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Combining Seattle’s Coffee And Cannabis Cultures Into One Shop

Terry Hacienda
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Combining Seattle’s Coffee And Cannabis Cultures Into One Shop

Cannabis and coffee. It’s a combination made famous in Seattle. Origins, a premium Seattle-based marijuana retailer, is blending the two popular mood boosters when it opens the doors to its second location about 15 miles east of Seattle.

Since Starbucks opened its first storefront in Seattle in 1971, the Emerald City has built a well-earned reputation as the nation’s coffee capital. And when Washington citizens voted to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012, a thriving marijuana culture emerged in the city also famous for rain, grunge music and natural beauty.

Origins, which opened its first store in West Seattle in 2016, will host a grand opening for its new Redmond location Saturday from 3-7 p.m. The store is smack-dab in the middle of the suburb’s Old Town retail corridor and just a few miles away from Microsoft’s worldwide headquarters.

“We believe there will be tremendous growth opportunity in the suburbs,” said Angela Carson, Director of Marketing for Origins. “We know there are a lot of people living in this community who are curious about what cannabis can do for them. And we definitely will focus on customer education and information.”

Not only will the Redmond store have a full complement of cannabis products – from flower to edibles to concentrates – Origins will also have a corner coffee shop for downtown shoppers to stop and socialize. “Coffee and cannabis are similar in that they both are meant to bring people together,” Carson says. “We want our store to be a hub for the community and a place for people to meet.”  The coffee shop will seat about 20 people and will serve small-batch roasts.

The Origins Lifestyle Spectrum

Origins provides a unique retail experience designed for all cannabis consumers – from longtime experts to the “cannabis curious crowd.” Origins makes shopping intuitive and simple by breaking down the plethora of products into “lifestyle” categories.

“When we embarked on building the Origins brand, we found that due to years of misinformation (or lack of information), most consumers don’t fully appreciate the complexity of cannabis,” says Andrew Cornwall, Origins Partner. “Given how many different active ingredients there are in cannabis, and the sheer volume of different strains, choosing the right strain to achieve desired effects can be overwhelming. That’s precisely why we developed the Lifestyle Spectrum. We want to take the mystery out of cannabis while helping consumers choose the best strain to fit their lifestyle.

“Once we have established a strain’s Lifestyle, cannabis guides receive training on each Lifestyle and strains within the Lifestyle,” Cornwall continued. “Origins goal is to provide relevant recommendations thus creating loyal and educated clients,” Cornwall added.

The “Lifestyles” created at Origins include:

  • Self-discovery
  • Adventurous
  • Social
  • Holistic
  • Party-goer
  • After hours

According to Cornwall, the Lifestyle Spectrum has helped educate customers new to the cannabis experience while at the same time shortening the shopping time for experienced consumers.

“Our customers who know very little about the effects of cannabis feel very comfortable making purchasing decisions with our system,” Cornwall said. “And we train all our employees about all aspects of our products. Our trained employees love to help shoppers select the right product for them.”

The company has also created the Origins Certified™ program. Cornwall and his team insist on buying their cannabis products from trusted producers and processors, ensuring that the cannabis meets stringent quality and purity controls.

Origins Cannabis is located at 16390 Cleveland St. in Redmond, WA 98052. The location is just a few blocks away from the city’s only outdoor mall – the Redmond Town Center – and is on the main bus route that runs through the town.

A Beginner’s Guide To Investing In The Marijuana Industry

Jacob Ellman
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A Beginner’s Guide To Investing In The Marijuana Industry

Whether you love weed, wine or coffee, you need to admit that marijuana is seeing a banner couple of years.

It’s also now clear that cannabis is the new gold rush. Last year the industry generated $7.1 billion that flowed into governments, as well as into the pockets of entrepreneurs, farmers and investors. With so many states hopping on the legalization train following the November election, marijuana reform has the people’s’ vote and they are looking to get rich.

But are you savvy enough to invest and receive some solid returns? Let’s be clear: it’s unrealistic to think $10 invested would yield $1 million in six months It’s more likely $10 invested might get you $20 in a year or two.

This leads us to the questions in focus – how do I invest in the blossoming cannabis industry? and how do I do it in a smart way?

Let’s give you a primary on how to invest. and you can start for as low as $25!

How To Invest In The Cannabis Industry 

When you buy stock in a company, you’re buying equity a.k.a. a piece of the company. For the average person considering putting some hard earned cash into the industry, publicly listed and exchange traded names are where to look. Just as you would with any other stock, you’ll need a brokerage account to buy or sell.

