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What Track And Trace Will Mean For Your Legal California Marijuana

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We can all celebrate: Legal California marijuana, is now a reality following a successful vote on Proposition 64. Now it’s time for the real work.

Leading up to January 1st, 2018–mark your calendars–the day when legal recreational cannabis will begin being sold in retail locations to persons 21 and over in the state, California has a lot to do in order to make it work. One of those considerations will be Track and Trace systems, which track cannabis from seed to plant to dispensary to sale.

Don’t Get Twitchy

While some might get a little paranoid about such a tracking system, it’s pretty useful for legal regulation, and it’s also pretty cool: you can know the history of your bud, and it allows the consumer to know they’re getting what they’re paying for. If you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole of wondering where your herb come from and whether or not it’s pesticide free: now you can know for sure.

Track and Trace also helps avoid the high likelihood of product being diverted to the thriving black market in states that do not yet have legalized bud. Sorry, everyone who has ever boasted that their dealer had the “good medical grade shit from California,” since that may no longer be as likely. While many smokers have likely lived under criminalization, this kind of tracking is important; following the rules is crucial as this great experiment commences in order to convince more skeptical states.

This is, understandably, a bureaucratic nightmare if you don’t already know what you’re doing. Other states including New Mexico, Illinois, New York, Hawaii, and Washington have jumped that hurdle by putting their track and trace needs into the hands of someone else, BioTrackTHC, which operates on both business and government levels with an all-in-one package that handles cultivation management, inventory, includes a point of sale system, and gives users analytics on sales trends, inventory, and shipment management.

Tracking Can Be Good For Everyone

They’re pretty smart for it, too. With experience in prescription drug and methamphetamine tracking, they know how to work with the government and law enforcement to keep everything in line, and with the boom in medical and legalized states, there’s definitely a need and many state legislatures are going to want something that’s tried and true. BioTrackTHC is apparently the person for the job, and already holding a government contract in Arcata, California, they’re probably crossing their fingers that the state will give them a tap on the shoulder as well.

California isn’t the only state to legalize recreational this past election day, either: Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada also voted to legalize recreational cannabis use in their states. With more states adopting medical marijuana and now eight states with recreational and many more with decriminalized marijuana, it feels like a tipping point in how the country views the issue into one that is not just a “hippie west coast” thing. Cannabis is increasingly rebranding itself both as a medicine and a legitimate recreational hobby.

One good insight into this was how Florida voted on legalizing medical use in the recent elections: 49 percent voted Trump and 48 percent voted Hillary, while a whopping 71 percent voted to approve Amendment 2, their first comprehensive medical marijuana legislation. It’s incredibly likely that the rest of the country will continue to overwhelmingly follow suit.

With the legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana no longer being such a “niche” issue, we can only presume that track and trace systems and others that streamline the industry will become more in demand. I think we can all hit our bongs, warm up our vapes, eat a cookie, and light a joint to that.  

Really Needed A Slice: Naked On Camera Breaking Into Pizza Parlor

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Police in Towson, Maryland are desperately trying to catch a man who last week broke into a pizza parlor, stripped off his clothes, and then took money from the restaurant’s cash registers.

Fox 5 DC reports the nude pizza crime took place just before dawn on November 10, when a still unidentified man broke into Towson’s Slice Pizza through a roof vent and—for reasons that remain unknown (maybe he wanted to avoid getting pizza sauce on himself?)—took off his clothes. From the Baltimore County Police & Fire Facebook page:

The investigation has indicated that around 6 a.m. on November 10, the suspect entered the Slice Pizza restaurant in the Unit block of West Pennsylvania Avenue through a roof vent. After entering the store, the suspect took his clothes off then damaged a vent hood and several registers. He took cash from the registers before running form the store.

Images of the suspect were captured on the store’s video surveillance system.

So if you live in Towson and see a naked man with a bunch of cash that looks like it came from a pizza parlor, call the police and, uh, then maybe hide somewhere.

