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Seattle Cop Busted Smuggling A Whole Lot Of Marijuana To Baltimore

Al Olson
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Seattle Cop Busted Smuggling A Whole Lot Of Marijuana To Baltimore

A 16-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department was arrested in connection with a smuggling operation that shipped hundreds of pounds of marijuana from the Seattle area to Baltimore.

Alex Chapackdee, 44, is one of four men charged in the federal complaint. The officer’s brother-in-law is the ringleader of the operation, according to the complaint.

“The trafficking of hundreds of pounds of marijuana from Washington to the streets of Baltimore will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “Drug trafficking organizations that ignore federal and state laws have always been and will continue to be targeted and held to account. The fact that a police officer was involved in this is obviously of particular concern.”

Conspiracy to distribute marijuana in these quantities is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and up to 40 years in prison.

“While it is always disturbing to investigate one of our own, I am proud of the detectives and commanders who worked diligently on this case,” Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said. “Officer Chapackdee’s conduct is disgraceful and disappointing. While he will have his due process in the courts, I hope these charges demonstrate to our community that SPD will not tolerate corrupt behavior in our ranks.”

An investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seattle Police Department, Homeland Security and the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad revealed that Tuan Van Le, the brother-in-law of Officer Chapackdee made multiple trips between Seattle and Baltimore between June 2013, and April 2017. Chapackdee allegedly drove his RV in multiple trips in the fall of 2016. Bank records indicate that Chapackdee deposited cash in his account in amounts just under $10,000 thereby avoiding reports to law enforcement.

Chapackdee is on unpaid leave from the Seattle Police Department. A magistrate judge on Monday ordered him held in custody pending a hearing on Friday.

Tuan Van Le had a previous drug arrest in 2002 and served 21 months in federal prison.

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Amazon To Help Seattle Homeless By Gifting Mary’s Place With Space

Hyacinth Forbes-Hamilton
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Amazon To Help Seattle Homeless By Gifting Mary’s Place With Space

Amazon has helped many homeless families in the Seattle area, and now in a partnership with Mary’s Place (the only crisis shelter for homeless families, including kids dealing with cancer and chronic diseases)—the company is building a shelter in one of its new state-of-the-art buildings on their urban campus. This will provide Mary’s Place with residence for 65 families, or nearly 200 people and their pets.

“This is a true blessing for Mary’s Place and for all the families.  The economy or circumstances should not mean a newborn or a 3 year old with cancer should sleep outside.  Amazon has shown their heart by providing a permanent downtown Seattle location for our families,” said Mary’s Place board chair & Founder/Publisher of The Fresh Toast JJ McKay.

The state of homelessness in America continues to be an issue that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there were 564,708 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2015. They defined homelessness as either sleeping outside, staying in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program.

Amazon, one of the biggest companies in the world, has been partnering with Mary’s Place to fight homelessness in Seattle.  Last year, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos donated $1 million dollars in a challenge match to Mary’s Place. As the company continues to expand their state-of-the-art offices, they also assume a larger part of Seattle’s infrastructure.

Related Story: Hey, Seattle: Help Feed Underprivileged Kids By Buying Marijuana

“I see it as this huge gift because everywhere we go, we end up leaving,” Mary’s Place executive director Marty Hartman told the New York Times. “Of course, that’s our model of using buildings until they are to be developed, but you come in and become a fabric of the neighborhood you’re in, and then you say goodbye. That’s a hard thing for a lot of people to do.”

Amazon’s vice president for global real estate and facilities John Schoettler has said the company’s gift was worth “tens of millions of dollars” to the construction of the Mary’s Place facilities. Amazon had previously given residence to Mary’s Place into an old motel building they owned, but now will share this office space and pay all the utilities for the building. Mary’s Place will continue to pay wages for its own staff.

The Seattle mayor called a “state of emergency” back in 2015 regarding the city’s homelessness. Amazon’s move to combat that problem is unprecedented for two main reasons. According to the NAEH president Nan Roman, this is the first time a private company has incorporated a shelter into their office space.

