246. AIDS & Cannabis: How Love and Perseverance Paved the Way for Legalization

246. AIDS & Cannabis: How Love and Perseverance Paved the Way for Legalization

Author: Ellen Scanlon June 18, 2024 Duration: 38:28
In this powerful kickoff to our Pride series, join us as we honor the resilience and love of San Francisco’s gay community during the 1980s AIDS crisis. Meet Meridy Volz, the woman behind Sticky Fingers Brownies, and her daughter Alia Volz, who witnessed the transformative power of compassion and community from a young age. Discover how delivering cannabis brownies to AIDS patients provided relief and hope, and learn about the pivotal role this played in sparking a national legalization movement for medical cannabis. Celebrate Pride with us and hear these remarkable stories of courage, advocacy, and the enduring fight for compassionate use legislation that led California to become the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996. “I’d be on the playground and people would be using homophobic epithets and associating queerness with weakness. And so I was like, oh no, that's strength, that's real power. Real strength is to be who you are, whether or not it's acceptable to other people, that's balls. It really did shape how I understand strength and how I see the world, in very fundamental ways and I feel fortunate to have grown up in the community that I did, even in dark times.” - Alia Volz If you enjoyed this episode, we’d recommend Episode 245 Marijuana Minister: Celebrating Pride With Stereotypes Podcast. SHOW NOTES: Kiva Confections 20% off with code DOTHEPOT Home Baked: My Mom, Marijuana and the Stoning of San Francisco Hosted by Ellen Lee Scanlon Sign up for our newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dothepot.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pinterest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Do the Pot⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dothepot⁠⁠⁠

Ellen Scanlon’s How to Do the Pot is an award-winning conversation that demystifies cannabis with a focus on women’s experiences. This isn’t a technical manual or a dry lecture; it’s a space where curiosity meets practical, joyful advice. The podcast explores how cannabis can intersect with health, well-being, and daily life, tackling questions that often go unasked. You’ll hear specific discussions about finding the right strain for relaxation or intimacy, using CBD for menstrual discomfort, and the nuanced differences between varieties like Harlequin and Gelato. There’s a deliberate and thoughtful choice in language here, too, favoring the term “cannabis” over other outdated labels. At its heart, the series amplifies personal stories and expert insights, creating a resource that feels both informative and deeply relatable. Whether you’re seeking relief, exploring for fun, or just want to understand the landscape better, this podcast provides a welcoming and smart guide through the often overwhelming world of cannabis, all from a perspective that is genuinely for women and by women.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How to Do the Pot
Podcast Episodes
254. How to Talk to Friends Who Are Nervous to Try Weed, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
In this episode, we kick off a two-part series on how to approach conversations with friends who are hesitant to try weed. Learn from experts about easing concerns around health, safety, and the fear of getting too high.…
252. Rethinking Painkillers: Cannabis For Exercise Recovery, Part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
In the third and final episode of our Weed & Workouts series, we delve into the powerful role cannabis can play as a safer alternative to opioids for pain management. We chat with Anna Symonds, a former elite rugby playe…
250. Runner’s High is Real: Weed & Workouts, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:15
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, we’re excited to kick off a new 3-part series about the intersection of cannabis and fitness. In this episode, we’ll chat with Hilary Achauer, a California-based journalist who ins…
249. Comedy + Cannabis: Perfect Pairings for a Good Laugh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:12
Today’s show is all about putting a smile on your face! We’re pairing the popular cannabis strains Jack Herer and Strawberry Cough with some of the best comedy podcasts to bring you some much-deserved laughter and relaxa…
245. Marijuana Minister: Celebrating Pride With Stereotypes Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:35
This month, we are celebrating Pride with a brand new series! We’ll explore how the 1980s AIDS crisis in San Francisco led to the birth of medical cannabis and sparked a national legalization movement. Before our series…
244. Parenting and Cannabis: How to Talk to Your Kids About Weed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:35
If you were to guess where teen cannabis consumption was higher, would you assume states where weed is legal or illegal? The answer might surprise you! In today's episode, we tackle the tricky topic of talking to kids ab…