It’s happened. Pennsylvania has certified over 100 doctors to recommend medical cannabis. The names of the doctors have been publicized and their phones are now ringing off the hook.
Hoping to see medical marijuana ready and rolled out within six months, physician Dr. Rachel Levine seemed to exhale, “We are one step closer, one step closer.” And it is a relief, though what types of relief will be available is another story.
Although there will be pills, creams, oils and marijuana that is strictly for vaping on the dispensary shelves, there will be nothing that is just plain smokable. Some advocates believe that smoking takes away from the medical benefits while others see it as a fine delivery system. In Pennsylvania, though, the choice will not yet be there.
Of the doctors authorized, 14 have been approved in NE and central Pennsylvania, one of them, Dr. Richard Blum, says he knows of a patient already who “actually would qualify.” Blum’s phone’s been ringing since the list of approved doctors was made public.
Dr. Blum has been practicing medicine for over 40 years and never thought he’d be recommending marijuana.
“I don’t think when I first started that I ever considered the notion of medical marijuana, but I mean in recent years, sure. It’s available in other states and I know people who have really needed it and benefited from it and have moved to California for instance to take advantage of it,” said Blum.
“I gather from the phone calls today that there is a demand out there and I don’t imagine that I will be one of the doctors who will be interested in that demand. I’m more interested in helping patients that I know can be helped,” Dr. Blum continued, likely echoing the sentiment of many doctors new to recommending the plant.
But the patients are coming and the cannabis is growing. White Haven’s Standard Farms, LLC was already approved to grow and process cannabis for patients who will be ready and waiting for their meds next year.
As Pennsylvania medical cannabis activist Adrienne Leasa said, “The gate has been opened and there is so much hope in cannabis.”
Correction: An earlier headline incorrectly said that doctors can prescribe medical marijuana. Doctors are not allowed to prescribe marijuana in any state, only recommend.
People in Michigan slept out in the rain and near freezing temperatures to try and get their hands on one of the medical marijuana dispensary licenses. The township of Leoni isn’t putting a cap on the the number of grow-ops or processing plants, but they are limiting the number of provisioning centers to just six.
According to MLive.com, these licenses are being issued on a first-come, first-served basis to those who’ve paid a $5,000 per-facility fee and meet the long list of qualifications, including proof of $250,000 in liquid, available funds. Applicants are also required to submit staffing and business plans.
One man, Jon Bozung, arrived before noon on Oct. 27 and was already too late. He was seventh in line. Someone else had claimed the last coveted spot.
“He beat me by six minutes,” Bozung told MLive.com.
The Medical Marihuana Facilities Act was passed by the legislature in 2016 and gives an appointed state board the power to license growers, transporters, sellers and safety compliance facilities. However, facilities are prohibited from operating without local authorization.
Beginning December 15, the state will award businesses five types of licenses: growers, processors, testers, transporters and dispensaries. The Michigan Medical Marijuana Licensing Board will award licenses in early 2018.
We all know the routine at the airport TSA checkpoints: Take off your shoes. Remove your belt. Check for loose change. Remove your laptop from the case. Take your cell phone out of your pocket. And put them all in a bin to be x-rayed.
If you happen to be going through the TSA line in southern California’s Ontario International Airport, something may look a little strange. Here’s how Robin Abcarian of the Los Angeles Times describes the change:
I went through a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Ontario International Airport and saw it with my own eyes. A sticker that covered the bottom of the tray for my belongings said in huge block letters: “CANNABIS IS LEGAL.”
There was some fine print near the bottom: “Traveling with it is not. Leave it in California.”
And beneath that admonition, there were five corporate logos, all belonging to Organa Brands, the 7-year-old cannabis company that came up with this unusual campaign.
The ad campaign — the first public-service announcements for cannabis in an air terminal — is the brainchild of Jackson Tilley, Organa Brand’s publicity director, who came up with the concept after seeing ads for a dating site on the TSA trays. He took his idea to Organa co-founder Jeremy Heidl.
According to TSA policy, advertisements must be “non-political.” Tilley’s idea is not political at all. The message clearly states that it is illegal to carry on cannabis products on an aircraft.
