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Spice, K2, Kronic: How To Spot A ‘Synthetic Marijuana’ Overdose

Trey Reckling
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Spice, K2, Kronic: How To Spot A ‘Synthetic Marijuana’ Overdose

Synthetic marijuana, whether you call it Spice, K2, Kronic or some other snappy name, simply is not cannabis and could be very bad for you.

A retired chemistry professor from Clemson University, John W. Huffman, and his team developed synthetic cannabinoids or “SC” for two decades. They had hoped to create the chemicals to allow research on something chemically similar to THC and other natural cannabinoids since testing with the real thing was so prohibitive.

Little did they know that know when they began in the mid-1980s that their creations and hacked derivations would be popular as ‘legal weed.’

“Spice” and “K2” are just a couple of the commercial names for this product that has fared so well in popularity, due in large part to prohibition of real marijuana. If prohibition does anything well, it creates a space for entrepreneurs with more interest in making a buck than anything related to concern for the consumer.

Creators continue to change the formulations to skirt new laws or simply label the product as incense and “not for human consumption” while being sold alongside, glass pipes, herbal stimulants and aphrodisiacs at corner gas stations and head shops. It is typically smoked but can also be brewed into a tea or vaped.

It is believed that there are well over 150 types of SC that have been created. They appear to activate both the CB1 and CB2 receptors that cannabis does but in a wholly different, unpredictable and dangerous way. Because these are unregulated, untested products, their formulations vary wildly from product to product and can even vary from batch to batch of the same brand. The resulting public health risk is real.

The symptoms of overdose of synthetic cannabinoids are similar to overdose of opioids: respiratory depression, listlessness, confusion, vomiting, loss of consciousness, seizure or unresponsiveness. Add kidney injury, cardiotoxicity, suicidal thoughts and psychosis to that list and you see this is not marijuana. In fact, 20 deaths have been attributed to synthetic cannabinoids. Once again, this is not marijuana.

When asked why they use SC, adults in one research study cited that these compounds were more available, perceived as being legal, cheaper and helped them avoid failing a drug test.

We have created this beast through bad policy. Alcohol prohibition led to bathtub gin and people being poisoned from lead in bad moonshine.

Cannabis prohibition has led to this hazard. As cannabis enthusiasts it is our responsibility to help people know and understand the difference between the real and the synthetic version.

After more than 70 years of misinformation, we have a long way to go to educate people about the many benefits of cannabis, real marijuana, and this synthetic imposter should not be allowed to muddy the water. 

5 Tech Gifts Under $30 That Are Perfect For The Holiday Season

Maria Loreto
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5 Tech Gifts Under $30 That Are Perfect For The Holiday Season

Gifts are always hard, but they’re an important part of the holiday season. Tech gifts are a better option than socks and scarves, because they’re very useful, but it’s hard to find some presents that work well and are also affordable, especially during the holiday season when prices tend to climb and popular products get sold out.

It’s the ideal time for some holiday shopping because everyone is still thinking about Thanksgiving, so here are 5 great tech gifts that are perfect for people of every age and that are also under 30 dollars, because cheap things are always the best. These presents are ideal for filling out stockings and for complementing other more elaborate gifts. Check them out:

APIE Outdoors Portable Speaker

These speakers are water resistant and ideal for the outdoorsy person in your life. They can be taken to the beach, the pool, camping and whatever outdoorsy thing you can think of. They’re awesome, just buy them for yourself. Price: 27.99$

Timberland Tech Gloves

A post shared by commuterra (@commuterra) on

Everyone always gives people gloves on Christmas, but no one thinks of tech gloves which protect you from the cold but allow you to use your phone. These gloves are black and discreet and are also worth 26.99$

Tair Wireless Headphones

Headphones may not seem like the best present, but they’re always, always needed. Although they may not cause the best impression at first glance, they’re a present that’s long lasting and super useful. Price: 24.50$

ASLDM Phone Charging Bag

This sports bag is perfect for hiking or biking and it features a charger for your phone. Price: 16.90$

Eleoption Disco Light

A post shared by commuterra (@commuterra) on


For party lovers, this disco light has 7 colors and is perfect for outdoor and indoor areas. Even for kid’s rooms. Price: 23.99$

Let’s Talk About The “New” Syndrome In Which Weed Users Can’t Stop Puking

Al Olson
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Let’s Talk About The “New” Syndrome In Which Weed Users Can’t Stop Puking

Marijuana has long been used medicinally as an anti-nausea tool, most notably for cancer patients going through chemotherapy treatments and AIDS sufferers looking for relief.

