Show Notes
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with cannabis research scientist Ben Cleary to unpack groundbreaking research published in Scientific Reports examining THC variability in cannabis flower and what it means for consumers, cultivators, laboratories, and regulators.
If you've ever wondered why the same strain can feel different from batch to batch—or why chasing the highest THC percentage often leads to disappointment—this conversation explains the science behind it.
Ben shares how his team's research demonstrates the natural variability of THC within a single cannabis plant and why reporting one THC percentage may not accurately represent what consumers actually purchase. Together, Riley and Ben discuss the future of cannabis labeling, range-based THC reporting, lab testing variability, terpene science, chemical diversity, and how better education can improve purchasing decisions and consumer trust.
They also explore why aroma may be a better guide than THC percentage alone, how Canada's cannabis industry is beginning to implement THC ranges, the role of laboratory variation in cannabis testing, and what future cannabis packaging could look like as science continues to evolve.
Whether you're a cannabis consumer, cultivator, scientist, budtender, regulator, or simply curious about how cannabis testing really works, this episode offers an evidence-based look at one of the industry's biggest conversations.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Meet Ben Cleary
01:04 Inside Village Farms
02:56 Why Study THC Variability
07:19 What the Data Shows
10:28 Range Based Labels
14:08 Low Dose Access Debate
16:37 Health Canada Pilot
19:06 Beyond THC Terpenes
22:56 Lighting and Scale Limits
30:31 Sampling Protocol Shortcut
33:23 Lab Testing Variability
35:26 Measured THC Reality
36:56 Quality Metrics Beyond THC
38:56 Industry Adoption Push
40:48 Why Village Farms Did It
43:05 Next Research Frontiers
45:11 Real World Data Approach
46:20 Science Community Stories
49:02 Medical Education Gap
52:50 Chemical Diversity Score Idea
56:15 Simplifying Labels for Consumers
57:39 Where to Follow the Research
59:40 Closing and BC Invite
Read the Scientific Reports paper discussed in this episode:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06962-2
Connect with Ben Cleary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cleary-746b00172/
Village Farms International: https://villagefarms.com/
Want Exclusive Content and ad-free episodes?
Join the Bioactive Patreon community for as little as $1/month to ask guests your burning
questions, access exclusive content, and connect with Dr. Kirk one-on-one.
www.Patreon.com/Cannabichem
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more expert insights into
cannabis science, plant biology, and more!
Sign Up for Emails!
www.AppliedPharmacognosy.org
Keep up with Dr. Riley Kirk:
https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@cannabichem
https://instagram.com/cannabichem https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from BIOACTIVE
What are cannabis terpenes, how do they influence aroma and consumer experiences, and what do we know about their safety? On this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Dr. Shawna Vreeke, PhD, DABT, Head of Toxicology at True Terpenes, to explore the science of cannabis terpenes, terpene chemistry, cannabinoid interactions, and consumer safety. With a PhD in Chemistry focused on toxin formation in vape device aerosols and expertise in toxicology risk assessment, Shawna shares insights into what current research tells us about terpenes and where important questions remain unanswered.
Dr. Riley Kirk welcomes Dr. Miyabe Shields for a deep dive into cannabis real-world data, cannabis consumption patterns, dosing, neurodivergent cannabis use, and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). As co-founders of the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP), Riley and Miyabe discuss the newly accessible Real Data Project, including what large-scale consumer data can reveal about how people actually use cannabis in their everyday lives.
What if carbon is one of the most overlooked inputs in plant nutrition? In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Nik Nikolayev, CEO of Rooted Leaf Agritech, to explore the science of carbon-based fertilizers, plant nutrition, biostimulants, organic acids, and the chemistry behind plant growth, yield, and quality.
Dr. Riley Kirk has Dr. Denise Valenti on the podcast to discuss cannabis and driving, cannabis impairment, THC testing, and the challenges of determining whether someone is actually too impaired to drive. They explore why THC levels in the body do not necessarily correspond to impairment and how cannabis can affect vision, peripheral vision, contrast sensitivity, eye movement, balance, and pupil response.
In this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Dr. Rick Pescatore, board-certified emergency physician, Editor-in-Chief of Emergency Medicine News, and founder of BellyMD, for a fascinating deep dive into the gut-brain connection and what it means for cannabis users and patients dealing with unexplained digestive symptoms.