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Forget Snowman: Build These 8 Snow Creatures This Winter

Do you want to build a snowman? Well too bad because we’re not watching Frozen anymore, baby.

Every year, snow falls, and kids across the world are instructed by multi-billion media corporations and their parents to build snowman. Roll one large ball, one medium ball, one small ball, then stack them one atop another. Add some sticks for legs, a carrot for nose, and…BORING.

Stop using tradition as an excuse to never change. Fresh snow is one of the most malleable substances possible so why keep building snowman instead of getting creative? Build whatever you want in this world, you know?

If you need somewhere to start, follow the lead of these wonderful Twitter users. Construct cats, dogs, or even a turnip this winter season. Here are the eight best things you can build with snow beside a snowman.

Snowlady

https://twitter.com/muppetaphrodite/status/945524401964908544

Cat

A Puppy

https://twitter.com/min_ssss/status/945154452327079936

…Or a Puppers!

Snow Dalek (?)

Turnip

Kirby

Or you could obviously make a Rhinodinohorncorn

https://twitter.com/charlotte__a_r/status/945843634720657410

San Fran Launches Marijuana Education Campaign Aimed At Kids

As California gets used to legalized cannabis, the city of San Francisco announced an education campaign to teach teenagers the “facts and risks to support healthy decisions in this new era.”

Barbara Garcia, San Francisco’s Director of Health, said her goal is to keep the city’s youth from abstaining from the herb.

“With the loosening of restrictions for adults, and the expected surge in cannabis businesses and advertising, it is crucial that teenagers know the facts,” said Barbara Garcia, San Francisco Health Director. “Young people are smart. We need to support them with clear information about the new law, the risks of cannabis use and how to withstand the influence of targeted advertising.”

The campaign, which will begin early next year, will include social media PSAs and will be tested by youth focus groups.

Youth consumption of cannabis in San Francisco is lower than the national average. Seventy-one percent of San Francisco high school students have never used cannabis, compared to 59 percent of their counterparts nationwide, according to a 2015 study by the National Drug Early Warning System.

San Francisco Unified School District data show that 83 percent of high school students are not current users of cannabis and 93 percent of middle school students are not. The results are an aggregation of the CDC’s National Youth Health Behavioral Survey, administered by the school district from 2009 to 2015, showing trends over time.

“Using cannabis is not something that every teenager does, despite the myths and messages to the contrary,” Garcia said. “We’d like to keep it that way and support youth in their decision making. We want to make sure they know that cannabis is still illegal if you’re under 21.”

Disparities among youth who consume are emerging and give cause for concern. In San Francisco high schools, American Indian, African American and white students reported the highest rates of use, at 49 percent, 37 percent and 35 percent, respectively. Also, 29 percent of Latino and 27 percent of Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students reported current use. Asian students tended to have lower rates, with 3 percent of Chinese students reporting current use of cannabis, 14 percent of Filipinos and 12 percent of other Asian students. Boys and girls report similar consumption, but disparities exist in terms of sexual orientation, with LGBT students reporting a higher rate of cannabis use than other students.

“Delaying cannabis consumption is the smart thing you can do for your brain, which is still developing into your 20s,” said Dr. Tomas Aragon, San Francisco Health Officer. “While you are young, cannabis can harm your memory and ability to learn and pay attention. It also impairs driving, and you can get a DUI by driving high.”

California voters approved Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, in November 2016. The law makes it legal for people 21 and older to use, possess and make non-medical cannabis available for retail sale. The San Francisco Office of Cannabis oversees the local program, and the Health Department will support it through health education and assessment, environmental health monitoring and inspection, and care for people who develop medical or substance use problems related to recreational cannabis.

