Michele Ross

{{Infobox person

| name = Michele Ross

| image = Dr. Michele Ross - Ocannabiz Conference Speaker - Vitamin Weed Author.jpg

| alt = Author of Vitamin Weed Dr. Michele Ross featured speaker at O'Cannabiz Conference in Toronto, Canada

| caption = Ross in 2018

| birth_name = Michele Ann Osztrogonacz

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|06|16}}

| birth_place = Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.

| nationality = American/Hungarian

| other_names = Michele Ann Noonan

| education = Boston College (BA)

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (PhD)

| occupation = Author, media personality, neuroscientist

| years active = 2008–present

| website = {{URL|http://drmicheleross.com}}

}}

Michele Noonan Ross (born June 16, 1982), also known as Michele Ann Noonan, Michele Osztrogonacz, and Michele Osztrogonacz Ross,{{citation|title=Class notes - Class of 2004|first=Alexandra|last=Weiskopf|work=Boston College Magazine|date=June 1, 2020|page=67|url=https://issuu.com/bcua/docs/bcm_sum20|quote=Michele Osztrogonacz Ross is now the wellness director at mommy complex, a CBD line for moms}}{{citation|title=Class notes - Class of 2004|first=Alexandra|last=Weiskopf|work=Boston College Magazine|date=September 29, 2011|page=23|url=https://issuu.com/bcua/docs/bcm_summer_2011/26|quote=Michele (Osztrogonacz) Noonan is a neuroscientist, author and TV and radio personality.}} is an American neuroscientist,{{cite news |last1=Lyon |first1=Amber |title=Why Dr. Michele Ross Went From Anti-drug Researcher To Marijuana & Psychedelics Advocate |url=https://reset.me/podcast/dr-michele-ross-former-anti-drug-researcher-turned-marijuana-psychedelics-advocate/ |publisher=Reset.Me}} author,{{cite news |last1=Elyachar |first1=Jacob |date=August 31, 2020 |title='Big Brother' alum & author Dr. Michele Ross |url=https://www.jakes-take.com/jakes-take-podcast-big-brother-alum-author-dr-michele-ross/ |publisher=Jake’s Take Podcast}} and media personality.{{cite web |last1=Nadolny |first1=Marisa |title=Reality TV Star Michele Noonan Raises Science To An Art From |url=http://www.byronacademy.org/women-in-STEM/id/2/Reality-TV-Star-Dr.-Michele-Noona |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228044450/http://www.byronacademy.org/women-in-STEM/id/2/Reality-TV-Star-Dr.-Michele-Noona |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |website=Byron Academy}} She is a noted drug policy reform activist,{{cite web |last1=Sequoia |first1=Strawberry |date=16 August 2019 |title=Ask a Neuroscientist! Cannabis for Pregnancy, PTSD, Arthritis, and Beyond |url=https://maryjaneexperience.com/cannabis-medicine-deep-dive-with-neuroscientist-dr-michele-ross/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106183907/https://maryjaneexperience.com/cannabis-medicine-deep-dive-with-neuroscientist-dr-michele-ross/ |archive-date=2019-11-06 |access-date=August 16, 2019 |website=Mary Jane Experience}}{{cite news |last1=Capps |first1=Reilly |date=January 30, 2018 |title=Former 'Big Brother' contestant turns to drugs, but in a good way |url=https://uk.naturecan.com/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250207152859/https://web.archive.org/web/20180203080924/https://therooster.com/blog/former-big-brother-contestant-turns-drugs-good-way |archive-date=2025-02-07 |publisher=Rooster}} promoting cannabis, magic mushroom, and kratom legalization.

Early life

Ross was born on June 16, 1982, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Iselin where she attended John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. Ross was the first member of her family to attend college and went to Boston College, where she studied psychology and was in the class of 2004. In 2008, she graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas with a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