But a puzzling, counterintuitive syndrome is making headlines that suggests chronic cannabis consumers are becoming violently ill. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, according to researchers in Colorado, can trigger stomach pain and nausea in a small number of patients. For reasons that are still unclear, the symptoms can only be eased by hot baths or long hot showers.

The syndrome, according to Dr. Kennon Heard, co-author of the study and an emergency room physician at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, emergency room visits diagnoses for CHS in two Colorado hospitals nearly doubled from 2009 to 2014. A doubling of incidents sounds alarming, but it is important to note that the cases grew from 41 to 87. There are roughly 20 million cannabis consumers in the U.S. Also worth mentioning is that there have been zero fatalities from the syndrome.

Researchers have not discovered why this is happening, but the theory is that  THC over-stimulates the autonomic nervous system, which controls digestion. Many patients say the symptoms include a feeling akin to morning sickness associated with pregnancy.

 According to the study, 71 percent of those suffering from the syndrome are women and the average age is 31. 

CHS was first reported in 2oo4 in Australia; the number of victims of the syndrome is unknown.

Scientists are unable to decipher at this point why many patients receive relief from nausea and others fall victim to CHS.  And the good news is that CHS is rare and is the cure is simple: Stop consuming of cannabis.

“Cannabis has a long history as an antiemetic agent,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the NORML. He suggests that a malfunction of the patient’s internal system could be responsible for the reported CHS  cases.

The National Institutes of Health appears to agree with Armentano’s assessment:

With the large prevalence of marijuana use in the world, why does it appear that so few patients develop CHS? Certain individuals may have a genetic polymorphisms in the cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for the metabolism of the cannabinoids. This could result in excessive levels of pro-emetic cannabinoids or emetogenic metabolites. Such genetic variations have yet to be studied in patients diagnosed with CHS and represent an area for future research.

A 2012 report “Clearing the Smoke on Cannabis: Medical Use of Cannabis and Cannabinoids,” concluded:
“There is sound evidence from animal experiments and well-designed clinical trials involving humans that cannabis and cannabinoids are effective for the relief of nausea/vomiting and certain types of pain, as well as for the stimulation of appetite.”
GW Pharmaceuticals stated the following on its website in a section titled “Nausea Associated with Cancer Chemotheraphy”:
“The antiemetic properties of cannabis have been studied in humans more widely than any other indication. Nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy was felt to be one of the best supported therapeutic uses of cannabis and cannabinoids by the British Medical Association in their review of 23 studies, and was also supported by the American Institute of Medicine. This indication for cannabis has become common knowledge among patients, was the subject of a popular book, and has received some endorsement amongst American oncologists in a survey study.”
Francis L. Young, former DEA administrative law judge, ruled in 1988:
“The overwhelming preponderance of the evidence in this record establishes that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States for nausea and vomiting resulting from chemotherapy treatments in some cancer patients. To conclude otherwise, on this record, would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious.”

Here Are Our 10 Favorite Marijuana Memes Of All Time

Anthony Washington
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Here Are Our 10 Favorite Marijuana Memes Of All Time

Even with all the toxic stuff online these days, the internet still produces some good things, like marijuana memes. And what could make a meme funnier/more appropriate for a marijuana-themed site than memes that involve weed? Below are 10 of our absolute favorite cannabis memes.

Intergalactic battles and traveling at the speed of light are just the sort of movie concepts that stick with impressionable young smokers, which explains the prevalence of Star Wars-related weed memes.

https://twitter.com/clicks4brix/status/824169396272766977

No list would be complete without a reference to the stoner archetype, Jeff Spicoli.

Michael Phelps, who was famously photographed with a bong, is the winningest Olympian of all time, as the meme below reminds us

>https://twitter.com/Dennis_Author/status/824111767756402688

Dad-ish wordplay and weed produce some wonderful memes.

Who doesn’t know this exact feeling?

https://twitter.com/SCTimber/status/819937239392198656

R.I.P.

https://twitter.com/MandelDist/status/818670956281524224

Math is an important skill to learn.

One of the most important questions of our time.

More good wordplay.

How Hot Peppers And Marijuana Help Pain In The Same Way

Maria Loreto
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How Hot Peppers And Marijuana Help Pain In The Same Way

What do hot peppers and marijuana have in common? Research has recently uncovered stomach calming properties in both cannabis and hot peppers, bridging two things that at first can seem like polar opposites. Cannabis has a lot of healing properties and uses, so it’s no surprise to know that it’s capable of calming your gut; on the other hand, hot peppers don’t always come to mind when your stomach is in pain.

