Nature’s Heritage Expands in Illinois: Cannabis Legacy, Edibles & Functional Mushrooms with Ryan Crandall
Cannabis Man
In this episode of Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin sits down with Ryan Crandall of to discuss the brand’s launch into Illinois and the warm reception it’s received from patients and consumers. Ryan reflects on honoring the legacy of cannabis before legalization, gives credit to those who paved the way, and shares insights into building a trusted brand in a competitive market. For the first time publicly, Ryan announces that Nature’s Heritage is entering the edibles space with an innovative capsule blending cannabis and functional mushrooms—a product designed to expand benefits and...
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Back on the Mic: Cannabis Education, Parenting, and Life Updates with Elevate Holistics’ Aspen Noonan
Cannabis Man
After a two-month hiatus, The Cannabis Man Podcast returns with personal updates and fresh insights from the Illinois cannabis scene. Host Don Kleppin shares what’s been happening off the mic—moving across Chicago for more family space, starting a new job, and settling into a new schedule. Don covers , highlights standout products and dispensaries, and then sits down with Aspen Noonan, CEO of . Together, they discuss why cannabis education is essential, the life-changing benefits of becoming a certified medical cannabis patient, Aspen’s rapid rise to CEO, and the shared experiences of...
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High Minded Pairings & Hockey Legends: 2 Years, 1 Love, and a Gusher of a Preroll
Cannabis Man
This week on Cannabis Man, Don celebrates two years of wedded bliss and a recent cannabis event with a packed episode full of flavor, facts, and fire strains. He dives into High Minded Food Pairings, spotlighting unusual but delicious snack combos and pondering why Cheez-Its are so damn addictive. Have a favorite munchie snack or pairing of your own? Call or text 872-269-2403. Don also reviews a and shares some eye-opening cannabis news, including a : cannabis users are nearly 5x more likely to exercise regularly than eat fast food. Then it’s off to Arkansas, where the while the governor...
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The Great Cannabis State of Illinois: Tony Schor on Legacy, M&A, and the Cannabis Hall of Fame
Cannabis Man
This week on Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin highlights the bustling Chicago cannabis scene with upcoming brunch events, the , and the Chi High Afters party. He also reviews a new-to-Illinois brand, Nature’s Heritage, and its flavorful hybrid flower strain, . In the news: and forms a bipartisan planning committee Don also sits down with , Chairman of the , for a wide-ranging conversation. They talk about Tony’s start in Chicago PR, the normalization of cannabis in professional life, insights into cannabis mergers & acquisitions, and why patience is essential as the...
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Cannabis on Trial: Weddings, Weed, and Supreme Court Showdowns with Pat Helmers
Cannabis Man
In this episode of Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin shares some personal joy, giving a heartfelt shout-out to his cousin’s wedding and a birthday salute to his twin sisters. Then, it's a deep dive into the latest cannabis news: that could bring the federal cannabis ban before the U.S. Supreme Court, a that could re-criminalize certain cannabis transactions, and an intriguing proposal to use cannabis tax revenue to for Americans. Don also reviews three unique gummies from , including a high-CBD Strawberry, a balanced Sour Apple (5mg CBD/THC), and a THC-free Citrus flavor featuring 50mg of...
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Howdy, Tyson 2.0, and a Global Green Wave with Adam Wilks and Ryan Burke
Cannabis Man
In this episode of Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin shares personal updates from Chicagoland as he prepares for a big family move and reflects on birthday wishes from listeners. He also shares his excitement for Season 4 of The Bear, especially after working on set as a background actor during filming earlier this year. Don reviews a lineup of cannabis beverages from , including their lemonade, Paloma, Ranch Water, Sweet Tea, and the bold cinnamon-spiced Howdy Hooch. Then, he welcomes Adam Wilks and Ryan Burke, CEO and COO of , to talk about their company’s international expansion—starting...
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From Europe with Bud: Michael Sassano on the Future of Medical Cannabis
Cannabis Man
In this summer-kickoff episode of Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin celebrates Memorial Day weekend, his birthday, and the third anniversary of the podcast. He shares favorite warm-weather traditions, plans for the weekend, and reviews a new from WYNK along with a CBD patch from . This week’s guest is Michael Sassano, CEO of , who breaks down the global growth of medical cannabis and the challenges of regulation across continents. From Germany and Thailand to Spain and France, Sassano details the rise of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis and predicts a sweeping medical adoption over the next five...
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Brain, Body, and Bud: Ian McGann's Journey Back From a Stroke
Cannabis Man
Summer’s almost here, and Cannabis Man is celebrating sunshine, mothers, and plant-powered healing. Don kicks off the show with a warm tribute to moms—especially his own and his wife—before diving into reviews of Strawberry CBD Gummies from and Sleep Formula gummies from . This week’s guest, , shares his remarkable journey of survival after a brain stem stroke. In a powerful and emotional interview, Ian details what happened, what he’s learned, and how cannabis played a key role in his recovery and spiritual growth. In the news wrap: —now accepting nominations Don...
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Chicago's Weed Arsonist, New Cannabinoids & the Chaos of the Law — with Lauren Rudick
Cannabis Man
This week on Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin opens up about his May the 4th traditions, the growing cultural impact of Star Wars Day, and a personal reflection on a late friend who shared the same birthday. Don responds to listener mail with a passionate take on the phrase “do your own research” and the importance of scientific consensus. In product reviews, Don shares his thoughts on gummies from and , and Brawler Blunts from . The featured guest is cannabis attorney Lauren Rudick of . She shares her early cannabis education from her parents, insights as a recovering litigator, and the...
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Cherry Blossoms & Cannabis Breakthroughs: Kirsten Velasco, VapenProp & Nature in the City
Cannabis Man
Text Cannabis Man! In this episode of Cannabis Man, host Don Kleppin opens with a reflective story about a family trip to Chicago’s Jackson Park during cherry blossom season, including a visit to the serene Osaka Garden. He shares a live review of Fable’s Into the Woods botanical cannabis beverage, featuring hints of stone fruit, pine, and rosemary. Don’s expert guest is Kirsten Velasco, author and creator of VapenProp, a cannabis vaping tool designed to solve key issues with portable vape us...
info_outlineIn this episode, host Don Kleppin shares his personal trek through Dry January, a month-long break from cannabis, alcohol, caffeine, and added sugars. With vivid dreams every night and a 10-pound weight loss in just 17 days, Don reflects on the impact of the challenge so far.
The News Joint Wrap brings listeners up to speed on key developments in the cannabis space, including:
- Four new qualifying conditions added for Illinois medical cannabis patients.
- A continued decline in medical cannabis sales for the third consecutive year.
- Two new hemp-related bills introduced in the Illinois House, reflecting the ongoing battle between those pushing for a ban on hemp products and those advocating for regulation.
Other stories highlight the DEA’s administrative judge delaying a decision on rescheduling cannabis by at least three months and DoorDash’s announcement that it will begin delivering hemp-based products like beverages, gummies, and candies in select markets. Don also calls out prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana for their outdated, fear-mongering reaction to DoorDash’s move.
Despite a challenging week of news for cannabis advocates, Don ends the episode on a lighter note with this week’s High Haiku, celebrating Dry January in poetic style.
Tune in for a mix of personal insight, cannabis updates, and thoughtful commentary that you won’t want to miss!
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