== Media appearances ==

Ross was the first scientist to participate in the American version of Big Brother,{{cite news |last1=Hartman |first1=Ben |title='I feel almost the same as before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia' |url=https://cannigma.com/treatment/dr-michele-ross-fibromyalgia/ |website=Cannigma|date=14 April 2021 }} appearing in the eleventh season of the reality television series Big Brother in 2009, where she finished in fourth place.{{cite news |last1=Rice |first1=Lynette |title='Big Brother 11's' Michele Noonan: awkward, yes. Villainous, no. |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/09/09/big-brother-michele-evicted/ |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 9, 2009}} She claimed housemate and future Big Brother All Stars 2 contestant Kevin Campbell tried to poison her on the show.{{cite news |last1=Sim |first1=Bernardo |title=Big Brother 22: Michele Ross Accuses Kevin Campbell Of Poisoning Her On BB11 |url=https://screenrant.com/big-brother-michele-ross-accuses-kevin-campbell-poisoning/ |publisher=ScreenRant |date=September 1, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Scoop |first1=Sarah |title="Big Brother" Star Michele Ross Was Fearful for Her Life in the House |url=https://sarahscoop.com/big-brother-star-michele-ross-was-fearful-for-her-life-in-the-house/ |publisher=The Sarah Scoop Show}} She and Lydia Tavera were the first bisexual women to compete on the series, and Ross came out of the closet on the show.{{cite news |title='Big Brother' Girls Stay Connected - at the Mouth |url=https://www.tmz.com/2010/01/12/big-brother-kissing-girls-lydia-tavera-michele-noonan-photo-picture/ |publisher=TMZ |date=January 12, 2010}} Ross was an advocate of LGBTQ rights and was featured in as part of the Big Brother Cares NOH8 Campaign.{{cite web |title=Big Brother Cares |url=http://www.noh8campaign.com/article/big-brother-cares |website=NOH8 Campaign}} In 2010 Ross appeared on the "Reality Gone Wild" episode of Playboy TV's Foursome.{{cite news |last1=Dehnart |first1=Andy |title=Big Brother 11's Michele is on Playboy's sex-on-TV reality show Foursome |url=https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2010/08/big-brother-11-michele_foursome |publisher=Reality Blurred |date=August 31, 2010}} Ross won her episode of the dating competition reality show Baggage hosted by Jerry Springer in 2010. In 2013, she won her episode of the dating competition reality show Excused.

In 2015 she was noted by The Chicago Tribune as an expert on cannabis for the platform Cannabis Club TV streaming to cannabis dispensaries.{{cite news|title=News pot users could use: Duo works on TV platform for marijuana ads|author=Glionna, John M.|newspaper=The Chicago Tribune|date=October 14, 2015|page=4|quote= Features – Interviews with experts like self-professed "pot Dr." Michele Ross...}}

Career

= Neuroscientist =

Ross studied how drugs, including cannabis{{cite journal |last1=Noonan |first1=Michele A. |last2=Eisch |first2=Amelia J. |title=Regulation of adult neurogenesis by cannabinoids |journal=Chem Today |date=September 1, 2006 |volume=24 |pages=84–88 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264424221 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708162628/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michele-Ross/publication/264424221_Regulation_of_Adult_Neurogenesis_by_Cannabinoids/links/5620901508ae93a5c9243ff8/Regulation-of-Adult-Neurogenesis-by-Cannabinoids.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-08 |url-status=live}} and cocaine,{{cite journal |last1=Noonan |first1=Michele A. |last2=Bulin |first2=Sarah E. |last3=Fuller |first3=Dwain C. |last4=Eisch |first4=Amelia J. |title=Reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis confers vulnerability in an animal model of cocaine addiction |journal=Journal of Neuroscience |date=January 6, 2010 |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=304–315 |doi=10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4256-09.2010 |pmid=20053911 |pmc=2844797 }}{{cite journal |last1=Noonan |first1=Michele A. |last2=Choi |first2=Kwang H. |last3=Self |first3=David. W |last4=Eisch |first4=Amelia J. |title=Withdrawal from Cocaine Self-Administration Normalizes Deficits in Proliferation and Enhances Maturity of Adult Generated Hippocampal Neurons |journal=Journal of Neuroscience |date=March 5, 2008 |volume=28 |issue=10 |pages=2516–2526 |doi=10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4661-07.2008 |pmid=18322096 |pmc=6671196 |url=https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/28/10/2516.full.pdf}} impacted the birth of new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis, and what role these newborn cells had in drug addiction.{{cite book |last1=Noonan |first1=Michele Ann |title=The Role of Adult Neurogenesis in Cocaine Addiction |date=January 14, 2009 |publisher=UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences |url=https://utswmed-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2152.5/438/noonanmichele.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y}} In October 2017, Marijuana Venture magazine featured Ross as one of their "Women To Watch" and highlighted her work as a cannabis scientist.{{cite news |last1=Rudolph |first1=Garrett |title=Women To Watch: The Scientist |url=https://www.marijuanaventure.com/michelle-ross/ |publisher=Marijuana Venture |date=October 14, 2017}} In 2019, Ross was a featured speaker along with former NFL player and Celebrity Big Brother star Ricky Williams at SXSW on a panel called Cannabis and Wellness: The Body and Beyond.{{cite news |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |title=SXSW Sets Jessica Brillhart As Film Keynote; Adds Elisabeth Moss, Trevor Noah, And More As Featured Speakers |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/sxsw-jessica-brillhart-elisabeth-moss-trevor-noah-kevin-hart-frank-oz-busy-philipps-south-by-southwest-austin-1202509342/ |publisher=Deadline |date=November 27, 2018}}