The Health Department’s Health Impact Assessment of Adult Use Cannabis Legalization in San Francisco highlights additional health issues to watch, including:

  • The locations of cannabis retailers, so that low-income neighborhoods, communities of color and the youth who live there are not disproportionately impacted, as in the case of liquor stores and tobacco retailers.
  • The strength and proper dosing of edibles, which take time to affect a consumer and can lead to unintentional poisoning causing extreme discomfort, disorientation, emergency room visits and hospitalization.
  • The impact of advertising on youth. State law prohibits any advertising or marketing of cannabis or cannabis products on an advertising sign within 1,000 feet a daycare center, school providing instruction in kindergarten or any grades 1 through 12, playground, or youth center.

Why Being A Vegetarian Will Be Easier In 2018

Tyson Foods is one of the biggest meat companies in the US and one of the main competitors in the industry for more than 80 years. Some meat purists’ eyebrows were raised when CEO Tom Hayes stated that the future of the meat industry lies with plant-based proteins.

The Huffington Post reports that Tyson Foods is now investing in Beyond Meat, a startup from California that has the support of important members of the industry, such as a former McDonald’s CEO. If everything goes according to plan, Beyond Meat will provide meats for Tyson Foods and big franchises such as TGIFriday’s, who’ll have the option on their menus at some point in 2018.

Cargill, the third largest US meat packer, and Maple Leaf Foods, a Canadian company, are also investing in other startups that make plant based proteins. With ethical concerns, support from celebrities, and a general interest in leading healthier lives, it seems like plant based proteins are the next big thing when it comes to food. Beyond Meat’s CEO Ethan Brown believes that these changes are due to health concerns. The World Health Organization claims that consuming processed red meats is linked to different kinds of cancers and other health issues. On the other hand, plant based proteins also offer a solution when it comes to global warming.

You can watch a video of this magic meat doing it’s thing below.

How Marijuana Can Help Tinnitus And Neuronal Hyperactivity

Tinnitus is a common form of hearing disorder that seems more a form of auditory overactivity than hearing loss. The street definition is “persistent ringing in the ears.” But the phantom sound can be a buzzing, hissing, whistling, whooshing, or even clicking.

The word itself is pronounced in several ways, but the American Tinnitus Association wants you to know that smart people call it TINN-a-tus.

Ringing in the ears can accompany normal age-related hearing loss or be caused by loud noises or the lodging in the ear of various cruds or stuffs, including dirt, hair, and wax (ick!); it can also be a symptom of any number of medical conditions, including high blood pressure, neck or jaw injury, a blow to the brain, or even medication.

One alternative, and controversial, theory is that tinnitus is a form of hyperactivity in the auditory parts of the brain, which is struggling to compensate for hearing loss. Accordingly, anti-epileptic medication has been tried as a tinnitus treatment, to mixed results.

Because cannabis can quell seizures and both CB1 and CB2 receptors have been found in the parts of the brainstem that process sound, it seems quite reasonable that cannabis might have some effect on tinnitus. The question is, however, whether that effect is helpful or harmful.

So far there has been very little research on cannabis and tinnitus. In fact, everything I’ve managed to find ties back to Dr. Yiwen Zheng of University of Otago, New Zealand. (She’s even the one who discovered CB2 receptors in the brainstem vestibular and cochlear nuclei.) Zheng’s focus is on the role of the central nervous system in tinnitus, and cannabinoid studies constitute only a fraction of her work, but what she has found is not especially hopeful.

In a 2010 study, Zheng found that two synthetic cannabinoids (used only in lab research) did not help mice with tinnitus. In deed, in the right (the wrong?) dose, “they could actually exacerbate” it. In 2015, she ran a similar experiment using THC and CBD and concluded: “cannabinoids may promote the development of tinnitus, especially when there is pre-existing hearing damage.”

Obviously, these studies are far from conclusive. Perhaps one day the endocannabinoid system will provide the key to treating tinnitus. But the evidence so far strongly implies that smoking bud will not be part of that regimen.

Gossip: Meghan Markle Wore This Beautiful Velvet Dress For Her First Royal Christmas; 3% Of Millennials Believe Mariah Carey Wrote ‘Auld Lang Syne’

Having recently worn a bespoke Philip Treacy felt hat for the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham and a couture Ralph & Russo gown (estimated to cost a whopping $75,000!) for her official engagement photos, Meghan Markle toned it down for Christmas.

