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Will Nevada Be The First State With Marijuana Lounges?

Mary Schumacher
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Will Nevada Be The First State With Marijuana Lounges?

Because of the way the law is written in Nevada, they may very well be the first state to allow cannabis lounges where you can consume weed on the premises. This could give way to even more tourism and sales in an already flourishing legal state with casinos and luxury hotels to also tempt clientele who want to spend, spend, spend.

Cities and counties will be able to decide if special permits will be needed in their areas, but this is still an enormous step in the right direction and will be the proving grounds for marijuana social clubs.

Smoking is banned in casinos and hotels and, much like the rest of the states allowing for marijuana use, there is nowhere else to go and consume legally. Social clubs open the door to true pot tourism and a whole lot of happy customers. Even states like Maine, California and Massachusetts, that are still working their laws, haven’t made provisions for social pot use.

Tom Angell, founder of Marijuana Majority, told The Hill that, “Allowing regulated social use areas is a good solution that recognizes cannabis consumers’ rights to congregate just like alcohol drinkers can in bars while also protecting non-consumers’ rights not to inhale secondhand smoke. It should be a no brainer, especially in tourist towns like Las Vegas where visitors don’t have private residences they can go back to imbibe.”

Senator Tick Segerblom (D), who drove much of Nevada’s legalization efforts, believes cannabis will attract new tourism to the state. “We’re going to market this thing around the world,” he said optimistically.

Skeptics, however, say that crime could go up with the pot shops and potential lounges.

Cities will still need to pass their own codes regarding weed lounges since state legislature killed a bill to allow them earlier this year. They will need to decide how, when and where the social clubs may operate.

Nevada became the fifth state to legalize marijuana on July 1st, a mere eight months after voters passed the law. California, Maine and Massachusetts, all of which passed laws at the same time, will begin marijuana sales later next year.

How Each Of America’s Sports Leagues Test For Marijuana

Brendan Bures
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How Each Of America’s Sports Leagues Test For Marijuana

Each sports leagues test for marijuana with a different credence. Some operate under strict guidelines with harsh punishments while other sporting organization approach marijuana with a “Don’t Get Caught” nonchalance.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how each league tests for marijuana:

NBA

Since it’s the offseason, any current NBA players won’t be tested for weed. The league randomly tests players four times a year throughout the regular season. Following the fourth test, players no longer get tested for the rest of the year. It’s easy to get caught as players test positive with 15 nanograms of extracted THC per milliliter of urine. But the NBA is relaxed on penalties. Players must enter a substance-abuse program following their first infraction and receive a $25,000 fine for a second positive test. A third infraction means a five-game suspension and the league adds five more games on to every following violation.

NFL

Though the NFL is littered with cannabis-related suspensions this season, players can get away with smoking marijuana if they’re clever. For players not in the league’s substance-abuse program, the NFL tests athletes once in the offseason from mid-April to mid-August. Having 35 ng/mL will ding a positive test and players must enter an intervention program as punishment. Each subsequent violation results in game suspension and if players repeatedly fail drug tests, they can receive a lifelong ban from the NFL.

NCAA

The strictest testing in all of sports, players test positive with a threshold of 5 ng/mL. However, the NCAA doesn’t have any blanket policy or guidelines for punishing players. In fact, each school and conference can determine their own rules in disciplining players. As college coaches have softened marijuana views, collegians who are caught have seen an ease in punishment.

NHL

A not-so-dirty secret in hockey is that marijuana isn’t on the league’s list of banned substances. A third of the players are tested by the NHL for street drugs. Players aren’t disciplined for testing positive for marijuana, though might need to enter a substance abuse program following multiple failed tests.

MLB

The league tests players only if the MLB or union officials have reasonable cause to do so. The MLB’s threshold is 50 ng/mL and may be subject to a treatment plan that could include progressive fines up to $35,000 for a positive test. Players only face suspension if they “flagrantly disregard” the rules or the commissions believe they are a threat to fellow players’ safety.

 Olympics (World Anti-Doping Agency)

The World Anti-Doping Agency has a high threshold of 150ng/mL for positive marijuana test. If caught, violators could see suspension from three months to a year.

MLS

You won’t find a public threshold limit for positive marijuana testing for the MLS. Some reports indicate the league follows WADA guidelines for marijuana of 150 ng/mL. However, unlike its fellow professional sports leagues, the MLS doesn’t have a specific number of test for players and conducts random testing for all prohibited testing throughout the year.