= Writing =

In 2012, Ross co-authored a book about the neuroscience of weight loss called Train Your Brain To Get Thin which was chosen by the Today show as one of the top diet books of the year.{{cite news |last1=Fernstrom |first1=Madelyn |title=Science-y or emotional eater? Find the right diet book for you |url=https://www.today.com/health/science-y-or-emotional-eater-find-right-diet-book-you-1B8030573 |publisher=Today Show |date=January 18, 2013}} In 2018 Ross published Vitamin Weed, the first guide for doctors and patients to understanding diseases of endocannabinoid deficiency and why cannabis treats them.{{cite web |last1=Velez |first1=Samantha |title=The 4 Must-Read Cannabis Books of 2020 |url=https://www.veriheal.com/blog/the-4-must-read-cannabis-books-of-2020/ |website=Veriheal|date=8 September 2020 }} In 2019 Ross published a column called Chronically Cannabis for chronic illness network The Mighty.{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Michele |title=Chronically Cannabis With Dr. Michele Ross: How Do I Try Cannabis If It's Not Legal? |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/chronically-cannabis-dr-michele-ross-211841703.html |publisher=The Mighty |date=April 30, 2019}} CBD Oil For Health was published in 2020, featuring 100 different ways to use CBD oil including medical purposes, beauty recipes, and in food. In 2021 Ross published her fourth book Kratom Is Medicine, the first guide for both doctors and patients on the medical use of kratom.

= Entrepreneur =

Ross received her Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology in 2018. She has created several companies, including Infused Health, a platform for cannabis coaching and education,{{cite news |title=Dr. Michele Ross Talks Cannabis for a Healthy, Full Life |url=https://www.3leafedibles.com/dr-michele-ross-cannabis-for-a-healthy-full-life/ |publisher=3Leaf |date=November 22, 2019}} and AURA Therapeutics, the first kratom company focused on women's health.{{cite web |last1=Swift |first1=Alice |title=A Doctor's Plant-Based Toolbox: Treating Chronic Pain with Cannabis and Kratom |url=https://contenthub.gcintelligence.com/a-doctors-plant-based-toolbox-treating-chronic-pain-with-cannabis-and-kratom/ |website=Global Cannabis Intelligence |date=16 February 2022 |access-date=February 16, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Schwind |first1=Wayne |title=CBD, Kratom, and the Science of Plant Medicine |url=https://www.periodiceffects.com/episodes/180 |publisher=Periodic Effects |date=December 17, 2020}} Ross has served as a medical advisor to numerous companies in the cannabis and wellness space.{{cite news |last1=Weed |first1=Julie |title=Cannabis Entrepreneurs Ask For More 'Science' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/julieweed/2018/08/30/cannabis-entrepreneurs-ask-for-more-science/ |work=Forbes |date=August 30, 2018}}

Advocacy

= Cannabis =

Ross is considered one of the top ten influential people in cannabis.{{cite web |title=10 most popular Cannabis Influencers you should check out |url=https://cannabisediblesexpo.com/en/blog/10-most-popular-cannabis-influencers-you-should-check-out-208.htm |website=Cannabis Edibles Expo}}{{cite web |last1=Maganis |first1=Jeffrey |title=Top 10 Cannabis Influencers |url=https://crowdcreate.us/top-10-cannabis-influencers-crowdcreate/ |website=Crowdcreate|date=29 November 2018 }}{{cite web |last1=Braslavskaia |first1=Lana |title=Top 10 Cannabis Influencers |url=https://askgrowers.com/blog/cannabis-influencers |website=Ask Growers|date=16 August 2021 }}{{cite web |title=6 Cannabis Influencers Producing Killer Content Right Now |url=https://www.bluntlifestyle.com/6-cannabis-influencers-producing-killer-content-right-now/ |website=Blunt|date=23 October 2020 }} Ross founded the Endocannabinoid Deficiency Foundation in Los Angeles, California, which later changed to the name IMPACT Network in 2016 after moving to Denver, Colorado. IMPACT Network, a 501c3 nonprofit which stands for Improving Marijuana Policy and Accelerating Cannabis Therapeutics for women worldwide,{{cite web |title=IMPACT Network: Improving Marijuana Policy and Accelerating Cannabinoid Therapeutics |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/46-5540786 |website=Guidestar}} received grant funding from multiple sources including Drug Policy Alliance.{{cite news |last1=Simmons |first1=Kate McKee |title=IMPACT Nets $10,000 Grant for Marijuana Research From the Drug Policy Alliance |url=https://www.westword.com/marijuana/impact-nets-10-000-grant-for-marijuana-research-from-the-drug-policy-alliance-8369413 |publisher=Westword |date=October 4, 2016}} Ross is now a Professor at the Institute of Plant-Assisted Therapy and the Holistic Cannabis Academy.{{cite web |title=The Holistic Cannabis Faculty: Holistic-Minded Health Practitioners |url=https://holisticcanna.com/faculty |website=Holistic Cannabis Academy|date=6 April 2019 }}

