292. Sticky Fingers Brownies: Women, Weed, and the Birth of Medical Cannabis, part 1

292. Sticky Fingers Brownies: Women, Weed, and the Birth of Medical Cannabis, part 1

Author: Ellen Scanlon June 10, 2025 Duration: 34:51
Before weed was legal in any U.S. state, it was medicine passed hand-to-hand—often in the form of a brownie. In part one of our Webby-nominated series Before Legal Weed, host Ellen Scanlon brings you the untold story of how San Francisco’s gay community turned to cannabis during the darkest days of the AIDS crisis—and how a woman-run cannabis operation called Sticky Fingers Brownies quietly became a lifeline. You’ll meet Meridy Volz, a mother delivering pot brownies on roller skates through the Castro in the 1980s, and her daughter, author Alia Volz, who grew up watching a revolution unfold from the back of a stroller. Through powerful personal stories and rarely heard history, you’ll learn: How a women-run cannabis business became a lifeline for the gay community What it was like to grow up in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS epidemic Why this story still matters in today’s conversations around cannabis as medicine

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 There’s a deliberate and thoughtful choice in language here, too, favoring the term “cannabis” over other outdated labels.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
303. Edge-of-Your-Seat Movie Nights: Scary, Horror & Action Picks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:48
What makes the ultimate scary or action-packed movie night? In Part 3 of How to Do the Pot’s Summer Movie Nights series, host Ellen Scanlon is joined by Sophia Wronsky, writer of the popular Substack Sophia is Voracious,…
301. Laughs, Friends, & Movie Nights: The Perfect Summer Combo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:04
What makes the perfect summer movie night? In part 1 of How to Do the Pot's Summer Movie Nights series, host Ellen Scanlon sits down with Sophia Wronsky, writer of the popular Substack Sophia is Voracious and an enthusia…
297. How to Host with Weed: Summer Parties with Jamie Evans, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:24
Curious about how cannabis drinks are reshaping the way women host parties? In part 1 of host Ellen Scanlon’s conversation with Jamie Evans—founder of The Herb Somm and a certified sommelier—we explore why low-dose THC b…
295. Fireworks, Friends & a Little Gelato: A Feel-Good Summer Favorite [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:06
Looking for the perfect cannabis strain to sweeten your summer? We’ve added Gelato to our Essential Strains series—a curated list designed to help women skip the overwhelm and discover strains you’ll really love. Host El…
294. Why Women Still Don’t Know They’re at Risk for HIV, part 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
In the final episode of our Webby-nominated series Before Legal Weed: The Untold Story of AIDS & Cannabis, host Ellen Scanlon explores why so many women—especially Black women—are still left out of conversations about HI…