logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2021
34m 16s

Plants of the Gods: S2E1. Marijuana: Why...

Mark Plotkin, Ph.D.
About this episode

Marijuana – What do the ancient Chinese, George Bush and The Beatles have in common? Knowingly or not, all benefited from one of the most well-known plants of the gods: marijuana. Between the highly practical uses of hemp fiber and its popular mind-altering properties, marijuana has been part of the human experience for thousands of years. Even so, marijuana remains a contentious topic in the United States in the 21st century. This episode explores the past and present of marijuana’s impact on shaping human history.

Up next
Jul 2
Plants of the Gods: S7E3. Part Two —The Ethnobotany of Salvia with Dr. Chris McCurdy
A mind-blowing mint? Salvia divinorum, a perennial herb in the mint family, has been used by traditional healers in Oaxaca, Mexico, to understand more about what ails a patient. Known for its potent psychoactive effects, Salvia can induce dysphoria and dissociation. But new scien ... Show More
15m 53s
Jun 18
Plants of the Gods: S7E2. The Ethnobotany of Kratom with Dr. Chris McCurdy
The tropical Asian tree kratom – a member of the same botanical family that has given us both coffee and quinine – is showing great potential for successfully treating a variety of serious afflictions, from stress to opioid withdrawal. Ironically – depending on dosage – it can ac ... Show More
34m 2s
Jun 4
Plants of the Gods: S7E1. Lost Cities, Shamans, Hallucinogens and… King Kong!
The lure of lost cities is a deep and enduring fascination that combines equal parts mystery, adventure, treasure, and the promise of forgotten knowledge. The existence and discovery of these ruins – whether it was King Tut's tomb or Machu Picchu – demonstrates the brilliance of ... Show More
24m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
The Stoned Age
In honor of 4/20, the girlies walk you through the hazy history of a most special substance: marijuana. In the first of two episodes, they discuss how weed has been used throughout history to treat medical maladies and help people connect with the spiritual realm. Plus, how the M ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2024
262: The Science of Weed (with @NOAHFINNCE) | ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
The 5th anniversary of Sci Guys means it’s high time we spoke about marijuana. Literally… It’s high time. Check out Noah’s music: https://tr.ee/f9DikNPhdQ Massive thanks to Evan for vision mixing and keeping us relatively sane: https://youtube.com/evan You can WATCH the podcast o ... Show More
1h 34m
Jan 2023
329. Marihuana, cannabis: mitos y verdades | Mafer Arboleda
¿Con qué ideas creciste y qué sabes de la marihuana, formalmente conocida como Cannabis? ¿Por qué se le ha puesto tanto interés a su legalización en los últimos años? ¿Es seguro el consumo del cannabis? ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre un consumo medicinal y un consumo recreativo? ¿Q ... Show More
56m 29s
Jan 2021
Is marijuana bad for your brain? | Anees Bahji
In 1970, marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 drug in the United States: the strictest designation possible, meaning it was completely illegal and had no recognized medical uses. Today, marijuana's therapeutic benefits are widely acknowledged, but a growing recognition for it ... Show More
6m 45s
Aug 2023
Is Cannabis a Safe Drug?
Over the last decade, cannabis use has been legalized in more states. At the same time, the idea that marijuana is a safe drug has steadily increased.But is this an accurate perception?Recent research by my guest, Dr. Ryan Sultan, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia Un ... Show More
46m 37s
Apr 2022
40: Puff, Puff, Pass: Dark History of Cannabis
Weed is a gateway drug. How many of us were warned about this in middle school health class? Well did you know it’s not true?  And has been disproven multiple times? I mean if you think about it, how much do we really know about cannabis.  Today we’re going to fix that.  We are g ... Show More
50m 51s
Oct 2022
The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body
In this episode, I discuss cannabis (aka marijuana), including the biological mechanisms underlying its effects on the mind and body, its known medical applications, its impact on libido, creativity, hunger, hormones and more. I also cover the known adverse health consequences of ... Show More
2h 38m
Sep 2020
Let's Talk Cannabis: The Stigma and the Facts
Today we’re brewing up a conversation that is definitely more controversial than most: cannabis. It has always perplexed me that having the occasional glass of wine would usually go unnoticed and unbothered, but opening up about the occasional use of cannabis comes with so much j ... Show More
42m 28s
May 2022
The chemistry of cannabis
The Israel scientist Raphael Mechoulam has been researching what’s thought to be the world’s most popular drug since the 1960s. In 1964, he isolated Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC – the compound that gets cannabis-users high. Later, professor Mechoulam discovered another compound c ... Show More
8m 58s