On Something

A podcast exploring the political, legal and cultural effects of marijuana legalization. From Colorado Public Radio and PRX, these are stories about life after legalization, hosted by journalist Ann Marie Awad.
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Latest Episodes

CBD: The Hype and the Reality

CBD is everywhere these days, but a decade ago it was largely unknown. Martin Lee, one of the founders of the California nonprofit Project CBD, helps us unpack how the CBD craze got started, what makes CBD promising and whether the hype is justified.
On Something Marijuana and Spirituality

Puff, Puff, Pray

What does it mean to have a spiritual experience with marijuana? We visit a cannabis church and talk with a psychedelic therapist, and explore how more Americans are seeking enlightenment in surprising new places.
Illustration of calendar turning into a rolled joint

Neal Pollack’s Addiction

Texas-based satirist Neal Pollack — who’s written plenty of pot jokes over the years — reveals how he became addicted to marijuana, and what he’d tell people who don’t believe that’s possible.
Illustration of five pairs of legs and a ball and chain

Weed’s Legal Hangover

Two people — a white woman and a black man — reflect on their own arrests for marijuana charges when they were 19, and walk us through how those convictions continue to affect their careers and lives today.
Illustration of saxophone player, hippie and woman in the 40s

Why Was Weed Illegal Anyway?

Marijuana’s history in the U.S. is complicated. Colorado Public Radio reporter Ann Marie Awad explains how cannabis became illegal — and how we got from there to the kickstart of the modern legalization movement. If nothing else, listen just to hear the phrase “jazz cigarettes.”