According to reports, the 36-year-old bagged a bargain when it came to searching for the perfect outfit for her first royal Christmas with Prince Harry last week.

The Sun reports the Californian beauty chose a burgundy ‘Tay’ velvet dress from Canadian clothes brand Club Monaco for lunch at Sandringham with the Queen, which costs approximately $298.

Hidden under a Sentaler wide-collar camel coat during her public appearance on Christmas Day, the dress features short, ruffled sleeves, a belted waist, and cuts just below the knee.

Taking to Instagram, a representative from Club Monaco said: “A very short term #fbf to Christmas Day when we got a peek at the lovely @meghanmarkle wearing our velvet Tay dress to visit the royal family.”

A very short-term #fbf to Christmas Day when we got a peek at the lovely @meghanmarkle wearing our velvet Tay dress to visit the royal family.

3% Of Millennials Believe Mariah Carey Wrote ‘Auld Lang Syne’

“Auld Lang Syne” has long been a traditional part of the annual celebrations, especially in Scotland.

But a new poll has found some people are very confused about the anthem’s origins.

Written in 1788 by Scottish poet Robert Burns, the song is set to the tune of a traditional folk song and is sung to say farewell to the past 12 months.

A new poll, however, has found the three per cent of 18-24-year-olds believe Mariah Carey wrote the song.

45 percent of those polled also thought Snoop Dogg’s lyrics to his song New Year’s Eve – “And every time I see you shine. It’s like the lights of midnight. On New Year’s Eve” – were part of the song.

40 percent of those polled mistakenly identified lyrics from The Beatles songs as Auld Lang Syne, 60 percent thought Abba lyrics were from the song, and 34 percent thought Taylor Swift lyrics were sung.

Love the fresh dirt we bring over daily from Naughty Gossip? Let us know in the comments!

Happy New Year California, Now Go Buy Some Cannabis!

On January 1, legal sales of recreational cannabis began in California. Thousands of people waited in line, many of them overnight, to be of the first to purchase legal weed through a dispensary.

Californians voted in legal marijuana in November of 2016, and it’s been legal since, but purchasing it at a retail location wasn’t a possibility until New Year’s Day 2018.

This marks a very exciting time for cannabis users across the nation. California is the sixth state to allow recreational sales and with seven states and Washington, DC, legalized totally and 29 states all together having some sort of legalization, from medical to recreational, the future looks bright indeed.

It seems that every time a state legalizes it the naysayers are wondering what about the children? And what about drugged driving? But statistics from the last several years of legalized cannabis in states like Colorado show that youth usage has not risen and the number of fatal car accidents has not spiked. In the least. Day one raids didn’t happen and cannabis connoisseurs are simply becoming more savvy.

Imagine the excitement in the air! Activists and advocates have been waiting with bated breath for California to begin recreational sales. To be able to walk into a dispensary, just because one enjoys the enhancement benefits of cannabis. To see all the goodies lining the shelves: tinctures, oils, edibles, flowers, salves and other craft cannabis wares. To not have to worry about being arrested on the way home with your purchases next to you in the car.

Across the state, over 400 marijuana businesses have licenses and another 1,800 are waiting in the wings for processing to go through. 165 cultivation licenses have also been distributed with more expected on the horizon.

And though this all sounds nice and breezy, the state has been working nonstop since legalization passed in order to have everything ready by the January 1, 2018 deadline. Event organizers to testing labs, retailers to distributors, all now follow sets of complex rules to regulate the industry.

All in all, it is beyond a historic landmark for California, which was the first state to legalize medical cannabis in 1996. With California hypothetically being the sixth largest economy in the world, cannabis legalization is bound to only expand their numbers and boost the economy even further.

Will Labor Unions Be Part Of California’s Cannabis Industry?

It’s a sure sign that the cannabis industry will be a big one in California: Labor unions are poised to represent the employees  — from field workers to rollers to drivers to retailers — working in the business.

