Michele Ringelberg
In today’s episode of Marketing That POPs, Olivia Johnson and Michele Ringelberg hear from Katherine Golden, the Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Leaf411, about cannabis education in the healthcare sector. She discusses marketing challenges in a heavily regulated environment, her company’s partnership with local dispensaries, and how cannabis can integrate with traditional medical treatments.
Katherine Golden, RN, is the Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Leaf411, a nonprofit organization offering free, nurse-led cannabis education and guidance. She is also the Founder and CEO of Leaf Nurse Network, a staffing agency for cannabis nurses, and a Cannabis Case Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. With over 22 years of nursing experience, Katherine is a certified cannabis nurse educator and an advocate for healthcare equity, working to ensure safe and informed cannabis use for all.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [2:26] Katherine Golden debunks the myth of cannabis overdose
- [5:39] The difference between cannabis addiction and dependence
- [8:27] How cannabis nurses support patient care through education and symptom-specific guidance
- [11:14] Common misconceptions about cannabis in healthcare
- [13:41] Why Katherine founded Leaf411 following her brother-in-law’s cancer diagnosis
- [19:49] Leaf411’s marketing strategies and barriers as a nonprofit in the cannabis industry
- [27:06] The future of integrating cannabis into medical care
In this episode…
Misinformation and stigma around cannabis use persist, especially in healthcare. Patients worry about addiction, fear overdosing, or assume they must feel “high” to benefit from cannabis medicine. How can education and advocacy help shift these perceptions and empower safe, effective cannabis use?
According to cannabis nurse and therapeutics expert Katherine Golden, cannabis cannot cause fatal overdoses because it doesn’t suppress vital functions like breathing, unlike opioids. To address fears of overuse or dependency, she recommends asking patients clarifying questions about their cannabis use patterns and educating them on the difference between dependence — relying on cannabis for symptom relief and addiction — compulsive use despite negative consequences. Clear communication, microdosing strategies, and building awareness around the endocannabinoid system are crucial for altering the narrative around cannabis consumption.
In today’s episode of Marketing That POPs, Olivia Johnson and Michele Ringelberg hear from Katherine Golden, the Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Leaf411, about cannabis education in the healthcare sector. She discusses marketing challenges in a heavily regulated environment, her company’s partnership with local dispensaries, and how cannabis can integrate with traditional medical treatments.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Michele Ringelberg on LinkedIn
- ThrivePOP
- Olivia Johnson on LinkedIn
- Katherine Golden on LinkedIn
- Leaf411: Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | X | Phone number: 844-532-3411
Quotable Moments:
- “You cannot have respiratory depression like you can have with an opioid… cannabis cannot do that.”
- “Addiction can happen, and that’s where we talk to people about their intention of using it.”
- “You don’t have to have impairment to have the medicinal benefits of cannabis.”
- “Did you know that in the 90s, they discovered the endocannabinoid system?”
- “You always want [cannabis] as adjunct therapy… you never want to throw out the traditional.”
Action Steps:
- Clarify terminology around cannabis use: Using accurate language — like distinguishing “dependence” from “addiction” or “overuse” from “overdose” — helps reduce fear and stigma. This clarity supports more effective communication with patients and promotes informed decision-making.
- Educate patients on the endocannabinoid system: Teaching patients about this system, which regulates many bodily functions, helps them understand how cannabis works. Awareness leads to better self-advocacy and more responsible therapeutic use.
- Encourage intentional cannabis consumption: Guiding patients to focus on why they’re using cannabis helps prevent misuse and dependency. Intentional use aligns treatment with real symptoms and improves outcomes.
- Integrate cannabis with traditional treatments: Combining cannabis with conventional therapies often reduces side effects and enhances effectiveness. It’s a safer, more balanced approach than replacing one treatment with another entirely.
- Make nurse-led cannabis education accessible: Providing low-cost or free consultations helps patients use cannabis safely, regardless of financial status. Expanding access to licensed guidance improves public health and trust.
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by ThrivePOP, the #1 cannabis marketing agency for B2B and B2C companies.
We are a women-led team of strategists, graphic designers, social media specialists, and web developers who work with dispensaries and cannabis service businesses to implement marketing strategies in a regulated industry.
ThrivePOP creates unique marketing campaigns to inspire, create, and grow cannabis-focused businesses.
To learn more, visit https://thrivepop.com/ or book a meeting with a dedicated marketing strategist at https://thrivepop.com/contact-us.
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