Messy breakups, deranged antics, pets gone wild. The Internet car-crash you can’t turn away from. For more, check out “New Zealand Man Takes His Homemade Jet Boat Out On Flooded Streets,” “Watch: Deer Trapped in American Eagle Store Smashes Through Front Window,” and “Cops: Florida Man Stabbed IHOP Waiter In Retaliation For Food Poisoning.

Pay for Marijuana Without Using Cash? CanPay Is An App For That

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If you’re lucky enough to live in a state where marijuana is legal, walking into a well-lit, clean retail store and buying a few grams of cannabis and maybe an edible is so, well, civilized and convenient. But the cash-only model is an outdated drawback.

Today, CanPay has launched the first debit payment solution for cannabis shoppers.

On the heels of eight states legalizing recreational or medicinal cannabis last week, Colorado-based CanPay is the only legitimate and stable debit payment solution for merchants legalized marijuana markets. CanPay is currently available in 15 retail locations across Washington and Colorado. Oregon is next on the company’s list of states.

Easier Than Ever To Purchase Marijuana

Even as more and more states legalize marijuana use, the banking system has been reluctant to participate in the industry.  Since the federal government still considers cannabis an illegal Schedule I drug, financial institutions refrain from servicing the industry for fear of hefty fines.  So cash is king at marijuana stores.

“CanPay is the future of payments for emerging industries, and is quickly becoming the preferred method of payment for cannabis businesses and banking institutions alike,” said Dustin Eide, CEO of CanPay. “As more and more states move to legalize medical and recreational cannabis within their borders, the time has come for a legitimate payment solution. With regulations being determined across the newly approved states, we will be expanding CanPay into each market in partnership with those institutions offering compliant banking to cannabis retailers.”

Consumers using CanPay will no longer need to carry large sums of cash into a store or use an ATM where the average fee is nearly $5 per cash withdrawal. Both merchants and consumers benefit from the ability of the consumer to decide what they are going to buy at checkout rather than predetermining their spending limit based on the cash in their wallet.

“CanPay offers us a quicker, more secure way of doing business while reducing the costs and hassles of cash.,” said Tim Cullen, Owner of Colorado Harvest Company in Denver, who has deployed CanPay in three retail locations throughout the state. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that cannabis businesses face a huge array of challenges that other industries don’t even need to consider. CanPay solves one of these pain points for us as a business, further enabling us deliver on our commitment to a great in-store customer experience by offering a highly-sought after alternative to cash that is free for our customers to use.”

Some of CanPay’s features:

  • It’s Fee Free: No “convenience” or other fees when you make a purchase.
  • It’s Convenient: No pre-planning to get cash or waiting in ATM lines.
  • It’s Safer: No cash to lose.
  • It’s Secure: Cutting-edge security means only you can make purchases with your account.
  • It’s Simple: Just generate a unique payment PIN in your CanPay app and you’re ready to make a purchase.
  • It’s Debit: A debit is made to your checking account in the exact amount of your purchase.

The CanPay App is available for both Apple and Android users by visiting here while on a mobile device.

Liquid Kitchen® Presents: Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

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It’s getting cold outside, which means it’s the perfect time of year for spirit-forward sips! I am talking about those cocktails that are stirred rather than shaken. These aren’t meant to be gulped in a rush but rather sipped and savored with good company over long conversations. If you like Old Fashioneds (or are just discovering them for the first time), try switching up the sweetener with Real Maple Syrup for a wonderful fall flavor. Want to go a step further? Infuse your favorite aromatic bitters by adding a piece of cinnamon stick and an orange peel strip – let sit at least 24 hours — and voilà! — a super spiced bitters, customized for the season. So stir up that cocktail tonight and try to stay warm will ya?

Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ½  ounces REAL maple syrup
  • 1 dash of your favorite bitters or switch it up with 2 types like
  • Bitter Truth Orange Bitters and Bitter Truth Creole Bitters
  • Garnish: fat orange peel disk

Measure bourbon, maple syrup and bitters into a mixing glass. Fill 3/4 with ice and stir swiftly for 20 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in an Old Fashioned glass. Express orange peel over the drink to release the oils, twist and add to drink.

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Kathy Casey is a chef, mixologist, and is known as the Original Bar Chef. Her newest book is D’Llish Deviled Eggs, which is a great accompaniment to any cocktail. Follow Kathy on Twitter and Instagram. For more great cocktail recipes, visit www.LiquidKitchen.com.

