Do you remember the first time you consumed? Do you remember what you were watching on television? Cannabis professional, music-maker, photographer, branding ace, and all-around fantastic fella Brian Aufdenberg does! He shared a bit about his cannabis journey when he joined Brandon and Angela to explore Mari's diary entry from 1943. The trio learned that the first mention of marijuana in Time Magazine occurred in 1934. It was notably brief mention, simply stating that marijuana was “a drug, long common in Mexico, made from a variety of hemp weed." Nine years later, in 1943, Time Magazine published its first full article. It wasn't a coincidence that the piece, "The Weed" came out after a high profile arrest of a prominent jazz musician. Mari's insight about the feature drew attention to the realities of marijuana usage. She reflected in her writing, noting "Curiously, the power of mental concentration appears to increase rather than diminish...But in spite of the legends, no case of physical, mental or moral degeneration has ever been traced exclusively to marijuana." Thank goodness Vinny and the Captain had a copy of Time (mostly to use for auctioneering practice) so Mari was able to review an article that had some actual truths in it. Be sure to subscribe; new episodes drop on the 4th and 20th of each month. Only 1 more episode left in Season 2, so don't miss out.

About Brian Aufdenberg

Throughout his career, Brian has worked with emerging brands as well as established companies, helping them become iconic mainstays both on a national and international stage. He has built brands in cannabis, apparel, music, and liquor. He enjoys nurturing and bringing out the essence of brands and their products with sales, marketing, brand strategy, and building each brands unique voice. Brian is currently the Associate Director of Field Marketing at Fernway. Also, he's the force behind the Triple Bolt Gazette and makes music as B.M.A. Follow him at on IG at Fernway Brian, BMA_DNB, and Triple Bolt Gazette.

In early 2023, when Angela received an anonymous package containing an old diary with no explanation beyond a note that said "use this as you see fit," there were immediate questions. Who sent it? Why was it sent to Angela? What should be done next? The list went on and on.

Since then, as she and Brandon have learned more about Ms. Mari Juana's extraordinary life, the questions have continued to pile up. Each week, they learn a little bit more about Mari and her experiences. Since Angela and Brandon started sharing Mari's writings with listeners through the podcast, every day, they field inquiries about Mari and her diary.

On this episode, they talk through the questions that others have posed. They cover:

- thoughts on formula in the box.

- Mari's residence and activities.

- descriptions of Mari.

- favorite entries that highlight important cannabis history.

With Mari, there always seem to be more questions than answers, which encourages good cannabis conversation. They've come to realize - that's likely exactly what Mari wanted all along.

One thing is for sure, Mari knew what she was doing when she mailed her diary to Angela. Each episode of "Use This As You See Fit: The Diary of Mari" puts reliable, accurate cannabis information out into the world, which chips away at misinformation and problematic stigma.

Questions or comments about Mari and her diary? Send 'em in and Angela and Brandon will be sure to share their insight.

Even though there's no national holiday celebration in August, we had plenty to celebrate on this episode! Returning for another entry, South Jersey cannabis attorney and all-around interesting human Mike Hoffman joined Angela and Brandon to read through another one of Mari's writings from the 1970s. Mike shared some insight about what motivated him to get involved in the clean-up of the failed War on Drugs. That proved to be a natural segue to discuss Mari's reflections about her time with NORML founder Keith Stroup and how the Playboy Foundation got involved in cannabis activism by funding the advocacy start-up. Keith, Hugh Hefner, and Bobbie Arnstein were all involved in conversations that ultimately helped to launch one of the most well-known cannabis advocacy organizations in the country. The trio of entry-explorers ended up swimming around in an "emotion ocean" (as described by Mari - "happy tears and giggly sorrow") and learning more about cannabis conversations in the 1970s. The passing of the Controlled Substance Act was a major factor in cannabis at that point in America. Mari reinforced the lesson: The 1970s were a particularly important decade in cannabis history and those who stood up to advocate for the reformation of marijuana laws had to fight hard.

About Mike Hoffman

Mike Hoffman is a true solo attorney, focusing on expungements, cannabis & social equity, and municipal court/DWI impairment. He founded The Hoffman Centers in 2017. According to Mike, "This is a company formed as the labor of my loves. Everything I have ever done and everything I have ever considered will be given an opportunity through this position. I have formed this company, in structure, to allow me to begin practicing law again, on my own terms. It also, as there are multiple "Centers" involved, allows me to pursue the governmental affairs, policy analysis, and legislative opinion services that have intrigued me. Finally, as part and parcel of the "innovation" center, I will have an incubator to help those ideas that have potentially seemed profitable to me, whether mine or others, take those ideas, and bring them to a place where they might achieve the recognition and profitability they deserve."

