Show notes
Cannabis products are not "one size fits all." If you are interested in using cannabis or hemp related products or started using them but are not satisfied with the results, you came to the right podcast episode. By now, you probably know that the hemp industry exploded across North America. Today, there is a good chance you live near a marijuana dispensary. You might already be using CBD products or THC products, or both. But the question is - are you getting the right cannabis in the proper form that works well with your DNA? As medical science learns more about cannabis and continues to make discoveries on the endocannabinoid system in the human body - the industry is adjusting, growing, and getting better at addressing specific needs. Consumers are starting to find cannabis product options that are more personalized and micro-focused on particular needs for individuals. How this works is all tied to your DNA. The Awesome Health Podcast has the perfect guest to break this topic down: Len May - gifted at explaining the complexities of cannabis in concise, understandable ways. Len is a pioneer of the medical cannabis industry, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the hemp industry. He is also an expert in genomics. As the CEO and Co-Founder of EndoCanna Health, Len is a mover and shaker in the industry. He has held past positions as President of the Cannabis Action Network and Board Member and Lifetime Member of the California Cannabis Association. May is the current chair of the CBDIA science board and is a stakeholder in some of the industry's most iconic brands. In this episode, he shares his expertise on the Endocannabinoid System and how genetic expression plays a role in human experiences. As a Certified Medical Cannabis Specialist in Medicinal Genomics, May has an in-depth knowledge of genomics, cannabinoids and terpenes, and their interaction with the endocannabinoid system. As well, he holds a Masters of Medical Cannabis and a certificate in Endocannabinoid Formulation from the Institute for the Advancement of Integrative Medicine. Len is also a published author (Making Cannabis Personal) and the host of the popular podcast "Everything is Personal." In this podcast, we cover: Len's impressively compressed story of his rise to the top of the cannabis industry Len May's past run-ins with law enforcement as the industry changed A simple explanation of the endocannabinoid system in your body How to determine which cannabinoids are the right fit for your system The differences between CBD and THC How cannabinoids help the top bodybuilders in recovery How you can use your DNA profile (like 23&Me) to fit you with the perfect cannabis formula How other medications can affect your cannabis experience What are terpenes? Why THC makes Wade ravenous How the hemp industry "clones" plants for better quality What the future of the cannabis industry could look like How Len discovered cannabis helps his ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) When Len looks back on his childhood, he describes himself as a kid who would quickly drift off into daydreams while in class, occurring often enough that Len took many different types of prescription medications. Len wasn't happy with any of them - they either didn't work or if they did help, the side effects made him feel like crap. Until one day - Len was hanging out with some older kids, and one said, "Do you want to smoke a cigarette?" Len was excited as he felt like one of the cool kids. He took a drag from the cigarette, coughed, and he instantly knew that this was not the taste of a regular cigarette. He found out it was a rolled joint full of marijuana. What changed Len's life was when he went back to class after smoking the marijuana, he noticed how he was able to focus much better on the schoolwork in front of him. That is how cannabis became Len May's passion and go-to medicine. He got off all other meds and went to using cannabis only. Eventually, through struggles with his parents and later, his entrepreneurial efforts led Len to becoming a cannabis activist and business owner. Hemp is a beautifully complex plant that still has a lot of uses to be discovered. Len says the hemp plant is "very complex" and has "somewhere around 500 different components identified. But we don't know what a lot of them are. We have identified somewhere around 114 different components with actual names, and we understand the effects." In the hemp plant are the cannabinoids themselves: CBD, THC, THCV, CBDV, CBG, CBN, and other components like terpenes. The plant itself has its genetics, which are cannabinoids expressed in the flowers' trichomes. The flower grows to a particular maturity and then begins expressing these cannabinoids. In the plant, they work synergistically together to create an effect. All of these start at the primary cannabinoid, the grandfather cannabinoid or mother cannabinoid, a CBG. Every single cannabinoid has an acid molecule. Len and Wade get into the science behind cannabis and how it works in the human body. Science geeks will love this episode. Tune in and hear how a simple DNA test could be the breakthrough you need to find the right match between your body and cannabis products. Len May's company - EndoCanna Health - can do the DNA test. Or, you can take your 23&Me DNA profile (or whatever company profile you used) and submit it for instant feedback. Pretty incredible service. Check out this episode and discover what cannabis can do for your physical and mental health! Episode Resources: APH Listeners get $20 off total order with code: awesome20 on Endo-dna testBook: Making Cannabis Personal: Take the Guesswork Out of Your Cannabis & CBD Experience By Tailoring It to Your DNA Endo.DNA on Instagram Len May DNA on Instagram Endocanna Health on Facebook Endo-DNA on Medium Len May on Twitter