I recently had the honor of speaking with Kinessa Johnson. Kinessa is a United States Army Veteran and uses CBD for athletics and recovery. She’s also using her military skills to save wildlife from poachers in Africa. She grew up in Anacoco, Louisiana and joined the Army. “I loved serving, I loved the people that I met and the friendships that I made. I also loved that I got to deploy, and it humbled me and made me appreciate my family and the country I was born in.” After serving in the military, Kinessa had the opportunity to use her skill set and become an animal protector. “I had the... Read More

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 40 million adults—18% of the population—struggle with anxiety. Anxiety is normal; job interviews, public speaking and other everyday occurrences can cause anxiety.  It only becomes a problem when it extends beyond worry in an unreasonable, uncontrollable way. Anxiety can be a symptom of another mental illness, such as panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  Anxiety and anxiety disorders are the most common behavioral health issues in the U.S. There are some important health habits... Read More

Cannabis consumers are typically portrayed as lazy, and have had the couch locked stigma association in mainstream media over the years. With new research from the University of Colorado Boulder released, the topic about cannabis and fitness is going mainstream. The stigma about cannabis consumers being lazy is being shattered by science. Men’sHealth, Maxim, The Denver Channel, Medical Marijuana, Inc., MSN and The Denver Post are just a few of many discussing the recent research. The research surveyed 600 adult cannabis consumers from states where cannabis is legal for adult use. When asked if... Read More

Athletes all around the globe are stepping out of the ‘Green’ closet and sharing their use of cannabis as a natural alternative for chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, CTE, TBI, substance abuse, and opioid dependency. Athletes for CARE, or A4C, unites current and former athletes to create a voice to advocate for research, education, and compassion about important health issues. By using their platforms of influence, they are improving the global standards of health, safety, and quality of life. Here are a few women among the group who are sharing their stories and knowledge to change the... Read More

Earlier this week, I had the honor of presenting “Cannabinoids for Fitness” at the Cannabis Science Conference East in Baltimore, MD. The Cannabis Science Conference is the world’s largest and most technical cannabis science expo. It pulls together cannabis industry experts, instrument manufacturers, testing labs, research scientists, medical practitioners, policy makers, and interested novices with the goal of improving cannabis science. It was an incredible educational conference and I’m proud to share some of our presentation data with you today! Research is showing that cannabinoids... Read More

This year’s sixth annual NOCO Hemp Expo hit record numbers of attendees at its sold-out event in Denver, Colorado. Last weekend I was among over 10,000 people in attendance at the conference. Just like the hemp industry is growing rapidly, NOCO has grown into the world’s largest gathering of hemp industry professionals in the world—in only six years! The event has highlighted the many uses of hemp, from CBD products, to hemp building materials, to the agendas printed on hemp paper. The event provided education and workshops across the board. There was a special keynote address from Colorado’s... Read More

CVS recently announced it will start carrying hemp derived CBD products in 800 stores  throughout eight states across the country. This includes states like Colorado and California, but also more conservative states like Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. The company plans to carry a line of CBD topical products made by Curaleaf. Within less than a week of the news, Walgreens made a similar entrance into the CBD market when they announced they will carry CBD topicals in almost 1,500 stores in several states. So why should GNC be stocking their shelves with CBD like CVS and Walgreens? In an interview... Read More

Organ donation is the process of committing your organs to help another person live. After you die, your healthy organs and tissues are transplanted into another person. Experts say that the organs from one donor can save or help as many as 50 people. You can donate eyes, tissue, and organs including kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, and lungs. Right now, 113,653 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list, with a new name added every 10 minutes. The factors used in matching donors with recipients  include blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information,... Read More

The demand is growing rapidly for vegan products around the world. These products are in high demand among consumers because of their cruelty free ingredients, eco-friendly production methods, and overall health and wellness properties. With this growing demand, industries all over the world are adding vegan options, including cannabis companies. Their product lines are expanding, and vegan options are more available across the market. Below are some of my favorite vegan cannabis edibles found in Colorado. 1.Wana If you Wana Enhance Your Life, Wana has several options to choose from. They have... Read More

Today, about three million Americans are gluten free, 72 per cent of whom are classified as PWAGs: people without celiac disease avoiding gluten. Aside from celiac disease, there are other conditions impacted by gluten in the diet–rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and other autoimmune disorders. Gluten is a mixture of two different proteins present in cereal grains, especially wheat, rye, and barley. For those with sensitivities, gluten causes inflammation and damage in the intestinal tracts and other parts of the body. One in 133 people have celiac disease, an autoimmune disease... Read More