Related Story: This Architect Is Designing Vertical Forests To Combat Pollution

With more than 30,000 employees, Amazon is Seattle’s largest private employer. Its reputation has suffered in recent years, thanks to a deep investigative NYTimes piece that painted a harsh, cutthroat work environment. In addition, the company’s employers had earned the not-so-flattering nickname of “Am-holes” after moving into blue-collar Seattle neighborhoods.

This philanthropic move perhaps shows a change in attitude of Amazon’s community efforts. Schoettler told the NYTimes the Mary’s Place move was “permanent,” at least until “homelessness is solved.” This move seems like it could be part of that solution.

McKay has a long history with Mary’s Place serving in an executive board position for over 10 years.  He was the volunteer leader who helped the staff build the organization and also partnered with Amazon to make this dream come true.  Another notable board member is  Carie Fowler Antonelli who will be chairman with the new building opens.  She and her family have been generous and supported the organization with board leadership and donations.

Gossip: Mariah Carey’s Team Took Her Phone To Keep Dancer Ex Away; See What Britney Spears’ Boyfriend Calls Her

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Mariah Carey’s Team Took Her Phone To Keep Dancer Ex Away; See What Britney Spears’ Boyfriend Calls Her

Mariah Carey inner circle are taking no risks in their bid to stop her getting back together with boy toy Bryan Tanaka. They have confiscated her phone to prevent her from contacting the dancer.

Tanaka has been locked out of Carey’s home and even blocked from re-entering by security.

A source told THE SUN: “Mariah has been in a good place since the split and her team are worried Bryan could harm her well-being should they get back together. They’ve gone all out to stop it from happening, taking some drastic steps. Bryan is convinced Mariah is still in love with him, and the fact he believes she is having some sort of breakdown has only increased his determination to contact her.”

“Bryan feels he was there for her when she was really down. He was Mariah’s rock and doesn’t get any credit for it. Deep down he knows Mariah said she was in love with him, which is why he is not prepared to give up on the relationship.”

What Does Britney Spears Boyfriend Call Her?

Britney Spears and her boyfriend Sam Asghari posed for a cute photo at the end of her run in Las Vegas last week.

Spears and Asghari shared the same picture on Instagram on Sunday (May 7, 2017), which Spears captioned, “Great run in Vegas! Be back Next week”

Her 23-year-old boyfriend captioned his post, “With my lioness last night @britneyspears #soproud.”

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

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NJ Legislature Will Legalize Marijuana The Minute Christie Leaves Office

Mike Adams
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NJ Legislature Will Legalize Marijuana The Minute Christie Leaves Office

New Jersey lawmakers say they are simply waiting for Governor Chris Christie to get out of dodge before they serious about legalizing a recreational marijuana trade similar to states like Colorado.

Not only is the issue of marijuana reform one of the key points of discussion in this year’s gubernatorial election, it is also expected to become the center of the 2018 legislative session.

Governor Christie’s recent tirade about how marijuana legalization is a ploy to “poison our kids” is just the latest in a cornucopia of anti-pot swill to coming spilling from the mouth of this Republican. Although the speech managed to secure a significant amount of press coverage, no one was truly surprised to learn that Christie is still dead set on allowing a legal cannabis industry to emerge on his watch. He has made his feelings on the subject perfectly clear.

It is for this reason that state legislators are just biding their time until the day comes when Christie no longer has any pull – and that day is coming soon. As of January 2018, there will be a new governor in office and a brand spanking new opportunity for lawmakers to hash out a marijuana bill.

In fact, it was just last year that state Senate President Stephen Sweeney told reporters that legislative forces would begin working on a plan to legalize weed as soon as Governor Christie was out of office. He gave every indication that they would not even wait for the body to get cold.

But while the issue appears to have a great deal of support in the state legislature, it is imperative that the next governor be more relaxed when it comes to the concept of legal weed. Otherwise, the state could find itself being held down by the same types of shenanigans that Senator Nicholas Scutari, one of the leading forces behind pot reform in the Garden State, believes has caused the state to miss out on millions of dollars in tax revenue.

