17. Hope is the Antidote

Hope isn't a mood — it's a practice. This week: a global survey putting women's voices at the centre of cannabis research, an honest lap of Australian cannabis law reform, and the case for building our future homes out of hemp and a hopeful book recommendation too. **What we cover:** - Doomscrolling, AI slop, and choosing hope as a practice, not a mood - Pearle Global Women's Health & Cannabis Survey - National cannabis reform wrap-up, and a deep dive into Tasmania's laws, penalties, and the current push for reform. - Hempcrete: the carbon-negative, fire-resistant building material made from this plant's other half and my own 7 years living fully off-grid in a custom tiny house — including evacuating it from the 2019 Huon Valley bushfires - Burnout Book Club: *Utopia for Realists* by Rutger Bregman **Links mentioned in this episode:** - Pearle Global Women's Health & Cannabis Survey: pearle.com.au - Green Budget Tracker: Green Budget Tracker - Etsy Australia **SHOW NOTES — Sources:** - ABC News, "NSW government to introduce medicinal cannabis driving reforms," 4 June 2026. - Cannabis Council Australia, Road to Reform campaign news — survey of over 6,000 medicinal cannabis patients on driving law reform. cannabiscouncil.org.au - Cannabiz, "Victorian cannabis plebiscite rejected despite 'furious agreement' for reform," August 2026. - Cranbourne Star News / Star Community, "Cannabis referendum bid defeated," Aug 2026 — Victoria's defeated cannabis plebiscite bill, 80% public support figure. - Friendly Aussie Buds, "Aussie Cannabis Laws: Tasmania" — penalty unit figures for possession implements. - Go To Court Lawyers, "Drug Offences in Tasmania" and "Cultivating Controlled Plants Lawyers Tasmania," last reviewed 15 April 2026 - Green Review, "Hempcrete's role in fire-resistant building design in 2026," Oct 2025 — including the Hester Brook, WA hemp block factory bushfire case. - Pearle (Pearle Health), *The Pearle Global Women's Health & Cannabis Survey*, founded by Melanie Wentzel. pearle.com.au - Pulse Tasmania, "Push to bring ACT drug reform to Tasmania rejected by state government," 4 June 2026 — ATDC evaluation citing ~70% diversion rate in the ACT; 4% Tasmanian support for imprisonment for possession; Health Minister Bridget Archer's rejection of decriminalisation. - Pulse Tasmania, "Tasmanian MPs launch push for cannabis law reform," 31 March 2026 — Salvation Army Bridge Program peer worker cost comparison; ATDC board member on treatment-service presentation rates. - Michael Hill on Magistrates Court caseload; Attorney-General's same-day rejection of the Australian Lawyers Alliance's draft decriminalisation bill. - Natural Building Australia, "Hempcrete Home at Narara Ecovillage: A Blueprint for Low-Carbon Housing in Australia," July 2026 — case study from Western Sydney University, University of Melbourne, and Australian Hemp Masonry Pty Ltd. - The Mercury, "Lawyers' cannabis move hits early snag," 2021 (cited via GoToCourt/investingnews.com secondary sources) — former chief magistrate <!--THE END--> - University of Bath research on hempcrete carbon sequestration (cited via Margaret River Hemp Co, hempco.net.au) Disclaimer: This episode is educational commentary only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Medicinal cannabis is a prescription medication in Australia. Please speak with your GP or a qualified healthcare professional regarding your own health, medication, or treatment concerns, and consult relevant state authorities for current information on cannabis law and penalties in your jurisdiction. Connect with the Show: Have thoughts on this episode, or want to share your story? Email: highlyfunctionalpodcast@protonmail.com Instagram: DM me @highlyfunctionalpodcast