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How Bria Vinaite Went From Weed Entrepreneur To Oscar-Worthy Film Actress

Brendan Bures
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How Bria Vinaite Went From Weed Entrepreneur To Oscar-Worthy Film Actress

Improbable as it may seem, Bria Vinaite can soon say she starred in an Oscar-nominated film. That would be The Florida Project, her first acting role of any kind. She used to be a ganjapreneur, which is how director Sean Baker discovered her.

Scrolling Instagram one day, he happened upon Vinaite’s account @chronicflowers. Vinaite was a popular follow within the cannabis community, so much so that Dazed Digital called her “Instagram’s marijuana merch queen.” On her feed, she would be smoking joints, flippantly telling others what to do to make her happy, and promoting her cannabis-themed fashion line, Chronical Designs.

She sold hats, T-shirts, bikinis, socks, you name it. It wasn’t what Vinaite wanted to do as a career, but she says it paid the bills for a few years.

“I was kind of annoyed that it was so particular,” she told Vanity Fair. “But there’s a market for it, and I feel like at the time that I was coming out with it there wasn’t any, like, funky girl brands that were up to date with the cuts.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ3V1BIBa7y/?hl=en&taken-by=chronicflowers

Baker slid into her DMs—literally. Messaging back and forth, they gauged each other’s interest. As an independent filmmaker, Baker was critically lauded but popularly to the masses. Vinaite wasn’t sure if he was another try-hard dude making stuff up.

“She was self-deprecating, she had the physicality and rebellious nature…” Baker told the Guardian.

Vinaite eventually accepted Baker was being genuine and agreed to be in his movie. She watched all his other films in one day and flew down to Miami for the summer. Six weeks before shooting started, she underwent a crash course in theatrics with an acting coach, preparing herself for some of the emotionally devastating scenes in The Florida Project.

Without her the movie wouldn’t quite come together. She provides the harsh, but necessary reality check whenever the movie dips into the more fantastical elements involved in being kid. Though you wish her character Hailey would just change her ways, you understand why she doesn’t.

All that is a credit to Vinaite. She went from a cannabis entrepreneur to starring in Oscar-worthy films, with a little thanks to Instagram. According to IMDb, she’ll have a part in director Harmony Kormine’s Spring Breakers follow-up, The Beach Bums. Chances are, you’ll recognize her when you see her.

“When I’m older, I hope I have a really nice body of work that I’m proud of, and I hope that it’s all films that are impactful, and make a difference,” Vinaite told the Guardian. “I want to open the world’s eyes in many ways, and I hope I look back and I’m really proud of all the choices I make.”

Suddenly Celiac: Why We Want You To Go Gluten-Free For One Week

Sherri Wetherell
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Suddenly Celiac: Why We Want You To Go Gluten-Free For One Week

Never in a bazillion years did I ever think I would be advising you to kick gluten. I used to think there were two camps of eaters: those who had celiac or a gluten intolerance and those who had no problem eating gluten. I always thought I was in the latter camp and so I ate gluten-loaded foods with reckless abandon. Which is why when I got the positive results of my celiac blood tests I nearly shat myself. That’s how clueless I was about the impact gluten had on my body.

But, here I am doing just that, advising you to kick gluten to the curb. For just one week. Why, pray tell, would I ever want to give up gluten, you ask? That’s what I used to ask, too, now I’m gonna tell you why…

I guess you could say I have what’s referred to as “Silent Celiac.” I don’t get violent episodes of vomiting if I eat gluten, I’m not bedridden for days. I do, however, have a whole host of other issues that are related to eating it, ones I never attributed to celiac and, for the most part, simply brushed off, like migraines, a sensitive stomach, fatigue, low energy, brain fog…literally things any normal 49-year-old mother of a very active 7-year-old daughter would feel. But I knew, deep down, something.just.wasn’t.right. (Okay, I still get dog tired, but c’mon, I had a kid at 42! I think I can cut myself some slack there, right?).

Since being on a strict gluten free diet I’ve been asked umpteen times and by as many people how I feel. GREAT!, I tell them. And then a funny thing happens. Nearly every one of them proceeds to tell me about the little (and not so little) ailments they suffer from and ask me, the Newbie Celiac, if they think it’s because of gluten. Honestly, I truly have no bloody idea, but what I do know is that eliminating it from your diet to see how you feel absolutely cannot hurt. In fact, I think it just may make you feel fabulously better, I tell them, but go to your doctor anyway and have them check out your aches, pains, and ailments, even if just for kicks and giggles. You’re probably totally fine. But, if you’ve been feeling even just a little crappy and it’s been going on for a long time, for the love of all things holy ask for both a celiac blood test and a wheat allergy test, it really can’t hurt (well, the needle may sting a bit but you’re a grownup, you can handle it). Just rule it out. And if your doctor balks at why you want the test, find a new doctor. It’s your health and well-being we’re talking here.

