Growing Wild: A New Docu-Series Shines a Light On Cannabis

This article originally appeared onThe Fresh Toast

For three year, Cannador has created a name for itself in the cannabis industry as the home of high-end storage products and accessories for the marijuana enthusiast. But on Tuesday, the company has a new line for the cannabis lover: A mini docu-series showcasing the industry as it expands from coast to coast.

Growing Wild, is an ambitious new YouTube series produced and reported by Zane Witzel, CEO and founder of Cannador. For Witzel, a successful entrepreneur, is also a self-described "true believer in the benefits of cannabis." The Growing Wild series, Witzel says, will help spread the word.

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"My goal is to discover, learn and share" the stories of those on the front line of the marijuana industry. Growing Wild promises to showcase cultivators and culture in recreationally legal states across America. The first episode focuses on the Portland scene, which is growing rapidly since it was legalized in 2014.

The 45-minute Episode One includes interviews with some of the movers and shakers of Portland's cannabis industry. The conversations take interesting and educational turns as the entrepreneurs discuss the challenges of the nascent market segment.

"I wanted to create something that would help shed light on the culture and cultivation of cannabis in recreational states because there's a very apparent disconnect between the science and social consensus of cannabis legalization," Witzel says. "Traditionally, one follows the other, but our government is having difficulty pushing past the irrational scheduling of cannabis that was made almost 50 years ago," he added.

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For Witzel, the film project is about educating the masses and dispelling myths. He also hopes to use the platform as a creative way to connect the industry to Americans who may not understand the benefits of cannabis.

"Over the past three years, I've been having general conversations with people from around the U.S. on the topic of cannabis and I've found it to be awkward given this disconnect, so I'm taking an investigative approach to learn about what's going on from the ground up," Witzel explains. "I'll be talking with businesses, growers and scientists to understand more of their world and how it all fits into the big picture. I also want to show that in this time of extreme division over everything but the law of gravity, our country is starting to see the benefits of cannabis, particularly the health benefits of CBD. It's an exciting time and I want to capture it on film."

Episode One of Growing Wild features Hifi Farms, Phylos Bioscience, Farma, Cultivation Classic, Serra, Division Wine Bar. Witzel interviews Mowgli Holmes, Samantha Montanaro, Lee Henderson, Sara Batterby, Richard Vinal, Mason Walker, Jeremy Sackett & Emma Chasen.

The first episode is available, below.

This article originally appeared on The Fresh Toast: a lifestyle and entertainment platform with heaping sides of cannabis--you can read more, here.