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Long Lines To Grow Medical Cannabis in Arkansas

Mary Schumacher
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Long Lines To Grow Medical Cannabis in Arkansas

There were long, long lines to grow medical cannabis in Arkansas. Those who wish to grow and distribute cannabis showed up in droves on Monday, handing in thousands upon thousands of pages of paperwork and money, money, money. There was a three hour wait on line against Monday’s deadline, as there were far more applicants than there were clerks. Clerks had to go over all paperwork for completeness.

The potential growers had to fork over $15,000 and the distributors $7,500. If the application is denied? Half of the money will be refunded. Around three hundred applications were submitted by end of day, with about a third of them for would be growers.

RELATED: Majority Of New Yorkers Want Legalized Weed

The Medical Marijuana Commission reviews the applications with names redacted for the sake of privacy. They will only choose five growers and up to 32 distributors. This likely means the 1,000 page applications must be perfect, with all i’s dotted and t’s crossed. Twelve-hundred patients have been approved for medical cannabis.

Medicinal marijuana was voted in by the people of Arkansas last year. Approval was at 53%. That means that it also lost in almost half of Arkansas’ 75 counties.

The president of Arkansas Family Council, Jerry Cox, who opposed the measure, says that his group will be helping with paperwork in counties and towns that don’t want the herb literally in their backyards. He’s busy mocking up language for local petitions. The medical marijuana law does have provisions for this, similar to their alcohol policies with wet (liquor) and dry (sober) areas.

Cox stated, “There have been some communities that have expressed angst about there being a marijuana facility in their community. It’s only fair to give them a chance to opt out. We have wet and dry counties,” he said, then went on to ask, “Why shouldn’t it be the same for marijuana?”

While this reporter could give him more than a few reasons, at least the law was voted in and many, many people who are currently suffering in Arkansas will have relief in the form of medical cannabis sometime soon. Though there is no timeline in place for applications to be approved or for cannabis to begin being distributed.

Bummer At The Border: Cannabis Users Denied Entry

Terry Hacienda
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Bummer At The Border: Cannabis Users Denied Entry

Medical marijuana is legal in Canada and full-on recreational legalization will go into effect next summer. Nearly half of Canadian adults admit to past marijuana use. But if a Canadian admits that to a border patrol officer while trying to to enter the U.S., watch out.

As the battle for legalization rages on both sides of the border, US Customs and Border Protection officers routinely ask Canadians and other foreigners if they have smoked marijuana. Ever. If the answer is yes, border guards will not only deny entry. If the traveler lies and gets caught, he/she may be banned for life.

According to a story in the National Post:

Though some states have legalized cannabis, the drug remains illegal under federal law in the U.S. If Canadians admit to having consumed marijuana to a border guard, they risk being banned for life and having to apply for special waivers to travel south of the border. If they lie and are caught, they also face a lifetime ban.

An official in Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office told the Post that what happens now at the border isn’t analogous to what may happen once marijuana is legalized, because Canadians who admit to having consumed the drug will no longer be admitting to a crime. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything will change, as U.S. border guards have complete discretion over who gets to enter the country.

The report indicates that officials in both nations are attempting to resolve the sticky issue as Canada moves ahead to full legalization by July 2018.

Earlier this week, Bill Blair, a liberal member of the parliament, said that the government is aware of the border-crossing concerns, but would not confirm whether any agreement will be in place by next summer. “Many of those cross-border jurisdictional issues are already issues that people question and need to be resolved, and so we’re working hard on that,” Blair said. “I don’t have all the answers today.”

The issue has some Canadian officials steamed. “Frankly, I’m baffled that the Liberals have not had the foresight to anticipate this problem and begin dealing with this now,” said health critic Don Davies. “Without such an agreement, Canadians will be put in a terrible position of having to either lie to border officials or risk being denied entry.”

In the meantime, travelers are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Tell the truth and you are screwed. Lie and get caught, and you are totally screwed.

Arizona Rejects Marijuana Patient From Becoming A Foster Parent

Terry Hacienda
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Arizona Rejects Marijuana Patient From Becoming A Foster Parent

In Arizona right now, there are 18,000 children in the foster care system and a dire need for capable, loving parents to step up and care for these kids. But if an Arizona adult is a medical marijuana patient, he or she is not wanted.

According to a story in the Phoenix New Times, the Arizona Department of Child Service has had an anti-marijuana policy in place since 2011 that bans it from issuing foster-care licenses to anyone who uses or possesses marijuana. While the DCA doesn’t specifically ban foster-care parents who have state-issued medical-marijuana cards, they draw the line when it comes to those who use or possess medical marijuana or its extracts.

The Arizona Children’s Association says there is a “critical need” for more foster parents. But loving adults who consume cannabis as a medical treatment need not apply.

