Fashion meets function — and cannabis meets creativity — in this special behind-the-scenes episode of Conversations With Kush. Your host Molly “The Kush RN” sits down with the designers, models, and visionaries behind the 2024 Smoking on the Runway fashion show (May 22nd @ Hook & Ladder in Minneapolis).

Whether you're into streetwear, sustainability, up-cycled fashion, or high-minded design, this episode introduces you to the edgy, soulful, and deeply personal work of local creators who are weaving together style, identity, and plant medicine.

🎟️Get the inside scoop on what to expect at the event, how cannabis helps fuel creativity, and why this is more than a fashion show — it’s a cultural movement.

What You’ll Learn:

🧵 The mission behind Smoking on the Runway and how fashion & cannabis intersect

🛍️ How local brands like Provider and Camp Buzzkill are reimagining streetwear & DIY fashion

🧠 Why cannabis is a tool for creativity, healing, and personal expression

📸 How designers and models are using the runway to break stigma and spark conversation

🔥 Tips for upcoming entrepreneurs and artists looking to make their mark in fashion or cannabis

🫶 Why building inclusive, accessible community spaces through fashion matters

Find the Right Strain: Episode Chapters

00:19 – Kirby Baller of Provider | Streetwear with Purpose & Community

06:00 – Kirby’s Nonprofit: Next Gen Legacy & Youth Entrepreneurship

08:00 – Basketball, First Responders & Changing Perspectives

08:22 – Meet Camp Buzzkill with Roxy Vale | Alt Fashion with Attitude

09:40 – Punk, Goth & Maximalist Upcycled Fashion in the Buzzverse

11:50 – Y2K, Color, and Reclaiming Whimsy in a Beige World

13:00 – Jewelry, Chains, Safety Pins & Handcrafted Accessories

16:00 – Debut Fashion Show & First DIY Event: Bust Out, June 21st

18:45 – Creating Black Representation in Alternative Fashion

20:00 – Repurposing Clothes, Custom Orders & Building the Buzzverse

21:42 – Meet the Models | Confidence, Cannabis & Catwalks with Joe & My

23:00 – From Coaching to Consulting: My Biz Inc. Empowers Models

25:00 – Streetwear That Serves the Body — Not Just the Brand

26:00 – Personal Cannabis Journeys & How It Supports Health & Focus

28:00 – Topicals, Tinctures & Non-Smoky Ways to Use Cannabis Medicinally

29:00 – Joe’s Brand: Outkast – “We Don’t Fit In”

30:34 – History of the Show & What to Expect This Year

31:54 – Infusing Cannabis & Fashion Culture with Purpose

33:03 – Creating Space for Creatives to Collaborate & Express

34:18 – Educational & Sustainability Focus: More Than Just a Party

35:11 – Want to Sponsor or Volunteer? Here’s How to Get Involved

36:46 – Ticket Info: $100 VIP, $40 GA, $20 Standing Room

37:25 – Final Thoughts & Hype for Hook and Ladder on May 22nd

What do maple syrup, riverbank weed, neuroscience, and the future of cannabis policy all have in common? Dr. Clemon “Doc Dabs” Dabney III. 🌿

In this soul-sparking episode of Conversations With Kush, we sit down with a real-life cannabis molecular geneticist who’s not just talking the talk—he’s growing the genes, fighting the policy fights, and crafting terpene-forward edibles that are changing the game in Minnesota and beyond.

Host Molly dives into everything from Doc Dabs' dabbling days as a communion class rebel to the molecular science behind your favorite strains. We’re talking plant breeding, terpenes, THC glitter, and yes—why most “indica vs. sativa” talk is scientifically ✨sus✨.

Whether you're a curious patient, an aspiring grower, or a policy buff looking to make an impact—this episode’s for you. Let’s get high on knowledge, y’all.

🔬 What You’ll Learn:

• What it actually means to study cannabis genetics
• Tips for first-time homegrowers (get that jeweler's loupe!)
• How to develop your cannabis palate like a pro
• Why THC alone isn’t the full picture of your high
• How equity and legacy can (and must) coexist in cannabis policy
• What’s holding back the hemp industry—and how to fix it
• What “Doc Dabs” would do as head of the OCM (spoiler: it's good)
• Why the future of cannabis is personal, precise, and deeply innovative

👩🏽‍⚕️ Hosted by a nurse who vibes with late-night talks, plant-based empowerment, and smart cannabis conversations.

Find the Right Strain: Episode Chapters

02:30 – Grandma’s Garden to Genetic Mapping
How Doc’s love for plants (and people) took root—and what neuroscience had to do with it.

