It can be hard to find accurate information online about how cannabis works and how it affects the mind and body. While there are many studies out there, it’s not always easy to find clear answers through all the scientific jargon. Many aspects of cannabis are still unknown to common users or those who are canna-curious.
TikTok is probably the last place you’d think to look for weed-related information, especially because social media platforms notoriously ban and remove cannabis content. However, the video-sharing app is no longer just dances and trends; now, doctors and scientists are utilizing the platform to educate and collect data.
The Two Scientists Using TikTok to Share Educational Cannabis Content
Dr. Riley Kirk, Ph.D. (@cannabichem), and Dr. Miyabe Shields, Ph.D. (@miyabephd), are two pharmaceutical scientists using TikTok to help people understand cannabis pharmacology. And through user interaction, they’re able to collect unique data to further advance their research. Kirk and Shields take complex cannabis-related scientific topics and break them down into short videos, making it easy for the general population to understand.
The two actually met on TikTok, where to their surprise they weren’t the only cannabis scientists making content. They quickly learned that they had more in common than just their video content. They both specialize in drug discovery and each of their specialties work hand in hand. “We’re like the two halves of the major components of drug discovery: the molecules are Riley and I’m the target in the body,” Shields told Forbes.
They first met up on the side of the freeway between Boston and Rhode Island. After smoking a joint and making a video, they realized that they should work together. Beyond the educational videos, the two have written academic papers that have been published in textbooks. They also have a podcast, Smoke N’ Science, that dives deeper into many of the subjects covered on their TikToks.
“We have this opinion that we share about drug discovery, drug use, and lifestyle that is not mirrored in other scientists, but that is mirrored in the general public. We are viewed as radical scientists, especially because we’re open about our cannabis use,” Shields told Forbes.