3 Cool A.I. Experiments That Probably Won’t End Of The World

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When we envision artificial intelligence, we tend to go 0 to 100 real quick. Any basic machine learning inevitably leads to worried visions of Terminator or Matrix or “Black Mirror” future realities. In some ways this is fair. We should steel ourselves from this happening. But Google A.I. Experiments are much less end-of-worldy and more super cool.

RELATED: People Who Use Weed Also Do More Of Another Fun Thing

But A.I. doesn’t always have to be so doomsday. Imagine being alone in a different country where you don’t speak the language. You peruse the market, and find a delicious-looking Bartlett pear. How do you communicate the purchase of such an item when you can’t speak the language?

These Machines Are Here To Help (Don’t Panic)

This is an A.I. experiment called Thing Translator. It’s part of Google’s A.I. Experiments program featuring open-source projects that help coding newcomers and experts alike tinker and play with machine learning. As seen above, Thing Translator allows users to take a picture of a thing, like our hypothetical Bartlett pear, and translate it into various languages, sounding out pronunciation and displaying the written form of the word.

Another component of Google’s A.I. experiments has to do with sound. For human ears and brains, sound is a deeply complex and robust experience. Think of music. How many times have you heard something you’d qualify as percussion? A booming bass or a baseball bat ding or a high-hat rhythm. How would you describe the difference between these sounds? Furthermore, how would you organize them into searchable and similar categories?

Turns out machines are very good at this. The above experiment feeds hundreds of drum machine sounds into a computer without any indication or hints of what they are. To the computer, it’s just a conglomerate of sounds. But it can then cluster sounds that are similar together and organize them into a color-coordinated scatter plot through a process called t-SNE.

RELATED: Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

Most of these Google A.I experiments are simple, typically reducing data into a visualized component or vice versa. Be sure to check them all out, they’re certainly worth your time. Hopefully you won’t feel too much like you’re living in The Matrix while playing around with them.

 

The Emerald Exchange: Inside A Cannabis Farmer’s Market

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Like most people, I grew up with food bought from a vast supermarket. Then, farmer’s markets began to pop up everywhere. They may have always been there, but in recent years they’ve become part of our every-day routine, growing in abundance in both urban and rural areas. So it makes perfect sense that this now-ubiquitous, social and local/sustainable type of event translates to the rapidly growing world of cannabis supply and demand.

Last Saturday we set off for Malibu, CA., to experience the second installment of The Emerald Exchange, a farmer’s market for top-of-the line Northern California cannabis. Truly beautiful sun-grown flowers of all strains, and innovative 100-percent organic concentrates and extracts were all on display, with the benefit of one-on-one discussion and pro-tips from the farmers themselves.

Just A Day At The  Market

On this overcast, but bucolic day by the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains, 25 vendors from Trinity, Mendocino and Humboldt counties (a.k.a. the Emerald Triangle), showed their wares to over 500 attendees during the daytime event. Then 250 guests stayed for a ticketed private dinner.  Los Angeles is by far the largest market for consumers of cannabis in all shapes and types—and whatever your heart desires, from female and sexy products to cannabis-infused wine, the Emerald Exchange has got you covered.

Check-in services were provided by LoudCloud —as CEO and founder Robert Gillet checked our medical recommendation cards using his system, he seemed like a welcoming, chill guy, making the verification experience easy and streamlined for consumers. Once we were checked in and given swag bags containing a generous and wide variety of samples, we began to explore the majestic farm hosting the event—a perfect place to meet vendors and activate some of their wonderful wares.

The afternoon was spent with guys like Patrick from SuperBaked, who makes delicious baked goods with the motto “From Seed to Cookie, Organically,” and is branching out into low-CBD dog treats. And it was a fascinating benefit for me, as a supporter of innovation in cannabis tech, to meet farmers and manufacturers like Roxanne, whose company Legion of Bloom’s high-tech but affordable Terrapen setup creates a user experience that focuses both on the purity and strength of the vape pen, and on flavors that are a unique (and really cool) alternative to smoking.