06:00 – Cannabis at College & Finding a Mentor
Sneaking cannabis into the University of Minnesota research space? You bet. And the spark that launched a genome project.

08:30 – Hemp for Plastic? The Eco-Innovation You Didn’t Know You Needed
How hemp could make your garbage bags greener—and why it’s not happening yet.

10:00 – From Gummy Empires to Maple Syrup Dreams
The surprising (and delicious) road to Doc Dabs’ product innovation process.

14:00 – Suppositories, THC Glitter & the R&D Mindset
What it takes to bring an idea to shelf—plus Doc’s wildest white label requests.

17:00 – Orange Terpenes, Chemo Bars, and the Perfect High
A masterclass in how cannabis works with your brain—not just your body.

21:00 – The Power of Homegrow & Community Genetics
Why home cultivation is changing lives—and saving legacy strains.

25:00 – Harvest Tips from a Pro
What your stigmas and trichomes are trying to tell you (plus, the $5 tool every grower should own).

28:00 – The State of the Industry & The Rules We Need
Minnesota’s cannabis law: what’s working, what’s broken, and what to watch for.

32:00 – Policy, Advocacy & Losing the OCM Role
Why Doc didn’t get the job—and how he’s still holding the industry accountable.

36:00 – Social Equity, Indigenous Justice & the Hard Conversations
Real talk on balancing opportunity with reparative justice in cannabis spaces.

40:00 – The Research That Will Change the Game
From Sweet Tangos to THC-for-inflammation: what’s coming next in strain science.

44:00 – Sativa, Indica, and Why It’s All Nonsense
The myth that’s holding cannabis education back—and what to say instead.

49:00 – Breeding Better Products for Real People
Can cannabis become as tailored as a prescription? Doc Dabs says yes.

52:00 – Sustainable Cannabis: Pipe Dream or Next Frontier?
Why we must innovate smarter—not just sexier—ways to grow.

55:00 – Market Woes, Rollout Chaos & What’s Next for MN
What to expect when rec launches—and how to survive the shortfall.

1:00:00 – Concierge Cannabis & Breaking Down Barriers
Dispensaries need to be welcoming spaces. Here’s how to do it right.

1:03:00 – 420: Protest, Celebration, and the Waldo Legacy
The surprisingly radical history of our favorite holiday.

In this empowering episode of Conversations with Kush, Molly “The Kush RN” sits down with the founders of Higher States Marketing, Bree McGee and Sara Gawinski, to talk about what it really takes to market cannabis in a world where plant medicine is powerful—but platforms are petty.

From SEO secrets to social media bans, product photography to patient education, these two women are helping brands create intuitive, authentic cannabis content that connects. Whether you're building a dispensary, a legacy brand, or just trying to figure out what the hell "owned platform" means — Bree and Sarah break it down with clarity, honesty, and zero filter.

This episode is packed with laughs, wisdom, and the occasional “pussy power” rally cry. 💚💻🌱

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
📈 Why SEO and website content matter more than Instagram in cannabis marketing
📷 The importance of real imagery, showing scale, and telling the story through photos
💬 How to speak to different cannabis consumers—especially women and first-timers
🧠 How education can build brand trust and consumer loyalty
🚫 Why relying on social media can be risky (and what to do instead)
👯‍♀️ The power of women-led collaboration in cannabis business & branding

Find the Right Strain: Episode Chapters

1:00 – Meet Bree & Sarah: How Higher States Marketing Was Born
5:00 – Trauma Bonding in Business & Pandemic Partnership Energy
10:00 – Coming Out of the Cannabis Closet | Family, Fear & F*ck It
15:00 – Who They Serve: Cannabis Brands that Center Women & Wellness
20:00 – Real Photos, Real People | Trust Through Product Imagery
27:00 – Education-First Strategy & Why That Wins
33:00 – SEO Breakdown | What is It & Why You NEED It
39:00 – Blogs, Keywords & The Long Game of Visibility
45:00 – Do’s and Don’ts for DIY Cannabis Product Photos
51:00 – Social Media Strategy & Why It's NOT Your Primary Platform
55:00 – Cannabis for Anxiety, Menopause, Pets & Everything In Between
1:02:00 – From Vertigo to Vapes | Their Personal Cannabis Stories
1:12:00 – Advice for New Brands in an Uncertain Market
1:20:00 – Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Higher States Marketing
1:25:00 – Sign Off & Where to Find Everyone

Where should cannabis brands invest FIRST—websites, social, or community events?
Like, comment, and subscribe if you believe women are shaping the future of weed (because we are). Share your favorite cannabis brand in the comments below!
Tag your favorite women-led cannabis company & we’ll shout them out in a future episode!
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