US Weed Arrests at Lowest Level Since 1996, More Work Needed
Good news: Arrests for marijuana possession fell in 2015 to the lowest level since 1996, according to the FBI.
Bad news: There were 574,641 arrests made for simple possession in 2015, which still means that someone is busted every minute in the U.S. for carrying around cannabis.
Let’s get back to the good news first. The FBI’s Crime in the United States report, released Monday, reveals that marijuana possession arrests are down 7 percent from 2014. Even more encouraging, arrests are down almost 25 percent from the zenith of 775,138 in 2007.
In a nutshell, the data suggests that law enforcement across the country are dedicating less resources and energy in going after casual cannabis consumers and are focusing on violent crime.
As more states turn their back on federal laws surrounding the war on drugs and opt for a more modern approach to drug policy, these numbers are likely to decrease at an even faster rate. This November, at least nine states will consider either legalizing marijuana for medical use of full-on recreational legalization.
But 574,641 arrests for possession is still way too many. A majority of Americans, 61 percent, support the legalization of marijuana.
According to the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation’s leading organization promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights:
Black and Latino people are arrested at vastly disproportionate rates, even though white people use and sell marijuana at similar rates. A marijuana arrest is no small matter – the arrest creates a permanent criminal record that can easily be found by employers, landlords, schools, credit agencies and banks. Additionally, the huge number of marijuana arrests every year usurps scarce law enforcement, criminal justice and treatment resources at enormous cost to taxpayers.
According to the ACLU, “enforcing marijuana laws costs us about $3.6 billion a year, yet the War on Marijuana has failed to diminish the use or availability of marijuana.”
For more, check out Christopher Ingraham’s story in the Washington Post.
QUIZ: How Well Can You Spell Common Foods?
Life’s simplest pleasure, eating, has its own dark side. And it involves spelling.
Fortunately, one of the prerequisites to sitting down and enjoying a meal isn’t acing a spelling test. But perhaps after the hunger pangs have subsided, take a moment to indulge in some of this brain food.
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Is This ‘Pen Pineapple Apple Pen’ Song the Next ‘Gangnam Style’?
Warning: This song will loop in your head for the rest of the day. It is called “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” and it’s the newest kooky viral video no one understands but everyone loves.
This super catchy diddy was crafted by Piko-Taro, a Japanese singer caricature crafted by comedian and DJ Kosaka Daimaou. The songs makes little sense, but that’s probably why we love it. I mean, who isn’t into pineapple-pens? It previously made internet rounds in the East but it’s just matriculating into Western internet circles.
And it’s already receiving parodies of others getting their own pen-pineapple-apple-pen on.
https://twitter.com/AngelaLeong/status/779965355623972864
Will this short, goofy song become the next “Gangnam Style”? Quite possibly. Give the tune a listen. You won’t be able to forget it. No matter how much you try!
Drake Releases ‘Please Forgive Me,’ A Short Film With An ‘Indecent Proposal’ Vibe
Drake released his short film Please Forgive Me last night, exclusively on Apple Music. You can watch it here. Drake has teased the project for a little over a month now, and we must admit, it doesn’t disappoint.
The 20-minute short stars Drake, hatching a plan to steal $1 million from a Johannesburg crime lord. Surprisingly, things go wrong. It loosely follows the plot of Indecent Proposal, but with buxom women and patois.
The video prominently features 26-year-old Belgian model/actress/singer Fanny Neguesha as Drake’s love interest, and singer Popcaan as his sidekick. Drake shared a short trailer for the movie, using the tagline “A film inspired by the album VIEWS.” As expected, it serves as music video for songs like “One Dance,” “Controlla,” “Summer’s Over Interlude,” and more. Producer Noah “40” Shebib also scored the soundtrack to the movie.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKzp1Jkj6TB/
Director Anthony Mandler depicts an underworld of sex, violence, and bloodshed. Mandler previously collaborated with Drake on music videos for “Over,” “Find Your Love,” and “Miss Me” from Thank Me Later.
Please Forgive Me is only the second video Drake has released from his 2016 album VIEWS, which recently became the first album to reach over 1 billion streams on Apple Music. Please Forgive Me and previous Drake effort “Child’s Play, ” both Apple Music exclusives, show off some serious gloss and money in the production department and continue Drake’s visual aesthetic of lo-fi vibes and moody atmospheres.
But Please Forgive Me leans much closer to a previous Drake video: “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” Both present Drake as an action movie star, rolling around, shooting things up. Though his acting remains high-quality, Drake doesn’t exactly make a convincing heavy, while flashing a gun and beating up baddies. He’s the sensitive crooner who confesses his love publicly, like to Rihanna on the VMA’s stage. In other words, in real life, he rarely appears intimidating, nor does he seem comfortable as violence swirls around him. He’s no Jason Bourne.
But does that matter? Not really, because guess who still wins in the end? Aubrey Graham. His star’s just too bright to fail. Even when fictional mob bosses and the media and other rappers try to defeat him, Drake stays on top. Don’t believe me? Just ask Meek Mill.
