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You Can Major In Marijuana At This American University

Brendan Bures
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You Can Major In Marijuana At This American University

Add Northern Michigan University in Marquette to the growing number of higher learning institutions focusing on cannabis education. The school recently announced that this fall it will offer an undergraduate program in medicinal plant chemistry.

It will effectively give students a major in medicinal marijuana and train them to enter the expanding industry. The school hopes it will become a major pipeline for students interested in learning about makeup and medical efficacy of the marijuana plant.

“The need for this is so great. You go to some of these cannabis industry conferences and everyone is talking about how they need labs, they need labs,” NMU associate chemistry professor Brandon Cangiel told CBS Detroit. “Or the bigger operations are trying to set up their own labs in house and they need trained analysts. And the skill set required to perform these analysis is perfectly matched with an undergraduate level education.”

Initially, students won’t have their hands on the plants. Though maybe the school will revisit the decision following the 2018 Michigan Election, crops of the plant will not be grown on the campus. Instead students will practice extraction and analysis techniques via other plants systems. In addition professors will educate on the chemical compounds of marijuana, and how to separate cannabinoids and the various terpenes present in cannabis.

Dr. Mark Paulsen, head of NMU’s chemistry department, told WXYZ ABC7 that he believes program graduates “will be in very high demand,” based on dialogues he’s had at industry conferences.

Currently 12 students are enrolled in the program for the fall semester, but Paulsen “expect[s] that the incoming class next fall will double or triple in size.”

“I predict that the graduates from our program are going to have among the highest immediate job placement of any of our programs,” Canfield told CBS Detroit, echoing his boss’ sentiments. “People are either going to go out and get jobs or they might go out and start their own business in the industry.”

The Ways In Which Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner Loved Marijuana

Brendan Bures
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The Ways In Which Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner Loved Marijuana

Hugh Hefner, the legendary media mogul and founder of Playboy, died Wednesday, Playboy Enterprises announced. He was 91. While well known for inventing the archetype of modern man and as a figure in the sexual revolution, few know that Hefner also was an activist for cannabis.

In its early stages, Keith Stroup and his cannabis advocacy group The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) struggled with funding. But the Playboy Foundation, under the direction of Hefner, presented NORML with a $5,000 grant. Stroup had considered leaving his activism days behind and accepting a more mainstream job when he got the news.

As Stroup relayed on NORML’s 40th anniversary several years ago, Hefner’s grant proved pivotal for his cannabis advocacy group.

Hefner was also public on his own cannabis usage. He announced it to the world in 1980 in Patrick Anderson’s book High in America: The True Story Behind NORML and the Politics of Marijuana. “Smoking helped put me in touch with the realm of the senses,” Hefner said. “I discovered a whole other dimension to sex,” he would also add.

His stance only strengthened later into his life, as Hefner made known his stance on the cannabis legalization.

“I don’t think there’s any question that marijuana should be legalized because to not legalize it, we’re paying the same price we paid for prohibition,” Hefner said in a 2010 Fox News interview. “In other words, it is a medical concern and it should be handled that way.”

His efforts for cannabis did not go unnoticed. On the day of his passing, Stroup wrote a blog post once again thanking Hefner for his contribution.

“Hefner was a fearless cultural crusader who believed deeply not just in the right to sexual freedom, but also in civil rights and the right to privacy,” he wrote. “May he rest in peace”

People At Patriots Game Were Charged $4.50 For Tap Water

Maria Loreto
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People At Patriots Game Were Charged $4.50 For Tap Water

It was unusually hot last Sunday at Gillette Stadium in New England, and organizers of the football game expected more sales of bottled water and drinks than usual. Concession stands doubled their water orders in anticipation of temperatures topping 90 degrees, but the order was not enough.

People consumed four times more than what they would usually drink, running through all the supplies of bottled water and Gatorade before the game even reached half-time. With nothing else available to drink, people started asking for tap water.

Lacking small cups like most restaurants and fast food places, the workers from concessions were faced with an unexpected and unprecedented situation, which made them sell their soda cups filled with tap water at their regular price of 4 dollars and 50 cents. Understandably, people got very angry.

The New England Patriots ended up getting a lot of backlash from fans who were shocked by the prices of water.

Patriots Spokesman Stacey James apologized for what happened and claimed that his team was taking the necessary measures and precautions so that the event would never repeat itself. 

We apologize. That should not have happened, It is the first time that I have ever heard that complaint here. We are looking into the matter to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

Gee, thanks Stacey.

