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Marathons and Marijuana

Marathons are the pinnacle of the running world.  They are tough, expensive and can take a toil on the body – but can cannabis help?

Roughly 1.2 million people participate in marathons each year.  It is an endurance sport which makes demands on your body and mind.  Running the 26 miles 385 yards is both grueling and exhilarating. People travel to Chicago, Paris, Rome, New York and Boston for marathons for the rush they receive upon completion.

The “runner’s high” is no myth as the hormonal aspect of marathon running plays a big role in why people participate. Running is known for giving athletes a rush of endorphins, and crossing the finish line after an hours long race can be described by some as euphoric.  Can a combined marathon and marijuana be better? While it is prohibited by office and there is a chance for a test, training is the longer journey.

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

The concept of smoking marijuana before going on a run might sound misaligned to some, but many who engage in this popular form of exercise claim the herb allows them to be “more present,” and makes the miles of roadwork more enjoyable. The run, the play list, and cannabis can help the mind during the journey. It can also play a role in recovery.

Marathons and Marijuana
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The mindfulness some find with the usage of weed can create an even more enjoyable headspace while running. This can result in more of a motivational drive to run farther and longer.  You will want to do a trial and error to make sure you hit the perfect head space.

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Once the race is over, there is another rough part, the recovery.  Cannabis is known for being anti-inflammatory, which is key for your body after harsh event. It is also muscle relaxer, which can help reduce pain or muscle spasms after the event.

Th legend of the Athenian courier Pheidippides, who in 490BC ran from the site of the battle of marathon to Athens with the message of Nike (‘Victory’) before promptly collapsing and dying. The ancient Greeks used cannabis in their medicine, religion, and recreation.

Around 2500 years later the idea of recreating the run hit Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympics. A 40km marathon was held at the first inaugural Modern Games in Athens in 1896 as Greek water-carrier Spyridon Louis struck gold in a time of 2:58:50 to launch the marathon phenomenon. The Boston Marathon was started shortly afterwards.

Marathons are a symbol human drive, determination, and spirit, and cannabis, done right, can help with all.

Can CBD Help Athlete’s Foot

Around 15% to 25% of people are likely to have athlete’s foot – it is stubborn thing to get rid of, but maybe CBD can help

You don’t have to be a runner or a jock to get it, athlete’s foot can happen to any feet! It  occurs when a certain fungus grows on the skin of your feet. The same fungus may also grow on other parts of the body. However, the feet are most commonly affected, especially between the toes. Athlete’s foot is the most common type of tinea infection.

Many wellness companies would like people to believe that most of these conditions can be successfully treated with CBD. Still, the compound has a lot of promise for treating several key issues, such as chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and more.

A study published in the Journal of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics found the compound even has anti-fungal properties which could potential treat conditions such as athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is uncomfortable, but generally not concerning, use patients have diabetes or compromised immune systems.

RELATED: 5 Most Common Questions About CBD Topicals

Can CBD Help Athlete's Foot
Photo by Brodie Vissers via Burst

These conditions are also usually hard to treat with over-the-counter medications. People who have the most success usually catch these infections early and rely on prescription medication in order to successfully treat them.

CBD is big when it comes to treating skin conditions, especially if you’re using full spectrum products. Since the broad effects of CBD haven’t been fully studied, there’s no way of knowing which part of the compound is best at managing skin conditions and controlling infections. When using full spectrum products, you ensure the terpenes and cannabinoids present in the extracts are also there, producing cannabis’ entourage effect.

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There are no known side effects associated with the topical use of CBD, which means it’s relatively low risk if you’re looking to supplement the medication you normally use to treat fungi infections. In order to be as successful as possible, make sure to document your progress, including before and after photos, and be diligent. Jot down the product(s) you use, and how much of it you apply to your skin. This will be especially helpful, should you decide to see a dermatologist at some point.

Besides the National Institute of Health’s study highlighting CBD’s potent antifungal properties, another study points to the effectiveness of cannabis as an effective alternative to antibacterial medications.  It’s important to seek out full-spectrum CBD products since they contain all of the plants’ chemical components, which work in conjunction with one another to help the body address a wide range of imbalances, including ones leading to infections.

Being A Couch Potato Changes Your Personality

While it is fun and mentally needed at times…but real couch potato personalities change and not necessarily for the better.

According to WHO, a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of chronic conditions including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and more. It can also affect your mental health and increase the risk of depression and anxiety.  Being isolated from regular people interesting can not only make your more boring, being couch potato changes your personality.

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

A French study, the largest of its kind, reveals something that will likely send shivers down the lazy spines of every inactive person. Researchers, using data on over 9,000 volunteers over two decades, found sedentary people in their experiment showed marked changes in character.

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A team led by psychologist Yannick Stephan of the University of Montpellier studied participants across the United States and according to Scientific American:

Stephan and his team found that subjects who reported being less active had greater reductions on average in conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness and extroversion—four of the so-called Big Five personality traits—even after accounting for differences in baseline personality and health. No link was found with the fifth trait, neuroticism. The changes in traits were small, but the link with exercise was relatively strong. Physical activity predicted personality change better than disease burden did, for example.

“Personality is, in part, what [behaviors] we repeatedly do, and changes in habits can consolidate into changes in personality,” epidemiologist Markus Jokela of the University of Helsinki told SA.

Related: Cannabis Users Exercise Much More Than You Think

These findings support earlier evidence of adopting a sedentary lifestyle will make you less prone to new experiences and less conscientious in general.

As SA explains, “Additional factors, such as genetics or earlier life events, might be affecting both exercise levels and personality,” but it does support the notion personality is linked to health.