10 Surprising Celebrities Who’ve Come Out—As Cannabis Fans
Unlike a certain former President, these boldfaced names are happy to champion the benefits of inhaling. From the richest man in the world to activists and pop stars, read on to learn about your new favorite cannabis fans!
Maya Angelou
As a poet and Civil Rights activist, Maya gave us such soul-soothing nuggets as “Love recognizes no barriers,” and “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” In her younger years, she “smoked marijuana with abandon,” according to a 2002 biography. In her autobiography Gather Together In My Name, she wrote about her first time smoking a joint, and how mind-blowingly good food and music were after that.
Susan Sontag
A highly influential writer and political activist, Sontag preferred a toke over a shot. “I think marijuana is much better than liquor,” she told High Times. “I think a society which is addicted to a very destructive and unhealthy drug — namely alcohol — certainly has no right to complain or be sanctimonious or censor the use of a drug which is much less harmful.”
Sarah Palin
While we probably wouldn’t want to pack a bowl with Palin today, she told Anchorage Daily News in 2006, “I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.” But she doesn’t support legalization, fearing what message it might send her children.
Madonna
Remember when this OQ (Original Queen) dropped a red-carpet-bombing’s worth of “fucks” on live television? She dropped major science when she simultaneously pissed off the FCC, told David Letterman he ain’t shit, and admitted to smoking right before her Late Show appearance: “It wasn’t because I was excited about you. I think it may have had something to do with the joint I smoked before I came on.”
Carl Sagan
Can you imagine showering with perhaps the greatest science educator of our time, super high, when he starts drawing gaussian distribution curves in soap on the walls? And then he jumps out of the shower and immediately writes like 11 essays on philosophy and politics? Yeah, me neither. But this is something Sagan did, according to his writings under the pseudonym “Mr. X.” He later shook off concern with being named, and became an advocate for legalization.
Martha Stewart
This might not come as a shock, but Martha Stewart’s no fool. So of course she shamed some kids on their sloppy joint, while on her way to an interview with Bravo’s Andy Cohen. When he asked her if she knew how to roll one, she replied, “Of course I know how to roll a joint.” Martha does not deign to consume anything short of perfection.
Morgan Freeman
A Guardian interview with Morgan Freeman was almost cut short because the iconic actor got too excited to talk about his favorite burning bush. When the interviewer promised his super lame PR handlers he’s change the subject to Nelson Mandela, they let the conversation continue, but not before Freeman quipped: “Never give up the ganja.”
Bill Gates
William “Trey” Gates was born in often-laid-back Seattle, so perhaps it’s no surprise that he’s a mellow dude behind the business mogul lifestyle. He’s an open supporter of marijuana legalization, and announced a partnership in June between Microsoft and Kind Financial, a LA-based startup that’s working on ways to make cannabis-related transactions easier and safer. We’re not saying that smoking will make you the richest man on Earth; you’re free to come to your own conclusion on that.
Matt Damon
He scienced the shit out of potatoes on Mars, but could he put his hydroponics skills to use on some Cannabaceae? “The first time I smoked was at home with my mother and stepfather,” he said during an interview on BBC’s Johnny Vaughan Tonight. “They were like, ‘If you are going to do this, we’d rather you did this with us.’”
Justin Timberlake
Who could have guessed when his innocent face showed up on Mickey Mouse Club that he’d grow up to hit the bong? Okay, maybe everyone. But, still, he’s surprisingly open about his usage today. “The only thing pot does for me is it gets me to stop thinking,” the former NSYNC star told Playboy. “Sometimes I have a brain that needs to be turned off. Some people are just better high.” Indeed. So hit us up to chill sometime, JT.
The Adventures of Walter & Tiffany: Evergreen Market
We had planned to leave the Seattle area today and head east toward Colorado, but we just fell in love with The Great Northwest and decided to stick around a while longer. There is simply too much to see and do here – and so the marijuana retail shops are amazing!
After last week’s fun hiking in the woods, Tiffany and I hoped to drop our fishing line in the river. We heard that coho salmon were biting like crazy and there is nothing better than fresh fish while camping in our RV. We made an early morning stop at REI and while in the camping section ran into Lanell. Tiffany met Lannell and they spent quite a time talking about outdoor cooking recipes and then on the topic of reading. Turns out Lannell works at a weed shop in Seattle called Evergreen.
Later in the day we swung by Evergreen to check it out. Lannell was starting a late-afternoon shift and the store was full of people. We noticed that they take their time with customers to really help them understand the products and what they do. Of course, when we chatted with Lannell, it was another round of recipes and how to cook with cannabis for those nights under the stars. Tiffany has found a new friend.
Visit the Evergreen Market:
The Evergreen Market has two South Sound locations:
409 Rainier Ave North
Renton, WA 98057
402 16th St NE A 100
Auburn, WA 98002
Hours for both locations:
Mon.: Wednesday: 9 am – 10 pm.
Thu.: Saturday: 9 am – 11 pm.
