Page 25 – The Fresh Toast

The Best Hydrating Cocktails For A Hot Weekend

Anthony Washington

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June 21, 2024

The Best Hydrating Cocktails For A Hot Weekend

What can you do – the heat is raging but you want a cold cocktail – here are some of the best to keep you semi-hydrated

The temperatures are soaring, but it is still summer – time for beach trips, parties poolside and bbq. You want a cocktail, but you have to be careful about dehydration. Here are the best hydrating cocktails for a hot weekend. Alcohol will dehydrate you some – but here are some better choices. And try to drink a glass of water for every drink you have.

Coffee, tea and energy drinks are to be avoided. According to the Mayo Clinic, “As a chemical, caffeine increases production of urine, which means caffeine is a diuretic.” Which means the espresso martini is definitely a no no. Also, beer is consumed in larger volumes, which may give a false sense of hydration.

Vodka & Soda

The best, hydrating drink in the heat is a vodka with club soda and fruit. The minerals in the club soda are hydrating and vodka has fewer amounts of byproducts making it less likely to lead to major dehydration or a hangover.

Ingredients

1 part vodka
1 part soda
Ice
Lime or lemon for garnish

Create

Fill glass with ice
Add vodka and soda
Garnish and enjoy

Gin Negroni

Gin was the drink for the British in the heat of tropics. This refresh drink can also be a delight to your system. The grapefruit Negroni sticks with gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, but it tweaks the ratio, calling for more gin and less Campari. This adjustment yields a less bitter drink than the original.

Ingredients

2 peeled ruby red grapefruit segments (or 1 ounce fresh ruby red grapefruit juice)
1 1/2 ounces gin
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce Campari
Garnish: long, wide swath of grapefruit peel

Create

Squeeze the grapefruit segments into a shaker and drop in the fruit (or add fresh juice)
Add the gin, sweet vermouth and Campari to the shaker with ice, and shake until well-chilled
Place ice in a rocks glass and curl the grapefruit peel around the inside of the glass
Strain into the prepared glass

Pink Gin Spritz

The Gin & Tonic is the classic drink of the hot, humid, envoricemewnt. Originally made to hide the taste of quinine, the power was mined with soda and sugar, creating tonic water. And then they mixed it with gin. Here is a fun update for a hot day for you – something summer, fresh and a delight!

Ingredients

1 oz Pink gin
1 oz Tonic
2 oz Prosecco
1 Strawberry
1 Mint sprig
Ice

Create

Muddle strawberry in a glass
Fill glass with ice
Add gin and tonic
As splash of Prosecco
Garnish with mint

The Oaks Lily

The cocktail hero at Churchill Downs during the heat, the Oaks Lily is a great replacement to the heavy mint julep. The juice is good for your system and the taste is easy without being too sweet.

Ingredients

1 ounce vodka
½ ounce orange liqueur
½ ounce simple syrup (See Notes)
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
3 ounces cranberry juice
Lemon wedges, for serving
Fresh blackberries, for serving

Create

Fill a Collins or highball glass with ice
Add vodka, orange liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and cranberry juice
Stir to combine
Garnish with a lemon wedge and a fresh blackberry

Remember to be careful on your consumption and drink plenty of water. Have a great summer.

Floridians Worried About Governor Leaking Health Info

Terry Hacienda

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June 20, 2024

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Floridians Worried About Governor Leaking Health Info

In a shocking surprise…medical marijuana patients, including veterans, may have had their information leaked thanks to the Governor.

Florida voters have overwhelmingly approved of marijuana use in the sunshine state. In the first election for medical marijuana, over 60% of citizens voted yes. Governor DeSantis said too bad. In the second vote, the approve vote was 71% and the Governor said the public didn’t understand and he slow rolled it out. Now he is working on trying to block a third vote for recreational. But the latest action has left citizens stunned, now Floridans worried about governor leaking health info for an email campaign.