In other states where cannabis is legal for use, medicinal or otherwise, there is no statewide prohibition on cannabis consumers from becoming foster-care parents. According to the Phoenix New Times, California, Oregon, and Colorado, for example, all allow foster-care licensing for cannabis consumers who are otherwise qualified. California likens cannabis to alcohol when it comes to foster parents, said Michael Weston, spokesman for the state’s Department of Social Services.

The New Times report focused on Phoenix attorney Rebecca Masterson, who explained that she took in a foster child who is dealing with “anger issues” two weeks ago, only to be later rejected because she purchases a product that contains CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. According to Masterson, she bumped up against the rule when she applied for a stipend from the state to help with the expenses of taking on a child.

“The stipend would be helpful as my grocery bill has doubled and the teenager came with four garbage bags of clothes, three of which were too small,” Masterson wrote on her blog. “What I don’t need would go into an account for Johnny to use when he’s older.”

Masterson was denied a license and the stipend even after she explained that the supplement is for her own 12-year-old son as a “last-ditch attempt to control what she described in her blog as [his] ‘tics.’ ”

According to Masterson, “the State basically said ‘sorry, you crazy lawyer with an adopted son and all this special needs and attachment experience, even though you’re the only person willing to open your home to this 16-year-old boy in the system, and even though he is already living in your home, we don’t think you’re suitable to be a licensed foster parent because you buy a supplement online that really helps your child. No license for you.’ ”

Woman Claims Starbucks Tea Was So Hot It Killed Her Dog

Brendan Bures
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Woman Claims Starbucks Tea Was So Hot It Killed Her Dog

Echoing a similar case of McDonalds and hot coffee you may remember from years ago, a Denver woman is suing Starbucks because of tea that was so hot it gave her second-degree burns and killed her dog.

The lawsuit filed by Deanna Salas-Solano, 58, targets an occasion in September of 2015 when she approached a Starbuck drive-thru to receive the hot tea she’d ordered. That tea wasn’t placed inside a second cup, didn’t have a protective sleeve, nor was the lid securely fastened, according to the lawsuit.

The cup began to burn her hands and Salas-Solano screamed in pain, causing her dog to jump in her lap, then the tea fell on him. Though he was quickly rushed to an emergency veterinarian hospital, the dog “ultimately succumbed to the injuries caused by the tea, dying a short time later,” according to the lawsuit.

Salas-Solano allegedly suffered second-degree burns that would later need skin grafts. She is seeking $100,000 in damages.

“We have video evidence that clearly contradicts the claims made by the plaintiff and believe they are without merit,” Starbucks responded in a statement. “We look forward to presenting our case in court. While we are sympathetic to Ms. Salas-Solano and the injuries she sustained, we don’t have any reason to believe our partner (employee) was at fault.”

Fox 31 Denver were able to view that video and seems to agree with Starbucks claim.

Via Fox 31 Denver:

It shows Salas-Solano on her cellphone with her dog in her lap as she buys the tea.

The video also shows the hot tea did have a hot sleeve and it appears the lid was secure, though the video is not conclusive.

In the video, it’s hard to tell if Salas-Solano grabs the cup by the hot sleeve or by the lid when she accidentally spilled it.

It’s hard to determine if she spilled the tea because of the cup’s hot temperature or because she was distracted by her cellphone use or if perhaps her dog bumped into the cup while he stood in her lap.

While who remains at fault will be an issue settled by the courts, the question we want to know: Why are we serving tea so hot it could kill a dog? That just seems inhumane. Put a couple of ice cubes in the tea next time at least, for the love of dog.

Gossip: Toys R Us Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; MAKEOVER …… Julia Roberts Has Been Giving Herself A Bit Of A Makeover

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Toys R Us Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy; MAKEOVER …… Julia Roberts Has Been Giving Herself A Bit Of A Makeover

Toys R Us Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Toys “R” Us announced late Monday night that it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, though the company’s leadership assured customers its 1,600 stores around the world would continue to operate normally. The company, once America’s powerhouse of toys, has been struggling for years even as the toy industry grew.

Instead, it plans to restructure the $5 billion of long-term debt with which the company is saddled in hopes of keeping it afloat in a marketplace that has vastly changed with increased competition from both big box stores such as Walmart and Target, and online retailers such as Amazon.

CEO Dave Brandon called the filing the “dawn of a new era” in a news release. “We are confident that these are the right steps to ensure that the iconic Toys’R’Us and Babies’R’Us brands live on for many generations,” Brandon added.

More from Reuters:

With assets of $6.9 billion based on its most recent annual report, it’s the second-largest retail bankruptcy, trailing the filing in 2002 by Kmart, which had $14.6 billion in assets, according to research firm Bankruptcydata.com. More than a dozen significant retail chains have filed for bankruptcy this year. Among them were Perfumania Inc, apparel chains rue21 Inc and Gymboree Corp, discount shoe chain Payless Holdings LLC and designer clothing chain BCBG Max Azria Global Holdings LLC.