Higher Ground Crashes AdWeek With Irreverent Cannabis Campaign

MJ News Network
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Higher Ground Crashes AdWeek With Irreverent Cannabis Campaign

Higher Ground TV launched a “Marijuana vs. Cannabis” campaign at AdWeek to bring awareness of the benefits of legalization. Parodying Rolling Stone’s acclaimed “Perception vs. Reality” campaign of the 1980s (Fallon McElligott agency), the new ads instead use the words “marijuana” and “cannabis” to juxtapose the past history of Reefer Madness with the new era of legalization.

Each ad highlights a different aspect of the evolution of legal cannabis; the first ad shows a dirty bong opposite a modern vaporizer (a CannaCloud, the Keurig for cannabis), with statistics on changing attitudes – and intake methods. The second ad compares headshops to recreational cannabis stores, emphasizing tax revenue, and the fact legal stores check IDs.

“While support for legalization is at an all-time high (65 percent), the vast majority of people haven’t really experienced what legal cannabis looks like,” stated Higher Ground Editor-in-Chief Michael A. Stusser. “These ads highlight safer growing methods, the millions raised in tax revenues and the medical benefits of weed. Our goal? National legalization – and decriminalization. Oh, and to promote our new talk show …”

“Higher Ground” is a new web series that spotlights the emerging canna-culture through humorous clip-show monologues, celebrity interviews, on-the-street field pieces (with periodically stoned correspondents), and parodies. “It’s “The Daily Show” meets “Good Morning America”….” says Stusser, “just with a giant bong on the desk.”

Previous Higher Ground projects have included a “Comedians in Cars Smoking Cannabis” parody, an ad that ran in states voting on legalization last November (“Cannabis Clicker”), a weedWatch campaign, and a re-mix of Cheech & Chong’s famous hitchhiking scene from Up in Smoke.

“We’re using traditional formats like talk shows and ad campaigns and parodies to highlight modern cannabis culture,” said Stusser. “I think it’s important to explore marijuana with a sense of humor to truly reach, inform and move the masses.”

Five “Marijuana vs. Cannabis” ads were released this week for AdWeek, with another five to run for AdWeek London and AdWeek Latin America and AdWeek Europe. The ads are running on Facebook and other social media sites, as well as MJ Channel One and in print in the MJ Green Pages and alternative weeklies.

Cannabis isn’t just about getting as high as a kite. In additional to the legalization taking place across the country, cannabis is leading to mind-boggling medical breakthroughs, innovative products and inventions, as well as celebrity brands involving health, lifestyle and beauty. From gourmet edibles to Marijuana Moms to a growing number of seniors embracing cannabis for arthritis, weed culture is becoming pop culture. Rather than shy away from this emerging movement, Higher Ground explores it with an entertaining- and professional – attitude.

From Reefer Madness To Cannabis Connoisseur: Support At All All-Time High

Fifty-five million Americans currently use marijuana (22 percent of the population), and over half of all adults have tried it. Support for legalization is at an all-time high (nearly 65 percent) – as is the support for medical marijuana (88 percent). Of the 55 million cannabis users, a majority of those (52 percent) are millennials. Surprisingly, 54 percent of the adults who use weed are parents. The hard-hitting and topical Jon Stewart-brand of journalism is also more popular than ever (including The “Daily Show,” and alumni Stephen Colbert, Samantha Bee and John Oliver). Higher Ground embraces this approach – using advocacy journalism along with a sense of humor to bring the cannabis culture to the masses.

Ninety-five percent of the U.S. population currently lives in a state with some form of legal access to marijuana. Recreationally legal in nine States (including California, the sixth-largest economy in the world), another 29 states (plus D.C.) have laws on the books for medical marijuana. This cultural zeitgeist is not only increasing viewing limits, it’s bringing it audiences in key demographics who want smart, informative and entertaining programming about the people and products behind modern-day cannabis.

This Artwork Made From Ecstasy Will Cost You More Than A Million Bucks

Amy Hansen
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This Artwork Made From Ecstasy Will Cost You More Than A Million Bucks

A London artist known for his use of ecstasy pills in his masterpieces is at it again. This time, he’s given knew meaning to the word “overdose.”

The Spirit of Ecstasy uses 7-thousand pills and costs one-million pounds (about $1.3 Million). That’s a lot of Molly.

According to MixMag, the exhibit features a silicone and fiberglass figure of an unnamed model, whom many swear is Cara Delevingne , suspended in a window of pills.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZTYbuSnSvW

The artist, named Chemical X, says that his work is about “potential suspended in an everlasting moment, allowing the viewer to see what has been, what is and what could be — all in the same instant.”

Chemical X is famous for designing the original Ministry Of Sound logo and has previously collaborated with none other than Banksy and Damien Hirst.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUvxJOHhnG-

A portion of sales from the exhibit will benefit a drug safety organization called The Loop. The location and date of the exhibition are TBA.