According to a story published Tuesday in the Los Angeles Times:

The United Farm Workers, Teamsters and United Food and Commercial Workers are looking to unionize the tens of thousands of potential workers involved in the legal weed game, from planters to rollers to sellers. The move could provide a boost to organized labor’s lagging membership — if infighting doesn’t get in the way.

The United Farm Workers, co-founded by iconic labor leader Cesar Chavez, says that organizing an industry rooted in agriculture is a natural fit, and that growers could label their products with the union’s logo as a marketing strategy.

“If you’re a cannabis worker, the UFW wants to talk with you,” national Vice President Armando Elenes said.

Other labor unions are also examining the possibility. The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which represents grocery store employees, meat packers and retail workers, plans on organizing workers. “We would hope they respect our jurisdiction,” UFCW spokesman Jeff Ferro told the Times.

Last year, the City College of San Francisco teamed up with Oaksterdam University —a ground-breaking marijuana trade school located across the bay in Oakland —and the UFCW to create a unique de facto apprenticeship program in the school’s Pharmacology Technology department.

The UFCW represents 1.3 million members nationally, with most of its workers in the grocery, pharmacy and retail business. Labor leaders estimate recreational cannabis in the Golden State could employ at least 100,000 workers. California has the largest number of unionized workers in the US.

Where Is The Best Place To Live For Medical Marijuana Patients?

In a comprehensive, 89-page report on the status of access for medical marijuana patients in the US, California, Illinois and Michigan ranked highest.

The report, “Medical Marijuana Access in the United States,” was released by Americans For Safe Access, a 15-year-old organization whose mission is to “ensure safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research.”

The three top states received grades of B+ from the organization. Sixteen states received F- grades; the three states with the lowest overall scores were Tennessee, Wisconsin and Missouri.

According to the ASA research, more than 300 million Americans live in states with medical marijuana laws – nearly 85 percent of the U.S. population. ASA estimates that these programs  — now in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia and the territories of Puerto Rico and Guam — serve about two million patients.

“Medical cannabis laws are moving in a positive direction, but only a handful of the 44 medical cannabis states are truly meeting the needs of patients, and there are still six states where cannabis remains completely illegal for patients,” Steph Sherer, executive director of Americans for Safe Access, said in a statement.

“In short, we’re seeing a lot of progress, but the fight is far from over. As of 2017, no state cannabis laws are within the ‘A’ range,” Sherer said. “Only a small minority of states currently include ASA’s criteria of protections and rights that we believe all patients should be afforded under the law.”

This is the second year that ASA conducted the data-intensive report. This report is designed to help state lawmakers and regulators learn from the successes and challenges by the patchwork regulations and get an objective evaluation of their own program.

The report uses a point system to grade each medical marijuana law on:

  1. Patients’ rights and protection from discrimination
  2. Access to medicine
  3. Ease of navigation
  4. Functionality
  5. Product safety protocols

Here are the letter-grades for all 44 states and Washington, D.C. that have medical marijuana programs:

Alabama (F-), Alaska (D-), Arizona (B-), Arkansas (B-), California (B+), Colorado (B-), Connecticut (B-), Delaware (C+), Florida (B-), Georgia (F-), Hawai’i (B), Illinois (B+), Iowa (F-), Kentucky (F-), Louisiana (F-), Maine (B), Maryland (C), Massachusetts (B-), Michigan (B+), Minnesota (C-), Mississippi (F-), Missouri (F-), Montana (B), Nevada (B), New Hampshire (B-), New Jersey (C), New Mexico (B), New York (C), North Carolina (F-), North Dakota (C), Ohio (B), Oklahoma (F-), Oregon (B), Pennsylvania (B-), Rhode Island (C+), South Carolina (F-), Tennessee (F-), Texas (F-), Utah (F-), Vermont (C-), Virginia (F-), Washington (C-), Wisconsin (F-), Wyoming (F-), and the District of Columbia (B-).

Read the full 89-page report here.