Major retailers including Macy’s Inc and Sears Holding Corp have closed hundreds of locations as they struggle to compete discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Amazon.com Inc. Amazon’s recent acquisition of high-end grocer Whole Foods Markets Inc stirred speculation that the online giant will use its pricing power and huge reach among U.S. consumers to go after market share of traditional brick-and-mortar grocers.

 

MAKEOVER …… Julia Roberts has been giving herself a bit of a makeover, according to Radar Online.

Roberts has “spent thousands on a new designer wardrobe, hair and beauty products,” said the source. And she’s also getting healthy! “She gets up before dawn to jump on the treadmill or StairMaster,” revealed the insider.

As for food, “Julia will only eat tofu and raw veggies, no snacks between vegan meals.”

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

Dr. Oz Makes Staunch Medical Marijuana Defense On ‘Fox & Friends’

Brendan Bures
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Dr. Oz Makes Staunch Medical Marijuana Defense On ‘Fox & Friends’

“Fox & Friends” is probably the last place you’d expect to hear a spirited defense of medical marijuana. Dr. Oz was on the program to discuss his upcoming interview with Ivanka Trump. Right before cutting to commercial Dr. Oz launched into a staunch soliloquy about medical marijuana, aimed at the hypocrisy surrounding the plant.

Fox host Ainsley Earhardt inquired whether Dr. Oz thought the political dissension surrounding Donald Trump’s presidency was bad for the country. Dr. Oz agreed, but then used the question to steer into a larger conversation about the opioid epidemic.

“The real story is the hypocrisy around medical marijuana,” Oz said. “People say marijuana is a gateway drug to narcotics—it may be the exit drug to get us out of the narcotic epidemic.”

“Wow!” said co-host Steve Doocy, who Raw Story says is known for mocking cannabis users with the saying “all potted up.”

“We’re not allowed to study it because it’s a Schedule I drug,” Oz added. “And I personally believe it could help.”

“I hadn’t heard that before,” Doocy replied, quickly cutting to commercial.

Fox & Friends had asked Dr. Oz to speak about Ivanka Trump battling postpartum depression—which marijuana can help with, by the way—as she revealed in their interview. But they got more than they bargained for apparently.

Pope Francis: People Who Don’t Believe In Climate Change Are Stupid

Maria Loreto
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Pope Francis: People Who Don’t Believe In Climate Change Are Stupid

This current trend of larger than life hurricanes and natural disasters should really make us wonder about the possibility of climate change and of the effect it could have on the state of our world, but nope, there are still people out there – and governments – who claim that climate change is not real. 

Pope Francis claims that mankind is stupid, using an Old Testament passage to explain why “When you don’t want to see, you don’t see”. The Pope has previously expressed his concern over climate change and has had uncomfortable conversations with politicians who have different opinions, claiming that those who don’t believe in the natural phenomenon only need to speak with real scientists, whose profession is, you know, science.

Pope Francis expressed his opinions when he traveled to Colombia from Rome, flying over the caribbean which recently took a hard hit from Hurricane Irma. The Pope said that the scientific community has been “clear and precise” when it comes to the link between human activity and the natural crisis, and that each person has a “moral responsibility” with the world, no matter how big or small.

“Climate change is a serious matter over which we cannot make jokes”

Logically, in the face of Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, the press has questioned the White House representatives for their opinions on the matter, to which they replied “To have any kind of focus on the cause and effect of the storm, versus helping people, or actually facing the effect of the storm, is misplaced.”

From this answer we can gather that the government simply wants us to pick up the pieces of natural disasters and not do much else. Apparently, understanding the root of the problem is just too much work.

Warm Up With This Spicy Caribbean Cannabis Pumpkin Soup

Danielle Guercio
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Warm Up With This Spicy Caribbean Cannabis Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin is more than a vaguely orange colored goop for flavoring cakes, pies, and lattes. It’s a staple food in dozens of countries, as its size, ease of cultivation, nutrient content, and bonus edible seeds lead it to be almost ubiquitous. Mine comes in the green kabocha variety, readily purchased at the Asian market.