Jessica Alba Has Waged Legal War With A Colorado Hemp Company

Brendan Bures
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Jessica Alba Has Waged Legal War With A Colorado Hemp Company

Jessica Alba isn’t so happy with one Colorado-based company. TMZ recently reported the actress’s Honest Company has filed a trademark lawsuit against Honest Herbal, which produces cannabinoid-rich hemp products.

The lawsuit claims that Honest Herbal is attempting to unfairly benefit from an association to Alba’s company where none exists. In addition, Honest Herbal is attempting to “confuse consumers and profit from the goodwill and consumer recognition associated with The Honest Co.’s HONEST Marks.”

Alba launched the Honest Company in 2012. The company sells non-toxic household products that supposedly fills in the gap for ethical consumers. Among the most successful products for Honest is their face and body lotion. Because of that, Honest worries that the lotions, creams, and other products Honest Herbal produces might be mistaken as theirs.

The suit also states that Honest Company made a “good faith effort to resolve this matter without having to resort to litigation,” but Honest Herbal refused to respond properly to the cease and desist.

Honest Company is seeking monetary damages as well as Honest Herbal to change their name.

What To Expect From The New ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Members

Brendan Bures
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What To Expect From The New ‘Saturday Night Live’ Cast Members

“Saturday Night Live” will return for its 43rd season this week and will include three new cast members, one of which you probably know, one you possibly know, and one you pragmatically don’t. The new featured players will be Chris Redd, Heidi Gardner, and Luke Null.

In addition SNL hired seven new writers to the cast creating an influx of new possibilities for a show that found newfound heights of popularity last season thanks to its political sketches. (Count us in the minority that didn’t like those sketches.) Those writers will be, Gary Richardson, Nimesh Patel, Steven Castillo, Claire Friedman, Erik Marino, Andrew Dismukes, and Sam Jay.

Here is a quick sample of their work.

Chris Redd

If you watched Lonely Island’s hilarious Popstar: Never Stop Popping last year, you’re familiar with Chris Redd. Rumored to be joining the cast last season, Redd played the scene-stealing Hunter the Hungry in Popstar and had some of the funnier scenes in the movies, including the one below. Redd also taped his first half-hour special for Comedy Special earlier this year and previously was part of Chicago’s Second City.

Heidi Gardner

Like Will Ferrell and Melissa McCarthy, Heidi Gardner joins a long list of SNL cast members who come straight from the Los Angeles-based comedy group Groundlings. There she performs and writes improv as well as sketches. She will appear in 2018’s Life of the Party which stars McCarthy, and has done substantial voiceover work.

Here is a sketch she co-wrote and co-starred in.

Luke Null

Unlike his fellow new cast members, Null doesn’t have an extensive comedy resume to tout. He is a serious unknown and interesting hire for the team at SNL and could end up a surprise delight. His knack appears to be a sing-songy comedy, perhaps akin to Bo Burnham. Here’s a clip of him performing.

 

New Study Shows Marijuana Indeed Helps HIV-Positive Patients

Trey Reckling
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New Study Shows Marijuana Indeed Helps HIV-Positive Patients

Alcohol and stimulants shorten the lives of HIV-positive patients. The same cannot be said of cannabis, or so the investigators who authored a recent study believe.

Nearly 3,100 HIV-positive male veterans were studied over a nine year period. Researchers studied how they used stimulants, alcohol and cannabis to see if it correlated with a change in their mortality rates. The study concludes: 

“Our findings show no evidence of a negative effect of cannabis use on mortality risk”

Studies on the health effects of cannabis are ubiquitous these days, but this was no ordinary team of researchers. Scientists from Yale, Brown, University of Pittsburgh, the Veterans Administration and the National Institutes of Health all collaborated. The sample size, length of observation period and design of the study all contribute to its level of academic rigor.

This is only a piece of the overall puzzle of HIV, but it is more good news regarding cannabis and the patients, providers and caregivers who helped make medical marijuana part of the national conversation. That was not always the case, of course. 

It has not been that long ago that the public was not familiar with HIV or that it could lead to a condition called AIDS that is deadly without appropriate treatment. In the 1980s, people were just learning the acronym AIDS. Gay men were getting sick and no one knew why or how it was contracted.

People were afraid, the gay community was further stigmatized and rumors abounded about casually contracting the disease from mosquitoes and other fantastical methods. Headlines of major papers both reflected and stoked the fear: “A Pneumonia That Strikes Gay Men,” “Gay Cancer” and  “Britain Threatened By The Gay Plague Virus.” It would take President Reagan over four years to even say the word AIDS. Betrayed by the government and searching for ways to help, some patients and their caregivers took action. 