In memory of John Sinclair, American poet, writer, and political activist

October 2, 1941 – April 2, 2024

What is medicine? Which state had legal cannabis for 22 days in the 1970s? Is advocacy a default for anyone working in the cannabis industry? These are all questions that the diary entry review crew talked through while reading through Mari's writing from 1972. While exploring topics about what qualifies as medicine, John Sinclair's activism and impact, and what Albert (the guy who doesn't wear socks) had to say about celebrating cannabis advancement, Brandon and Angela talk with Dr. Alan Ao, pharmacist and Founder/Chief Everything Officer at Vigor Dispensary. Mari's account of John's release and his "I wanna smoke some joints, man!" declaration helped them understand more about the pioneer advocates who made it their mission to see cannabis change happen. The best thing about this episode? A surprise guest who knows a thing or two about Chicago, cannabis and the law, and how fear and anger motivate getting involved. Mari reinforced the lesson: advocating for access to cannabis is not for the faint of heart. But it’s worth it.

About Dr. Alan Ao

With 20 years of retail experience and a specialization in various niche areas of alternative medicine, Dr. Ao aims to incorporate traditional community pharmacy practices into the newly developing cannabis industry. He is a champion for utilizing scientific evidence-based education paired with a holistic approach to provide the best quality care to medical patients and adult-use consumers alike. Using a community-based focus coupled with his operational expertise, his goal is to bring cannabinoid-based therapy into mainstream conversation as a standard of medical care. Dr. Ao is in the process of opening Vigor Dispensary in Matawan, New Jersey.

"Does anyone smell that skunk weed?" The scientific reason behind why we equate skunk spray smell with the aroma of cannabis was just one of many things explored from this 1975 entry.

In this episode, the conversation was nonstop. Brandon and Angela talked with cannabis educators and advocates Andrea Raible and Sam Reichbart about Mari's writing that described a fun night of painting at Omar and Dana's house that included the 1974 Maya Angelou memoir “Gather Together in my Name.” The foursome bounced back and forth between strains and terpenes to literature and how cannabis and food intersect. Methods of growing, why home grow matters, and how life "amused" Maya Angelou (a fan of grifa) are all interesting parts of this diary entry exploration. Mari reinforced the lesson: perfect sentences are worth celebrating.

About Andrea Raible and Sam Reichbart and education in New Jersey

Andrea Raible and Sam Reichbart are cannabis professionals working in the New Jersey cannabis industry. They both have experience in cannabis advocacy and helping people understand more about cannabis and plant medicine. In 2023, they kicked off the process to form CaMPS, the Cultivation and Plant Medicine Society. This grassroots effort is aimed at helping people learn more about plant medicine and at-home-cultivation.

About Marianne Bays and Northeast Corridor Provisions Inc. (NEC Provisions)

Dr. Marianne Bays is a cannabis industry business consultant, analyst and entrepreneur and a lifetime resident of New Jersey. She has been studying and working in the cannabis industry since 2008. She has been the lead consultant on cannabis business license application projects in 8 states, and the District of Columbia, helping to build business plans and win licenses for her clients in 6 of these locations, including one of the initial 10 licenses granted in New York State. This required reading and understanding State cannabis laws and business regulations in each of those states. She was a founding operations member of Kalyx Development, a real estate investment trust in the cannabis industry, and also a Managing Director of Mingleridge Business Resources, LLC, providing consulting services to the industry.

Marianne has over 25 years of previous experience working as a management consultant with Fortune 2000 businesses and government agencies on process, performance and structure improvement. In these projects she organized and led consultant and client teams of up to 100 people, working 3-12 months or more to solve complicated organizational problems. Much of her early work experience was done in Federal and State agencies, providing her with a strong understanding of a regulated work environment. She was also previously an Assistant Professor of Management at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. She has managed an independent organizational consultancy for much of her career, working in both private industry and government. She holds a PhD in Business – Organization and Policy Studies from CUNY Graduate Center in NYC.

Dr. Bays is a founding Board Member of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA), its current Vice President, and the past chair of its Higher Education Committee. In this latter capacity, she has worked with New Jersey universities developing curricula, programs related to careers in the cannabis industry, and encouraging cannabis research. She is also a member of the NJCBA Policy Committee and has authored position papers for the association on adult legalization and regulation of cannabis, recommending NJ policies on manufacturing of infused edibles and beverages, and recommending regulations for operation of licensed cannabis consumption areas. She has also provided support to the NJCBA Laboratory Testing Committee in their efforts to recommend improved laboratory testing policy to the CRC. Most recently, she is working with a task force focused on needed NJ regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids derived from hemp and another focused on streamlining processes for hiring and approval of product production plans in start-up businesses licensed by the state. Dr. Bays brings a combination of business strategy and organizational management knowledge and experience and cannabis industry knowledge and experience to the NEC Provisions CEO role.

The box contained a variety of items that seemed cryptic at first. In this Season 2 kickoff episode, they follow the trail of clues in the box to April 1, 1980, which happened to be an entry in the diary. On that day in San Diego, thousands attended the California Marijuana Initiative Rally. It's definitely no surprise that Mari was there! While they explore what happened on that sunny day in California, Angela and Brandon got the message loud and clear. The box and its contents - and the entry itself - tell them that sharing truths about cannabis widely and with anyone willing to listen helps promote accurate and reliable information...and that's exactly what's needed. They resolve to enlist some cannabis industry friends to grow their investigations and to find out everything they can about Mari and her experiences. And Nicholas Cage too.