So, before Hanukkah and Christmas are upon us – which means platefuls of babka, sufganiyot, gingerbread, and your auntie’s fruit cake – take one week and go gluten free (or go balls out and do 2 or 3 weeks!). Consider it a holiday “pretox”! You’re priming your body for the glutinous gluttony ahead. You don’t have to go all cra-cra strict like me, just steer clear of the obvious things: bread, cereal, pasta, crackers, grains like farro, barley, and rye, and beer. You can still have wine and spirits, I’m not that mean.

Make note of how you feel. Is that IBS gone? Are you not as gassy or bloated? Have more pep in your step? Maybe a bit friskier in the boudoir? (Please don’t call me a harlot). Thinking more clearly? Are those headaches gone? Pooping less? Poops looking better? (Sorry, I had to ask. Just Google what healthy poop should look like). You might even drop some weight – bonus! So give yourself a week and see what happens.

I want you to feel as good as I do.

Love,
Sheri

Peppermint Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Cookies

It’s easy peasy to make these scrumptious cookies gluten free! Simply use a cup-for-cup gluten free flour instead of all-purpose. I’ve made notes below. ~ Sheri

For The Cookies

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (or use a gluten free flour such as King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour)¾ cups cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup almond milk (or regular milk)
  • 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 10 ounces mini-marshmallows (check the label to make sure there’s no gluten. Jet-Puffed are gluten free)
  • 8 mini candy canes gently broken into small pieces (or use 4 large-sized candy canes)

For The Chocolate Ganache Drizzle

  • 3/8 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Preparation

Unwrap candy canes (if they are wrapped) and place them in a freezer-weight resealable bag. Using the flat side of a kitchen mallet or meat tenderizer, gently tap on the canes to break them into small pieces (do not over-do this or you will end up with only peppermint dust!). Separate the pieces from the dust, and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Use an electric mixer to cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add egg, milk, vanilla, and peppermint extract, then beat until well combined. Add the flour and other dry ingredients from the first bowl a little at a time, and mix on low speed until combined. Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, drop dough onto parchment-linked baking sheet. Arrange cookies evenly with plenty of room between them. Bake until they start to spread and become firm, 10 minutes. Remove from oven, place four mini-marshmallows in the center of each cookie, and bake another 2 minutes, or until the marshmallows begin to melt. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cookies are cooling, make the chocolate ganache drizzle: place semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heat-proof mixing bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it is almost simmering, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Wait 3 minutes then whisk thoroughly and then allow the ganache to rest for about 5 minutes. Using a fork, carefully drizzle the chocolate ganache across each cookie, leaving some of the marshmallow exposed. Test the ganache on a side plate to make sure it is ready, and if it’s too thin, allow it to cool further before using. Top each cookie with the candy cane pieces and enjoy!

Sheri Wetherell is the co-founder and CEO of Foodista.com, community-based recipe, cooking, and food news website. Check them out on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram.

Starbucks’ Christmas Tree Frappuccino Is Here Because Santa Really Does Exist

Amy Hansen
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Starbucks’ Christmas Tree Frappuccino Is Here Because Santa Really Does Exist

Starbucks has debuted their first-ever Christmas Tree Frappuccino that has all the trimmings of an actual Christmas tree with quadruple the calories.

The blended drink is said to taste like a cross between a Peppermint Patty and a Thin Mint. It’s a Peppermint Mocha Crème Frappuccino topped with a matcha whipped cream “tree” that’s decorated with caramel drizzle “garland,” candied cranberry “ornaments” and finished with a strawberry “tree topper.”

A 16oz size made with whole milk will run you about 420 calories and 21 grams of fat. Of course, you can cut that slightly with a lower fat milk and no whip. But then, your drink will look less like a Christmas tree and more like a sad melted snowman.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcaSRwfHzrc/
Some good news (finally) for vegans this holiday season who have to forgo the annual Pumpkin Spice latte: If you order the Christmas Tree Frapp with a plant-based milk and skip the whipped cream and caramel sauce (if that’s even possible), this appears to be a dairy free drink. Hallelujah!

Like goodwill towards men, holiday joy, and money in the bank, this drink won’t last long. The Christmas Tree Frappuccino is only available until December 11 at participating Starbucks stores.