Recent studies have discovered that both plants have healing properties when it comes to diabetes and colitis. Capsaicin, the chemical that gives hot peppers their hotness, binds to a receptor in our stomachs called TRPV1, producing a chemical called anandamide, which is also a cannabinoid. Chemicals that are present in cannabis stimulate this anandamide, linking both plants together in way scientists weren’t aware of.

The University of Connecticut conducted a research where they fed mice Capsaicin and found that their stomachs were significantly less irritated. They were also surprised to discover that by basically feeding hot pepper flakes to mice they cured their Type 1 diabetes. The same results also applied to mice who were fed anandamide, meaning that, with more research, cannabis and hot peppers could play an important part when it comes to the health of our bellies.

Maybe the cool doctors of the future will prescribe a nice and spicy pot brownie to their patients with ailing stomaches. We’re so down for that. 

Science: Regular Consumption Of Marijuana Keeps You Fit And Active

Al Olson
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Science: Regular Consumption Of Marijuana Keeps You Fit And Active

The study suggested that people who consume marijuana on a regular basis are more physically activity than those that use it sporadically or not at all.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Here’s a new health-related adage to consider: Regular consumption of marijuana keeps you thin and active.

According to researchers at Oregon Health and Science University, people who use marijuana more than five times per month have a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who do not marijuana.

The researchers concluded:

“Heavy users of cannabis had a lower mean BMI compared to that of never users, with a mean BMI being 26.7 kg/m in heavy users and 28.4 kg/m in never users.”

The study also suggested that people who consume marijuana on a regular basis are more physically activity than those that use it sporadically or not at all.

Of course, this is not the first time scientific studies have reached this conclusion:

  • A study published last year in the Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics suggests that regular consumers of cannabis have a lower BMI than those who do not use the drug.
  • A 2013 study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that cannabis consumers have 16 percent lower levels of fasting insulin and 17 percent lower insulin resistance levels than non-users. The research found “significant associations between marijuana use and smaller waist circumferences.”
  • And data published in British Medical Journal in 2012 reported that cannabis consumers had a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes and a lower risk of contracting the disease than did those with no history of cannabis consumption.

In the 2016 study, lead author Isabelle C. Beulaygue from the University of Miami concluded:

“There is a popular belief that people who consume marijuana have the munchies, and so [they] are going to eat a lot and gain weight, and we found that it is not necessarily the case.”

Researchers have not identified the reason behind the findings. But some suggest that those who consume cannabis regularly may be able to more easily break down blood sugar, which may help prevent weight gain.

10 Unique Christmas Light Displays That Will Rock The Holiday Season

Maria Loreto
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10 Unique Christmas Light Displays That Will Rock The Holiday Season

Holiday light displays are pretty standard and easy to expect. Christmas lights are one of the only variables that can be adapted as much as you want, and that allow you to get as creative and crazy as possible.

If you’re the type of person who really enjoys decorating and messing around with christmas lights, the following images will make you really happy.

Here are 10 Christmas light decorations that you can model during the holiday season:

Restaurant Lights

A post shared by TheEnsign (@theensignmonkstown) on Nov 15, 2017 at 1:30pm PST

Diamond Lights

A post shared by TNSJ ® ? (@raquelvandermoody) on Nov 15, 2017 at 1:17pm PST

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White Lights

A post shared by Kirsten (@kaginteriorogkunst) on Nov 15, 2017 at 9:58am PST

eight=”20″ width=”20″>

Colorful House Lights

This Super Skinny Tree

Lights in a Truck

Mall Decorations

House Lights

5 Sexy Gift Ideas For Couples Who Want To Get Busy During The Holidays

Maria Loreto
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5 Sexy Gift Ideas For Couples Who Want To Get Busy During The Holidays

Holiday season is always great for spending time with family, being grateful of all the things you have, and transforming yourself into a blanket burrito. It’s also a great time for having sex, with the cold making you want to take advantage of being indoors, drinking some red wine, and listening to Sade. It’s much more romantic than Valentine’s Day.

Here are 5 funny & sexy holiday presents that you can gift to your significant other, maintaining the perfect balance of naughty and nice:

Cute & Sexy Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are funny, cheap, and very sweet, which is why you should take advantage of them. They’re perfect for pairing with other presents or for simply reminding someone that they’re in your thoughts. Cafepress.com has some really awesome cards that are unique and special. 