In a 2008 report titled “Medical Marijuana and The AIDS Crisis” published in the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, author Clinton A. Werner wrote:

“The Federal authorities abdication of compassion and repression of research spawned a grassroots political movement that repudiated federal regulations.” 

People with AIDS were among the first patients to begin to network underground to treat their symptoms. Wasting syndrome, a devastating condition characterized by loss of appetite and severe loss of weight, was mitigated with cannabis use. It not only increased patients’ appetite but improved compliance rates of people on antiretroviral drugs by reducing the side effects of that therapy.

Promising studies like this one help ensure the continued interest from the scientific community about how cannabis may impact both HIV and AIDS. And it should be as such. We owe the fact that we even have partial repeal of marijuana prohibition in states across the country in part to these early pioneers who struggled to survive and those who cared for them. They took great personal risk to take a chance on an unknown and highly illegal therapy. The least we can do is continue to ask the questions that they helped inspire the public to ask, “how can cannabis/marijuana help?”

Senator Cory Gardner Signs Pro-Cannabis Research Bill

Mary Schumacher
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Senator Cory Gardner Signs Pro-Cannabis Research Bill

This new bill aims to see what kind of role cannabis could play in the opioid crisis as part of the medicinal and scientific research

Senator Cory Gardner (R) Colorado has signed on to a bipartisan effort revolving around easing the restrictions on medical cannabis research. This is big news, as Sen. Gardner is not the first to come to mind with pro-pot anything.

Gardner’s now cosponsoring the Marijuana Effective Drug Study Act (MEDS Act) that aims to make the entire process easier for approving pot related research and raises production quotas for the federally approved marijuana growers who grow cannabis for pot-derived drugs.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) Utah introduced the bill with a comically pun riddled statement. Many marijuana activists didn’t appreciate the humor, however, as drug policy reform is more serious than ever under the current administration that intimidates patients and threatens medical and scientific research.

“It’s high time to address research into medical marijuana,” started Hatch, who is Mormon and is opposed to recreational cannabis, “Our country has experimented with a variety of state solutions without properly delving into the weeds on the effectiveness, safety, dosing, administration and quality of medical marijuana. All the while, the federal government strains to enforce regulations that sometimes do more harm than good. To be blunt, we need to remove the administrative barriers preventing legitimate research into medical marijuana, which is why I’ve decided to roll out the MEDS Act.”

Despite that tongue in cheek roll out, this new bill aims to see what kind of role cannabis could play in the opioid crisis as part of the medicinal and scientific research. It also has provisions to make sure controlled cannabis substances are not abused.

“Our medical community continues to find new ways medical marijuana can help patients but currently there are too many barriers that are holding back even further advancements and research,” Gardner said in a statement. “This legislation is simple. It will make it easier for our universities, hospitals, and scientists to look at new ways that medical marijuana can be used for treatment.”

The bill is now with the Republican controlled Senate Judiciary Committee. Other cosponsors of the bill include senators Schatz (D) Hawaii, Chris Coons (D) Delaware and Thom Tillis (R) North Carolina.

Gossip: Zac Efron Wants To Film Love Scene With Dwayne Johnson; Kim Kardashian’s Surrogate Placed On Bed Rest

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Zac Efron Wants To Film Love Scene With Dwayne Johnson; Kim Kardashian’s Surrogate Placed On Bed Rest

Zac Efron is the latest Hollywood actor to take part in Vogue’s” 73 Questions” video series where host Joe Sabia asks celebrities about their lives.

In the video Sabia caught Efron at his house and proceeded to ask him questions such as what kind of car he drives, what movies have made him cry and most importantly: What it was like kissing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in this year’s Baywatch movie?

“Absolutely amazing,” the High School Musical hunk answered with excitement. “He’s perfect, breathtaking.”

“It sounds like you enjoyed the experience,” Sabia remarked.

“It was amazing.”

Not only does Efron look back fondly on his time locking lips with Johnson, but when asked later in the video who he would “love to do a love scene with” Efron brought up his Baywatch co-star again.

“The Rock,” he answered. “To finish what we started.”

Kim Kardashian’s Surrogate Placed On Bed Rest After Major Health Crisis

Not even surrogacy can guarantee a smooth pregnancy. Though Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hired another woman to carry their third child, things nearly turned tragic for the powerhouse couple when their surrogate, who is currently expecting a baby girl, reportedly suffered a health crisis that left her bedridden. Worried and scared for the safety of their unborn child, the parent-of-two had no choice but to take drastic measures.

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

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