Science, the American Medical Association and the federal Health and Human Services department all agree cannabis can benefit patients with a variety of ailments. Medical marijuana is recognized as a treatment for PTSD, chronic pain, cancer and more. More research will unlock additional information about the plant, but it is a good start and is one of the basis for rescheduling. HIPAA is law passed in 1996 aimed to alter the transfer of healthcare information, stipulated the guidelines by which personally identifiable information maintained by the healthcare and healthcare insurance industries should be protected from fraud and theft. Somewhere it slipped in Florida.

Governor DeSantis Wants It Both Ways On Marijuana — Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Florida’s Department of Health recently emailed nearly 700,000 medical marijuana patients, praising Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. The email promoted achievements of the governor and how it helps them. This is despite is overwhelming opposition not to just recreational cannabis use and legalization, but also the original law which allowed them be prescribed medical marijuana.

The email also praised a cancer research program promoted by first lady Casey DeSantis, listed health issues like HIV, hepatitis and syphilis that are in the spending plan and gave a message from Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that he and DeSantis are “advancing public health and personal responsibility in Florida.”

Medical marijuana patients and advocates say the DeSantis administration violated their privacy by using the patient list to promote policy.

“That is revolting. That is really such a misuse of power and information,” said state Rep. Kelly Skidmore, the ranking Democrat on the House Health Policy Committee.

The Department of Health said it didn’t single out medical marijuana patients, but rather sent the budget statement to everyone in its email databases apparently to promote the Governor and First Lady.

Marijuana and Mysticism

Sarah Johns

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June 20, 2024

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It is the summer solstice, a time to connect with the earth, the sun, and maybe a special plant…

Around the world people will be connecting with Mother Earth for the summer solstice. Some in humankind feel the pull to connect with the earth, the spirits, the sun and maybe a special plant. At Stonehenge crowds congregate since the famous site was built to align with the sun on the solstices; it’s believed that people have gathered here to mark the summer solstice for thousands of years. The only alcohol is allowed other than ceremonial mead, but gummies could be a different story. Seattle celebrates with painted naked people riding the streets. The Danish believe the summer solstice is when witches make their way to the Brocken and create huge bonfires. In Colombia, locals dress as devils, with hundreds of teeny bells on their legs, who represent evil. They wear mirrors on their backs to harness the power of the sun on the longest day of the year. The ritual represents the fight between God and the Devil. Celebrations have gone one for hundreds of years and cannabis has usually been part of the rituals. So what about marijuana and mysticism.

Cannabis has been used for mystical and spiritual purposes across various cultures and religions for centuries. Its psychoactive properties have allowed users to experience altered states of consciousness, facilitating introspection, transcendence, and a sense of unity with the divine or the cosmos.

The entheogenic (psychoactive substance used in a religious context) use of cannabis can be traced back to ancient civilizations in the Indian subcontinent, where it was revered as a sacred plant in Hinduism and incorporated into spiritual rituals and practices. The ancient Vedic texts, such as the Atharvaveda, mention the use of cannabis for its mind-altering effects and its ability to induce a state of heightened awareness and spiritual enlightenment.

In ancient China, cannabis was also used by Taoist priests and shamans for divinatory purposes and to facilitate communication with spirits. Archaeological evidence suggests that cannabis was burned in braziers during rituals, and ancient Chinese texts describe its ability to produce visions and a sense of lightness or levitation when consumed over an extended period.

Cannabis has played a significant role in various mystical traditions around the world, including Sufism, Rastafarianism, and certain indigenous practices. In Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, cannabis was sometimes used as a means to achieve a state of spiritual ecstasy and heightened awareness, facilitating a deeper connection with the divine.

The Rastafari movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, embraces the spiritual and sacramental use of cannabis, known as “the wisdom weed” or “the holy herb.” Rastafarians believe that cannabis enhances their spiritual consciousness and brings them closer to the divine presence of Jah (God).