The best candidate New Jersey has with respect to this issue is Democrat Phil Murphy, who has been a favorite ever since he announced his bid. Last October, when questioned about marijuana reform at a town hall meeting, Murphy said, “I support legalization,” adding that he believes ending prohibition is really the best approach. This sentiment was echoed during a recent debate, where Murphy called for a “comprehensive reform of our criminal justice system,” which would include the “legalization of marijuana.”

On the Republican side of the card is New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno. But this frontrunner has not given any indication whether she would put her signature on a bill calling for the state to cultivate and sell marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol.

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Eminem Vs. New Zealand Is The Lamest And Funniest Rap Beef You Don’t Know About

Brendan Bures
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Eminem Vs. New Zealand Is The Lamest And Funniest Rap Beef You Don’t Know About

What’s beef? In today’s rap ecosystem, it’s (primarily) a marketing wager leveraged to raise awareness in the attention economy. Write a dismissive tweet or disparaging Instagram post and blogs swarm to create some content around the gesture. It’s a surefire and generally harmless way to receive media coverage in 2017. When rappers start releasing diss tracks, however, real wins and losses are generated by either side. Ask Meek Mill and Remy Ma how their rap beefs—that they started!—went. Hearing that Eminem is beefing with the country of New Zealand garners the usual tired reaction. You assume it’s corny and not worth your time. With all the rap beefs circulating today, you assume on the surface this is one you can skip.

But you would be wrong.

This petty beef between Eminem and New Zealand is 100 percent worth your time. It delivers in punchlines as rap beefs do, except it’s all footage from a courtroom. I didn’t know I was missing this image of middle-aged New Zealanders sitting silently, unamused, listening to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” arguing the guitar riff closely identifies with a rebellious, persevering attitude, but I know I’m glad it’s in my life now. Watch John Oliver break it down.

Now this case initially started back in 2014—when Oliver reported on it then, too—but only recently went to trial. It will be a six-day trial and I will watch this footage how your parents obsessed over the O.J. Simpson trial. Because if you had one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted, you don’t let it slip. You capture it and laugh your ass off.

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Legal Marijuana Sales In Nevada Are Beginning Early: July Not January

Al Olson
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Legal Marijuana Sales In Nevada Are Beginning Early: July Not January

It might be time to book a summer trip to Las Vegas or Reno. Nevada’s legal recreational marijuana program received the go-ahead to begin July 1, six months earlier than scheduled.

The Nevada Tax Commission on Monday approved temporary licenses for marijuana retail shops that qualify.  The licenses granted in July are only temporary and only businesses already licensed to sell medical marijuana are able to apply for early-start recreational licenses. Businesses will need to re-apply for permanent licenses later.

The early start will give the state’s Department of Taxation a window to test the regulatory system before the voter-approved program takes effect on Jan. 1, 2o18.

Retailers can begin filing license applications on May 15.

Nevada was one of four states to vote to legalize recreational adult use of marijuana in November, along with California, Maine and Massachusetts. Since the election, more than 100 public hearings have been held in order to get the program off the ground.

The move by Nevada officials stands in sharp contrast to those of lawmakers in other states, such as Maine and Massachusetts, where politicians have enacted legislation delaying the implementation of retail cannabis sales. In California, lawmakers have also hinted at potentially delaying retail marijuana sales until after the law’s intended January 1, 2018 deadline.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget proposal anticipates $70 million in tax revenue in the first two years of the recreational marijuana program. But in order to hit that revenue target, the state needed the retailers to get an early jump.

The state plans to levy a 15 percent excise tax on cannabis sales, in addition to standard sales tax.

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Someone Invented A Banana Phone For You Old School Internet Kids

Brendan Bures
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Someone Invented A Banana Phone For You Old School Internet Kids

Anyone who grew up on eBaum’s World and MySpace know the vast versatility of bananas. No, they aren’t just for eating. Because bananas can also be phones.

