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Cannabis In Trouble: Trump’s New Budget Doubles Down On Drug War

Tony Newman
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Cannabis In Trouble: Trump’s New Budget Doubles Down On Drug War

Earlier this week, President Trump released his Administration’s FY19 budget, alarming drug policy reform advocates by increasing funding for programs most associated with the war on drugs. Just two years ago, President Obama’s budget focused more money on treatment and prevention than enforcement and interdiction. Trump’s budget appears to be a reversal of that approach.

“Trump’s budget proposes new funds for addressing the opioid overdose crisis but far more money is being sought by the president to escalate the war on drugs,” said Grant Smith, Interim Director of Drug Policy Alliance’s Office of National Affairs. “We know from decades of locking people up for drugs that it doesn’t work to curb drug use but Trump’s budget proposes wasting billions of dollars to do exactly that. That money would be much better spent on harm reduction and treatment interventions that actually prevent overdoses and save lives.”

The Most Concerning Aspects Of The Budget:

  • An increase of $400m from the FY17 level enacted by Congress for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – a scandal-ridden agency.
  • $18 billion over two years in funding to build a wall at the border with Mexico with the twin goals of stopping the flow of drugs and immigrants, when evidence shows it will do neither and is an astonishing waste of money designed only to stoke racial tensions and xenophobia.
  • An increase of $5m for Interagency Crime and Drug Enforcement – an entity that coordinates federal agencies to arrest and prosecute drug sellers
  • $50m in funding for an anti-drug media campaign, which Congress eliminated in 2012 after studies showed that the hysterical nature of such campaigns may have led to an increase in drug use.
  • $43m for drug courts, despite mounting evidence that drug courts reject evidence-based approaches to treating drug use, often banning methadone and buprenorphine, and treat drug use as a criminal issue, not a public health issue.
  • A cut of $20m for the Second Chance Act, a program that helps incarcerated individuals to re-enter society upon release

Reagan-Era Program Moved To DEA

It is also deeply concerning to see that the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program is to be moved to the Drug Enforcement Administration. This Reagan-era program incentivizes state and local law enforcement to make drug arrests and then send the bill to the federal government, increasing incarceration and allowing states to shirk fiscal responsibility for their actions. HIDTA should be eliminated, not moved, or at a minimum reformed to ensure the program focuses on high-level traffickers.

While there are net increases in funding to tackle the opioid epidemic, too much of the funding goes towards law enforcement agencies. The section of the budget on federal drug control funding shows that while there is around $900m in increased funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, there is a parallel increase of $775m for the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to carry out drug enforcement activities. The Administration’s claim that it is requesting $13 billion to “combat the opioid epidemic” is overshadowed by the request of $18 billion to build a wall.

Ultimately, the fate of the budget proposal is in the hands of Congress. In recent years, there has been a bipartisan attempt to move us away from the war on drugs. Republicans and Democrats continue to work together on marijuana legalization, sentencing reform and treating the opioid overdose crisis as a public health issue – not a law enforcement one.

This story was first published by the Drug Policy Alliance. 

Cardi B There As Migos’ Offset Lights Up Blunt At New York Fashion Week

Brendan Bures
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Cardi B There As Migos’ Offset Lights Up Blunt At New York Fashion Week

When your brand’s being an avant-garde iconoclast, you don’t change that brand for no one. Regardless of setting, situation, and stars involved, be yourself. Which, I think, explains why Offset of the Migos decided to light up a blunt in the front row of New York Fashion Week.

This wasn’t no IDGAF mood, but careful brand management. (We’re onto you, Offset.) An atmosphere that can be as cloying and rigid as NYFW (a compliment, by the way) forces most celebrities to assume the posture, but Offset, thankfully, did not bow to such meaningless respectability politics.

Here is how The Cut describes the scene:

In the middle of the Prabal Gurung show — which was inspired by two female-dominated societies: the matriarchal Mosuo tribe of China, and India’s activist Gulabi Gang — Offset decided to blow off some steam. He proceeded to light something up front row and take a couple puffs. Although we were too far away to confirm the substance, we can take a wild guess what it was.

Offset’s fiancée and fellow rap superstar, Cardi B, simply laughed it off, with the same eye-rolling gesture your partner delivers when you decide to bust a move at their friend’s wedding. Offset pulled off this gesture seated next to Laverne Cox and Huma Abedin, no less. He also performed at designer Philipp Plein’s show.

Cardi B deserves a special mention as well. One of Alexander Wang’s photographers documented Cardi sitting next to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who was smiling.*

*Historians can not recall the last known event of such a seismic occurrence.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfChJN9gYJ2/?utm_source=ig_embed

People In This Small English Town Are Worried About ‘Graveyard Sex’

Amy Hansen
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People In This Small English Town Are Worried About ‘Graveyard Sex’

Residents of a small town in England are worried that a proposed new wine bar would lead to unspeakable behavior, including more graveyard sex (you read that correctly, more graveyard sex).