GIF courtesy of Starbucks

Researchers Want To Study How Marijuana Dabbing Affects Driving Skills

Brendan Bures
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Researchers Want To Study How Marijuana Dabbing Affects Driving Skills

Researchers at Colorado State University have decided to take a closer look at how marijuana dabbing may impair a person’s ability to drive. And while we wish this was an examination on the dance move known as dabbing, and how spontaneously busting a dab while driving might adversely affect your capabilities, sadly it is not.

Instead CSU will study dabbing, the popular method of consuming marijuana concentrates. As the CSU press release announces, it is a “highly potent” means of inhaling cannabis, though little research has been done regarding its effects on motor skills.

The CSU researchers will not be providing cannabis to patients. Instead Cinnamon Bidwell, the study’s principal investigator, and his team have identified individuals who already dab and schedule to meet them when they planned to dab.

“The subjects are doing what they would normally do, to themselves,” CSU faculty member Brian Tracy said in the release. “It’s an observational study.”

The study will be the first of its kind and focus on movement ability. Using an iPod Touch strapped to participants’ leg, one test will focus on subjects’ ability to quickly move that leg, similar to the motion of pressing the gas or brake pedal. Another test will measure reaction time, determining how quickly the participant could turn a steering wheel if they needed to.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment funded the three-year project with a $839,500 grant. The result aim to help prevent under the influence of cannabis.

Gossip: Ryan Reynolds To Play Pikachu; Kathy Griffin Returning To Times Square On New Years Eve

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Ryan Reynolds To Play Pikachu; Kathy Griffin Returning To Times Square On New Years Eve

Ryan Reynolds has been tapped to star in a live-action Pokémon movie.

The film is called ‘Detective Pikachu’ and Ryan will play the lead — Pikachu.

Now, if we remember correctly Pikachu doesn’t say anything other than ‘Pika Pika!’ in a squeaky voice…so we’re not sure why Ryan’s casting was necessary.

The movie is based on a 2016 Japanese video game that requires players to solve mysteries with the help of Pikachu dressed like Sherlock Holmes.

We have so many questions, but at least the film is getting buzz.

Kathy Griffin Returning To Times Square On New Years Eve

Anderson Cooper has replaced Kathy Griffin with Andy Cohen on his New Years Eve special, but that doesn’t mean Kathy isn’t looking into other ways to get into Times Square.

“Anderson Cooper and CNN are not the only news outlets that broadcast live from Times Square on New Years Eve. There are literally hundreds of media in the square and Kathy is exploring other options,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “While nothing has been signed yet, several online sites are looking at Kathy to host. Having her in the same small media press area as Anderson and Andy would make for great TV. Another option being discussed is filming Kathy at home watching and commenting on CNN’s coverage. Now that would be funny.”

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

Is The State Of Wisconsin’s Drug Testing Plan Unconstitutional?

Widney Brown
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Is The State Of Wisconsin’s Drug Testing Plan Unconstitutional?

Governor Scott Walker announced plans this week to move forward with making Wisconsin the first US state to drug test people applying for food stamps.

We’ve been down this road before. Several states have attempted to drug test people applying for public assistance, yet in each case it has proven to be costly, ineffective, and often unconstitutional.

Disproportionately impacting the poor and communities of color, Walker’s proposal stigmatizes people who seek public assistance and perpetuates the dangerous, baseless notion that low-income people and communities of color are somehow less deserving and more likely to use drugs.

If Governor Walker really wants to help people struggling with problematic drug use, he could start by investing in accessible and evidence-based rehabilitation and treatment programs in Wisconsin. According to a report from Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, less than 23% of people who need addiction treatment in Wisconsin receive it.

And Walker’s clearly neither interested in saving his state money – drug testing public assistance recipients costs the government more money than it saves — nor investing in treatment.

And there’s a big catch: The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits unreasonable search and seizure. Police or other state authorities must have probable cause before they can search an individual person. And they must establish that probable cause before a judge who then issues a warrant.

Governor Scott Walker appears to believe that applying for food stamps is probable cause to assume that all able-bodied adult applicants have committed a crime and therefore should be subjected to drug tests and then be given the choice to go into rehab or go hungry should they test positive.

But this assumes three things. First, that anyone who tests positive for drugs is engaged in problematic drug use and unable to hold a job. Second, that a drug test can distinguish between therapeutic use of a drug under the supervision the health care system versus personal use for some other reasons outside the supervision of the health care system. Third, anyone who tests positive for drugs should be pressured into rehabilitation or treatment.

