
It’s medical. It’s political. It’s revolutionary.
In this episode:
What does it mean to be a Cannabis Queen? (1:30)
The feminine role in dismantling stigma (7:45)
Self-Discovery through storytelling (13:30)
The intersection of culture and medicine (33:45)
Navigating criticism of women forward causes (44:30)
The legacy of Cannabis Queens (53:30)
Quiz: Wentzel or Not? (58:30)
Integrated Healthcare (60:30)
Cannabis in mainstream in healthcare? (72:15)
Cannim’s research initiatives (77:30)
Visit www.melaniewentzel.com
Visit www.cannabisqueens.world
Follow Melanie Wentzel on LinkedIn
Contact Mel: mel@melaniewentzel.com
Lumir Mission Primary Dysmenorrhea Study
RECRUITING NOW: www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm/research/participate-in-research/canndyshelp
Lumir Mission Menopause Study
RECRUITING NOW: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicm/research/participate-in-research/menocann
Lumir Mission Study (For all medicinal cannabis patients in Australia)
LAUNCHING JULY 23: www.lumirmission.com/home-au/
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS SHOW ARE PERSONAL AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYER.
In this episode, we're joined by two industry trailblazers who’ve gone from the frontlines of patient care to the frontlines of cannabis supply. Bashar Al-Humrany (a pharmacist) and Joel Green (a nurse) first crossed paths at Melbourne’s Astrid Dispensary, one of the first dedicated medicinal cannabis dispensaries in the country.
Together, they saw firsthand where the system was helping... and where it was falling short. Now, they’ve teamed up to launch Exotican, an Australian medicinal cannabis importer built from the ground up by people who understand patients, products, and prescriptions. We’re talking clinical insight, industry gaps, and of course the Bash Brothers of cannabis.
In this episode:
Clinical experience informing patient care (4:00)
The inception of Exotican (9:30)
Setting standards in medicine (12:30)
Imports vs. Aussie Grown (18:00)
Mighty Ducks Quiz (24:30)
What GPs need to know (31:30)
Managing culture and medicine (33:40)
When patient is “on the edge” (37:30)
Exotican’s Values (41:00)
Product Innovation (42:50)
The importance of education (48:15)
Pauls of Wisdom (50:00)
Follow @exoticanau on Instagram
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS SHOW ARE PERSONAL AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYER.
In this episode, we sit down with Fiona Patten, former Victorian MP and current Senate candidate for the Legalise Cannabis Party, to discuss her run for the Senate in the lead up to this weekend's federal Australian election, the future of cannabis legalisation in Australia, and why legalising cannabis is not a "single issue".
Learn more about the Legalise Cannabis Party: legalisecannabis.org.au
Visit Fiona Patten's candidate profile at Fiona Patten – Legalise Cannabis Party
Sean Maloney is the sole Legal Counsel and Commercial Manager for MediCann Health - an Australian based medicinal cannabis company focussed on improving the quality of life of people in need through the use of affordable, reliable and science backed medicinal cannabis products.
With a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from The University of Western Australia, Sean has worked as a Senior Consultant & Solicitor at a Big 4 firm, along with holding senior advisory and compliance roles at the Australian Securities Exchange.
In this episode:Reflections on UIC (1:30)
Legal Cannabis: Exciting or Daunting? (2:40)
Pathway to Cannabis and MediCann (5:10)
The legal framework in Australia (10:15)
Is there a proclivity to break the law in cannabis work? (19:30)
What changes are coming? (23:00)
Staying in the loop (28:00)
Cannabis around the world (30:00)
Quiz: Lionel Hutz (35:00)
Cannabis and the ASX (40:45)
Crowdfunded Cannabis (47:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (53:30)
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Rhys Cohen is a self-confessed “drug nerd” who has held countless cannabis-related roles over the past decade as he has become a trusted voice within the industry. With a Masters in Research and Sociology, Rhys has been a cannabis consultant, editor, advisory board member and today is the Policy Officer at Penington Institute.
Penington Institute is an independent drug policy non-profit that is currently developing a comprehensive model for cannabis regulation which prioritises community health and safety. They champion an open, rational, and compassionate approach to building and sharing knowledge to reduce drug-related harm and are pushing for an effective regulatory framework for cannabis defined by public health goals, prioritising targeted prevention, education, and treatment.
In this episode:
Reflections on UIC (1:45)
Why Rhys pursued cannabis (5:00)
The state of Australian medicinal cannabis (9:20)
Protecting the medicinal market (15:30)
People are overwhelming still using illicit cannabis (17:15)
What is the Penington Institute (19:40)
The Annual Overdose Report (21:00)
Cannabis regulation in Victoria - Regulate it! (23:45)
Rhys’ Pieces Quiz (34:45)
Vape Battery Ban (40:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (42:20)
Visit www.penington.org.au
Take the Quiz at www.penington.org.au/regulate-it-cannabis-campaign/
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
James Yodgee is the General Manager of Partnerships at Biortica Agrimed, along with Matthew Turner who is the co-founder and Chief Global Officer of the organisation.