Almost any online broker-dealer will allow you to buy and sell shares of cannabis-related companies, but it’s always a good idea to ask them to be sure. Now that you’re able to access the markets…you must decide how to invest.

Diversify In The Cannabis Industry

In every industry, there will be winners and losers. If you aren’t following the industry’s ins and outs enough to confidently pick the winners and avoid the losers, than you may fall into the trap. You’ve probably heard the age old saying “don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,” and this is what they’re talking about. This is where diversification comes in.

If you choose to put all of your money into cannabis companies…you better really believe in the future of the industry. Beyond that, to put all of your money into one or two specific cannabis companies can be risky. To avoid these common pitfalls of investing, seek out diversification in your portfolio.

Beyond that, diversify within the cannabis landscape. In the world of weed there’s cultivators, retailers, grow light manufacturers, packaging companies and more. Don’t go all in on just one!

Diversification sounds easier than it actually is, right? Wrong! It’s actually easier to diversify than you’d think. Below are a few different strategies to diversify exposure within the growing marijuana industry.

  • Go for a diversified company: For those who are looking to diversify within cannabis, one of the favorites on Wall Street has to be CannaRoyalty Corp. (CSE:CRZ) (OTC:CNNRF) (FRA:CY4). Started by Wall Street veterans, CannaRoyalty Corp. now has an impressive platform of 24 different holdings across high-value areas of the cannabis world – research, devices, brands and intellectual property.
  • Invest in a marijuana-focused mutual fund: For those who are most comfortable with a managed fund approach to cannabis investing, they should take a look at the first and only marijuana-focused mutual fund, The American Growth Fund Series II (MUTF:AMREX). Granted, the fees are sky-high, but with a professional money manager at the helm, this may be a good option for those with the set-it-and-forget-it mentality.
  • Invest in the upcoming marijuana-focused ETF: Not available yet, but coming soon is the Emerging AgroSphere ETF. According to the fund’s prospectus filed with the SEC, the ETF will invest in the non-recreational and supply chain side of the cannabis world, hence the AgroSphere.

Conclusion

Hopefully this was a useful beginner’s guide to investing in the cannabis industry. As a reminder, this article is for informational purposes only, and the information contained herein is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. You should always consult your financial advisor before making an investment decision.

Disclaimer

I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. The Daily Marijuana Observer and/or its affiliates may in the future seek out business relationships with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Investing in nanocap, microcap, and small cap stocks is highly speculative. The publishers, directors, employees and officers of DailyMarijuanaObserver.com are not registered as Investment Advisors or Broker-Dealers in any jurisdiction whatsoever. The information contained herein has been prepared solely for informational purposes. Nothing on the site is an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities mentioned from their financial advisor.

5 Reasons Why Winter Sex Is Exactly What You Need Now

Maria Loreto
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5 Reasons Why Winter Sex Is Exactly What You Need Now

Winter has a bad rep. It’s a season that most people dread, bringing on colds and the flu, some symptoms of depression, and the need to stay indoors at all costs. While all of these things are true, winter can be kind of great if you know how to handle it, which is where the sex part comes in.

Winter sex is special because it’s cozy and an easy way to prevent illness and sadness, providing warmth, fun, and extra bonding time with your partner. It also provides lots of oxytocin, which makes for a very content human being. Compared to summer sex, where you must have sex as fast as possible if you don’t want to melt, winter sex can be slow and so much better.

Check out these 5 reasons why winter sex is the best sex of the year: 

Bring On The Body Heat

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Since it’s so cold outside, it’s actually pleasant to have someone on top of you, giving you large amounts of body heat and making you feel warm. During the winter, there’s also much less distractors. No one’s leaving the house, so you might as well make the most of it and have tons of sex.

Cuddling Is A Thing

https://giphy.com/gifs/kiss-couple-trust-zO0Tu1EPsAHYc

You’ll actually want to cuddle in the winter and can spend longer periods of time entangled without sweat getting in the way. Cuddling is a great way of bonding with your partner, increasing your oxytocin levels and making you feel healthy, happy, and way less stressed.

Happy Hormones Are Very Welcome

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Having sex releases a huge flood or hormones that include dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin, and more. This is a great way of providing and caring for your body during the winter time.

Boost Your Immune System

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By having sex you’ll boost up your immune system, helping it prevent colds and flus during a time where our systems sorely need protection.

It Helps You Get Rid Of Stress

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Sex releases endorphins, the main fighters against stress, making you feel like everything is going well mentally while also providing muscular relaxation, which is why we get so sleepy and calm afterwards.

Oregon Marijuana Retailers Get Perfect Score In Checking IDs

Terry Hacienda
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Oregon Marijuana Retailers Get Perfect Score In Checking IDs

Black market drug dealers don’t check customers for IDs. But legal, regulated recreational marijuana retailers in Oregon do.

