Riley Kirk, PhD

Cannabis Research Scientist and Educator

Riley Kirk is a cannabis research scientist, natural product chemist, and social media educator based in New Hampshire. Riley is passionate about cannabis education, sharing her research and insights on social media @cannabichem to a community of nearly 500k. She authored the book Reefer Wellness (2025), which provides informative and accessible information about all things cannabis, including how it affects the body, guidance on consuming cannabis, and tips for minimizing common side effects of consumption. Riley is also the host of the bi-weekly podcast, Bioactive, where she shares current news and research surrounding cannabis, psychedelics, toxins, pharmaceuticals, and other bioactive substances, and hosts special guests.

Education

Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences (Specialization in Natural Product Chemistry), University of Rhode Island

Certifications & Organizations

Author, "Reefer Wellness"
Adjunct Professor, University of Rhode Island
Co-founder, Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP)
Member, American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP)
Member, International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS)
Member, New Hampshire Cannabis Advisory Board
Certified Cannabis Educator (via Green Flower Academy)
Certificate in Botanical Medicine Research
Certificate in Cannabis Science and Medicine
Peer-reviewed Author in scientific journals covering natural products, cannabis pharmacology, and microbiology
Science Communication Specialist, focusing on public education in cannabis, plant pharmacology, and natural products

Favorite Piece of Advice

Listen to patients. Cannabis medical card patients are experts in understanding even the most complex science of what consumption methods, product types and formulations work best for each condition. Medical patients will also transform your thoughts on the endless potential of this plant. Lastly, if anyone ever doubts the boundless potential of cannabis, have them research the endocannabinoid system to change their perspective.

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Forum Comments (1)

How to get rid of weed smell from a room?

It is a difficult smell to get rid of, for sure. At it's core, weed is a plant, and if you smoke any plant, it's going to smell. After airing out your space as much as possible, I'd recommend lighting incense and other scented products that can try to counteract the smell. Full disclosure, though – I don't know of a specific product that fully can eliminate the smell of cannabis smoke.

If you're going to smoke in the meantime before their visit, I would recommend going outside if you're going to smoke. You should also look into other consumption methods if you don't want your space to smell in future. Smoking flower will be the most stinky of the methods, so I'd recommend a vaporizer, dabbing or, of course, edibles, which don't smell at all. Alternatively, people sometimes use what we call the "sploof". Essentially, a sploof is where you take some sort of cylindrical object (even something like a toilet paper roll would work) and you stuff it with detergent sheets, laundry detergent sheets, and you'd blow the smoke through it so that it doesn't make your room smelly. There are modern versions of this that are small and portable, so that's one thing you can look into as a preventative thing.

Q&A Comments (2)

How can I come down from a high quickly?

Make yourself feel comfortable by putting on a weighted blanket, drinking water, or getting fresh air. You can feel really uncomfortable, especially if you take too many edibles, and it will take three to five hours until you feel even remotely back to your baseline with smoking or vaping. Some data suggests that chewing on peppercorns can help because the terpenes in peppercorns are uplifting and can bind to some of the receptors to reverse some of the damage that THC is doing to your current abilities.

How can I prevent myself from getting too high?

If you can include CBD in your dosing to begin with, that would help prevent you from getting in the situation of feeling too overwhelmed and too high because CBD can really help balance out the effects of THC.

Co-authored Articles (28)

180+ Best Stoner Thoughts to Blow Your Mind

Funny, deep, and interesting high thoughts about lifeHigh thoughts are the ideas, realizations, and mental rabbit holes people experience while under the influence. They range from funny and nonsensical to deep and intro...

Best Alternatives When You're Out of Rolling Papers (Plus, What Not to Use)

Learn to use rolling paper alternatives safely with these tipsYou’ve got everything you need to smoke: the weed, the lighter, water, some miscellaneous munchies. But when you unpack your bag and get ready to roll, you ...

How to Do a Ghost Inhale (and Other Fun Vape Tricks)

Wow your friends while vaping with our step-by-step guideIf you like to vape and want to up your game, learning some simple tricks is a great way to show off. A ghosty (also known as a ghostie or ghost inhale) creates a ...