A recent Indiegogo campaign is trying to turn that idea into reality with a Bluetooth phone accessory that will allow you to take phone calls on plastic banana device. The phone will last you 10 hours of talk time and connects to your smartphone, so unfortunately you can’t throw away your iPhone in favor of this far superior device.

The banana phone will run you $40 and has a few extra buttons to help you make calls and hang up. It also will allow you to access Siri for some other handy features.

The campaign says they will give you 1% of all sales to go to Gearing Up 4 Gorillas.

Via Indiegogo:

G4G focuses 100% on the conservation of the rare mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park, located in eastern DR Congo, by providing funding and equipment to the rangers who protect them.

Join us in helping provide what the rangers need and make a real difference to the future of the mountain gorilla. G4G has proven that practical assistance can be directed to where it really matters—to the rangers at the sharp end.

Perhaps you’re still not sure. These guys might help convince you.

The campaign has already raised more than $12,000 of its $30,000 with over 160 backers. If you’re wondering, yes, “ring, ring, ring, banana phone” is stuck in our heads now, too.

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Vegan Cannabis Fruit Snacks, Because Why Not?

Danielle Guercio
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Vegan Cannabis Fruit Snacks, Because Why Not?

As popular as gummies and fruit snacks are, sometimes people just don’t like the idea of animal sourced gelatin. Unfortunately, subbing that out is not always the same texture wise, but you can get pretty close. This is a recipe that tackles that desire for jiggly, sort-of-chewy bites of joy without the idea of suffering attached to it.

The vegan substitute for gelatin works really well for my intense need to have real fruit snacks, especially because I’m not too upset that it’s got less spring. Medicating anything fruity and poppable is the pretty much living the dream, and there’s no lack of flavor, so all in all this is a good choice no matter how much meat you eat (or don’t).

Vegetable Gelatin usually refers to agar agar. This is product made from a seaweed that has gelling properties and is often used in Southeast Asian desserts. It’s also a popular modernist ingredient. A powder should be easy to come by on Amazon or at an Asian market. Using this magic mystery powder with fruit juice and tincture makes a simple snack, perfect for micro dosing.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

Vegan Strawberry Fruit Snacks

Danielle Guercio, 2017
Makes 150 bites, 1mg THC per bite

  • 2 lbs Fresh strawberries, washed
  • ⅔ c Corn syrup (crucial for texture)
  • 2 Tbs Sugar
  • 1 Tbs Citric acid
  • 2 Tbs Agar agar powder
  • 1 oz Cannabis glycerin tincture *
Photos by Danielle Guercio

Break down the strawberries, removing stems and leaves and halving. Pile into a heavy bottomed pot. Sprinkle the sugar and citric acid over the strawberries and put aside for 20 minutes.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

Muddle until they are mostly squished, you will be doing this again later so perfection isn’t necessary. Add corn syrup and bring to a light simmer. Strain well for the best texture, and save the strawberry guts for another application. I’d suggest throwing them in a jar with some vinegar for a tasty shrub or salad dressing base.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

Put the resulting strawberry syrup back in the pan and bring to a boil once again. Add the agar agar powder and stir vigorously to dissolve the powder. Turn off the heat, and pour back into measuring cup which is much easier to pour. Let it cool slightly and then add the glycerin tincture and stir one final time.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

Pour into molds or a plastic lined anything to cool for at least 2 hours. If this is your first time, try not to use an overly complicated mold, these are on the softer side. You can add an extra tablespoon of agar agar to give it more body, but be wary as too much can add a grainy or crumbly texture to your finished product.

Remove from molds and chop into small pieces, storing in an airtight container. You can alternatively dehydrate your finished product for a fruit leather texture, but this takes time and it’s very delicious as is.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

*Cannabis Infused Glycerin Tincture

In an oven safe container double sealed with foil, decarboxylate 3.5 grams finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Put cannabis in a mason jar or vacuum sealed bag, pour over 2 oz vegetable glycerin and seal tightly. Place in a water bath at just under boiling for 1 hour. Strain and keep contents in a sterilized container. Stores indefinitely in freezer.