Indigenous cultures in the Americas, such as the Huichol people of Mexico and certain Native American tribes, have also incorporated cannabis into their spiritual practices and rituals, using it to induce visions, facilitate communication with spirits, and achieve a state of transcendence.

In recent decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in the mystical and spiritual aspects of cannabis use, particularly within the context of the psychedelic renaissance and the growing acceptance of plant-based medicines and .

Some modern spiritual movements, such as the Cantheism philosophy, have emerged, embracing the inherent religious nature of human interaction with the cannabis plant and its potential for facilitating spiritual experiences and personal growth.

While the scientific understanding of cannabis’s effects on consciousness and spirituality is still limited, anecdotal accounts and historical evidence suggest that the plant has played a significant role in various mystical and religious traditions worldwide, offering users a means to explore altered states of consciousness, transcend the boundaries of the self, and connect with the divine or the cosmic.

It is important to note that the legal status and cultural acceptance of cannabis for spiritual or religious purposes vary greatly across different regions and belief systems, and its use should be approached with caution and respect for local laws and traditions.

Watching Porn Can Lead To Three Relationship Issues

Amy Hansen

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June 20, 2024

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Watching Porn Can Lead To Three Relationship Issues

Despite being almost outlawed in some states…porn is still very popular. But watch out if you are in a relationship!

Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Utah and Virginia have all outlawed Pornhub…but it is still the 10th most visited site visited in the US and Canada. When it happens, there is a surge in demand for virtual private network (VPN) services. Texas alone had a 234% increase the day after a new state law took effect. Porn has been around for thousands of years and before a mass produced bible, there were massed produced naughty pictures. Some 66% of men watch vs 39% women, leading it to be another male centric industry. But, to much watching porn can lead to three relationship issues.

Porn has morphed significantly in the last 20 years. From print and “in person” video places and strip joints to online. And since 2019, OnlyFans, where anyone can not only upload homemade videos, they can monetize it. The era of “authenticity” is here including all body shape and interests. While there has been significant research on the effects porn, a study reported from Psychology Today argues when porn is pervasive or becomes key in a person’s life, it could produce major problems.

Sexual Satisfaction

According to a study, the more someone view porn, the more they need to be satisfied. Surveying over 1,500 young adults, it concluded despite the outside factors and gender, even infrequent use of porn leads to some sexual dissatisfaction. Consuming large quantities can create false expectations for everyone involved, making them think actual, in person sex, works just as it does in porn. To help with this, limit the amount of viewing.

Loneliness

Loneliness makes people turn to porn, and porn makes people more lonely, creating a two way relationship in which, no matter the order, each factor influences the other. A research that surveyed over 1,247 participants found porn use was significantly related to loneliness. Single men watched more porn than any other group, and loneliness could lead to porn addiction. These people who feel lonely turn to porn, which offers momentary relief but that later reinforces their feelings of being alone.

Relationship Stability

Another study conducted over 2,000 married individuals showed results suggest porn is capable of causing relationship breakups. People who started watching porn after entering a relationship had an 11% chance of a breakup compared to the 6% chance of non viewers of porn. These rates were much higher for younger people, where half of the 20 year olds ended up splitting.

Of course, all of this information is correlational. You can’t say with certainty watching porn means you’ll face all of these problems, but studies prove there’s some form of relationship between porn and stress, even if they can’t pinpoint the cause. It is always key to approach this with clear understanding between reality and fantasy.

Some Congressional Candidates Support Marijuana

Terry Hacienda

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June 19, 2024

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Some Congressional Candidates Support Marijuana

It used to be the thing to prevent marijuana use

Roughly 65% of Congress members are white men around 60 or older who grew up supporting the war on drugs. One of the leaders of the Senate is Mitch McConnell, who prides himself for stopping any positive marijuana legislation and bragging about his nickname Darth Vader. But time are changing, especial the last major election cycle. Since then, over 50% of the population have full access to legal marijuana and 24 states have been raking in extra tax revenue thanks to consumer sales. And now some congressional candidates support marijuana, openly.