“Anytime we can normalize cannabis, I think it’s a good thing,” said Heidl told Newsweek. “I’m still pinching myself a week into this. It’s just unbelievable to me that the TSA was able to sign off on this campaign.”
In two months, California’s recreational marijuana law will go into effect. Beginning on Jan. 1., it will be legal to possess, sell, grow and consume cannabis in the state. But, as the PSA warns you, it is not legal to take it out of the state.
There’s nothing wrong with sharing a cocktail or two with friends and family. But binge drinking is a different matter.
As more states legalize marijuana, is the problem getting better or worse? Does more cannabis use cut down on binge drinking? The data, so far, is inconclusive. But public health researchers are urging agencies and universities to focus more on the dangers posed by alcohol, and less on the dangers of less toxic drugs, such as marijuana.
Excessive alcohol consumption cost the United States $249 billion in 2010. This amounts to about $2.05 per drink, or about $807 per person.
The costs due to excessive drinking largely resulted from losses in workplace productivity (72% of the total cost), health care expenses (11%), and other costs due to a combination of criminal justice expenses, motor vehicle crash costs, and property damage.
Excessive alcohol use cost states and DC a median of $3.5 billion in 2010, ranging from $488 million in North Dakota to $35 billion in California.
Binge drinking was responsible for about three-quarters (77%) of the cost of excessive alcohol use in all states and DC.
About $2 of every $5 of the economic costs of excessive alcohol use were paid by federal, state, and local governments.
What Is The Actual Definition Of Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on a single occasion, More than 17 percent of all people in the United States are binge drinkers, and more than 28 percent of people age 18 to 24.
Binge drinking is more common among people with a household income of at least $75,000.
Does Marijuana Legislation Have An Effect On Binge Drinking?
Researchers at the University of Washington reviewed more than 750 studies on marijuana and alcohol, in search of evidence as to whether people use alcohol and marijuana together or whether one is preferred when both are available. No clear pattern emerged.
The researchers concluded that there’s evidence of marijuana and alcohol being both substitutes and complements. Given the rapidly evolving landscape of marijuana policy, they say further study will be important to understand how changes in marijuana laws impact the use of alcohol and other drugs.
“This is a complicated issue and requires a nuanced approach,” said lead author Katarína Guttmannová, a researcher in the UW’s Social Development Research Group. “We were hoping to have more clear-cut answers at the end of our research. But you know what? This is the science of human behavior, and it’s messy, and that’s OK.”
Marijuana Protects Against Brain Damage From Binge Drinking
If you are prone to binge drinking, cannabis may play a role in protecting your brain from further damage. A study published online by the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology suggests that marijuana may protect the brain from some of the damage caused by binge drinking. “It is possible that marijuana may have some neuroprotective properties in mitigating alcohol-related oxidative stress or excitotoxic cell death,” according to the report.
“This study suggests that not only is marijuana safer than alcohol, it may actually protect against some of the damage that booze causes,” said Steve Fox, co-author of the new book, Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink? “It’s far better for teens not to drink or smoke marijuana, but our nation’s leaders send a dangerous message by defending laws that encourage the use of alcohol over marijuana.”
Which States Have The Biggest Problem With Binge Drinking?
North Dakota has the highest binge drinking problem, with 24.9 percent of residents in the state falling into the category, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday. Wisconsin and the District of Columbia (both 24.2 percent) were tied for second.
Tennessee has the lowest population of binge drinkers at 10.9 percent in the country.
There’s nothing wrong with having sex with someone you’re attracted to, no matter if it’s the first or fifth date. Finding someone to have a serious relationship can be hard nowadays, so waiting to have sex with them can offer big rewards, even if you think this is an antiquated or old-timey solution.
Having sex with someone you like can hurt your feelings, especially if the relationship never takes off. If you’ve been there and feel like not going through that again, maybe this unorthodox choice can provide the solution you need. Whatever the reason, here are 5 reasons why waiting to have sex might work for you:
You Can Discover If You Really Like The Other Person
Sex can complicate dating, making you not know if someone is going out with you because they want to sleep with you or because they’re looking for something more serious. By eliminating sex from the equation (for a little while at least) you’ll know if something is worth pursuing and if you’re really attracted to this person.