Sun: 10 am – 8 pm.
5 Tips On How To Survive The Presidential Debate Like A Boss
It may be more popular than the Super Bowl. It will definitely stir up some feelz fer reelz. It could even help decide the course of our country. Yes, tonight is the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. There is a good chance you will be watching. But whether you are or you aren’t, you’re gonna need some help surviving this super epic moment that will change everything. (Or not.) We are here to help you not get so riled up, to remain chill if you will, and realize that we will get through this. And so, 50 years to the day since the first-ever televised prez debate—between Nixon and Kennedy—here we go. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy-ass ride.
1. Go zen. Try yoga or Buddhism. Something. Clear your mind. There are many, many benefits to engaging regularly in yoga, and the smarty pants at Harvard Medical School have documented them. Personally, I might just hang out in Downward Facing Log until this is all over.
2. Split town. We all know Airbnb can be a great and affordable way to explore the world. And what better time to turn off, tune out, and get the F outta here. The good folks at Refinery29 have helpfully put together this list of 44 highly interesting Airbnbs, from which you can decide not to think about what it all means.
3. Smoke out. One way to almost guarantee you will not want to think about what it all means is to get so freakin’ high that all you want to do is eat insane state fair foods and hit the burrito sauna. Toward that end, here are five strains of marijuana that will, apparently, “melt your mind.” Once it is unmelted, you will likely feel better about the state of our political discourse.
4. Listen up. Have you heard Chris Gethard’s podcast ‘Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People?’ It’s beautiful. You will probably dig it.
5. Write this. I once wrote a list of things I love in the world. And stuff I wanted to try. Even just writing that stuff down made me feel better. The first ten things on my list were:
1. Make a stranger laugh. 2. Give your kid(s) an extra hug and kiss. 3. Donate time or money or both to a good cause. 4. Find a rose and literally stop and smell it. 5. Wear exciting socks. 6. Wear exciting underwear. 7. Start a new creative project–even if it’s just a single sentence. 8. Tell someone you love them. 9. Buy a book from an independent book store. 10. Eat delicious cheese (or delicious bread — sup, vegans!).
What’s on your list?
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Problem Pup: Woman Stabbed By Her Dog in Hudson, NY
By all accounts, Mia the dog is a good dog. “She’s lovable,” her owner Celinda Haynes said. “She’ll kill you with kindness.” That’s undoubtedly true. It’s also true she stabbed Haynes with a freshly sharpened kitchen knife last week.
KDVR reports that the incident began when Mia, a tall dog who appears to be a mutt, grabbed a pairing knife from Haynes’s kitchen counter with her mouth. Haynes tried to get Mia to drop the knife by giving her treats, but things didn’t go exactly as planned.
“When [Mia] went over to eat the treat, she ran the knife across my arm and cut a big old gash about four 4 inches long,” Haynes told KDVR.
Nurses at Platte Valley Medical Center in Hudson, Co., were naturally a bit suspicious, so they called the local Marshal’s office. “When dispatch said that there was a person who was stabbed by a dog, I had to make sure I heard that correctly,” Deputy Zach Johnson said. “Of course, my initial thought was what’s really going on here.”
Fortunately for everyone, there was no crime other than a good and tall dog trying to play. “Obviously, we’re not charging Mia with anything because she’s a dog,” Johnson said.
Posted By: Taylor Berman
The Fresh Toast: Who Are We?
Pull up and chair and let us tell you a story.
Last summer a single southern guy realized the world needed some more laughter, more music and a fresh look at cannabis.
Yes, cannabis, the much maligned, but quickly-becoming-legal-plant that over 45 million people in North America use every year. We found that some of our friends sneak to acquire it in order to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain and disease, while others wax nostalgic about their experiences with the herb in college. We found that so many people are confused about marijuana today, and those who were confused often remained silent about the topic.
Whether or not you believe cannabis is a miracle drug is up to you, but at the very least we know that it is helpful. Our Highway and Rx sections help consumers to understand today’s marijuana and how to use it. We are lucky to have some great experts in medicinal cannabis who aim to clearly and concisely bring honest information to the public.
But The Fresh Toast is more than cannabis. Everyone needs to have fun, so we have packed the site with loads of cheeky information and giggles: food, drink, pop culture, sex, and much more.
The Fresh Toast wants to create smiles and spur conversation. We aren’t political—there is more than enough of that right now. We want to build community.
As our journey progressed, Eric Snow joined as CTO/COO and now President, building the site and company. Then along came Kelly Barbieri, our Editor-in-Chief, who is helping to build content you can enjoy and learn from every day.
We have a great team of writers, editors, photo wizards, and tech and sales masters, along with a variety of backers from a wide range of industries, backgrounds, and, yes, even political persuasions.
Our hope is you will explore The Fresh Toast and savor it each morning with your first cup of coffee—or whatever helps you wake up. And don’t be selfish, share the good stuff with your friends.
Thank you so much for reading!
JJ McKay
Publisher, The Fresh Toast