= Psychedelics =

Ross is known as being one of the earliest scientists to advocate for psychedelic medicine.{{cite news |title=Psychedelic Drug Researcher Dr. Michele Ross |url=https://profoundlypointless.com/episodes/2020/3/4/psychedelic-drug-researcher-dr-michele-ross |publisher=Profoundly Pointless |date=March 4, 2020}} She gave an interview in 2014 to Emmy-winning journalist Amber Lyon of Reset.Me about DMT,{{cite news|title= If you ingested DMT, crossed into another world and saw 'machine elves,' please take this survey|author=Tom Blackwell|date=April 3, 2018 |newspaper=National Post|location=Toronto}}{{citation|title=Former 'Big Brother' contestant turns to drugs, but in a good way | author=Reilly Capps|date=January 30, 2018| work=Rooster Magazine|url=https://therooster.com/blog/former-big-brother-contestant-turns-drugs-good-way}} which garnered over three million views on Youtube.{{cite web |last1=Lyon |first1=Amber |title=Neuroscientist Describes Her DMT Trip |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqtvuzcL84M |website=Youtube |publisher=Reset.Me}} She was a co-founder of Decriminalize Denver,{{cite news |last1=Awad |first1=Ann Marie |title=Denver May Get To Vote On Whether To Make Magic Mushrooms Legal |url=https://www.cpr.org/2018/03/05/denver-may-get-to-vote-on-whether-to-make-magic-mushrooms-legal/ |publisher=Colorado Public Radio |date=March 5, 2018}} which successfully decriminalized magic mushrooms in the first city in the United States in 2018.

Personal life

Ross currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly before appearing on Big Brother her brother John Osztrogonacz died.{{cite news |title=Connecticut news – Hartford |newspaper=Hartford Courant|location=Hartford, Connecticut|date=April 23, 2009|page=A11|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2009-04-23-5-1-main-11-art1-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709040516/https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2009-04-23-5-1-main-11-art1-story.html|archive-date=July 9, 2021}} Besides having fibromyalgia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),{{cite news |title=Advocating for Patients Through Stories of CBD Healing: An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Michele Ross |url=https://hempzillacbd.com/advocating-for-patients-through-stories-of-cbd-healing-an-exclusive-interview-with-dr-michele-ross/ |publisher=Hempzilla |date=July 29, 2021}} she has struggled with severe pelvic pain and was once put in a psychiatric hold because of it.{{cite news |title='BIG BROTHER' STAR MICHELE ROSS Kaiser Ignored My Pain PLACED ME ON PSYCH HOLD |url=https://www.tmz.com/2014/03/18/michele-ross-big-brother-hospital-kaiser-psychiatric-hold/ |publisher=TMZ |date=March 18, 2014}} Ross says without cannabis, she would have killed herself from pain and depression.{{cite news |title=Neuroscientist Dr. Michele Ross Says Without Cannabis She Would Have Killed Herself |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5YWRP6SbQc |publisher=Cannabis Health Radio |date=May 5, 2017}}

Selected publications

Boyd, Melinda with Michele Noonan (2012). Train Your Brain To Get Thin: Prime Your Gray Cells For Weight Loss, Wellness, and Exercise. {{ISBN|978-1-4405-4015-8}}.
Ross, Michele N. (2018). Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan To Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency. {{ISBN|978-0-692-09066-4}}.
Ross, Michele (2020). CBD Oil For Health: 100 Amazing Benefits and Uses of CBD Oil. {{ISBN|978-1-5072-1398-8}}.
Ross, Michele (2021). Kratom Is Medicine: Natural Relief For Anxiety, Pain, Fatigue, and More. {{ISBN|978-0-578-86646-8}}.