Robes

A post shared by Kirkland’s (@kirklands) on

Who doesn’t love robes? They’re the perfect present, and in the winter their value increases times a thousand. They’re also a really nice gift, like socks, but fancier. Also sexier.

Broad City Sex Toy

A post shared by abbi & ilana (@broadcity) on


Sex toys are awesome but they can also be super tacky. The Broad City sex toys are funny, and that paired with orgasms sounds like the smartest investment you’ll ever make.

Remote Control Vibrator

A post shared by PicoBong (@picobong) on

These vibrators are perfect for couples who live in different cities, who travel a lot, or who simply want to get kinky within a crowded room. OhMiBod, Max and Nora, PicoBong, the options are endless.

Funny Condoms

A post shared by Sung Jun Lee (@king_of_dslr) on

Come on, that’s funny! Not very sexy though.

Post-Thanksgiving Meals: 5 Recipes to Use Turkey Leftovers

Sherri Wetherell
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Post-Thanksgiving Meals: 5 Recipes to Use Turkey Leftovers

There is no denying the magic of an after Thanksgiving sandwich.  I would go as far to say that we are just excited to eat that as the grand feast.  However, if you are like me, after day two and three you are ready to eat something different.  These leftover transform the remaining turkey meat into unique and delicious meals.  You can enjoy something as heartwarming as tortilla soup or a simple turkey salad with dill and cranberries.

Turkey Salad With Dill And Cranberries

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of leftover turkey chopped into ½ inch cubes
  • 2 small stalks of celery – diced
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup red onion – diced
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
  • coarsely grated black pepper and salt to taste
  • a spash of dry white wine

Directions

To get a perfect celery dice take the stalk and cut it twice lengthwise down the stalk to create 3 thin sticks of celery. Hold together and finely dice. Add all the ingredients together and mix. Serve open face or as a sandwich on your favorite toast.

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2-3 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 4 Tbsp flour
  • approx 3 cups turkey, diced or shredded
  • 2 cups mixed frozen peas and carrots
  • 4 cups milk, slightly warmed in a small pot
  • 1can of Pillsbury Grands Biscuits

Directions

Oven at 350 degrees. In a large saute pan, over medium low heat, add the olive oil, butter, onion, garlic and rosemary. Cook until the onions and garlic are softened and the rosemary is fragrant. Stir in the flour to coat and cook for a minute or two. Add the milk and whisk until smooth. Allow to simmer for about 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened. Once the sauce has thickened, add in the turkey, peas and carrots. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Pour the pot pie filling into a pan (note: I should have used something a little smaller since i didn’t have enough biscuits to cover completely). Place the biscuits over top. If you are looking for a thinner crust cut each biscuit in half to make two thinner rounds. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the biscuits are golden.

 

Sopa De Tortilla

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion, peeled and quartered
  • 2 cloves of garlic peeled
  • 4 stalks of celery
  • 1 bunch of cilantro
  • 1 Poblano pepper
  • 4 Carrots
  • The peels of two carrots- reserve the carrots for the soup
  • 1 whole Turkey breast
  • 8 ounces can of organic stewed tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • Pinch of cumin
  • 1 cup of fried corn tortillas
  • 1 Avocado

Preparation

Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil in bottom of large stock pot. Add quartered onion, 2 cloves of garlic and 2 stalks of celery, and turkey breast. Peel two carrots and add the peels to the stock pot along with 2 carrots and 2 celery stalks. Reserve two carrots and 2 celery stalks for later use. Cut the stems off your Cilantro bunch. Reserve the leaves. Add stems to the stock pot, add water to your pot so that it is 3/4 full.

Cover and boil for at least 1 hour, preferably 2 hours. You should set a timer to check on your stock. Do not add salt before you have reduced your stock. The stock should not reduce to less than one quarter of your pot. Remove turkey from bone. Reserve the meat. Discard the bone. Strain the soup by using a colander over another stock pot. Discard the vegetables, set aside the stock you will use for the soup (1 to 2 cups per guest) and pour the rest into ice cubes for later use.

For the soup, in blender add 1 8oz. can of organic stewed tomatoes and ¼ cup of olive oil, pinch of salt and puree with roasted pepper* and set aside for later use. Add 2 carrots cubed to stock. Add 2 celery stalks chopped to stock. Cover and boil for 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Add 1/4cup increments pureed pepper-tomato mixture to your broth. Add 1/3 cup of turkey meat per cup of stock and allow simmering. Taste for salt and finish with a pinch of ground cumin.

