The People’s Plant - A Conscious Conversation on Cannabis
Over the last few years we have seen a growing awareness in the power of medicinal plants of many forms but perhaps most popular is the use of medicinal cannabis both in its psychoactive and non psychoactive forms.
Although Australia has yet to fully legalize cannabis, access to this plant has grown from the backyard to prescription to big business for everything from pain relief, sleep issues to mental health and cancer support.
Gone are the days of our Cheech & Chong views of cannabis and yet at the same time , the quick access to its allopathic use raises larger questions around the lack of understanding of this sacred plant which should be an important consideration for anyone considering this powerful plant for either recreational or medicinal use.
NTA AU/NZ Director Leanne Scott explores this conversation with author and facilitator Stephen Gray.
About Stephen Gray
Stephen has been involved in spiritual work and psychedelics for 50 years. This includes more than 20 years as a student and occasional teacher of Tibetan Buddhism; a dozen years actively involved with Native American Church peyote prayer ceremonies; “guest” membership in the ayahuasca-using Santo Daime Church. In the past 13 years, he’s co-organized the influential Spirit Plant Medicine Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia and is the creator of the 7 part Shift Network course The Sacred Way of Cannabis.
About Host Leanne Scott
Leanne Scott is a trailblazer in the field of functional nutrition in Australia being the first qualified Functional Nutritional Therapist in the country. She is the founder of Pure Core Nourishment, and the visionary behind the Nutritional Therapy Association of Australia and New Zealand (NTA AU/NZ) - the first independently funded Functional Nutritional Therapy School in the southern hemisphere. Board-certified in Holistic Nutrition and a qualified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP), Leanne has dedicated her career to advancing unbiased, science-based functional nutrition.
Working in the health industry since 1990, before shifting into the realm of holistic wellness in 2011, her commitment to bringing high-quality training to the region led her to advocate for an Australian-based FNTP program during her own training, ultimately transforming her vision into a reality. Ten years on, under her guidance, NTA AU/NZ now offers a Practitioner of Functional Nutritional Therapy program, with an Advanced Practitioner program set to launch in 2026.
In her practice, Pure Core Nourishment, Leanne’s approach is comprehensive, integrating her training as Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition, ADAPT Functional Medicine Practitioner, Integrative Health Coach, Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist and Restorative Wellness Practitioner. She also brings unique expertise as a Certified Fitgenes Practitioner, utilizing genetic profiling and Nutrigenomics to empower clients in long-term health management. With additional certifications in meditation, yoga, and mind-body techniques such as Psych-K and Theta Healing, Leanne’s work centers on balancing both physical health and subconscious beliefs that impact wellness.
Driven by a passion for holistic health and a future-focused vision for generations to come, Leanne strives to empower clients and practitioners alike to build lasting health from the core.