None of these assumptions stand up to science.  Some people use drugs and alcohol on an occasional basis and are totally functional and able to hold down and even excel at work.  Studies have consistently shown over decades that problematic use is limited to a small fraction of people who use drugs. Second, drug tests identify drug usage, not addiction, and most positive tests simply identify marijuana use. Third, even if a drug test could identify only those people whose use of drugs is problematic, coerced treatment is much less effective than voluntary treatment, not to mention a violation of individual autonomy and human rights.

So let’s call this policy out for what it is: yet another attempt to stigmatize and criminalize people living in poverty and, in particular, poor communities of color.

Widney Brown is the Drug Policy Alliance’s Managing Director of Policy.

Why Can Guns Travel Across States Lines, But Not Marijuana?

Mary Schumacher
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Why Can Guns Travel Across States Lines, But Not Marijuana?

If you’re planning a trip to Canada, you don’t want to cross the border with cannabis, even after Canada goes legal in 2018. You also don’t want to cross with a firearm, registered or not.

But what about if you’re traveling from California (post January 1) to Nevada, which is already legal? Marijuana Moment asks: If firearms can make the trip if they’re registered, so why not cannabis?

GOP members of Capitol Hill are trying to pass further legislation that would allow concealed guns to travel with them, even if the other states they’re passing through have stricter laws concerning concealed weapons.

California Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted Wednesday, “Let’s think of this logically: If one state allows the legalization of marijuana, does that mean every state needs to allow the legalization of marijuana? I have always thought that the Republicans are the ones who defend federalism, defend states’ abilities to make laws that they think are going to be best for their people.”

And the logic is sound. Why would the federal government override state laws?

Trying to think logically again: The feds would be smart to legalize cannabis federally. The tax revenue alone would have a positive effect on our infrastructure, social programs, schools, law enforcement training and it would wipe out the black market. In Oregon, the price of black-market marijuana has fallen so much that dealers can hardly give it away.

Another way to apply the logic is that if someone in California has a registered medical card for insomnia and they come to New Jersey, which currently has much more stringent laws, they should be able to bring and procure cannabis in Jersey as well.

“This issue really is less about what one thinks about the Second Amendment and far more about what one thinks about federalism,” said Khanna.

As Khanna pointed out, republicans have traditionally been on the side of state rights, even when they don’t agree with what the people have voted in. Let’s just hope that state’s rights win out and the only thing changed on the federal level is the scheduling of marijuana.

4 Areas Where Cannabis Proves It’s Great Preventative Medicine

Kent Gruetzmacher
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4 Areas Where Cannabis Proves It’s Great Preventative Medicine

Cannabis, no matter how it’s used, always provides relief and therapeutic effects, be that for those who need help destressing at the end of the day, or for patients who are treating more serious symptoms and side effects. While medical cannabis is mostly used for treating the symptoms of some serious illnesses, many researchers and studies believe it can also work to prevent illness.

Here are 4 areas where marijuana is one of the best preventative medicine:  

Cancer

A study from 2009 claims that the use of cannabis for over a 20-year-time period is linked to reduced head and neck squamous cancer. These preventative effects were also displayed in animal studies from 2012.

Inflammation

THC and CBD interact with the endocannabinoids in our bodies, preventing inflammation in diseases like arthritis, cancer and diabetes. Herb.com reports that animal studies conducted in 2008 demonstrated that cannabis lowered inflammation on the limbs of 70 percent on the tested animals. 

Heart Disease

Massroots.com reports several studies that showed positive results when it comes to cannabis and heart disease. A 2013 study where researchers fed small doses of cannabis to mice found that the plant produced a 5 percent improvement in the efficiency of their heart ventricles. Other studies have shown that small doses of cannabis help the ventricles in the heart relax, increasing blood flow.

Aging

Cannabis, CBD oils and balms have proven to be very efficient for the skin, reducing aging, the development of wrinkles, bags and managing the symptoms of diseases like eczema and acne. 

What Does The FDA Really Think About Medical Marijuana?

John Mansfield
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What Does The FDA Really Think About Medical Marijuana?

Everybody knows that because marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act, it is illegal to sell under federal law. Last year, the FDA again reviewed the published scientific literature on medical marijuana and recommended that marijuana stay in Schedule 1. The DEA relied upon this finding in its August 2016 ruling upholding the cannabis ban.

What everybody doesn’t know is that the FDA’s website says that it “actively supports the development of drugs from marijuana.”

Some statements are even more emphatic: “FDA needs to do all it can to support the needed scientific research with marijuana to characterize its therapeutic promise.”  What? Is the FDA suffering from cannabis cognitive dissonance? Not at all. Under the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA), the FDA has the power to approve drugs, based on scientific evidence.