Knowing someone before you have sex with them makes the act more important and enjoyable, because it deepens a connection that’s already there. If you take time to become friends and to trust this person, the relationship will become more intimate and strong.
The fact that you’re not having sex with this person will make sex even more appealing and desirable, and it’ll also make you value each touch and glance a lot more. Kissing and holding hands will be more rewarding than usual. In conclusion, you’ll feel like a high schooler, which is not that bad.
Emotional Attachment Will Be The Main Focus
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Without sex as a distraction, you and your partner will be able to focus on developing your relationship on an emotional level.
If you’re attracted to someone, the fact that you won’t be having sex with them will make the wait hard and fun. The moment when you finally have sex will be explosive and awesome, deepening a relationship that’s already well established.
Halloween is bad for your stomach, no matter how old you are and what your plans are during that night. Synonymous with candy and alcohol, Halloween is sometimes a week long event that leaves most of us exhausted, feeling like our bodies – primarily our bellies – could use a break.
While it’s cool to have fun and indulge during this faux holiday, it’s also great to come up with a recovery plan that’ll help you get back on the health track, which is what we’re here for. These 5 simple steps can be done whenever you’re ready and will help ease your transition into regular non-candy life:
This one is kind of obvious, but still very important. Water is energizing and the perfect solution for when you’ve eaten and drunk a little too much. It’ll also help you maintain your body hydrated while forcing those toxins out of you.
At some point it’s gotta happen. Eating candy and sweets will only make you crave them more, which is why they’re so addictive and hard to cut off. To make the process more simple, switch up the sugary snacks for some fruits and veggies, which will provide the sweetness your body craves while also helping you get your body back in top shape.
Try to avoid processed foods and eat the most natural things you can find. Have some salads and soups while supplementing your days and cravings with healthy and fruit only smoothies. This will get your body to crave good foods instead of candy and bad carbs.
Halloween is a time consuming event that can eat a lot of your resting time. As we’ve mentioned before, sleep is super important, so if you can’t fit in your eight hours of sleep then try to eat foods such as whole grains and lean proteins which will make your body fight off fatigue.
You can start off slowly by walking a lot or doing some yoga, then, after a couple of days, you can graduate with a super intense workout session that’ll help you burn all those extra calories.
Marijuana is not what it used to be, even just a few years ago. Those who smoke it in states where it’s legal are out and proud. And even where it’s still not legal to use recreationally, the stigma is starting to wear very thin. Even celebrities have embraced pot as something they enjoy and aren’t afraid to talk about it any longer. That includes moms. It’s likely not all of these celeb moms still smoke weed, but they aren’t shy about admitting their past behavior, which they probably miss, let’s be honest. Here are eight celebrity mothers associated with pot. Are they all still imbibing? Only their dealer knows for sure.
Anna Faris
The ex Mrs. Pratt once shot a movie with Seth Rogen (“Observe and Report”) and, not surprisingly, the talk soon turned to marijuana, as all things with Seth Rogen eventually do. At the time, Faris said she and Rogen got competitive over who had won more Stony Awards, a bong that’s the High Times equivalent of an Oscar.
Faris told GQ, “Seth’s won more—like three. Mine’s up on the mantel. And occasionally, it gets used.”
Megan Fox
When asked about America’s war on drugs by British GQ, Fox passionately answered:
It’s all propaganda. I can’t tell you how much bullshit I’ve been through because I will openly say that I smoke weed… People look at it like it’s this crazy, hippy, fucked-up thing to do. And it’s not! I hope they legalize it and when they do I’ll be the first fucking person in line to buy my pack of joints.
Nicole Richie
Nearly a decade ago, when she was hanging around a bad crowd (Paris Hilton), Nicole Richie was arrested for driving under the influence after police caught her going the wrong way on the freeway.
She admitted to officers that she had been smoking marijuana and taking Vicodin. The mother of 9-year old daughter Harlow and 8-year old son Sparrow has definitely turned it down a few notches.
During a TV appearance with Ron Paul in 2012, Palin admitted to smoking weed during a time in Alaska “when pot was legal anyway, it was absolutely no big deal.”