In a first-of-its-kind sting operation conducted by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, cannabis retail shops passed the test with flying colors. On December 19, OLCC marijuana inspectors visited 20 marijuana retailers in central Oregon, and all of the 20 businesses visited in Bend and La Pine passed a check for prohibiting sales to a minor volunteer.

“That our licensed retailers in central Oregon scored 100 percent on refusal to sell marijuana to a minor is a sign that this segment of our regulated industry understands the importance of compliance,” said Steve Marks, executive director of the OLCC. “As we continue these checks I hope that these results will be reflected across the state.”

Retailers caught selling cannabis products to customers under the legal age of 21 could be slapped with a 30-day suspension of their license or a fine of $1,650. Failure to ask for a photo identification could result in a seven-day license suspension or a$1,100 fine.

The OLCC tests licensed marijuana businesses throughout the year, with each licensed retailer receiving a minimum of one visit per year.  The OLCC offers a free training course on how to check IDs and identify false identification.

 “This is part of our stepped-up compliance and enforcement activity,” said Marks.  “We’re working to make sure that all segments of our regulated market are living up to the requirements of their license, and the expectations Oregonians have that they will act responsibly and follow the law.”

For years, anti-marijuana groups have warned that legalizing cannabis sales would result in an increase of minors buying the herb. But regulation, as this sting operation indicates, prevents sales to teens. Regulation, in this case, works.

Get Your Quidditch On In This New Harry Potter Athletic Wear

Brendan Bures
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Get Your Quidditch On In This New Harry Potter Athletic Wear

If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting a SoulCycle session or the weights sporting your favorite Hogwarts house from Harry Potter, or if you just want to Netflix and chill while wearing some Harry Potter gear, this company is here to make your dreams come true.

Black Milk Clothing launched a Harry Potter-themed athleisure line of “Team Hogwarts” leggings, where fans can show off their allegiance to Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or (sigh) Hufflepuff. In addition to boasting the Hogwarts house name, a colorful stripe runs down the left leg while the right leg features the house emblem.

Twitter was unequivocally enthusiastic about the announcement of these leggings.

https://twitter.com/MonicaMaloy/status/941345082250268673

But you don’t have to ditch those Lululemon leggings just to rep Harry Potter. Black Milk crafted these wonderful leggings with a fabric designed to absorb sweat and ensure a dry leg as you work out. It can even withstand an intense hot yoga session. With a trendy high-waist fit, you can purchase these leggings without any worries.

If that wasn’t enough for you, Black Milk also included some functionality in these leggings with hidden pockets that can hide your phone, keys, or wallet. You know what they always say: If you can’t get you an invisibility cloak, at least get you some invisibility leggings.

Why You Might Lose WhatsApp On New Year’s Day

Maria Loreto
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Why You Might Lose WhatsApp On New Year’s Day

As of New Year’s Eve, Whatsapp has announced that the messaging app will stop running on certain devices that have old operating systems, such as Blackberry OS, Blackberry 10 and Windows 8.

Via LADBible:

“This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family, and loved ones using WhatsApp.”

While these systems are old and the majority of people tend to update their phones more regularly, a lot of people will surely be affected considering the fact that WhatsApp has over a billion users located in different areas throughout the world, maybe in places where it’s not that easy to get new phones. Or maybe someone is still a big Blackberry fan and hasn’t heard the news that the company is trying to focus on security software. Maybe they don’t want to let go of that old relic, for some strange reason.

WhatsApp says it’s making this decision as a way of improving their security and encryption methods, providing a safer and better experience for all of their users. New Blackberry users with up to date devices need not to worry, at least, not for their software, since the new phones all run on android. If you’re phone is super old, you might want to consider updating its software. Or finding a new messaging app that suits your needs.

2017’s Best Comic Books From Each Major Publisher

Joe Mortimer
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2017’s Best Comic Books From Each Major Publisher

Another year is in the books and oh what a year it was. Scandals and natural disasters aside, 2017 was pretty sweet, especially in the world of comics. Maybe you missed out on some, so here are the best comic books from each major publisher.

DC Comics

Cover via DC Comics

Another year passed and another year of the Bat for DC. Tom King and Mikel Janín’s work on The War of Jokes and Riddles was gratifying on so many levels.

Taking place during Batman’s second year in the cape and cowl, this 8-issue arc pits the Joker against the Riddler and has all of Gotham’s greatest villains choosing a side. This book has it all, including an awkward 9-course dinner with Bruce Wayne and his rogues’ gallery. The creative team somehow even managed to make Kite-Man a relatable and interesting character. (Hell yeah!)

