Meet ‘John Doe Radio’
Posted By John Wright On March 9, 2010 @ 10:30 am In News | 1 Comment
Nagging migraine headaches compelled Tim Martin to gave medical marijuana a try. Although he found relief, he also found an enormous level of ignorance and misinformation surrounding the topic.
Drawing on his background in radio broadcasting, the Denver native began creating weekly iTune Podcasts in the hope of educating the public and giving a much needed voice to regular folks who might similarly benefit from medical marijuana.
He calls it “John Doe Radio” and it appears to be a hit. The two-hour weekly program debuted last year in December and has since earned high ratings and numerous accolades from listeners. It has also positioned Martin on the forefront of the effort to expand acceptance of medical marijuana thought information. He says the program’s title is meant to reflect its wide appeal.
“I wanted the name to be as impersonal as possible,” explains Martin, who earned a degree in broadcasting and worked for five years at an FM radio station. “This is the word for the people. It sounds corny but this is their show.”
Martin noted that his experience has taught him that cannabis, when used properly, can help alleviate pain of chronic migraines. “I have been a marijuana user for quite a while,” he says. “I started this show to educate people and help them feel at ease with what they are doing.”
The two-hour program is available as a free download from iTunes or johndoeradio.com. In addition to the latest news relating to medical cannabis, the show has conducted interviews with some high profile members of the Medical Marijuana movement and others with extensive knowledge about issues surrounding cannabis.
Past guests include marijuana expert Franco from Green House Seed Co.; the executive director of Beverly Hills NORML, Cheryl Shuman; the publisher of Cannabis Culture magazine, Marc Emery, and Barry Cooper, a former Texas narcotics officer who now teaches people how to avoid arrest for drug-related charges.
Martin’s program also features product reviews, contests (listeners can win a “Silver Surfer” vaporizer), and music, a mix of hip-hop and rock tunes. Martin notes that he maintains high quality production standards that give the program a professional quality.
“There’s an expectation for us to behave responsibly,” says Martin. “There’s a fine line. What we do now has the potential to set the standards for the entire industry. We try to be as professional as possible. There’s a societal expectation for that.”
Martin’s co-hosts include two marijuana experts who also have experience in this emerging media niche. Derek Cummings, a co-owner of a dispensary in Windsor, CO named “In Harmony Wellness,” and the pseudo-anonymous “Hemptress December,” a cannabis activist who calls herself the “anti-soccer mom” and previously produced the ”Marijuana Radio” podcast.
Martin says the show has two agendas. While he is working to gain acceptance for medical marijuana among those unsure of its efficacy, he also is eager to bond with his core audience. An upcoming giveaway, for example, will include an award-winning strand of Colorado product, “The Incredibowl.”
“It’s a big part of what we are doing,” Tim said. “It’s an extremely valuable way to promote the show and it can form a great partnership with the [product’s] company.”
John Doe Radio has drawn support from local medical marijuana businesses as well as national advertisements. Martin says they see the show as an effective way to reach a devoted audience.
“We have incredibly loyal listeners who take notice of what we say about the products, advertisements and reviews,” he says. He adds that it’s important that the show maintain a high level of credibility. “If a product is not good, we are not going to sugarcoat it. We try to be consumer advocates. It’s very important.”
Martin is confident that his John Doe Radio program represents an important step forward for the burgeoning Medical Marijuana movement. He notes that it is part of an explosion of activity seen in recent years and he is excited to be breaking new ground.
“It’s a new industry now and we—Tim, Derek, and December—are running around like chickens with our heads cut off, trying to grab information. There’s so much happening every week, every day. It’s incredible to be absolute pioneers of business practices.”
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