Biortica Agrimed operates one of Australia’s largest cultivation operations in Australia with greenhouses in Victoria and New South Wales along with a library of over 1,000 cultivars through Canadian-based Apollo Green.
In this episode:
Matthew’s pathway to cannabis/the start of Green Farmers (2:30)
James’ pathway to cannabis (11:00)
Matthew’s relationship with cannabis (14:00)
James’ relationship with cannabis (16:00)
Apollo Green Australia (21:00)
-pheno hunting
-breeder cuts
-global scaling
-LaValle University
-research and development
How do you decide what cultivars are worth your time? (32:00)
AI assistance (35:15)
Pioneering efforts in Canada (39:00)
Green Footy Quiz (45:00)
The state of Australia (51:30)
Cannabis around the world (58:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (61:45)
Follow @giveandtoke onInstagram
Kate Avruch is the founder of Operator Academy and is a seasoned expert in the cannabis industry having dedicated her career to scaling business operations in Massachusetts and beyond. With a unique blend of technical expertise in facility design, cannabis chemistry, and extraction methodologies, Kate brings a holistic understanding of the industry’s complexities.
In this episode:
Is The Town the best Boston movie? (1:00)
Pathway to cannabis (3:45)
Growing up with conservative views (19:00)
Relationship with cannabis (23:15)
Cannabis in Massachusetts (26:30)
Quick wins in Massachusetts (35:00)
Could Federal legalisation improve things in Massachusetts? (41:45)
Hotbox Quiz (46:30)
Operator Academy (48:30)
Pauls of Wisdom (70:00)
Follow Kate Avruch onLinkedIn
Follow @giveandtoke onInstagram
Sara Payan is a cannabis educator, public speaker, policy advocate, and the award-winning host of the Planted with Sara Payan podcast. She’s an expert in consumer trends, product development, and building relationships in the cannabis industry.
Sara has trained cannabis professionals, consulted for brands on product development and marketing, and worked with various committees, including the California Cannabis Advisory Committee and the San Francisco Cannabis Oversight Committee. She also co-chaired the San Francisco State Cannabis Legalization Task Force.
In this episode:
Personal Relationship with Cannabis (6:00)
Colon Cancer Treatment (9:00)
Does legalisation impact medical patients? (19:45)
Finding effective treatments (29:30)
Busting Myths: Terpenes (36:45)
Podcasting (38:00)
The politics in the cause (48:30)
Cat Talk (54:00)
Podcast Highlights (56:30)
Hot Box Quiz (65:15)
The State of the Nation: USA (67:00)
Connecting with others through consumption (71:30)
Budtender Problems (77:15)
Pauls of Wisdom (83:00)
Listen to Planted with Sara Payan
Follow @plantedwithsara on Instagram
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
In this episode of Give & Toke, we sit down with Victorian MP Rachel Payne, for an insightful conversation that marks two years since entering parliament along with 50 episodes of this show.
We discuss the transition from Dan Andrews to Jacinta Allan and what it means for cannabis reform (3:00). We talk about the recent win for Victorian patients who drive (5:45), before looking back at two years of navigating hemp reform, pill testing, relationships, compromise, and the importance of evolving and letting go (15:00).
We dive into the critical topic of housing affordability and the other challenges facing her electorate of over 600,000 South-East Melburnians (28:00). Rachel highlights the importance of giving a voice to underrepresented groups and how this informs her work in office (33:30).
The conversation also turns to the impact of social media and shadow bans on modern politics (37:55), before turning to Fiona Patten’s return to the scene (41:50). We play a quick quiz entitled Rachel Profiling (45:00) before diving into the big issues on the horizon for 2025, including personal use and workplace drug testing (50:00).
Rachel also touches on the role of medicinal cannabis companies and their social responsibilities (60:00), as well as how she maintains motivation in the face of political disappointment (66:00). Finally, we wrap up with some listener questions where we learn what type of cannabis product David Ettershank would be (71:00).
Visit www.rachelpayne.com.au
Follow Rachel on Instagram @rachelpayne_mp
Follow Rachel on Twitter @rachelpaynemp
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
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Email Us giveandtoke@gmail.com
Matthew Dent is the Director of Cultivation at Wangara Cultivation Co. With a boutique indoor grow operation in Queensland, their mission is to produce craft quality cannabis for Australia’s local market with a focus on terpenes and the wider entourage effect.