Charlize Theron
It was a big deal when Ms. Theron was caught smoking a bongBack in 2001, it was a big deal when Ms. Theron …jerry-rigged from an apple. But now that she’s the mom to daughter August and son Jackson, she might very well be sticking to just eating her fruit.
The singer-songwriter is not just a marijuana advocate and enthusiast, she shares it with her kids. Speaking to Yahoo, the mother of four said: “I have smoked with my older two,” referencing her 20-year-old daughter Bailey and 18-year-old son Beckett. “It was funny at first and then they realized it’s a very natural end-of-the-day and it brings you closer, so I’d much rather have a smoke with my grown kids than a drink.”
Susan Sarandon
The actress, and mother of has never been shy about discussing her use of weed. She even said recently that she used to smoke pot with her ex-boyfriend, David Bowie. And Snoop Dogg. Her youngest son is 25, so she has nobody to hide her hobbies from at this point.
Alanis Morissette
In 2010, while pregnant with her first child, the singer said she was giving up pot until her baby was born. But marijuana is something she says she uses to help her creativity. “I consider myself a moderate user. Smoking a joint once in a while gives me a huge head start as an artist. I often feel telepathically on weed.”
A recent video of a moth with tentacles coming out of its behind has been circling different social media sites and has people freaking out, wondering what the hell it is.
While it looks like a baby Demogorgon from “Stranger Things,” it’s actually just a moth from Indonesia, doing it’s thing. By thing we mean sex.
Moths normally look pretty harmless and kind of cute, if you’re into that sort of thing, but this type of moth, known as the Creatonotos gangis – an appropriately creepy name – does this weird dance when it’s ready to mate and have little monster moth babies. The tentacles are known as “hair-pencils” or coremata, and they’re used to release the moth’s scent, luring some unlucky lady moth to have sex with it. Or male moth, we’re not sure about the biology here.
People on social media were understandably surprised and creeped out, wondering if the moth had some sort of infection or tumor, but no, this is just it’s natural sexy state.
Germany is veering toward a political deadlock over the formation of a coalition government. Among the issues at stake are immigration reform, climate change regulation … and marijuana legalization.
Among European Union nations, Germany has the largest medical marijuana market. But no country in Europe has allowed for full adult recreational sale or consumption of the herb. Will Germany become the first?
“The time is right for a solution,” Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, deputy federal president of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) told the newspaper Stuttgarter-Zeitun.
Tom Angell of Marijuana Moment was the first to report on the developments earlier this week:
Members of a potential German coalition government, including the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel, are nearing agreement on a deal to legalize marijuana, reports indicate.
As the legalization movement spreads across the globe — particularly in the United States and Canada — a change in German law would be a significant development. The European marijuana market is estimated to be worth more than $65 billion (56.2 billion in euros), according to the European Cannabis Report.
Germany’s medical marijuana market, only one year old, is valued at nearly $12 billion (10.2 billion in euros, according to the report.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an outspoken opponent of marijuana legalization, but her conservative Christian Democratic Union party has been forced to hammer out a coalition among the FDP and the environmental Green Party. As negotiations among the parties continue, compromises on key national issues must be agreed upon.
As Angell reports:
Members of the so-called “Jamaica coalition” (because the colors of the involved parties are reminiscent of those on the Caribbean nation’s flag) are expected to formalize a marijuana policy agreement toward the tail end of the talks, after other issues are settled.
“We are ready to do that,” Fritz Becker, chairman of the German Pharmacists Association, said of distributing marijuana through pharmacies.
Last year, the Germany legalized medical marijuana with a unanimous vote from the Bundesregierung (Cabinet). The law went into effect this March.
Living in urban areas provides great access to foods and seasonings from all over the world. Living anywhere with internet access gives you an even wider range of options. Sometimes I feel like I will never taste everything just from one shop, let alone our entire exotic, endangered earth. It’s a daunting and exciting part of being alive in these widely traded times.
I finally spotted Yuzu Kosho in its long standing corner in my favorite Japanese market after seeing well traveled and excellent cook friends playing with it on their hashtag #jescipes. It was the best food day of this year for me. A fermented paste of Thai chilis, salt, and the zest of the potent yuzu citrus make up the treasured ingredients list, you may just freak out at how it lights up your taste buds with just a tiny dab. I’ve since been putting it on a very large variety of foods, and its easy to stock up online if I run out without a shop on hand. Here’s the best ones for a cannabis cook.