 

Turkey Enchiladas 

Ingredients

  • 1 pound leftover turkey, both brown & white meat, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 Celery stick, halved and sliced
  • 1 Red Pepper, sliced
  • 3 Garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato Purée
  • 1/2 cup Turkey stock
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chilli seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon Coco powder
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 5 ounces grated cheese, such as Monterey Jack or cheddar
  • 8 Corn Tortillas (If your not making your own the I recommend Old El Paso)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to (180°C) gas mark 4. In a heavy based pan soften the onions and celery in the olive oil. Add the red pepper, garlic, tomatoes, 1 tbsp of tomato purée and the stock, then bring to a simmer. Add the spices and taste for seasoning. Add extra chilli if you’re feeling brave, and to help ward off a winter cold. Simmer to let the flavours develop for about 10 minutes. Next, drain most of the liquid from the pan. Put the thicker of the two sauces (filling sauce) back in the pan and add the turkey and 1/2 of the cheese. Stir in well. Spoon the filling onto the middle of each corn tortilla and wrap, then place them folded side down into a lightly greased baking dish. Stir in 1 tbsp of tomatoes purée to the topping sauce and pour over the dish then sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is browning and the sauce is bubbling.

 

Turkey Pad Thai 

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs rice vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar or palm sugar, or less if desired
  • 8 ounces Thai rice noodles, ¼” wide
  • 8 ounces turkey
  • 2 tablespoons dried shrimp (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 pound bean sprouts
  • 3 scallions, sliced
  • 3/4 cup ground peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon roasted red chili peppers
  • Lime wedges

Directions

Combine first four ingredients and let sit until sugar dissolves. Soak rice noodles/sticks in warm water until they are soft but don’t disintegrate when pressed, about 40 minutes. Cut turkey into bite size pieces. Rinse dried shrimp (if using) in water and drain. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium high heat, add in crushed garlic. Swirl around for about a minute. Add noodles and mix around for a minute or two. Add the turkey and shrimp then immediately add the liquid. Keep stirring until the liquid has all been absorbed into the noodles, about a 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Push some of the noodles aside to one end of the wok, and break an egg in. Immediately cover with noodles. Do the same at the other end of wok. Let the eggs cook undisturbed until the yolks are opaque, about 2 to 3 minutes. (take a peek if unsure). Slip a slotted spoon under each egg in turn, and bring upward, through the noodles, shaking as you go. The idea is to break up the cooked egg into the rest of the mixture into tiny bits. Mix in sprouts and green onions. Let cook for another 2 minutes. Turn off heat. Add crushed peanuts and enough roasted red chilies to your desired hotness.

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. 

Weed As The New Craft Beer? This Bud’s For You

Amy Hansen
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Weed As The New Craft Beer? This Bud’s For You

Another move for big beer into greener pastures: a former Budweiser exec has turned his attention to cannabis.

Chris Burggraeve, who left his post as chief marketing officer for Anheuser-Busch InBev (which brews Budweiser), is invested in two cannabis ventures. He tells Bloomberg he’s joined the advisory board of San Francisco startup GreenRush Group, which wants to be the Amazon of weed. He also co-founded luxury cannabis brand Toast, which makes pre-rolled joints.

In October, Constellation Brands, (which brews Corona) agreed to take a nearly 10 percent stake in a Canadian marijuana company. 

Says Burggraeve:

The same way that craft beer started and, for the longest time, was ignored and then exploded, there’s no reason why the same thing wouldn’t happen in this space. There will be part supplementing and part complementing. The jury is out on how and where that will happen.

The parallels between beer and weed are many. Allen St. Pierre, executive director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), told Beer Advocate that there is a strong cultural link between craft beer and marijuana “and it’s called baby boomers,” he said. “The people in this age group grew up smoking pot and don’t view it as a hard drug. Craft beer has largely been led by baby boomers.”

Ron Lindenbusch, chief marketing officer at Lagunitas Brewing Company, told Beer Advocate that the connection between the rise of craft beer and how one views legal weed can be traced back to the end of Prohibition. He notes that in states where craft brewing was adopted early and marijuana is legal, lawmakers are more open-minded — a reflection of their constituents.

Burggraeve says the  is just the beginning, telling Bloomberg, “This is one of the fastest-growing categories globally. Why? Because people want it. When consumers want something, you ignore it at your peril.”

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