With cannabis legalization rapidly spreading across the world, the selection of products available are growing quickly. The numbers of consumers and products are growing, and deciding which products to consume with the desired effects and proper dosage can be overwhelming! Consumers now have a tool available to help clear the air of confusion. Cannabis can be complicated, but the Proper Cannabis Committee, a group of passionate experts, has been working to rate and review cannabis products for the past year! The Committee removes biases by testing product samples without any branding or packaging.... Read More

This week a 90s heartthrob died of a massive stroke. Luke Perry was a relatively young 52 when he suffered a massive stroke. While that seems quite young, ten percent of strokes happen in adults younger than 45.  The causes are many, but the prevalence of diabetes and obesity are largely to blame as well as smoking or, more rarely, an injury that damages a blood vessel in the brain. A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or bursts. When this happens, the impacted part of the brain starts to die, leading to common symptoms such as numbness or difficulty with speech.  A... Read More

This past Wednesday in Denver I had the opportunity to speak on an educational panel about cannabis. The event was hosted by GoFire, a digital healthcare company specializing in medication management of alternative and plant-based medicines.  This was their first monthly educational series event and the topic was “Finding Comfort in Cannabis: A Newcomer’s Guide to Getting Out of the Weeds and Into the Full Spectrum.” It was the perfect opportunity for the canna-curious individuals to hear from educated and experienced panelists within the community. The event was emceed by Wes Donahoe with... Read More

If you look closely at a Gatorade commercial featuring Serena Williams called “You Fuel Us, We’ll Fuel You,” you may have noticed she is wearing a small patch.  That patch is a biosensor being used as a health monitor—in this case, by assessing sweat. Biosensors are currently being tested in athletes, but have other applications in the world of health. The sensor itself is a soft, flexible patch that adheres to the skin and is placed directly on the forearm or back. It’s a little larger than a quarter and about the same thickness. Fluids can be collected non-invasively and many... Read More

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for your sweetheart, a Galentine’s Day celebration gift, or to simply pamper yourself, CBD gifts are an excellent way to show your special someone you care! Cannabis infused products are one of my favorite products to receive as gifts and are excellent for self-care!  Here are some of my sweetest picks for this year’s celebration of love! Clean Coconut has an awesome organically grown hemp infused skincare line featuring lotions, oils and scrubs infused with CBD and aromatic essential oils! Clean Coconut’s Deep... Read More

It’s February, the month we celebrate matters of the heart. Valentine’s Day aside, February is also American Heart Month and Go Red for Women Day, the American Heart Association’s initiative to increase women’s heart health awareness. What better time to talk about that thing that makes you tick? The Centers for Disease Control identifies cardiovascular disease as the number one killer of Americans. Most Americans know the most common indicators of heart trouble, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, weight, and diabetes. Instead of sharing traditional heart health tips,... Read More

Did you know that a green (unripe) banana confers its own unique health benefits? Green bananas are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and contain resistant starch which cannot be broken down by enzymes in your digestive system and, therefore, acts more like fiber. Including foods high in resistant starch in your diet may reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease by aiding in blood sugar control and lowering blood cholesterol levels. Bananas have higher levels of antioxidants as they ripen. Fully ripened bananas produce a substance called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). TNF regulates... Read More

Since cannabis is legal for recreational use in ten states and counting, one of the most common question that comes up is “Can I use cannabis before working out?” The answer is yes. More and more athletes are coming out of the green closet to discuss their cannabis use and how it affects their athletic performance.  Olympian and World Champion Joanna Zeiger, PhD is the founder and coach with Train Away Chronic Pain. She is a cannabis advocate and often discusses how cannabis has helped her manage chronic pain symptoms and provide a restful night’s sleep. Other athletes such as Anna Symonds... Read More

Already struggling with your New Year’s resolution?  Most will abandon their resolutions as early as February.  If you feel like you keep setting goals for yourself and then failing to achieve them, instead of doing the same thing (can you say the definition of insanity?), try something new! Micro resolutions are small goals that you can achieve in 30 days or less.  The goal of the micro resolution is that each goal snowballs into the next, creating a pattern for success.  If you don’t accomplish your goal, you start with a clean slate the next month.  Here are some tips for successfully... Read More

In just two weeks, the Indo Expo is coming back to Denver, Colorado. This premier cannabis trade show is focused on building business to business relationships and providing a professional platform for producers, processors, wholesalers and retailers. The show will feature product demonstrations, educational seminars, networking and more! The Indo Expo will also host a Hemp Pavilion featuring USA-made hemp products and services. This is an excellent way to support hemp businesses and entrepreneurs. In celebration of the first day of the Indo Expo, there will be a Hemp Awards Dinner, where the winners... Read More