Finally! Some Actual Good News For Federal Cannabis Research

Vince Sliwoski
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Finally! Some Actual Good News For Federal Cannabis Research

Earlier this week, ace cannabis reporter Tom Angell broke a nice story regarding a Senate Appropriations Committee report that, among other things, does the following:

  • Expresses “concern” at “the [limited] amount and [constricted] type of research that can be conducted on certain Schedule 1 drugs, especially marijuana.”
  • Directs federal agencies to formulate a “National Testing Program for Schedule I Marijuana-Derived Products.”
  • Specifically asks for distinct “analysis of marijuana and marijuana derived from products sold commercially in dispensaries or online.”

As far as federal government reports and cannabis, that’s about as good as it gets. We have written here before about the federal cannabis research fail, and ensuing efforts by states and local actors to fill in the gaps; and we have observed that expanding research should be promoted by industry advocates, prohibitionists and everyone in between.

The reasoning is as follows: Advocates should welcome the opportunity for scientific inquiry to validate their position that the plant has medically valuable effects, or is benign. Whereas prohibitionists should seek to validate their view that pot is a gateway drug, or has no medical value.

The Senate report takes an agnostic approach, observing simply that research “is necessary for informing substance abuse prevention efforts, public health policy and law enforcement tactics across the Federal Government.” In further support of its recommendations, the report observes that “scientific rationale and laboratory studies suggest a decrease in addictive potential when botanical derivatives, including cannabidiol extracts, are used with an opioid in treating patients” (our emphasis). That CBD may help combat opioid abuse, which is a problem we have pointed out could also use some attention from law enforcement, is promising indeed.

Just because the Senate committee recommends more funds for cannabis research does not guarantee those funds will be allocated. These recommendations may have wings, however, in that they accompany a bona fide bill (SB 1771). Given that Congress has voted for years to extend state medical marijuana programs — at least when votes have been allowed — the report’s recommendations could become law. And if SB 1771 does make it through, the funds for cannabis research would be allocated for the coming fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2017.

The fact that we have a powerful, bipartisan committee making recommendations of this sort is good news for the cannabis industry, and for the public generally. Reasonable public policy on cannabis should produce reasonable laws. So keep your eye on SB 1771, and any following authorizations. It certainly would be a great start to the new fiscal year.

Attorney Vince Sliwoski heads up Harris Bricken’s Portland office and is a leading practitioner in Oregon’s ever-evolving cannabis industry. 

This story first appeared on the Canna Law Blog.

Texas Just Issued Its First Medical Marijuana License

Brendan Bures
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Texas Just Issued Its First Medical Marijuana License

Cansortium Texas, part of Florida-based Cansortium Holdings, received the first medical marijuana license from the state of Texas last week. Two more companies may be on the way soon, too.

Reported first by the Austin American Statesman, the company will soon be able to grow, cultivate, and sell marijuana for patients with a rare form of epilepsy. Cansortium also owns medical cannabis licenses in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico. The company’s CEO Jose Hidalgo says he was humbled by the decision.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is also reviewing applications from Compassionate Cultivation and Surterra Texas. More than 40 applicants contested for the limited licenses the state offers under its strict medical marijuana program. The DPS ran facility inspections to ensure the companies were up to code with the scrutinized regulations.

Via the Austin-American Statesman:

Licenses are being issued under the Texas Compassionate Use Act, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law in 2015. The act legalized the production and sale of cannabidoil, an oil that doesn’t produce a high. The law only allows patients with intractable epilepsy to use the oil. Patients must have a doctor’s prescription and have already tried two conventional drug treatments that weren’t effective.

Chief executive of Compassionate Cultivation Morris Denton called it a “challenging market” and understandably so. But as activists and lobbyists attempt to push through a larger medical marijuana program into Texas legislation, these companies are establishing facilities for when the market likely expands. While the Statesman article doesn’t explicitly state nor does the business operators, this is the bet being made on marijuana in Texas.

These three companies will pay an early $490,000 fee if they’re approved and must pay an additional $320,000 to renew their license every two years. The state says this will cover the cost of regulation. Should the Texas market expand, industry leaders believe it could rival California’s booming multi-billion cannabis economy.

Watch This Guy Propose To Girlfriend While Meeting The Pope

Maria Loreto
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Watch This Guy Propose To Girlfriend While Meeting The Pope

Dario Rodriguez was part of an 80 politician delegation from around the world that gathered at the Vatican to visit the Pope, pay their respects, and talk about the political situations from their individual countries. Rodriguez attended the gathering with his girlfriend Maryangel Espinal, and he took the opportunity of his meeting with the Pope to shed a light on the political turmoil that his country, Venezuela, has been going through.