Pumpkin is also very big in the Caribbean, and this is probably for a lot of the same reasons. Pumpkin soup is a beloved breakfast soup in Jamaica, and it’s well seasoned with scallion, chilis, thyme, and allspice, making for a uniquely flavored brew that’s energizing, got the fat your brain needs in the morning, and the potent seasoning that Jamaicans are beloved for serving up. This version is infused with cannabis for a dram of the good stuff.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

Spicy​ ​Caribbean​ ​Cannabis​ ​Pumpkin​ ​Soup

Adapted from the NY Times
Serves 4-6, 10-7 mg THC per bowl estimated

  • 4 scallions
  • 2 shallot
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • ½ kabocha pumpkin
  • 1 large carrot
  • 4 ribs celery
  • ½ c coconut milk
  • 1 Tbs olive oil
  • 1 Tbs cannabis infused coconut oil*
  • ¼ tsp allspice
  • 1 vegetarian Cubito (buillon cube)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 2 chilis
  • 6 c vegetable broth
  • Salt to taste
  • Half a lemon

Wash all of the vegetables well and set to dry. Peel and core the pumpkin, slicing into ½ inch chunks or slices. Peel the garlic, shallots, and carrot. Chop and toss into a deep heavy bottomed pot with some olive oil.

Chop up the celery and chilies and cook until all of the veggies are translucent. Add the cannabis oil, spices, cubito, chilis, and the white part of the scallions, reserving the green parts for garnish.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

Pour over the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Now add the pumpkin to the boiling soup and cook until the pumpkin is tender, 5-10 minutes. Lower the heat, then add the coconut milk and a squeeze of lemon. Cook for a few more minutes. Serve hot sprinkled with the green tops of the scallions.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

*Cannabis​ ​Coconut​ ​Oil

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 ½ cup coconut oil. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes.

This tasty soup goes great with sticky rice, which is an excellent way to use up the other half of the can of coconut milk. It’s filling, packed with carotenoid rich orange colored foods that help with eyesight and keeping your skin safe from the sun. This soup’s got the right amount of spice to satisfyingly burn without being too hot, so you’ll want to eat a huge bowl without looking back. Enjoy the flavors of fall without making everything about sweets, so you can save your sweet tooth for Halloween.

Photos: Maria Penaloza

Abusing Marijuana And Need Help? There’s An App For That

Terry Hacienda
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Abusing Marijuana And Need Help? There’s An App For That

Here’s a first: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for the first time a mobile medical app to help treat people with substance use disorders (SUDs). The Reset application is intended to be used with outpatient therapy to treat alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and stimulant SUDs.

The application is not intended to be used to treat opioid dependence.

“This is an example of how innovative digital technologies can help provide patients access to additional tools during their treatment,” said Carlos Peña, director of the Division of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices in FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “More therapy tools means a greater potential to help improve outcomes, including abstinence, for patients with substance use disorder.”

How Does The App Work?

The Reset device is a mobile medical application system containing a patient application and clinician dashboard. The device delivers cognitive behavioral therapy to patients to teach the user skills that aid in the treatment of SUD and are intended to increase abstinence from substance abuse and increase retention in outpatient therapy programs.

The system is intended to be used in conjunction with outpatient therapy and in addition to a contingency management system, a widely-used program for treating SUD that uses a series of incentives to reward patients for adherence to their treatment program.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SUD occurs when an individual’s recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causes clinically and functionally significant impairment, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school or home.

The FDA reviewed data from a multi-site, unblinded 12-week clinical trial of 399 patients who received either standard treatment or standard treatment with the addition of a desktop-based version of Reset which could be accessed at the clinic or at home. The data showed a statistically significant increase in adherence to abstinence for the patients with alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and stimulant SUD in those who used Reset, 40.3 percent, compared to the patients who did not, 17.6 percent. The clinical trial did not demonstrate the effectiveness of using the Reset device in patients reporting opioids as their substance of abuse.

The Reset device is indicated as a prescription-only adjunct treatment for patients with SUD who are not currently on opioid replacement therapy, who do not abuse alcohol solely, or whose primary substance of abuse is not opioids.

The FDA permitted marketing of the reset device to Pear Therapeutics.

Gossip: Martha Stewart Says Pumpkin Spice Is For Basic Bitches; Kylie Shocks Fans With Girlfriend Bombshell

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Martha Stewart Says Pumpkin Spice Is For Basic Bitches; Kylie Shocks Fans With Girlfriend Bombshell

In case you were too busy being basic AF, Andy Cohen got some spicy autumnal scoop from guest Martha Stewart this week on “Watch What Happens Live!”

“Pumpkin Spice everything—delicious or for basic bitches only?” he asked the lifestyle guru, who’s plugging her show “Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party” and new book Slow Cooker.

“The latter,” she responded, squashing the ubiquitous fall trend without hesitation.

“Wow! Martha Stewart says pumpkin spice is for basic bitches, you guys!” the “Love Connection” host declared, making it clubhouse official. “This is the greatest moment of the show ever.”

Kylie Shocks Fans With Girlfriend Bombshell

Kylie Jenner dropped a huge relationship bombshell in the season finale of her “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” spin-off, “Life of Kylie.” While speaking about her close ties with BFF Jordyn Woods, the 20-year-old reality star admitted to being “more than” just friends with the model.

In fact, the pair even exchanged vows in front of the cameras in a traditional commitment ceremony to officially declare their love for one another.

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

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