Marvel

For me, the book I look forward to every month coming out of Marvel is Thor. Since 2012, Jason Aaron has penned the stories with various ultra-talented artists and his Thor run is sure to go down in history with the other greats. In 2017 we saw the classic Thor (now going by Odinson) make peace with his unworthiness and the current Thor fight alien gods, the Phoenix, and other Thors.

Dark Horse

Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston. Period. Oh my god this book. It’s like a masterpiece right out of the Silver Age. Stop what you’re doing and go check it out!

Image

Cover via Image Comics

There are so many great books that Image publishes every month that it’s figuratively impossible to choose. Monstress and Saga are usually at the top of everyone’s list and mine as well, but the sleeper that I look forward to when it’s printing is Sex Criminals.

Created by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, this super weird title will have you laughing out loud in between fits of deep thought and existential dread. What else would you expect from a book about people who have powers and can stop time, but only when they orgasm.

IDW

 IDW makes comics for various movie and TV properties while also producing a lot of their own stuff (Locke & Key, 30 Days of Night, etc.). This year my favorite book was a Star Trek title based on The Next Generation series called Mirror Broken. Written by brothers Scott and David Tipton and drawn by J.K. Woodward, this miniseries features the TNG crew of the evil Mirror universe. Just look at evil Picard’s guns! (You can tell he’s evil because of that goatee.)

So, these are our suggestions for the best comic books from each major publisher, there are more companies out making great comics and telling great stories. Who knows? Maybe in 2018 the goatee will make a comeback! Then we won’t know who to trust.

Gossip: Prince Harry Gushes About First Christmas With Meghan Markle; 6 Bromantic Moments From Prince Harry And Barack Obama’s Interview

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Prince Harry Gushes About First Christmas With Meghan Markle; 6 Bromantic Moments From Prince Harry And Barack Obama’s Interview

Just when you thought you couldn’t love Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s relationship any more, Harry goes and says the cutest things about what it was like to spend their first Christmas together as an engaged couple—complete with the rest of the royal family.

BBC interviewer Sarah Montague took the opportunity to ask the fifth in line for the throne what it was like spending his first Christmas with his fiancée at Sandringham House, which is one of the private estates belonging to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

“Oh, it was fantastic,” Harry says when Montague asks how his future wife’s first Christmas with the in-laws went. “She really enjoyed it. The family loved having her there.”

The couple’s holiday plans were an especially big deal because Meghan was breaking royal protocol by attending; historically, the annual gathering has been limited to spouses only. So the fact that she even scored an invite to begin with, coupled with the fact that Markle and Kate Middleton looked like old friends in all the photos we’ve seen from the day, back up what Harry is saying about his family being happy to have her in attendance.

“Together we had an amazing time,” Harry continued. “We had great fun staying with my brother and sister-in-law and running around with the kids.”

Of course, as is the case for any couple who’s spending their first holiday together, Harry says there were “plenty” of family traditions he had to explain to his new fiancée. But as we’ve come to expect from the former actress, Markle totally rolled with the punches. “Every family is complex,” Harry said. “She’s done an absolutely amazing job. She’s getting in there, and it’s the family that I suppose she’s never had.”

6 Bromantic Moments From Prince Harry And Obama’s Interview

And on Wednesday, we were treated to one last 2017 meeting of the world leaders when guest editor Prince Harry sat Barack Obama down for a BBC Radio 4 interview for the ages.

“When Harry Met Barry” the New York Times proclaimed.

1. According to the Telegraph, when Harry was recruiting people to come on the show, Obama was “the ‘easiest’” guest to get a response from.

2. Harry asked Obama if he preferred “The Good Wife” or “Suits” (which his fiancée Meghan Markle starred in), and Obama answered “Suits” because of course he did, and Harry just replied, “Great, great answer.”

3. When Obama admitted he’d totally trust Harry’s movie judgement. Harry asked Obama to choose between White House Down or Olympus Has Fallen, and Obama was all, “I haven’t seen either of them.” So Harry promptly chose White House Down, and Obama said, “OK, I’ll take your word for it.”

4. Harry asked Barack what was going through his mind when the former First Family flew away from the White House after Trump’s inauguration. Obama smartly expressed gratitude for having Michelle as a partner during his time in politics. “She is a spectacular, funny, warm person. She’s not someone who was naturally inclined at politics,” he said, adding that he felt “a satisfying feeling that was mixed with all the work that was still undone.”

5. When Obama tried to speak Harry’s language and talked about “going to the pub.” “I think social media is a really powerful tool for people of common interests to convene and get to know each other and connect but then it is important for them to get offline, meet in the pub,” he said.