How to

Get Pot Out of Your System

If you have a pre-employment drug test coming up or your company is known to conduct random testing, you may find yourself trying to clean up your system and make it test-ready. Of course, the only way to have a pot-fre...

How to Tell if FRYD Vapes are Real or Fake + If They’re Safe

Learn how to spot a fake vape cart with our complete guideFRYD Extracts are trendy new vapes and disposables that contain THC, but it’s up for debate whether it’s a real brand. Even though FRYD products look legit, t...

How to

Decarboxylate Cannabis

If you going to cook with cannabis, you will need to decarboxylate it to activate the THC and achieve the desired result. Decarboxylation is essentially a process of heating the cannabis to the point that the naturally o...

A Beginner's Guide to Making Weed Edibles at Home

Ingredients plus a tutorial for making edibles with weedDo you want to make weed edibles but are worried you’ll mess it up? Don’t let fear stand in your way—keep reading to learn everything you need to know to make...

How to Smoke Wax: 5 Ways to Dab

A beginner’s guide to dabbing THCWhether you’re a seasoned smoker looking to expand your horizons or you’re new to marijuana and want to know what that fancy stuff is behind the glass cabinet at the dispensary, you...

Your Complete Guide to the Geek Bar Pulse

Understand Pulse Mode, popular flavors, & more To use your Geek Bar Pulse after unboxing, remove the plug on the mouthpiece, move the bottom tab to the middle or upper position, and take your first hit. The Geek Bar Puls...

Drying and Curing Cannabis Like a Pro (+ Storage Tips)

The best methods for optimal flavor, aroma, and potencyIf you grow cannabis, you may be wondering how to turn healthy plants into usable marijuana. This is where curing and drying your cannabis comes in. Drying simply re...

Are Packman Carts Real or Fake? Everything You Need to Know

Learn about the health & legal concerns of using fake cartsWhen you grab a Packman cart, you may be eager to hit it and experience its effects. However, Packman carts are unregulated products and likely contain fake cann...

How to Smoke Shatter Properly

A beginner’s guide to one of the most popular marijuana concentrates on the market Whether you’re expanding your marijuana repertoire or you’re simply curious about what that thick glassy stuff is behind the counte...

25 Awesome Smoking Games to Play with Your Buddies

Light up your next weed session with one of these fun games Are you getting some friends together for a smoking session and looking for something to do other than watch episodes of ''Rick and Morty''? Well, you've come t...

All About the Viral "Blinker Hit"

A guide to the internet's latest vape puffing trend The term "blinker" originates from the world of vaporizer technology, and it refers to a long, continuous inhalation from a vape pen that lasts until the device's batte...

How to

Sober Up from Weed

It is virtually impossible to instantly sober up after a marijuana high. The chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the part of weed that makes you high, and it can vary greatly from plant to plant, often dependi...

How to Pack and Smoke a Bowl of Marijuana

A complete guide to prepping a pipe or bong Perhaps the most popular way to smoke cannabis is with a pipe or bong, both of which utilize “bowls” to hold the cannabis. But it’s not as simple as stuffing a hefty bud ...

All About Thai Sticks: What They Are & How to Smoke Them

Learn the best way to make this cannabis cigarThai Sticks are classic cannabis cigars that originate from Thailand. They’re known for the stick in the center, their potent high, and their mysterious, elusive status. Th...

What's a Zip of Weed? Pricing & Amount

A beginner’s guide to slang for weed measurementsWith marijuana becoming increasingly mainstream and more states legalizing it for recreational use, you’re likely to hear some new slang if you aren’t a regular smok...

How to Tell If Weed Is Moldy (And Whether You Should Smoke It)

Plus, storage tips to prevent mold on weed and keep it freshIf your weed has been sitting in a container for a long time, it's possible that it's grown some mold. A musty smell and fuzzy white and green spots are a dead ...

How to Smoke Dabs (Even Without a Dab Rig)

Spark up your wax or shatter to get a more intense high A dab is a concentrated form of cannabis that usually comes in a waxy form. Smoking a dab gives you a quicker and more intense high, and is about as easy as smoking...

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