California’s 5 Worst Counties for Recreational Marijuana

California cannabis clients are constantly asking us questions like, “where in California should I set up my cannabis business? Which California cities and counties are the friendliest towards cannabis? Who is regulating now for what I want to do?”

There have been countless reports of how California’s medical and adult use cannabis markets under the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act and the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (now, combined under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA“)) will generate billions of dollars in revenue. Unless more California cities and counties allow commercial cannabis activity within their borders, these numbers will prove far too high.

California cannabis clients are constantly asking us questions like, “where in California should I set up my cannabis business? Which California cities and counties are the friendliest towards cannabis? Who is regulating now for what I want to do?” And though the list of “welcoming” cities and counties continues to change, it seems the worst cities and counties for cannabis continue to remain the same, despite the will of the voters and the actions of the California legislature.

When it comes to cannabis the below is my list of the five worst California cities and counties for commercial cannabis activity — not shockingly, most on this list are in Southern California:

Los Angeles County

The most populous county in the United States has for a long time had a complicated relationship with cannabis. Though at one point Los Angeles County passed comprehensive regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries, (which remain in the County Code to this day) it has since instituted a ban on dispensaries and, as of 2016, it has also banned all commercial marijuana activities within unincorporated areas of the County. In March of last year, the County voted to shut down all illegal dispensaries and it has vigorously pursued those shutdowns. It also adopted an ordinance that makes it explicitly illegal for landlords to rent to any marijuana operators. And just this month, the County again voted to extend the ban for an entire year on all marijuana-related business activity, though with this vote the County for the first time also outlined “reasonable regulations” for personal use of marijuana for medical purposes by individual patients. There is though some light at the end of the tunnel since the County expects eventually to pass comprehensive regulation for marijuana businesses. Though the MAUCRSA does not require local government approval of your cannabis business before you receive a California state license, eventual compliance with local laws is still required in the state licensing process. What this means is that unless and until L.A. County sets up its regulatory scheme, we shouldn’t expect a lot (or any) state-licensed or locally permitted commercial marijuana activity in the County.

City of Riverside

In 2013, the City of Riverside won a landmark case before the California Supreme Court upholding its right to ban medical marijuana collectives within its borders under Proposition 215. And since the MAUCRSA does not prohibit cities and counties from banning marijuana businesses, Riverside is keeping with its prohibitions against cannabis businesses within city limits. City of Riverside voters rejected a 2015 ballot measure that would have allowed and regulated a small number of dispensaries in the City and since 2007, Riverside has shuttered 118 dispensaries — giving it the supposed distinction of being the only California city with a 100 percent closure rate. Riverside is keeping its ban on medical marijuana businesses in place for now, and though it has yet to make a decision about adult-use marijuana businesses, we can fairly safely predict that too will be a no-go.

Orange County

Though beloved cannabis reformer (and author of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher hails from the OC, his home county and most of its cities are pretty bad when it comes to allowing for/regulating commercial cannabis activity. Orange County banned dispensaries (and all other medical marijuana activity) in 2010 after the Sheriff’s Department submitted a report to County supervisors stating that “dispensaries [were] responsible for an uptick in robberies, burglaries, weapons violations and money laundering.” Though some OC cities allow for small home grows for qualified patients and their primary caregivers, most OC cities (including its largest city, Anaheim)do not allow any commercial cannabis activity or they charge an arm and a leg for it (see Costa Mesa‘s approximately $94,000.00 price tag for cannabis permitting). And let’s not forget that botched dispensary raid in Santa Ana in 2015. Back in January of this year, the County did begin talking about regulation of marijuana businesses after passage of Proposition 64 but so far nothing has come of that discussion and OC cities mostly continue to opt for prohibition.