Up until the 2000s, it was normal for candidates to be anti-drugs, down on marijuana and, sometimes, hiding their personal use. But with the wave of state legalizations, most modern and under 60 (with a couple of exceptions) have a more open and practical mind. Especially since of Veteran Affairs has become more open. Their new policy is veterans participating in a state-sanctioned medical marijuana program will not be denied benefits.

One modern candidate is Lucas Kunce (D-M)) who is running for the Senate. With six million residents, it is the 18th most populated in the country. Yet, the state hit $1 billion in sales. Kunce recognizes it and is pushing for national legalization, including a sign up on his campaign page.

Indiana Fifth Congressional District candidate Raju Chinthal is also promoting a national campaign.

Maine’s Jared Golden has been an advocate for cannabis-related matters.

Elise Slotkin in Michigan states on her campaign site. “I strongly believe that for this matter, voters should be able to decide…I support the use of medical marijuana…I also support the decriminalization of marijuana.”

No surprise in California in the tight 47th district race candidate Dave Min is pro marijuana. He voted yes for the state to legalize marijuana.

In New York, Mondaire Jones has openly supported marijuana and doesn’t seem to have a hand in the NY State mess.

And in Pennsylvania, Matt Cartwright has been supportive.

Legal cannabis is no longer a public no no, 85% of the country (and voters), believe it should be legal in some form. But like other issues, Congress doesn’t always listen to the public.

The Kennedys Are The Most Famous Weed Gardeners

Amy Hansen

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June 19, 2024

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The Kennedys Are The Most Famous Weed Gardeners

Nationally famous for the White House Rose Garden, it also seems the Kennedy had another, special garden!

The Kennedys are a storied political family which fascinates some. His time in office was dubbed Camelot, evoking utopian ideals and high hopes. King Arthur and his knights are supposed to be pure-hearted, chivalrous, and endlessly courageous. In the same way, the Kennedy administration is sometimes remembered as a period of optimism, expanding opportunities, and humanitarian goals. JFK’s spouse, Jackie, was seen as a symbol of beauty, grace and good taste. One of her legacies was the White House Rose Garden. But it seems another legacy may be the Kennedys are the most famous weed gardeners.

JFK was seen as a young, viral president, but in reality, he was in chronic pain from his WWII injuries. He then met Max Jacobson, later dubbed as “Dr. Feelgood.” From there his journey to treating his back injuries and managing the difficulty in moving would be helped at times from marijuana, then illegal. The war on drugs was in the future, but finding good cannabis was still a challenge.

Kathy McKeon, the former first lady’s assistant from 1964 to 1977, wrote a book and included an snippet about the secret garden in in the Kennedy’s compound during his presidency. The books is coming-of-age memoir by a young woman who spent thirteen years as Jackie Kennedy’s personal assistant and occasional nanny—and the lessons about life and love she learned from the glamorous first lady. She was a fan of the Kennedys and they helped shape her life.

While at the compound, she was curious about a certain discreet flower patch. She went to investigate and “That’s when it hit me”. She went to find Jack Dempsey, the retired Cape Cod police chief who often hung out at the Secret Service trailer. McKeon goes to tell Dempsey what he suspected. The two of them trekked back to the secret garden and that is when the former police chief confirmed the hunch, marijuana.

McKeon shared with Jackie Kennedy. A surprised Jackie allowed the Secret Service agents pull out the plants from the secret garden.

Cannabis has been used for an over a millenia to treat all sorts of medical issues. JFK was lucky, in some ways, to options for treatment must citizens could only access in the last 10 years.

Do You Know The Marijuana Emoji

Anthony Washington

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June 18, 2024

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It is the modern version of hieroglyphics and they have taken over written communication, but do you know what is used as a sub for marijuana?