To learn more, visit https://youtu.be/d_OYBykY_ss?si=5Prj2Af08emssj-E.

You can find "Use This As You See Fit: The Diary of Mari" wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes of Season 2 will drop on the 4th and 20th from April to September 2024. And be assured, there's always room for new friends in Mari's circle. *

On this episode, Angela and Brandon reviewed an entry about “Therapeutical Uses and Toxic Effects of Cannabis Indica,” and learned that the title and the rest of the op-ed-style response in The Lancet - written by JR, better known as Sir John Russell Reynolds (personal physician for some very regal patients) let the wicked mic drop. He unequivocally states, “Indian Hemp, when pure and administered carefully, is one of the most valuable medicines that we possess.”

The list of conditions and diseases that Sir Reynolds and others like Dr. William Brook O’Shaughnessy used cannabis to treat was considerable. For hundreds of years, cannabis was used to alleviate pain and suffering and provide a safe way to help patients manage unpleasant, uncomfortable, and unbearable symptoms.

If you’re looking for more insight on why Indian Hemp was included in the Royal Gardens or just how many ailments and illnesses harnessed the power of hemp as a treatment, then this episode is a cure for your curiosity. Don’t forget to subscribe – new episodes drop on the 4th and 20th of each month. Remember, podcasts are a fun solo activity, but are sometimes even better when you tune in with a friend, especially someone in your circle that might benefit from a little nugget of cannabis history.

On this episode, Brandon finally gets to pick the diary entry, something he's been hoping to do for a while. The entry, dated February 2, 1972, is full of wishing for a different set of circumstances. In 1972, cannabis remained a controversial topic, which is why Carl Sagan, also known as Mr. X., felt such guilt about not publicly admitting his deep appreciation of marijuana. His essay was published in Dr. Lester Grinspoon's book "Marihuana Reconsidered" using a pseudonym to share his sentiment, but keep his identity hidden.

The stigma was and continues to be a problem, but at least this entry brings us a little bit of insight about Carl Sagan's work and process. This episode did, in fact, bring us serenity and insight in an "increasingly mad and dangerous world." Thanks Mr. X.

Also, Angela revealed that the impossible has now happened. So, more to come next time…

On this episode, Angela and Brandon examine an entry from 1946 that celebrates notable jazz musician Milton Mesirow, better known as Mezz Mezzrow, and the publication of his autobiography.

They learn more Anslinger's distinction about jazz musicians, "not speaking about the good musicians, but the jazz type" and Mezz's first time with with the muggles.

Interested in hearing some of the most beautiful prose about consumption ever penned to paper or how to cut down the tush-hog bullying side of your personality? This episode will not disappoint; it'll be music to your ears. Don't forget to subscribe to make sure you get the new episodes delivered right to you on the 4th and 20th.

That’s one of the most important takeaways for Brandon and Angela in this episode. But that wasn’t all they realized. After reading the entry dated July 27, 1974, they also learned more about the kind of company kept by the still-unknown author.

With each new entry they examine together, some of the staff of Elucidation Strategies discover a bit more about the author of the diary, but they still haven’t learned why it was sent to their agency or what they should be doing with it. They can’t quite figure out the pattern behind the non-linear entries either. It’s a mystery that’s more consuming every day. They've both started to carry their gloves at all times.

Interested in learning about which Boggle words were written in the margins in the diary? You're invited to visit https://www.diaryofmari.com/ to subscribe. You deserve to have more clues and exclusive diary content delivered right to your inbox. #treatyoself #partofthemysterymachine #sleuthing #diaryofmari #whosentit

The page they landed on was dated 1945. The author of the diary was particularly interested in what happened after an article entitled “Experts Discount Marijuana as Big Factor in Crime but Drive on It Will Be Pressed” ran in the New York Times. Angela and Brandon also learned about the author’s heartwarming actions when it comes to cannabis advocacy.

Interested in learning more about the LaGuardia Report, cannabis coverage in the NYT, or how to achieve "adequate" feelings after consumption? Access exclusive content by subscribing on https://www.diaryofmari.com/. And speaking of subscriptions, make sure you subscribe to "Use This As You See Fit: The Diary of Mari" through whatever platform you get your podcast so you don't miss anything. For 2023, new episodes drop on the 4th and 20th of each month.

After the delivery driver dropped the box off, Angela and Brandon didn’t immediately notice that there was no return name or address. It wasn’t until after they flipped through the pages of the old, handwritten diary (the only item in the box) that they realized that they had no idea who anonymously sent it to Angela or why the note stuck to the front said use this as you see fit - that’s when they noticed the missing return address. That was just the first of many intriguing questions Angela and Brandon have explored since receiving the diary in December 2022.

In this episode, after a page was chosen at random to explore, Angela and Brandon found an entry involving Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and his important contributions to the field of cannabis study. Also, they learned that the author, whoever it may be, has a large family and an even larger circle of friends.

Interested in additional resource links the discovery of THC, the impact of Dr. Mechoulam's work, or an actual photo of the diary? Visit the https://www.diaryofmari.com/ and subscribe to get exclusive content and resources?