As with all edible cannabis, be aware of how you are dosing these out. Sometimes the tastiest treats get us into the most trouble. You can cut the actives in half if you want to be able to really munch carelessly. In these cases it’s helpful to split them up from the get go, portioning will be your friend. If you know one handful is a certain amount, you won’t overdo it by accident, you’ll be fully aware.

Photos: Danielle Guercio

Why Miley Cyrus Stopped Smoking Weed “For A Second”

Brendan Bures
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Why Miley Cyrus Stopped Smoking Weed “For A Second”

Miley Cyrus wasn’t known for doing anything quietly. Her whole schtick, in her Bangerz and Dead Petz era, seemed the expression to be loud and proud and to showcase being yourself in a demonstrative way was, in and of itself, a political act.

Though she served as a judge on NBC’s The Voice, Miley has receded largely from the spotlight. However, a new Billboard cover story illustrates what the artist has been up to. It delves into her new political stance of empathetic connection, falling for Liam Hemsworth again, and why she stopped smoking weed, among other substances.

Here is her reasoning, via Billboard:

“This is crazy,” she says with her ­signature raspy-voiced charm, “but I haven’t smoked weed in three weeks!” Cyrus—who’s sitting across from a lighted wall plaque that reads “It’s 4:20 Somewhere”—elaborates on why she decided to quit “for a second”: “I like to surround myself with people that make me want to get better, more evolved, open. And I was noticing, it’s not the people that are stoned. I want to be super clear and sharp, because I know exactly where I want to be.”

It seems an honest exploration of new themes in her life. Plus, everyone could use a break from the green every once in a while. As Miley said, she’s just taking a break “for a second.”

RELATED: Brad Pitt Reveals His Dream Marijuana Smoking Partners

She did explain that it would’ve been harder if someone else told her to quit, however. But because the inspiration came from within, it wasn’t too difficult.

Via Billboard:

[I]f anyone told me not to smoke, I would have not done it. It’s because it was on my time. I know exactly where I am right now. I know what I want this record to be.

The clarity has helped shape Miley’s music in a new folksy direction, intended to re-establish herself within the country scene her family hails from. Her new single, “Malibu,” will drop May 11.

Gossip: Caitlyn Jenner’s Best Friend Slams Kris Jenner; ‘Dance Moms’ Star Abby Lee Miller Sentenced To Prison

Naughty Gossip
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Gossip: Caitlyn Jenner’s Best Friend Slams Kris Jenner; ‘Dance Moms’ Star Abby Lee Miller Sentenced To Prison

“How is Caitlyn doing? I feel bad with Kris saying she didn’t know anything. I saw Caitlyn last week. We did an event together at the 92nd Street Y. It is of note that Kris’ moment of objection came in the premiere of her new show. I guess it was coincidence so you know I don’t know Kris all that well although we bought this beautiful dress together. We were in New Orleans together when I bought this beautiful dress.

She strikes me as very smart, but she’s also trying to figure out what this means and she’s going to have to find her peace the same way my spouse found her peace, the way people who love trans people. We all have to figure it out and it’s not easy.

So if she really takes issue with what’s in Caitlyn’s book, I’m sympathetic to that but it’s possible as we all know, in one marriage to have two different stories and so my guess is that both stories are true and I don’t want to disrespect Kris in any way but Caitlyn is my friend.”

‘Dance Moms’ Star Abby Lee Miller Sentenced to Prison in Fraud Case

Abby Lee Miller is headed to prison.

The former Dance Moms star was sentenced to one year and one day in prison earlier today by a Pittsburgh federal judge.

With the rarely low key Miller having hidden more than $755,000 in earnings from the Lifetime reality series from the courts, the nearly two-dozen charges of fraud and more from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Pittsburgh were made public in October 2015. The deeply detailed charges carried with them up to $5 million in fines and possibly five years in jail.

The ruling by Chief Judge Joy Flowers Conti this morning comes after the government laid out their final argument and Miller herself took the stand in her own defense.

Well, damn.

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

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