Humans have used images to represent thoughts, feelings, actions and more since almost the beginning of mankind. From the French cave drawings to the Egyptian hieroglyphics, history is littered with picture codes. After having fallen out for centuries, it has come roaring back with emojis. And just to be clear, they only entered the world in 1999. If you are 25, you have always lived in a world with emojis. But do you know the marijuana emoji? It is a bit of a secret for those in the know.

Almost immediately, users begin coming up with a secret language using the clear emojis to mean other things. The peach, eggplant, raindrops, truck, and hammer all quickly were swept into a private language which has become mainstream. Coupling emojis together reads like an ancient tablet, and can be quite a story if you know what it means.

Since there is no marijuana emoji and Apple seems not to be premiering one soon. This despite having a glass of bourbon, a martini, champagne glasses, wine, a champagne bottle in more…and little gummy or plant is not on the timeline. While there are a few contenders, the broccoli emoji is the winner. The herb, the potted plant and the leaf fluttering in the wind are among the others, but broccoli is the most commonly used.

When it comes to most used in general, love overcomes weed. Smiling Face with Heart Eyes is the second most popular (behind the favorite Face with Tears of Joy), followed by Face Blowing a Kiss, with a simple heart emoji the fourth most-popular.

Roughly 95% of Internet users have used an emoji and over 10 billion emojis are sent daily. While the gun is no longer an option,here are over 3,019 official emojis. The Unicode Consortium approves the new emojis and are responsible for your selection.

Do You Want A Smell To Go With Watching Porn

Sarah Johns

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June 18, 2024

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Do You Want A Smell To Go With Watching Porn

People are always pushing the edge – and VR is helping…but do you want to add a smell experience when watching porn?

It is a massive industry, globally raking in $287 billion dollars. Pornhub is the 6th most visited site behind Google, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, and Wikipedia. And ahead of Reddit, Amazon, TikTok and more. It has been around for a millennia and it seems to be very popular. But one company has added a new twist. The big question is do you want a smell to go with watching porn?

CamSoda has followed the candle craze. It seems everyone sells scented candles to make every room in your house smell like pine, vanilla, croissant, woodsy sage and more. Even Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop jumped in with a very price vagina candle.

For those who have a virtual reality headset and use it to watch porn, there is good news. If you want an aromatic realistic experience, CamSoda has a product called OhRoma, which is a mask connected to your VR headset allowing you to smell what is happening on screen.

Now You Can Smell Sex When You Watch Porn — Photo by Flickr user Nan Palmero

“Just as a user sees, hears and feels in their 360-degree virtual surroundings while wearing their headset, with OhRoma they can now smell them too!” the company writes on its website. They offer 6 different categories including private parts and body odors.

Of course, you have to purchase the equipment and subscribe, but you have a variety of options including some live cams.

What do they really smell like? When they launched, the staff of Mic.com received a sample of “private parts” and passed it around their office. While two people correctly guessed “vagina,” most people were way off. Some of the other answers included “wet dog,” “old books,” “soap,” “mildew,” and “dirty socks.”

Going back to the original question, if this is something you want, there is a VR world waiting for you.

Haters Trying To Stop Cannabis Rescheduling

Terry Hacienda

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June 18, 2024

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Haters Trying To Stop Cannabis Rescheduling

Despite science, the AMA and public opinion – there is still a group trying to squash marijuana legalization.

Marijuana has been around for a millennia, providing not only a some chill, but clear medical benefits. Now, the plant is emerging from a 110+ public ban and is being rediscovered as a help to greater mankind. Recreationally, it is better both physically and mentally for the body over alcohol. And in health care it can help cancer, chronic pain and more. This is known with just the beginning of research. But there is always a group who ignores common sense and become the haters trying to stop cannabis rescheduling are a being a bit silly and out of touch.