This is all going down in the town of Ware, Hertfordshire, where locals gathered at a public forum to voice their concerns over plans for a wedding shop to transform into a wine bar.

The fear here is that once people get all sauced up on wine, they’re going to go crazy, specifically in the (g)raveyard. And also, drunks rolling around in their own urine like pigs in mud. And according to the Hertfordshire Mercury, council members also shared their fears, including the fact that the wine bar would ‘attract people from Enfield,’ a borough 15 miles away in north London.

One resident who lives nearby told the Hertfordshire Mercury:

In the graveyard I’ve seen people having sex, we’ve had people weeing in our doorway, we’ve seen ladies in the alleyway opposite squat weeing, falling over and rolling in their wee — and that’s just with the current bars that are there. If more are introduced, especially an establishment so big that could cater for so many more customers, we are really concerned that that will adversely impact what is happening outside.

Another resident said that problems in the graveyard have been ongoing for years and that having a wine bar that could potentially add to that hooligan behavior ”is just not even worth thinking about.”

https://giphy.com/gifs/thechive-awkward-date-graveyard-xTiTnkWVDkGyrWVQhq

District councilman Mark Pope agreed the building is not suitable, by way of it’s sheer mass: “I’d be concerned as to what is happening elsewhere in the premises because it’s one hell of a wine bar, more than 3,000, 4,000 square feet.”

Other council members said police didn’t have the manpower to deal with more ruffians. And that the building where the wine bar would be located is ‘not considered suitable,’ and that it would make for better office space.

A change of use application to convert Rankin House, the former home of the Clifford Burr bridal shop, has been submitted to the council, whether they like it or not.

New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Program Is About To Change For The Better

Mary Schumacher
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New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Program Is About To Change For The Better

During Gov. Phil Murphy’s first week in office, he ordered a review of New Jersey’s floundering medical marijuana program, which had been under the thumb of cannabis-bashing, former governor Chris Christie.

In fact, when Murphy announced his 60-day review, he confirmed the program creates unnecessary hurdles for patients. And if you’re a patient, an activist or simply paying attention, you agree wholeheartedly.

“It was a program designed to keep people out of it. It’s a program that’s not meeting the needs of the patients,” said CEO of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, Ken Wolski.

So, what may the new law hold for patients in the Garden State? Greater access is at the top of the list. In other medical cannabis states, conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, arthritis and chronic pain are accepted, and this could be the case for Jersey sooner than later. An increase in the number of accepted ailments will almost certainly mean an increase from the 15,000 patients statewide that Jersey currently hosts.

More dispensaries are also on the list. New Jersey is home to around nine million people. There are currently five dispensaries statewide. If more people are going to have access to the herb, more locations are a must. Plus, as the industry becomes viable, dispensaries will be key pieces to the puzzle.

As it stands now, New Jerseyans who qualify for medical cannabis can use up to two ounces of medical marijuana per month. While that may be plenty for some, other patients require more to quell their symptoms and live a normal life. Phil Murphy has talked about expanding limits and has even mentioned the possibility of home delivery to patients.

The stigmafied doctors’ list could be out the window and more edible products may be in. Costs may be going down and a healthy timeline to pot prosperity may be in the works. We must wait for it all to play out, but these are optimistic times for patients in New Jersey.

Meghan Markle Dishes On Her Upcoming Bachelorette Party Plans

Amy Hansen
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Meghan Markle Dishes On Her Upcoming Bachelorette Party Plans

Meghan Markle will be walking down the aisle (presumably) saying “I do” to Prince Harry in just three months time, which means she has another celebration on her mind: her bachelorette party.

As PEOPLE reports, during the couple’s first joint visit to Scotland on Tuesday, Markle revealed that while she didn’t know all of the details of the big bash her close friends are throwing for her, she did admit that “it’s sorted.”

During the couple’s visit, Tom Martin, who traveled from London for a glimpse of the newlyweds-to-be, told PEOPLE, “We asked them what they were doing for their stag and hen dos, Meghan said, ‘I’m not sure — it’s sorted but it will be fun.’ “

Harry, on the other hand, had even less to say:

“I’m sure William’s got something up his sleeve,” he said. Maybe if you asked him to be your best man, Harry, it would speed things up!

One woman in the crowd got to converse with Markle, complimented her on her nails, saying, “Wow, look at your nails, that’s pretty fantastic!”

https://twitter.com/AshleighMeikle/status/963394133267288064

Prince Harry and his bride will be getting married on May 19 at 7 a.m. EST. Kensington Palace recently released an itinerary for the big event, which includes a carriage ride around town and an after-party for close friends and family.

