The Natural Learning Academy

Jason Wilson is a biologist, educator, and science communicator with a passion for sharing his general curiosity about the world with others. He is the author of Curious About Cannabis: A Scientific Introduction to a Controversial Plant and the educational children's book, A Toadstool's Treasures. He is also the host and producer of The Curious About Cannabis Podcast. Besides teaching, Jason also provides scientific advisory services for various companies and institutions, often assisting with the development of research and development laboratories intent on working with natural products. He is currently a professor of cannabinoid sciences at John Patrick University and has worked previously as a botanist and natural products researcher studying native plants and ethnobotanicals both in the field and in the lab. He is a certified Audubon Naturalist, studied permaculture design with Siskiyou Permaculture led by first generation students of Bill Mollison, and practiced natural building and ecologically conscious agricultural principles as an intern at the Southern Oregon Permaculture Institute.

Anthony Smith received his PhD in Molecular & Cellular Biology from Oregon State University at the Linus Pauling Institute where he specialized in biochemistry, metabolism and nutrition. Currently Dr. Smith teaches about phytochemistry, pharmacology, and analytical chemistry at John Patrick University. Prior to focusing on teaching, Dr. Smith worked in natural products and biomedical research while serving as a leading international authority on aging, lipoic acid and vascular disease. He also founded Kenevir Research, a Cannabis biotechnology and analytical testing company that was later acquired, and has spent much of the past decade operating laboratories and developing analytical methods designed to investigate the potency and purity of Cannabis and cannabinoid infused products . All in all Dr. Smith brings over 15 years of natural product research, quality assurance, product development, GMP manufacturing, FDA & regulatory experience and analytical chemistry expertise to our team.