The slow moving Biden administration has finally pushed rescheduling, recognizing the plant for not being as dangerous as heroin and having clear scientific health benefits. Science, the Health and Human Services (HHS), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and veteran organizations all acknowledge the importance of legal cannabis. But the resistance is there, including former US Attorney General Bill Barr and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The law firm Bill Barr started, Torridon Law PLLC filled a motion on part of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) to extend the public comment window. The DEA, formerly under Barr, has been slow and somewhat resistant to giving up the war on marijuana. By delaying the process, it gives them more time to lobby or hope for a change in administration.

SAM has worked with Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-NC) to try to put a stop on it with Edwards introducing a bill called the “Stop Pot Act” which failed. They continue to fundraise and work to keep marijuana from falling into the hands of patients.

Another one fighting change is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The governor made his citizen vote overwhelming twice to have medical marijuana and still said they were confused. Now, with polling saying a large majority of the state wants recreational, he is at it again. Despite taking money from the industry, the former presidential candidate is using scare tactics and trying to find ways to stop fully legal weed.

Can Marijuana Help You Build Confidence

Sarah Johns

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June 18, 2024

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Everyone gets nervous and loses their confidence at some point – can marijuana help build itup?

Data suggests about 85% of the world suffers from a self confidence crisis or low self esteem at some point. Loss of confidence can cause or increase feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety, anger, shame or guilt. Extended periods or focusing too heavy on it can lead to depression and anxiety. But can marijuana help you building self confidence?

Causes of low self-esteem range from an unhappy childhood where parents (or other significant people such as teachers) were extremely critical, poor academic performance in school, a breakup, financial trouble, or some other reason. But there are ways you can actively combat it and marijuana could be one option in the tool box.

Studies have shown low self-esteem respondents were more likely than high self-esteem respondents to report becoming less inhibited, more sociable when high. Done in the right dosage, like microdosing, it can take the edge off of situation which can impact your self esteem.

The main compound in cannabis—tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are linked with potential therapeutic effects for anxiety. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis, which makes you feel the “high” when you smoke weed, for instance. In the right dose, THC is linked with feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and sociability. This helps relieve anxiety, giving some short term ability to change lifestyle habits like attending an event, relaxed chatting with new people, public speaking and trying new things. This could be part of a bigger pattern helping you build a strong sense of self and confidence.

Marijuana tends to releases endorphins which make you feel happy, relaxed and high. This can help provide a tool to make positive change in attitude and lifestyle. The change can pave the wave for a better future. It is always good to see it as one tool toward a fresh mindset and not a singular crutch, there is rarely, if ever, a silver bullet which will make everything better.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

The Best Hydrating Cocktails For A Hot Weekend

What can you do – the heat is raging but you want a cold cocktail – here are some of the best to keep you semi-hydrated

Vodka & Soda

Gin Negroni

Pink Gin Spritz

The Oaks Lily

Floridians Worried About Governor Leaking Health Info

In a shocking surprise…medical marijuana patients, including veterans, may have had their information leaked thanks to the Governor.

Marijuana and Mysticism

It is the summer solstice, a time to connect with the earth, the sun, and maybe a special plant…

Watching Porn Can Lead To Three Relationship Issues

Despite being almost outlawed in some states…porn is still very popular. But watch out if you are in a relationship!

Sexual Satisfaction

Loneliness

Relationship Stability

Some Congressional Candidates Support Marijuana

It used to be the thing to prevent marijuana use

The Kennedys Are The Most Famous Weed Gardeners

Nationally famous for the White House Rose Garden, it also seems the Kennedy had another, special garden!

Do You Know The Marijuana Emoji

It is the modern version of hieroglyphics and they have taken over written communication, but do you know what is used as a sub for marijuana?

Do You Want A Smell To Go With Watching Porn

People are always pushing the edge – and VR is helping…but do you want to add a smell experience when watching porn?

Haters Trying To Stop Cannabis Rescheduling

Despite science, the AMA and public opinion – there is still a group trying to squash marijuana legalization.

Can Marijuana Help You Build Confidence

Everyone gets nervous and loses their confidence at some point – can marijuana help build itup?

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