The reason cannabis hasn’t been rescheduled is because, according to the FDA, there is not sufficient evidence to show a currently accepted medical use.

Where does the FDA get off saying there is no medical use? A look at the FDA’s history is instructive. Modern drug regulation started in the beginning of the last century when the market was filled with unregulated patent medicines claiming to cure everything from constipation to cancer. Many of these medicines, e.g., Johnson’s Mild Combination Treatment for Cancer, were merely worthless.

But some were poison. Elixir Sulfanimide was marketed in the 1930s as a raspberry antibiotic syrup. Unfortunately, this elixir contained diethylene glycol, a known toxin, and killed over 100 people, mostly children. The manufacturer performed no safety testing–because none was required. This and other tragedies in the 1930s led Congress to pass the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, the first comprehensive law requiring that medicines be proven safe and effective. This history shows the importance that the FDA places on its core mission of making sure that drugs are safe and effective, relying on scientific evidence including human and animal trials.

As previous readers of this blog might recall, the FDA will usually treat any substance that is “intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease,” or that will “affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals,” as a drug. The FDA’s key decision in approving new drugs is whether the drug is safe and effective for its proposed uses.

So How Do You Perform Scientific Research?

On its website, the FDA tells you how: “The FDA believes that scientifically valid research conducted under an [Investigational New Drug] application [INDA] is the best way to determine what patients could benefit from the use of drugs derived from marijuana.” The INDA is the method that most proposed new drugs begin the approval process. Once the proposed new drug has undergone the (extensive) testing required by the INDA, the test data can be used to file a New Drug Application (NDA). Virtually all prescription drugs sold in the U.S. are approved under an NDA.

The FDA Has Already Approved Three Products

Marinol was approved in 1985 to treat nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy, and Sydros, a liquid form of dronabinol, the active ingredient in Marinol, was approved earlier this year. Cesamet (nabilone) was approved in 1985 and 2006 for nausea and neuropathic pain. The active ingredients in all of these drugs are synthetic forms of THC. So we know that cannabis can be approved as a medicine.

Why Aren’t There More FDA-Approved Cannabis Drugs?

To find out, be sure to read our next installment, in which we will examine what you need to get an INDA and an NDA. Bring lots of paper or its equivalent; you will need to take notes.

For more on the FDA and cannabis, check out the following:

John Mansfield is an attorney 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. 

How Medical Marijuana Can Slow the Progression Of Huntington’s Disease

Brea Mosley
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How Medical Marijuana Can Slow the Progression Of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease is known as the fatal genetic disorder that causes a progressive breakdown of the nerve cells. HD diminishes a person’s physical and mental abilities over time, often causing uncontrollable and impulsive movements. As of yet, there’s no cure for HD.

However, a recent study shows that smoking cannabis may slow down the progression of Huntington’s Disease. The mental and physical inabilities and impulses patients experience over time, are directly linked to the striatum – the brain’s area that controls the brains outputs (thoughts and actions). This area is known to carry CB1 receptors, which are cannabinoid receptors, but patients with HD have a reduced amount of these receptors.

Researchers in Madrid sought to learn about the connection between reduced cannabinoid receptors and the development and progression of the disease. In their experiment, they used mice that carried the HD gene (the human version) and expressed a decreased amount of receptors and compared them to mice only carrying the HD gene.

The researchers then ran tests that examined motor coordination, exploration and strength. The results were astonishing: The mice that carried HD and also had reduced CB1 receptors, had their HD symptoms appear about 30 days sooner when compared to the mice only carrying the HD gene. Also, the disease in the first group of mice seemed to develop rapidly compared to the other mice.

Researchers also noted that the lack of CB1 receptors was linked to the breakdown of the nerve cells, causing the striatum to function ineffectively.

As the last part of the experiment, the researchers gave the mice carrying the HD gene only, doses of THC. Since this group of mice didn’t appear to have lost a significant amount of CB1 receptors, they would still be receptive to the THC. The Spanish researchers wanted to see if administering THC in the HD carrying mice would make the CB1 receptors stronger.

It did.

The THC enhanced the motor skills in the mice, decreased the progression of symptoms and helped the functionality of the striatum. The experiment proved that some THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis) can have a huge impact on those suffering from HD.

No, THC hasn’t been crowned the king of conquering Huntington’s Disease, but cannabis with THC can help curtail and prolong the symptoms of a disease that over 30,000 Americans are battling.

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