In this episode:
What is FIRE? (1:00)
Pathway to cannabis (2:20)
Relationship with cannabis (8:30)
Wangara Cultivation Co. (13:30)
Selecting genetics (18:00)
In defense of Indica and Sativa (20:30)
Challenges and successes (23:00)
UFO and Alien Quiz (27:15)
Declining stigma and progress (34:00)
Balancing culture and ‘the rules’ (38:00)
What’s next in Australia (45:30)
Pauls of Wisdom (48:00)
Connect with Matthew Dent on Linkedin
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Get $10 off accessories with the code ‘CATCHUP’ at giveandtoke.com.au
The Catch-Up is a collaboration between Give and Toke and AusCannaReviews. Paul and Christina come together monthly to explore what’s happening in Cannabis in Australia and around the world.
In this episode:
What’s Up? (0.40)
Victoria’s drug driving changes (3:45)
Medicinal cannabis sales booming (4:50)
Health bodies call for end to SAS-B (7:50)
Green’s Legalisation bill fails (12:20)
What can we expect from Trump? (15:40)
MP Craig Garland fails roadside test (19:20)
Highly Reflective (22:00)
Our lovely listeners
Driving laws
The Queensland LNP
Thailand
Fiona Patten
Dispensed
@AusCannaReviews on SubStack, Instagram and Twitter/X
Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Sacha La Forgia is the co-founder of Golden Days Cultivators, a South-Australian based indoor cultivator and supplier of medicinal cannabis born out of prior experience in South Australia’s world-renowned alcohol industry.
With a Bachelor in Viticulture from the University of Adelaide, Sacha founded and managed 78o Distillery in Adelaide Hills prior to Golden Days before inertia kicked in in 2022, and a change was needed. As global trends in alcohol consumption continue to decline and the health benefits of choosing cannabis over alcohol become more apparent, Sacha founded Golden Days with business partner Ewan Brewerton with the aim to make the world a better place.
In this episode:
Ditching booze for buds (1:40)
Our cultural relationship with alcohol (7:30)
Making smarter health choices (12:35)
Transferring skills to cannabis (17:20)
South Australia’s cannabis culture (21:00)
Booze History Quiz (24:00)
The state of Australian cannabis (28:00)
Personal relationship with cannabis (30:15)
Golden Days (32:30)
Growing indoors with renewable energy (38:00)
What’s next for Golden Days (41:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (48:45)
Connect with Sacha La Forgia on Linkedin
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Talmage Herbert began working for RUA Bioscience in 2021. With strong familial ties to RUA’s growing region, he first started as a cultivator and is now managing supply chains and partnerships.
RUA Bioscience supplies GMP-certified medicines to expanding markets including Europe and Australia backed by its centre of excellence where they incubate superior genetics including exclusive legacy genetics, sharing New Zealand’s rich culture with the world. The company's mission is based on their founding principes of integrity, innovation, health and collaboration. RUA is unique in prioritising community well-being with tertiary scholarships, community tours and compassionate access.
In this episode:
Pathway to cannabis (3:45)
New Zealand’s cannabis culture (11:40)
The failed referendum (18:45)
How do Kiwi’s access cannabis? (28:50)
Cannabis and politics (33:00)
The importance of people (35:00)
UFC Quiz (42:45)
What is RUA? (48:45)
Preserving legacy genetics (51:00)
Community enhancement (63:30)
What’s next for RUA? (67:00)
Pauls of Wisdom (68:30)
Visit www.ruabio.com
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Get $10 off accessories with the code ‘CATCHUP’ at giveandtoke.com.au
The Catch-Up is a collaboration between Give and Toke and AusCannaReviews. Paul and Christina come together monthly to explore what’s happening in Cannabis in Australia and around the world.
In this episode:
Kamala Harris and federal legalisation (1:55)
Cannabis users skipping work (5:00)
The Dispensed Dilemma (7:30)
Releaf in trouble? (19:30)
New compounding rules (23:00)
Roadside testing in South Australia (27:00)
Hot Tokes (33:00)
What’s Up (40:00)
@AusCannaReviews on SubStack, Instagram and Twitter/X
Email AusCannaReviews@gmail.com
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com
Michael Sassano is the CEO and Chairman of SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals, a leading European vertically integrated company with a global footprint of distribution. SOMAÍ is building a leading global brand with a robust pipeline of innovative cannabis-based therapeutics. They envision a world where people live a healthy lifestyle empowered by natural cannabis medicine.
SOMAÍ owns a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and indoor cultivation in Lisbon, Portugal, and has global sales teams in the largest medical cannabis markets.
In this episode:
Pathway to cannabis (2:00)
Relationship with cannabis (9:00)
Sharing the secret sauce (13:30)
What is SOMAÍ? (19:00)
Excitement in global markets (29:15)
Monaco Quiz (41:30)
Australians are the winners (45:45)
Pauls of Wisdom (54:45)
Visit www.somaipharma.com.au
Visit www.giveandtoke.com.au
Follow @giveandtoke on Instagram
Email giveandtoke@gmail.com