Ready in moments and much richer than your usual instant soup, chef Roy Choi’s iteration of ramen is a great landing strip for some extra sour and spice, and even includes a pat of butter that’s swappable for some cannabutter. Prepare your favorite instant ramen according to package. With one minute left in the cooking time, lower the heat and stir in ½ tsp of Yuzu Kosho with the seasoning packet (use less if you’re watching the salt) before you crack in an egg and pile the noodles over the top to help poach it.
Let 1 tablespoon of cannabutter* float in the hot broth while the egg cooks, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer into a bowl, lay a sheet of American cheese over the top, and sprinkle on some scallions, dried fried onions, and black sesame seeds. You will never make ramen the same way again thanks to Choi, and this tweak with yuzu is packed with terpenes that can help enhance your high.
Chicken Soup
Photo by Danielle Guercio
Another soup but hey it’s fall! I make mine vegan with Quorn Chk’n tenders, which are super yummy and made from mycoprotein, but you can go ahead and chicken it up if you are a bird eater. Sautée about 2 cups of mirepoix (carrot, celery, onion) with a few cloves of garlic in 4 tablespoons of cannabutter* on gentle heat until translucent.
Lightly brown the protein amidst the veggies, and top with 6 cups of either broth or water. Season with salt if you’re using water, and consider dropping in some veggie bullion to amp up the savory, even if you’re using meat. Add spices you like, but remember that Yuzu Kosho will be very standalone, so I would keep it minimal. Simmer for one hour, stir in 1 tsp Yuzu Kosho, and portion into four servings for a solid experience at about 10mg.
Tofu Scramble
Tofu already has a special place in Japanese cuisine, but scrambled with nutritional yeast and turmeric is an American vegetarian staple. It mimics eggs but also has a satisfying appeal on anything from tacos to chili. Drain a block of tofu for 30 minutes before breaking into chunks.
Sear on all sides in a pan with olive oil and then add chopped garlic and shallot. Break up the tofu chunks into smaller pieces and continue to brown it. When you have some crust going, stir in 2 Tbs cannabutter, ½ tsp Yuzu Kosho and 1 Tbs nutritional yeast. Once it’s mixed well, you’re ready to serve two people with a tasty egg replacer or meal filler and a nice 10mg.
Green Curry Noodles
Photo by Danielle Guercio
Such a good quick meal, this Americanized Thai curry with pasta was something I found on a blog years ago that legitimately blew me away tastewise. Instead of making a full curry with meats and vegetables, you’re really making a creamy pasta sauce that is vibrantly spicy and warms you to the core. Bring salted water to a boil. Fry ⅓ can green curry paste in a pan, then add 3 chopped shallots and a few minced cloves of garlic with a dash of coconut oil.
When the water is boiling, add desired pasta (I used whole wheat soba) and cook for manufacturer’s instructions for al dente. Add 4oz coconut milk to the curry, along with a handful of basil leaves and 1 Tbs cannabis infused coconut oil*. Season with a healthy dash of oyster mushroom sauce or your favorite salty stir fry base. Drain the pasta and add to the pan with the sauce. Toss until coated, serve garnished with cilantro and you’re getting three servings of 12mg THC.
Katsu
Photo by Danielle Guercio
This rice and cutlet combo is a knockout for a decently quick mean that you can call comfort food. It’s a takeout classic for a reason. Toss 1 cup steamed sushi rice with ½ tsp Yuzu Kosho and 1 tsp cannabis infused sesame oil. Plate with your favorite breaded cutlet and garnish with a splash of soy sauce and some Furikake seasoning.
*Cannabis Infused Oil or Butter
Decarboxylate 3.5g of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put cannabis in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and one stick of butter or ½ cup oil. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes. Try this on French fries or a yummy kale salad, it pretty much goes anywhere you’d put salty, citrus and heat. SO fragrance and yummy that it keeps making its way out of the counter and into everything I eat, and it kicks up the experience just so when mixed with THC, they fit like puzzle pieces!