6. When Harry was playing hard to get about Obama’s invite to his upcoming wedding. “I don’t know about that—we haven’t even put the invite or the guest list together,” Harry replied. “Who knows if he’s going to be invited or not? I wouldn’t want to ruin that surprise.”

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

Study: Marijuana’s CBD Soothes Psychotic Episodes In Schizophrenic Patients

Mary Schumacher
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Study: Marijuana’s CBD Soothes Psychotic Episodes In Schizophrenic Patients

CBD is known to be the most therapeutic cannabinoid of the marijuana plant. It soothes seizures, upset stomachs, anxiety, aches, pains and now The American Journal of Psychiatry has published a new study showing CBD’s effectiveness at quelling psychotic episodes in schizophrenic patients.

Researchers in the UK assessed daily administration of CBD as an adjunct medication and compared it to placebo results. The patients receiving actual CBD got 1,000mg of the cannabis-derived medicine per day, along with their normal medications.

The results were outstanding. Over a six-week period, “improvements in cognitive performance and in the level of overall functioning,” were heightened and patients were more likely to be marked as “improved” or “not severely unwell” by their attending physician.

The study’s abstract conclusion promisingly reads, “These findings suggest that CBD has beneficial effects in patients with schizophrenia. As CBD’s effects do not appear to depend on dopamine receptor antagonism, this agent may represent a new class of treatment for the disorder.” This is very exciting news.

It may be wonderful to hear these results, but they’re probably not too surprising for those in the cannabis community. Many people report using CBD for severe anxiety disorder and CBD is perhaps most well-known for combatting seizure disorder. It makes sense that it would also act as an antipsychotic at higher dosages.

As CBD proves to be not only a viable medicine, but an incredibly important one as well, the world has eyes on new findings; one reason is because CBD is also a part of the plant that doesn’t get one “high,” yet mitigates the severe symptoms and ailments listed above. In other words, its use is medicinal in the truest sense, not recreational.

The Hemp Business Journal estimates that the CBD market will be at over $2 billion in consumer sales by 2020, with only $450 million of said sales coming from hemp derived product. That will be a 700 percent increase from 2016 and will hopefully also mean more good press for cannabinoids in general.

Florida Bank Shuts Down Accounts For Cannabis Businesses

Terry Hacienda
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0
Florida Bank Shuts Down Accounts For Cannabis Businesses

In what is a big setback for Florida’s medical marijuana industry, the only bank in the state that accepted deposits from cannabusinesses announced it will no longer handle their money.

First Green Bank, a community bank that operates only in Florida, had allowed banking privileges for companies that operated cannabis businesses. But last week, it suddenly reversed course, shaking up an already fragile industry.

According to the Miami Herald:

Initially, the announcement — just a few months after the bank was the first in the state to handle medical marijuana clients — sent some clients looking for alternatives. But the bank has apparently found a new institution willing to take its place, and companies … said they’re confident that Florida’s 40,000 card-carrying medical marijuana patients won’t notice any hiccups.

“There will be no interruption or change in operations as far as patients and members are concerned,” Jake Bergmann, CEO of Surterra Holdings, a medicinal marijuana operator and a First Green client told the Herald.

Because the federal government considers cannabis an illegal substance without medicinal value, banks have been reluctant to get involved in the marijuana industry. Since banks are federally regulated, financial institutions have forced cannabis businesses to seek services elsewhere. The result is that nearly all marijuana enterprises — from farmers to retailers — operate in a cash-only system.

Because First Green Bank was a community bank that did not require federal approval, it had gladly handled the accounts for all but one of the seven licensed producers of cannabis in Florida.

According to the Miami Herald,  the bank may be acquired by a larger financial institution in the state. The transaction may have been muddied by the cannabis involvement.

“It’s an important initiative for us to act as a safe harbor for professionals in the cannabis industry,” First Green Bank said in a statement. “However, we have made the tough business decision to end our medical cannabis business practices and have an alternative solution for banking in place for our customers in the industry.”

With First Green changing its policy, many cannabis companies will now be forced to transfer tens of millions of dollars somewhere else. Ben Pollara, executive director for Florida for Care, the organization that backed the campaign to legalize an expanded medicinal marijuana system in the state last year, told the Herald:

“Most of the public policy challenges with medical marijuana laws stem from the conflict between state and federal law, and here’s a glaring example of that. On the basis of how much money you’re talking about, you can’t be someone shuffling cash from bank to bank. Florida allows 25 stores (per license). … That’s a major deal if all the sudden overnight their bank goes ‘here’s your pile of cash, get out.’”

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