Nearly a century after cannabis was criminalized by the United States, most Americans live in a place where local police no longer arrest all marijuana users. Weed has become so abundant in places like metro Phoenix that you have to wonder how it’s even grown. Reefer Growing Madness from KJZZ’s Hear Arizona podcast unit tracks the roughly four-month journey of marijuana plants from tiny clones to ashes and smoke.
Buy and burn: A special smoke session to sample new marijuana strain
Epsiode 7: About 2 ounces of marijuana harvested from four Zpectrum plants were of buds large and pretty enough to be packaged in Alien Labs premium jars. The brand founder and his top local farmers visit a dispensary, pick up a few and then hold a special smoke session. Plus, a third-party weed connoisseur samples the strain.
19 Mar 2025
Harvest time for the new marijuana strain brings relief — and a strong odor
Time to chop down the Zpectrum plants. Then launch a curing process to dry, trim and package the yield. A pot farm this big produces an enormous amount of odor, which is still taboo, even though weed is legal. The perfume plants release during harvest is unavoidable, and perhaps the most pungent.
12 Mar 2025
Despite operations in 3 states, the founder of Alien Labs says he’s still an outsider
Only five Zpectrum plants remained by the end of the last spisode. And they still had a couple of days left in the vegetative room before moving to the longest phase of the grow-process. The founder of Alien Labs talks about growing as a professional to better deliver his passionate message on quality.
5 Mar 2025
While marijuana plants enjoy a summer solstice, lead farmer shares how he clawed his way in
The six tiny Zpectrum plants grew roots by the end of the last episode, but still had a couple days to survive before they could go into their own pots. The lead farmer had to move cross-country for a chance to scratch and claw his way into the marijuana industry.
27 Feb 2025
Not all marijuana plants come from seeds. Meet the clones that will grow into a new strain
At least some legit weed companies in what prohibitionists might call this Brave New Arizona don’t plant seeds. Meet and greet the freshly cut clones that Matthew Casey aims to follow until they’re ashes.
26 Feb 2025
Primer: Indica, sativa, terpenes and more weed terms you need to know
Get set for a crash course on marijuana-specific terminology used in this podcast series. We’ll also explain the genetic makeup of the plants we’ll be following.
19 Feb 2025
Prologue: How marijuana went from ghastly menace to eventual legalization in Arizona
A reefer is a marijuana cigarette. "Reefer Madness" is a 1936 propaganda film that labels pot as a ghastly menace. This prologue for Reefer Growing Madness explores marijuana’s foothold in the U.S. - from cultural expression to anti-racial propaganda, then outlawed substance to eventual legalization in certain states.
13 Feb 2025
Introducing Reefer Growing Madness: A podcast from KJZZ
Join senior field correspondent Matt Casey for a series of episodes based on exclusive visits to a huge indoor pot farm, learn about the growing stages, and get to know some of the people involved. The first episode of Reefer Growing Madness debuts Wednesday, Feb. 19, wherever you get your podcasts.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,803,406
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
64
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
32
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