On To Dinner

We have huge respect and appreciation for strong brand identity such as the all-female owned and operated Deviant Dabs. I felt the power in the mild but satisfying CBD rip I partook of with gratitude and enthusiasm. And as if all that wasn’t enough in one day, when the sun began to set, the DJs kept playing and the much-anticipated private dinner began. The food was delicious—focused on fresh local produce, and the option to infuse with cannabis or not. I most definitely adopted a “when in Rome” attitude and enjoyed the rest of the evening immensely.

As we are on the cusp of a great change in how our culture views cannabis, we need to remember: the real true OG are the folks who have been farming and creating outstanding products for generations. Getting to talk with second- and third-generation farmers like Matt from StarSong farms in Mendocino, who besides his great marijuana flowers also creates delicious cannabis-infused honey, is truly remarkable. Much like the folks at our local farmer’s markets want to ensure that we have fresh, sustainable produce and take pride in the protection of quality standards, we need these cannabis farmers to make sure the amazing opportunities and excellent products they have been cultivating remain available and sustainable for all of us to enjoy and support.

New Disney Movie Has Same Name As Italian Porn Star, Hilarity Ensues

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It’s common for movies to change their names in other countries, due to a better fit for another audience or to avoid confusion with other shows and movies of the area.

In the UK, The Avengers is titled Avengers Assemble due to an existing TV show with the same name. Zootopia is called Zootropolis because studios believed that the new name would resonate more with British audiences.


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Moana, the 56th Disney movie which features the company’s first Polynesian princess, will go through a name change in Italy due in large part to Moana Pozzi. Who is Moana Pozzi, you might wonder?

Well, she’s one of Italy’s biggest porn stars and ’90s personalities.

The name says it all #MoanaPozzi#thoseeyes#thoselips#herhair#thatdress#

A photo posted by @enjoyingtheview51 on


The late adult film star appeared in over 100 movies, 50 different magazine covers and unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Rome under her own political party (aptly titled the Love Party).

Her estimated worth is 26 million euros and, reportedly, legendary Italian director Federico Fellini really wanted to work with her because she stimulated Italians intellectually too.


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She truly did it all.

“Moana” will be called “Oceania” in Italy due to the region the movie depicts. You can watch the non-sexy trailer below.

Metallica And Others Who Rocked The Tonight Show With This

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On last night’s ‘Tonight Show,’ Jimmy Fallon and his band, The Roots, were joined by Metallica in the Music Room for a cover of “Enter Sandman” performed entirely with children’s instruments. Watching James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett perform their most famous song with kazoos, xylophones and recorders is certainly good and goofy fun, which is perhaps why a Facebook video of the performance has been viewed more than 31 million times in just nine hours.

But the California metal legends aren’t the first artists to visit the Music Room for a childish cover of their most well-known songs. Here are five others who rocked out with kazoos.

RELATED: This Epic Love Story Is Being Set To Music

Adele—“Hello”

Adele’s “Hello” was one of the biggest song of 2015. A song of heartbreak and resilience, “Hello” was a weirdly great fit for Music Room, in no small part because of the amazing power of her voice even in the most ridiculous settings. Also, it’s worth watching just to see Adele sing into a toy pink flip phone near the end.

Mariah Carey—“All I Want for Christmas”

Mariah Carey’s holiday classic fits right in on Music Room. It’s also, as far as we know, the only cover to feature actual children.

Carly Rae Jepsen—“Call Me Maybe”

Can you believe it’s been over four years since “Call Me Maybe” became a smash hit? Me neither. Time, man. Anyway, the insanely catchy pop tune is a perfect choice for Music Room, and Jepsen could have a second career singing kids songs.

Sesame Street Theme Song

As it turns out, a song written for children sounds great when performed by professional musicians using instruments designed for kids. Watch Elmo, The Count, Big Bird and the gang sing below.

RELATED: Marijuana Use And Guy’s Member

Meghan Trainor–“All About That Bass”

Meghan Trainor’s 2014 smash hit translates surprisingly well to a kid-friendly version.