Study: Alcohol More Harmful To The Brain Than Marijuana

Mike Adams
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Study: Alcohol More Harmful To The Brain Than Marijuana

One of the most popular selling points for legal marijuana is that it is safer than alcohol. Although you’d be hard pressed to convince US Attorney General Jeff Sessions of this, there is a growing body of evidence that shows Americans could be leading healthier lives by replacing booze with bud.

In fact, the latest study shows that marijuana is less of a detriment to the human brain that its boozy counterpart. So, is it possible that more people could keep their mental faculties longer by switching to marijuana?

According to the scientific minds at the University of Colorado-Boulder, the answer is yes. And they have the data to prove it.

In a recent exploration of hundreds of teenagers and adults, researchers set out to learn more about how inebriating substances affect the brain. What they discovered was alcohol caused lower levels of grey and white matter tissue. Both of these components are essential for healthy brain function. This is bad news for people with a history of alcohol use. But there is a silver lining. The study found that marijuana did not cause any long-term structural changes to the brain.

Co-study author Kent Hutchinson told Medical News Today that marijuana consumption has “nowhere near the negative consequences as alcohol.”

There is still a lot the scientific community does not know about marijuana. But with each dig into the cannabis plant, we are learning that it has more pros than cons. The latest study, which was published in the journal Addiction, only seems to further support marijuana being safer than alcohol. But not everyone in a white lab coat is excited over the findings. This is due to a lack of consistency on the subject from study to study.

“When you look at these studies going back years, you see that one study will report that marijuana use is related to a reduction in the volume of the hippocampus [a region of the brain associated with memory and emotions]…The next study then comes around, and they say that marijuana use is related to changes in the cerebellum or the whatever,” Hutchinson said.

Although more research is needed before we fully understand what marijuana and alcohol does to the brain, most Americans are already convinced that weed is the smarter choice.

Earlier this year, a report from global research firm DIG Insights found that 30 percent of the population believes alcohol is “very harmful,” while only 16 percent felt the same about marijuana. Considering the health trends we have witnessed over the years, it is conceivable that marijuana could one day become the inebriant of choice in the United States. Unfortunately, the federal government will need to legalize the leaf at the nation level before these types of changes ever have a chance at happening.

I Tried Hygia Water-Soluble CBD And This Is What Happened

Danielle Guercio
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I Tried Hygia Water-Soluble CBD And This Is What Happened

Now that CBD is mostly recognized as legal in over half of US states, it’s available in many places, but it can be hard to determine what is a quality product with cannabidiol, and what is simply inert hemp oil. We’re going through so many growing pains to achieve a baseline concept of accessible medication for our country, and CBD is one product market that is taking off in two directions, rapidly.

Hygia is trying to break all of the molds and get us to a more happy place in dozens of ways. The supplements I tried are fully water-soluble CBD capsules and concentrates. Hopefully, they can bring the awesome wellness power of cannabidiol and hemp oil. Developed to maximize convenience and access for people who need it most, I finally got to try them to form my own opinions.

I’ve tried CBD before, and even noticed results, but something about being able to pop a capsule and hit the road (or the pillow) is speaking to my hectic lifestyle. People that don’t have inflammation and pain issues are #blessed. For me, its 14 days out of every month trying to find ways to take fewer NSAIDs, and add a few more days if I’ve had more than three alcoholic drinks in 24 hours. Since overdoing even over-the-counter pills can have longterm repercussions, finding harmless and non-intoxicating alternatives is as attractive as it is humane.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

I took a Hygia CBD capsule each night for 30 days, taking a second one for any instances of pain or distress, and it really improved my quality of life. In fact, I don’t know if I can go another month without using CBD to offset my dozens of Aleve each month, or to take down a hangover or menstrual pain when my usual remedies aren’t cutting it.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

The CBD experiences I had in the past were markedly similar to those with traditional cannabis or THC infused products. Tinctures, vapes, strains, and edibles are all fun and all, but they don’t fit into a daily lifestyle for me like capsules could. Winterlife 50/50 CBD/THC Tincture sticks out as a product I liked.

Though it was a post surgery helper, I wish I could have gotten four to five times the CBD without adding THC to the mix. Hygia’s small capsules are easy to slip in my normal vitamin routine, and help stretch one dose of naproxen far longer than I thought possible.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

If you asked me before to endorse cannabidiol, I’d have told you how it slowed a hangover and softened acute pain. Now I know that it also helps with chronic pain, distracted days, the morning after too much bubbly, and headaches that can make you a monster. Pretty much anytime you feel like junk, throw some cannabidiol in the mix, and you’ll notice some improvement without feeling intoxicated. Hygia’s water soluble capsules made that possible for me without the feeling or “ritual” that you’re having a cannabis product.

