247. AIDS & Cannabis: How AIDS Pioneers Sparked the Medical Cannabis Movement, Part 2

247. AIDS & Cannabis: How AIDS Pioneers Sparked the Medical Cannabis Movement, Part 2

Author: Ellen Scanlon June 25, 2024 Duration: 30:00
In the second episode of our Pride Series, we speak with Dr. Donald Abrams, a pioneering AIDS doctor and cannabis advocate who was on the front lines during the 1980s AIDS crisis. Dr. Abrams shares how the loss of his partner inspired his groundbreaking efforts to study the medical use of cannabis for AIDS patients. Learn about the community's response to the crisis in San Francisco, the birth of medical cannabis, and how these efforts sparked a national legalization movement. This episode delves into the resilience and unity of the LGBTQ+ community and explores the ongoing impact of cannabis in medical treatments. “As a young gay doctor, one of the hardest things for me was when a patient's parents came from the East coast and they learned for the first time that their son was gay, that their son had AIDS, and their son was dying. That was a very powerful experience as a young doctor, to have to transmit that information to parents who were really quite devastated by learning that news.” If you enjoyed this episode, we’d recommend Episode 246, AIDS & Cannabis: How Love and Perseverance Paved the Way for Legalization. Show Notes: Kiva Confections 20% off with code DOTHEPOT 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
293. AIDS, Cannabis & Courage: The Doctor On A Mission, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:36
Dr. Donald Abrams was a young gay doctor on the front lines of San Francisco’s AIDS crisis in the 1980s. He watched as his partner and many of his close friends died from a disease no one understood. Yet instead of givin…
291. The Untold Story That Made Legal Weed Possible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:47
Before any U.S. state legalized cannabis—before it was even officially called medicine—people in San Francisco were baking it into brownies and delivering it in secret to those dying of AIDS. This Pride Month, host Ellen…
289. The Summer Edit: My Favorite Cannabis Products Right Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:27
Memorial Day is almost here, and we’re ready for summer. Are you? In this episode, host Ellen Scanlon is joined by innovation expert Nicole Brown to dish on their favorite low-dose THC drinks, CBD + CBG gummies, and calm…
286. How the Endocannabinoid System Could Transform Women’s Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:28
The endocannabinoid system could be the next frontier in women’s health, and the future is closer than you think. In this episode, I talk with Caitlyn Krebs, CEO and co-founder of Nalu Bio, a biotech company using cuttin…
285. From Pain to Progress: Ellen’s Endometriosis Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:21
One in ten women have endometriosis, yet most aren’t diagnosed until they’re struggling to get pregnant or can no longer live with the pain. In this episode, Ellen Scanlon shares her personal story of navigating pain, in…
284. Beyond the Stereotypes: How Women Are Changing the Meaning of 420 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:51
420 isn’t just a party, it’s a chance to reflect, connect, and celebrate cannabis legalization and its evolution in our culture. In this episode, Ellen Scanlon talks with women who share what 420 means to them today. Whe…