Cops: Florida Man Stabbed IHOP Waiter In Retaliation For Food Poisoning

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While inferior to Waffle House, IHOP is one of the best chain restaurants for a cheap, reliable breakfast. Pancakes are the way to go, in our opinion at least, but you’ll probably be happy with waffle or any of the standard egg options. But if for some reason you’re unsatisfied with your meal there, or feel sick after, do NOT do what a Florida man allegedly did last week, which is return to the restaurant so you can stab your waiter.

North Miami Police told the Miami Herald that Gene Hicks ate at the IHOP Friday morning. It’s unclear what Hicks ordered—the Miami Herald suggests he may have had “the Belgian waffle, the chicken cordon bleu or the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘n’ Fruity”—but whatever it was didn’t agree with his stomach, or so he later claimed.

Hicks left the restaurant but allegedly returned around 3 p.m. armed with a knife, which police say he then used to stab the waiter who’d served him. The waiter was rushed to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Hicks was arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Messy breakups, deranged antics, pets gone wild. The Internet car-crash you can’t turn away from. For more, check out “New Zealand Man Takes His Homemade Jet Boat Out On Flooded Streets,” “Watch: Deer Trapped in American Eagle Store Smashes Through Front Window,” and “Man Chugged Axe Body Spray After He Was Pulled Over for DUI, Arrested Anyway.”

15 Super-Hot Sex Ideas To Celebrate Marijuana Legalization

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No, but really — how does a person have better sex or a better relationship? The Fresh Toast has enlisted Rachel Krantz, a sex writer and proud canna-enthusiast, to help readers out with some answers as its sex columnist. No question is off limits, and all questions will remain anonymous. Please send your super-hot sex and relationship inquiries to freshlove@thefreshtoast.com. Now, onto this week’s topic: ideas for having sex high.

Q: I live in California and recreational marijuana just got legalized! I’d been using medicinal before, but I still feel like celebrating. Both my girlfriend and I like to get high and have sex sometimes, and I was wondering if you might have any ideas for having sex while toasted I might not have thought of yet.

A: Hi neighbor! I’m also excited to be in California now that recreational marijuana is legal — it’s nice to feel like something most of us were doing anyway doesn’t have to be hidden in any way anymore. Your question is a fun one — having sex high happens to be one of my favorite topics (and hobbies). Used mindfully, marijuana is a substance that can really make for some interesting sex. Here are some ideas for having sex high you might not have thought of yet.

1. Make Getting High Romantic

In general, setting the mood is a recipe for success — the right lighting, scent, and a clean bed can work wonders for relaxing anyone — but especially women, who are proven to have an easier time orgasming when they are warm and cozy. When you’re having stoned sex, this goes double. Light a candle or three, make sure the room is clean and warm, and put on some music you both like. Lay on the bed and vape or smoke together, cuddling. This makes getting high in itself a romantic and intimate activity, and will create a nice atmosphere for foreplay. Take it slow, and don’t make your partner feel like there’s any rush at all to get down.

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2. Dance Up On It

Even if you think you’re a bad dancer, getting high can eliminate some inhibitions. If you don’t want to dance standing up together, challenge yourself to each play a song that you’d like to give the other a lap dance to. If a full strip tease seems to intimidating, one person could simply lay down and the other could sit up, as in Cowgirl position, and dance on their lap that way. Or, you could try “horizontal dancing,” where you’re both laying horizontally and grinding to the music. If it seems hilarious at points, that’s awesome! Embrace laughing. This is all about having fun and getting horny.

3. Stretch Out Second-Base For As Long As You Can Take It

In case you can’t tell yet, most of my tips for high sex have to do with slowing things down. Too often, we rush to the finish line during sex — but getting high is a good reminder that there doesn’t need to be a rush. Challenge each other to stretch second base out as long as you can, until one of you caves. Make-out the way you used to when you were a teenager. Dry hump, play with her boobs, grab her ass until she goes crazy and needs you to take her clothes off.

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4. Channel The Munchies

If she’s at the point where she’s begging for more, channel the munchies into oral, and taste the snack that is your partner’s genitals. The 69 position is also great when you’re both high — it will feel super-intense for both of you. For extra points, when you taste her, tell her what you taste, and why you like it. Women are socialized to have shame around their genitals, and this is a great time for you to describe just what you love most about her pussy.