Rodriguez talked about the years he spent in Panama, the country where he’s been living since he left his own, where he’d been helping kids and teens in theatre groups. He then expressed his happiness over the fact that the Pope will visit Panama in 2019 for World Youth Day. He surprised his girlfriend and the Pope by asking for a special blessing and getting down on one knee.

I could see that Maryangel was thinking: ‘What’s he going to do? Is he going to ask for a selfie?’ She was shocked. I explained to the Holy Father that the woman next to me is the woman of my life. I met her in church, that God put her in my life, and I want to propose to her. So I got down on one knee and asked.”

Reports Rodriguez, who also claims that Maryangel was too shocked to speak, which made the Pope ask her what her answer was. When she finally said yes, the couple got their blessing from the Pope, with delegates from all over the world cheering and celebrating their engagement.

Man Points A Gun At Someone Over A Political Bumper Sticker

Maria Loreto
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Man Points A Gun At Someone Over A Political Bumper Sticker

Edward Burns faces a felony charge after pointing a gun at a democratic activist. It’s strange that statement doesn’t sound strange at all.

The event is being referred to by officials as a road rage incident where, during a heated argument that led to a car crash, Burns threatened to shoot Laura Umphenour, an activist who’d just attended a protest. According to the police statement, both parties were being offensive with each other and were using strong language. At one point, Umphenour pulled up her car next to Burns and flipped him off, which prompted Burns to pull out his gun and point it at her, threatening her. Because that’s the logical response to a heated argument.

Umphenour declared in her statement that she was in fear of being seriously injured or killed, which made her jerk the steering wheel and lose control of the vehicle. This sudden reaction struck the front of Burns’ SUV and led to both of the vehicles to slide across the roadway and crash into a guardrail.

During his confession Burns noted several political decals, which expressed a different political view than his own, on the rear of Umphenour’s van; which he thought were stupid.”

Declared the policeman in charge of the investigation. So, in hindsight, you should be wary of what you say, who you talk to, and also, which bumper stickers you have in your car. You never know who might be watching and clearly, there are some weird people everywhere. 

The 3 Best ‘South Park’ Marijuana Episodes Of All Time

Evan Eitzel
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The 3 Best ‘South Park’ Marijuana Episodes Of All Time

Around the turn of the century, we were working at an alternative weekly in San Francisco with a colleague who claimed to have worked with “South Park” creators Tre Parker and Matt Stone at a Colorado ski resort before the two had animated their first takes on Kyle, Stan and the rest of the boys (FWIW, we have no reason to doubt him, we just weren’t there, ya know?).

“You’re not gonna believe this, but those guys smoke more than any human beings I’ve ever seen since,” he said. 

Actually we totally believe that. But given the creators are such enthusiasts, “South Park” is relatively light on cannabis references. Maybe it has to do with Comedy Central’s standards and practices (we doubt it), or the fact that fourth graders simply don’t smoke enough to sustain a plot (more likely), or the fact that cannabis can be a comedy crutch and Stone and Parker have more to say (bingo). But there have been herb-driven episodes of the animated juggernaut, which begins its 21st season tonight. Here are the three best.

Image courtesy of South Park Studios

Ike’s Wee Wee 

Season 2, Episode 3; Original air date: May 20, 1998

Not just about cannabis, but in keeping with classic South Park episode structure, it was the secondary story (the best episodes usually run two plot lines at the same time with the secondary being the same joke told many ways over and over). Mr. Mackey, the school counselor of “Drugs are bad, mkay?” fame gives a lecture to the children on drugs … er … being bad, mkay? To drive home his point, he passes around a sample of lit cannabis so the kids will know what it smells like. It never makes it back to him and Mackey loses his job as a result.

Because it’s “South Park” this leads him into a downward spiral that (of course) leads him to becoming a hippie (cardinal sin on the show), deciding to marry a hippie girl, and honeymooning in India. There he is captured and put into rehab where he emerges clean and gets his job back. 

It’s also notable for this bit of advice from Chef that pretty much cemented the show to its core audience: “This is all I’m going to say about drugs. Stay away from them. There’s a time and a place for everything and it’s called college.”

Image courtesy of South Park Studios

Towlie 

Season 5, Episode 8; Original air date: Aug. 8, 2001

The series’ only true stoner, an anthropomorphic towel with the catchphrases “Wanna get high?,” “I have no idea what’s going on,” and especially “Don’t forget to bring a towel.” While he would appear infrequently in subsequent episodes (including an intervention in 2010) this is an origin story. One that involves the boys, the military, a secret government plot (of course), and eventually aliens trying to take over the world (even more of course). Though Towlie’s drug of choice is cannabis he eventually slides into crack and meth use in subsequent episodes (Note: this is a cartoon. Please don’t cite this as proof of cannabis as a gateway drug, especially if you happen to be Attorney General of the United States).

