Give and Toke: Cannabis Conversations

In 1936, cannabis was portrayed as a menace to society. By 1993, it was simply part of the furniture.Episode Two of Helping or Hurting? revisits Dazed and Confused, Richard Linklater’s cult classic set on the last day of school in 1976. Far removed from the hysteria of Reefer Madness, this film presents cannabis not as a threat, but as a quiet and unremarkable presence in the lives of American teenagers. But was this shift a step forward?Hosted by Paul O’Donoghue of Give & Toke, alongside Joel and Bash of Exotican, this episode explores whether Dazed and Confused helped normalise cannabis through relatability, or reinforced stereotypes that continue to shape public perception today.Part cultural time capsule, part social commentary, this conversation examines the intersection of cinema, stigma, and progress.This four-part series from Give & Toke and Exotican examines how cannabis has been portrayed on screen, and whether those portrayals have helped or hindered reform.Give & Toke: https://giveandtoke.comExotican: https://exotican.com.au

In 1936, a low-budget propaganda film set out to warn the public about the dangers of cannabis. Instead, it became one of the most infamous examples of moral panic ever committed to screen.In this episode, Paul O’Donoghue of Give & Toke is joined by Joel and Bash of Exotican to revisit Reefer Madness, the film that tried to terrify audiences with tales of insanity, violence, and social decay. What was intended as a cautionary tale has since evolved into a cult classic and a cultural case study in misinformation.Together, they unpack the historical context behind the film, the forces that shaped early cannabis prohibition, and the unintended consequences of exaggerated drug messaging. More than just cinema, Reefer Madness reveals how fear-based narratives can influence public perception, policy, and stigma for generations.Was it effective public education or one of the greatest propaganda misfires in modern history?🔗 Give & Toke: https://giveandtoke.com.au🔗 Exotican: https://exotican.com.auHelping or Hurting? is a limited series from Give & Toke and Exotican examining how cannabis has been portrayed on screen, and whether those portrayals have shaped perception for better or worse.

Pharmacists don’t usually sit at the centre of conversations about plant medicine, but maybe they should.Jen and Nick Ravenswood are a husband-and-wife team with deep roots in community pharmacy, and the founders of Rays Wellness, a medicinal cannabis dispensary built on patient care, education, and professional standards.Their journey into cannabis didn’t start with hype. It started with a prescription and a system that didn’t work the way it should. What followed was a hands-on effort to improve access, raise the bar on patient care, and bring a pharmacist-led perspective into a space that often moves faster than its foundations.With experience across prescribing, education, clinic support, and regulatory navigation, Jen and Nick offer a grounded view of where medicinal cannabis sits today and where it’s heading.This is a conversation about partnership, progress, and what happens when healthcare professionals step forward to shape the future, rather than wait for it.Visit www.rayswellness.com.auVisit www.giveandtoke.com.auFollow @giveandtoke on InstagramEmail [email protected]

Tanner Stewart is focused on one of the most challenging and consequential areas in health: how we understand and manage pain. Through Stewart Farms, he’s working to develop plant-powered alternatives that sit alongside conventional approaches, offering people more options in a space long dominated by pharmaceuticals.At the centre of that work is Arctic Heat, a topical wellness line designed with restraint, intention, and respect for both science and lived experience. Rather than chasing hype, Tanner speaks candidly about responsibility in wellness, the limits of what products can promise, and the importance of trust when people are seeking relief.In this episode:Thousands of Canadians supported each month (0:30)Prioritising integrity (4:20)Maintaining medicinal integrity (7:40)Cannabis, pain, PTSD and veterans (13:45)The safety profile of cannabis and opioid addiction (18:30)Taking on big pharma (24:15)Topicals 101 (31:40)Stewart Farms: From startup to scale (36:00)Hotbox Quiz (44:00)Pauls of Wisdom (49:00)Follow @tannerstewart.life on InstagramVisit www.giveandtoke.com.auFollow @giveandtoke on InstagramEmail [email protected]

Get $10 off accessories with the code ‘CATCHUP’ at giveandtoke.com.auThe Catch-Up is a collaboration between Give and Toke and AusCannaReviews with Paul and Christina coming together occasionally to explore what’s happening in Cannabis in Australia and around the world. In this episode:Unmissable talks: Gabriel Younes on aroma, and Chad Walkaden on Indigenous healthcare (2:30)The TGA Presentation: cautious optimism and takeaways (7:00)Community leading the way (12:00)Good vibes prevailing in a volatile time (14:30)Key takeaways - memories, challenged perspectives, finding common ground, breaking stigma (17:00)Improving UIC for patients (22:00)UIC is Cannabis School Camp (26:00)@AusCannaReviews on SubStack, Instagram and Twitter/XEmail [email protected] www.giveandtoke.com.auFollow @giveandtoke on InstagramEmail [email protected]