5. Try To Really, Really Tease

If you’re having sex with a woman, this is a tip you need to try — high or not. With her legs spread, take your pointer finger, and stroke her clit as lightly as you possibly can, asking her along the way if she wants any more pressure. You’ll be amazed at how much a super light, teasing touch will drive her absolutely crazy. Go slowly and gently, be patient, keep things feather-light, and try not to stop until her hips are bucking up and down off the bed like a madwoman.

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6. Use Mirrors

If you don’t usually have a mirror by the bed, I highly recommend it in general. It will increase both your body positivity, and it’s hot as hell. If you or your partner has felt self-conscious in front of the mirror, being high is a great time to begin to unlearn that and challenge yourself to see the erotic nature of what it actually looks like to get down together.

7. Play ‘Anything But’

Another great way to tease, you can set a limit by playing “Anything But.” For example, you could say you’re each allowed to do anything but touch each other’s genitals, and the first person to cave “loses.”

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8. Try Mutual Masturbation

Sometimes, when you’re stoned especially, you just feel a little lazy. If that’s the case, go for some mutual masturbation, and kiss each other. If she normally uses a vibrator, encourage her to break it out. If you have a penis, be sure to use lube or lotion to also make things extra smooth and easy for you.

9. Try A Silent Session

If you decide to do the deed, it can be fun to challenge yourself to a totally silent session ahead of time. Women especially can be slightly performative during sex, making it hard to sort out which moans are genuine and which are just imitating porn. Being silent can take a lot of that pressure off — and it also forces you to communicate without words, and to focus on your breath and the present moment. It’ll feel really intimate and intense.

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10. …Or Just The Opposite

On the flip-side, if you live somewhere that permits it, having really loud sex while high can be really liberating. Tell your partner you want each of you not to hold back any sound. Go beyond moaning, and allow for grunting, heavy exhales, laughs, and whatever other noises come out. Remember, this is all about challenging each other to be more authentic and raw.

11. Play ‘1, or 2?’

This is a great time to bring some unfiltered truth into your sex life. If you’ve always wondered exactly what your partner’s preferences are, you can play “1, or 2” — which is a game I just made up. It’s like when you get an eye exam, and they ask you which one is clearer: “1, or 2?” — only for this, you’re asking their sexual preferences. So, for example, you could say “1?” and lightly nibble their nipple, then say, “Or 2?” and suck on it for a bit. Let them answer which they prefer, and if they can’t choose, go back and do it again before moving onto the next choice.

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12. Don’t Forget The Lube And Chapstick!

You can get extra dehydrated and dry when you get high, so don’t forget to drink water, and use extra lube and Chapstick so that you’re both comfortable during your extended sesh.

13. Follow Your Spontaneous Instincts

Challenge each other to try new positions, sensations, and ideas as they come to you. Of course, you don’t want to suddenly go into some intense power or pain play without consent, so make sure you have a safe word, keep checking in with each other, and don’t try anything too intense for the first time when you’re high. But go into the kitchen if you’ve always wanted to try that countertop, ask her to let you watch her masturbate, watch porn together if you’ve always been too shy! Follow your spontaneous consensual desire.

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14. Flip The Usual Dynamic

Another fun thing to do is to flip your usual sexual power dynamic. If you tend to be more submissive, talk before about trying to be the one who drives the session this time. You could even make it into more of a trippy game by challenging each other to role play “being” the other person. It will help you empathize with their feelings during sex — what would they want right now? What would they normally be doing? How would they do it? (A word of caution: if you have any sore spots about your sexual dynamic, this could end up causing a more serious discussion than you intended.)

15. Don’t Be Afraid To Pause

Sometimes, high sex can get intense! You might get in your head, lose your hard-on, or even feel emotionally overwhelmed. Make it clear to your partner that they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for a pause at any time, and vice-versa. Go back to cuddling, and only resume when or if the other person is ready. That goes for all sex, obviously (enthusiastic consent, people!) but with high sex, you need to take extra care to keep checking in with one another.

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Have fun!

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