The episode also featured a fake ad for Towlie merchandise, though the show later sold actual merch thorough its website. It appears those items – including an actual Towlie towel – are no longer for sale.

Cartman, for a change actually serving as the voice of the audience, comments toward the end of the episode “You’re the worst character ever, Towelie,” to which he (it?) meekly replies “I know.”

Image courtesy of South Park Studios

Medicinal Fried Chicken 

Season 14, Episode 3; Original air date: March 31, 2010

The episode where “South Park” squarely takes on the issue of legal cannabis is not only spot-on, but one of the funniest of the series. Allegedly inspired by a real-life Los Angeles dispensary that set up shop in a closed KFC, it follows Randy, Stan’s dad, as he tries to secure a prescription for medical cannabis.

Randy assumes healthy patients qualify. When told this is not the case he tries to give himself cancer, eventually putting his testicles in a microwave (no clue how he shut the door or got the microwave to work with the door open, but it is a cartoon after all). This gives him testicular cancer and gets him his needed script. The downside (aside from, you know, testicular cancer): His testicles continue to grow to the point where he eventually uses them as a bouncy ball to get around town. This isn’t an issue until they grow so large he has trouble getting them through the door of the dispensary. The images are among the very best visual jokes the series has had to offer.

The secondary story has Cartman entering a black market to manage his fried chicken addiction. We’re all addicted to something.

Gossip: Aaron Carter’s Drug And Cosmetic Surgery Addiction Exposed; Randy Jackson Says Janet Jackson Was Abused

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Aaron Carter’s Drug And Cosmetic Surgery Addiction Exposed; Randy Jackson Says Janet Jackson Was Abused

Aaron Carter is finally ready to face his biggest demons.

The 29-year-old singer broke down into tears as he shockingly confessed to an addiction to cosmetic surgery and prescriptions drugs in a new teaser for “The Doctors.” In an emotional interview, the troubled pop star opens up about about his struggles and owns up to dabbling in illicit activities to get his fix.

Addressing his frail and gaunt appearance, which many allege has been caused by meth and crack cocaine use, Aaron says he’s become obsessed with going under the needle in order to look the part of successful celebrity.

“I get fillers. Restylane, Voluma, Rejuviderm. I get all three, and I’m going to continue doing it,” he reveals. “It makes me smile in the mirror.”

Though the beauty procedures do boost his self-esteem a little, Aaron believes he’s heading down a dark path with his obsession.

“I see a pretty good looking guy, I’m just skinny,” he shares as his smile fades. “And I just want to get better.”

To ease the pain, the former child star admits to taking numerous numbing drugs like Xanax and Oxycodone prescribed by his doctors. When he can’t get a valid prescription for the pills, Aaron says he will turn to the streets and buy them illegally from dealers.

Still, he insists he has his addiction under control having checked himself into rehab in 2011.

“I don’t mix medications, I do it to release stress of pain or angst,” he explains. “I have no problem telling exactly what it is.”

The “Candy” crooner adds, “The truth shall set your free and my father always said that.”

Randy Jackson Says Janet Jackson Was In Abusive Marriage And Is Still Being Harassed By Wissam Al Mana

Janet Jackson’s brother, Randy Jackson, is spilling ALL the tea regarding Janet’s failed marriage to Wissam Al Mana.

He says that during the marriage Wissam was verbally abusive to Janet and made her feel like a ‘prisoner’ in her own home.

“It was quite an abusive situation,” Randy claims. “It came on later in the relationship, verbal abuse and being [made to feel like] a prisoner in her own home. No pregnant woman needs to go through being called a bitch everyday. There were things like that. That’s what she went through.”

Attorneys for Wissam deny the allegations, saying:

“Mr. Al Mana is not going to dignify these particular and deeply hurtful allegations with a response. The breakdown of his marriage to Janet Jackson is a cause of great sadness to Mr. Al Mana, and it is the wellbeing and privacy of their son, Eissa, that remains his sole focus.”

Randy went on to clarify that the abuse was not physical, but he still tried to get Janet out of the situation long before she actually left.

“I told her, ‘You’ve got to move in with me or I’m going to go over there and there’s going to be hell.’ She was really pissed off. I told her, ‘I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of it. It’s too much,’ ” he says

“My mom and [sister] Rebbie came out [to London].”

“I didn’t want them to know. My parents are up there in age so I wanted to protect them as much as possible, but now they know. Everybody in the family knows.”

Randy also dispels rumors that Janet converted to Islam, noting that she’s Christian.