Photos: Danielle Guercio

This Cannabis Compound Has Been Shown To Successfully Treat Brain Injury

Terry Hacienda
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This Cannabis Compound Has Been Shown To Successfully Treat Brain Injury

The human body’s endocannabinoid system does miraculous things — such as protecting our nervous system in times of trauma. That is the finding of a team of scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, whose research suggests that rats and mice subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI) showed significantly better recovery when treated with cannabinoid compounds.

2-Arachidonoylglycerol — or 2-AG — is an endocannabinoid, an a naturally occurring compound created by you body. 2-AG is found at relatively high levels in the central nervous system — and for good reason.

Traumatic brain injury or TBI is just that, damage to the brain caused by an external force. Although much of the mention of this condition has been recently related to football players and veterans of war zones, it affects people of ages, from all walks of life.

More than two million visits to the ER each year are related to TBI events like concussion from auto accidents, falls and assaults. Falls account in 50 percent of TBI in children under 14 years old and over 60 percent of seniors. It is the leading cause of  disability and premature death in the world. The economic impact in the US alone has been estimated at $75 billion a year.

In a recent study, 2-AG was released in the brains of mice following brain injury, though not enough to protect the damaged brain. The fact that 2-AG is released naturally following a brain injury made the team question whether more would be better.

A single dose of plant derived 2-AG was administered to brain damaged mice. The mice who received treatment improved in cognitive function, motor function and every parameter they examined, even months later. The study was a fantastic success. Of course, in a lab setting the scientists had the advantage of being able to administer the dose of 2-AG shortly after brain injury, a key element in the success that could be harder to implement in a real life setting.

This study has serious clout. It was led by a top team from Hebrew University in Israel including the godfather of cannabis research, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, who first identified THC.

Trey Reckling contributed to this story.

This Artist Puts A Camera Inside Her Vagina And Takes Photos Of Lovers

Maria Loreto
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This Artist Puts A Camera Inside Her Vagina And Takes Photos Of Lovers

Putting a camera inside your vagina to take photographs of people might sound like the most complicated thing in the world, but it kind of makes sense when you read why Dani Lessnau came up with this inventive and intimate method of photography.

Taking a page out of Ann Hamilton’s project Face to Face, in which the artist takes pictures of subjects by placing a camera inside her mouth, Dani Lessnau’s series of photographs titled Extimité tries to embody the female gaze, questioning and exploring what that term even means.

In an interview with Dazed magazine, she reveals that by inserting a pin hole camera inside her vagina, she becomes one with the camera, creating her own version of the female gaze without feeling like she’s imitating other photographers and power dynamics.

By following this method, she becomes vulnerable herself while still retaining her power, getting rid of the hierarchy that exists between the subject and the photographer.

Lessnau explains that she uses a pinhole camera because they can be made at home and they contain no lenses, allowing her to embody the role of the camera. She also explains why she chose to use film, claiming that it’s a physical object and that it represents an impression, which she links to relationships and the way in which people leave a mark on each other.

You can read the full interview here, and check out her photographs on her website.

This Girl Scout Sold 300 Boxes Of Cookies Outside Marijuana Shop

Brendan Bures
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This Girl Scout Sold 300 Boxes Of Cookies Outside Marijuana Shop

Believe in the kids, bro. One enterprising Girl Scout had the innovative scheme of her short lifetime when she established shop outside a San Diego marijuana dispensary. Her father told FOX 4 News that she sold more than 300 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in just six hours.

Related: These Cannabis Baking Kits Will Soon Be A Thing

The San Diego shop Urbn Leaf posted an Instagram of the girl holding a box of cookies promoting her entrepreneurial spirit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BetbYbtlNEH/?utm_source=ig_embed

“I think our customers loved it,” Urbn Leaf’s Savannah Rakofsky said to Mashable. “They went out and bought boxes.”

Related: This Is Why You Get More Work Done In A Coffee Shop Vs. Your Office

Not everyone loved it unfortunately. As news spread of this young girl’s impressive feat, the Girl Scouts of San Diego informed the San Diego Union-Tribune that setting up shop in front of the dispensary was against the rules. Why? Because the girl didn’t have a permit and “the dispensary is not an approved site for booth sales.”

Apparently, the rules surrounding enterprising Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of weed shops is a hot topic indeed. It may surprise you that the rules change depending by the state. Whereas the Girl Scouts of Colorado prohibit the selling of cookies at marijuana or liquor storefronts, the Oregon chapter says it’s not against the rules.

Girl Scout Cookies were originally home baked by girl members with moms volunteering as technical advisers. The sale of cookies to finance troop activities began as early as 1917, five years after Juliette Gordon Low started Girl Scouts in the United States. The Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma, baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project.

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