Marin County

When it comes to cannabis business regulation and Marin County, two words come to mind: drama and disappointment. In December 2015, Marin County passed an ordinance (effective in February of 2016) giving its Board of Supervisors authority to license medical cannabis dispensaries in unincorporated Marin. This ordinance allowed up to four dispensaries in two zoned areas. Ten applications were submitted to the Marin County Board of Supervisors and open to public hearings. The County Administrator, Matthew Hymel, rejected all ten of the applications pretty much over substantive concerns with each application and because residents were concerned about having an over concentration of brick and mortar dispensaries within the county. Eight of the ten applicants appealed that decision and Hymel rejected all of those appeals. To date, the County hasn’t picked up the torch again on a revised approach to regulating marijuana dispensaries or other commercial cannabis activity.

City Of Pasadena

If you can’t beat ’em, take away their resources. This is what Pasadena has done in a concerted effort to choke out and shut down illegally operating cannabis businesses within its city limits. It was reported that, as of May of this year, “. . . there are 12 shops in Pasadena that sell marijuana . . . None of them have permits to operate. One of two dealers with numerous citations for illegal distribution said through it attorney that it will not stop selling pot until ordered to do so by a court. Even after sending cease and desist letters and suing half of the operators, these shops still are not closing their doors. In response, Pasadena decided through an ordinance to shut off utilities to illegal operators to force them to close (not surprisingly, Anaheim and L.A. have also used this tactic). Pasadena makes my list not because it is trying to enforce its own laws but because it has not given immediate or emergency regulation a shot. Instead, it’s choosing to waste additional time and tax payer dollars shuttering operators it could have re-located, regulated and taxed.

Hilary Bricken is a partner at Harris Bricken, a law firm with lawyers in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Beijing. This story was originally published on the Canna Law Blog

5 Fantastic Tech Trends To Look Out For In 2018

Technology can be unpredictable. While it’s easy to foresee some updates in our smartphones and computers, it gets more complicated when we start discussing other types of technology. Remember 3-D TVs? Flying cars? Yeah, we’re still waiting for those.

This doesn’t mean that we’ll never have flying cars, or 3D TVs. They probably will happen, we just don’t know when. The following trends collected by Technology Radar have a lot of support from experts, making us believe that they will actually happen in the following year or in the very near future.

Check out the 2018’s 5 coolest tech trends that should have us all excited:  

Electric Cars

https://giphy.com/gifs/electric-exchange-exhibit-HOroXbWi5imWs

While electric cars have existed for a while, 2018 will be the year when their technology will peak and we’ll see many more. While it’ll take a lot of time for regular cars, driven by oil and gas, to stop being the main type of vehicle, many countries believe that in 20 years their use will be banned, so 2018 marks an important time for people to start believing in electric cars and for big car companies to start developing their own versions of them.

The Downfall Of Apple And Samsung

https://giphy.com/gifs/iphone-ron-swanson-cell-phone-xTiTnzvzlEj5vD3Tkk

ABI Research believes that we’re entering a new era of smartphones, where Google and Amazon will reign with their AI, augmented reality, and smart voice products. It’s believed that Apple, Samsung, and many other companies will trail behind because they don’t have the necessary tech to stay at the head of the pack.

More Streaming Services

https://giphy.com/gifs/elizabeth-grant-4iZrdMLXJcxb2

Digital downloads are dying. Apple, Amazon, and Google are now interested in developing and improving their own streaming services and in trying to beat Spotify, the king of streaming music services. Apple’s just bought Shazam, which means that every time you use the app you’ll be redirected to Apple music, increasing their audience by significant numbers.

Disney Will Challenge Netflix

https://giphy.com/gifs/bye-bitch-snow-white-sarcastic-VsXhOdCYnpw1q

Disney recently bought 20th Century Fox, giving them the rights to their movies, shows, and TV channels. They already own Marvel, Star Wars, and the soon-to-return Avatar. This means that Disney will own so much content that they’ll be able to pull all of their stuff from Netflix and Amazon, beefing up Hulu. Because they own that too.

Finally, Space Tourism Will Begin

https://giphy.com/gifs/earth-mindblown-kepler-Um3ljJl8jrnHy

That doesn’t mean that everyone can access it, but it does make it a thing that exists, which is crazy enough. With SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic, space tourism is officially a go. Now the question is, who would volunteer for that first flight to space?

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