“I have a lot of Muslim friends and they don’t act that way at all,” he says. “It’s a personal issue that he needs help with and I’m going to pray for him, too. But I’m not going to allow her to live in that abusive situation. She’s my baby sister.”

Janet recently broke down in tears during her State of the World tour. Randy says it’s because the abuse is still continuing.

“What you saw in Houston, it was her situation coming out, what she’s been going through. The abuse is still going on.”

“She has custody and he of course allowed her to bring the baby on tour, but it’s constant harassment. This tour almost didn’t happen, but by the grace of God we’re here and we’re very prayerful.”

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

The First National Cannabis Ad Just Aired On Cable

Brendan Bures
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The First National Cannabis Ad Just Aired On Cable

In an unprecedented move for the cannabis industry, a television advertisement directly referencing marijuana ran on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Viceland, the Weather Channel, Headline News, and Fox Business.

The ad is for Hoban Law Group, a national cannabis firm that specializes in medical marijuana, hemp, and adult-use cannabis issues. This marks the first time the word “cannabis” has been used and spoken directly in a national TV spot.

Hoban Law Group National TV AD from Derrick Perkins on Vimeo.

Hoban Law Group were able to get the advertisement on in large part to Denver-based DCP Media. Derrick Perkins was the producer working directly with the firm, and knew the specific guidelines required by each cable network to approve the ad.

Still, it wasn’t easy. As Bob Hoban, the firm’s founder, told Leafly, the networks wanted to ensure “we didn’t hit people over the head with the word ‘marijuana.’ So in the ad we talk about industrial hemp, and the medical and adult use marketplaces. They asked us not to flash a lot of marijuana plants, which was fine, that’s not our M.O. anyway.”

Check out the ad above.

Pretty In Pink: Say Goodbye To Summer With This Cannabis Sangria

Danielle Guercio
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Pretty In Pink: Say Goodbye To Summer With This Cannabis Sangria

Being a cannabis and wine loving millennial, developing a pink, cannabis infused sangria is my perfect way to say goodbye to my favorite season. It’s pointedly Millennials who enjoy pink wine, perfectly illustrated by all the products geared toward this preference. We also love internet jokes and are more pro-cannabis than any other generation that has come before. Bonus: it’s made with pears for taste and LOLs, as many of us fondly remember Rick Ross’ (aka Ricky Rose, one of the harbingers of rose’s rise in pop culture and popularity) favorite diet food and least favorite emoji. Shout out to all them pear!

Sometimes it seems the millennial pink theme is not lost on me (or my feed). Trends aren’t always people blindly following, some of us just like the foods and flavors that happen to be pink. Some people prefer cannabis and beer, but to me and many other of the millennial species, Wine and weed go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Sangrias don’t always have to be summery, even though they intrinsically please us on a sunny day. White sangrias are often a less sweet answer to the traditional red wine version, and since they are very malleable as they continue to be staple drinks, making a sangria for millennial palettes and party tastes is as on-brand as you can get.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

Millennial​ ​Pink​ ​Sangria

Danielle Guercio, 2017
Makes 5 servings, 17mg THC estimated per glass

  • 1 very ripe pear
  • 1 bottle of dry rose
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • ½ oz cannabis glycerin tincture*
Photos by Maria Penaloza

The riper the pear you start with the better. A super sweet pear will have more aromatics to leech into the wine. Dice into ½ inch chunks so there is plenty of surface area. Dispense into a pitcher.

Cut the lemon zest into strips for a confetti-like appearance that will be pleasing and helps the limonene infuse the wine with calming terpenes to help your high stay level. Add to the pear.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

Drizzle the tincture over the fruits, then add the wine and stir thoroughly until the tincture dissolves completely. Cover the pitcher with plastic and allow to infuse overnight in the refrigerator.

Serve with the pears if you infused overnight, discard the pears if you went longer than 24 hours. One night is the ideal saturation, after that the pears get less sweet and munching for them is less enjoyable. Pour over ice and add one or two of the lemon peels for garnish.

Photos by Maria Penaloza

*Cannabis​ ​Glycerin​ ​Tincture

Decarboxylate an eighth of finely ground cannabis by heating in an oven safe and well sealed container for 20 minutes at 225 degrees. Put Cannabis and glycerin into a jar or vacuum sealed bag and place in a water bath at just under boiling for 1-3 hours Strain into dropper bottle and dispense 1-5mL as a dose or use in recipes.

There’s nothing more in line with the new ideals of millennials around their enjoyment: moderation, joy without overindulgence, open to trying new things. Serve this and you’ll gain plenty of followers.

Photos: Maria Penaloza

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