Not being couch potato doesn’t mean running the Tough Mudder annually, but it does mean getting out, doing things and meeting new people. And exposing your mind to new ideas, concepts and flavors….outsde of what you see on a screen.

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So while exercise may not always seem like the most fun option in your day, it’s necessary if you want to be the kind of person who works hard and accomplishes life goals. Also, let’s acknowledge there’s a difference between being a couch potato and someone who’s enjoying a little R&R at the end of the day. Being on the couch streaming The Gilded Age, The Expanse, or another favorite show is perfectly ok, as long you don’t do it for weeks at a time.

What You Need To Know About Drug Tests

Roughly 1.47% of US job postings mention required pre-employment drug tests and only 0.66% mention regular drug testing.

The good news is only about 1.47% of US job postings mention required pre-employment drug tests and only 0.66% mention regular drug testing. Yet, a majority of large companies, airlines, and some state and the federal governments still require testing.  Here is what you need to know about drug tests.

A urine test is the prevalent form of pre-employment drug testing. Hair testing has a longer detection window for drug use spanning up to 90 days. Oral fluid testing is 100% observed, making it difficult for employees to cheat, dilute, or adulterate the test. This test can also be collected on-site, reducing costs and time.

The most common is a a urine drug test which looks for any traces of substance abuse. The procedure is quick and painless, as simply requires you to provide your urine as a sample for the test. Using this sample, your urine can be tested for alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, opioids (narcotics), PCP, and benzodiazepines.

However, it’s not all about that because there are also certain policies which protect the privacy of the tested person. Nevertheless, if you are required to take a drug test by a potential employer or for any other reason, it’s important you know what to expect from the procedure.

Types Of Urine Drug Tests

Today, there are two different types of urine drug tests. Immunoassay is the first test type which is a cost-effective drug test yielding quick results. There are, however, drawbacks to using this kind of urine test. The test sometimes gives out a false positive result, wherein the test brings a positive result for drugs even if the person is not taking any drugs. This is due to medicinal residue left in the system that can trigger drug tests in numerous ways. When this happens, you’ll have to retake the test.

RELATED: CBD Might Not Cause You To Fail a Drug Test, But CBN Might

If the drug test comes out positive and you deny using any drugs, you’ll be required to take the second urine drug test type known as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The second test uses the same urine specimen as the first test. These tests are usually more expensive and could take longer to produce test results. On the plus side they rarely give out any false positives.

Taking The Urine Test

No matter what drug you’re testing for, the process in urine test is as the same as taking it through drug testing kits. Since these test kits may be used at home, you can take the test anywhere you’re comfortable or most convenient in, such as a doctor’s clinic, hospital, workplace, or even your own home.

RELATED: The Crazy Crap People Do To Pass A Drug Test

Photo by 400tmax/Getty Images

The following tests are to be followed:

  • You will receive a specimen cup from the person administering the test
  • You will have to leave behind your belongings in another room as you take the test. There are some instances wherein you may be required to change into a hospital gown so you can easily take the test.
  • To make sure that you don’t try to skew the test results, a nurse or a technician may accompany you into the bathroom.
  • Before starting, make sure to clean your genital area with the provided moist cloth.
  • Start urinating into the toilet, as you would normally do.
  • While you are urinating, make sure to catch sample into the cup midstream. Don’t let the cup touch your genital area.
  • When done, put a lid on the cup. Bring it to the technician so it can be processed.

Test Results

Once you have supplied your specimen sample, the technician or nurse will inform you of when your test results will be available. With the use of an Immunoassay test, you should be able to get your results right away. In the event that your test results to positive for illegal drugs you haven’t taken make sure you request for a GC/MS test right away.

Tips To Help Stop Overreacting To Everything

Sometimes, we overreact. It happens to everyone. Here are tips to reduce overreactions

Everyone overreacts at times. You get caught up in an immediate, instinctual emotional response, and do or say things which we later regret.   Every person is different, but if your freak outs are frequent, it might be time to do something about it. While it’s always a good idea to talk to an expert, there’s no need to feel crazy or unhealthy. Feeling and honoring your emotions is a good thing, just as long as you’re not impaired by them and you’re not hurting other people.

What matters most in freak outs and overreactions is understanding the catalyst; it’s perfectly reasonable to freak out if you unexpectedly get fired from your job and don’t have enough money to pay rent. Now, screaming and crying because of a jammed door? That’s overreacting.

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Here are five things you can do to avoid overreactions and manage your emotions during stressful times.

Understand what bugs you

We all have triggers, even if we don’t know what they are. Try to think about what bugs you, and moments when people have really annoyed you. Keep these mind, write them down, and try to think about your feelings in the particular moment. Were you hungry, sleepy or had had a stressful day? All of this contributes to overreactions. The next time one of your trigger pops up, you might still feel peeved, but you’ll be better equipped to deal with it in a healthier way.

Implement a 10 second rule

If you can, try to step away from the situation and take a breather. Count to 10 and think before you act. “By allowing yourself some time to reassess before reacting, you will increase the ability to prevent yourself from overreacting and doing something you’ll regret,” psychologist L.A. Barlow tells Bustle.

RELATED: Science Tells Us Why Being Stressed Out Make Us Sick

burnout is now an official medical condition
Photo via rawpixel.com

Deep breaths are a cliche but they work

Before you do anything which might make you feel stressed out or emotional, take a deep breath and be mindful of your situation. Once you’re actually facing something stressful and triggering, take another deep breath. This will slow you down and oxygenate your brain, giving you a few seconds to think of something more thoughtful and positive than to walk away or start screaming.

Rationalize

Try to separate yourself from the issue and look at things through a more objective lens. “Find a way to be compassionate and avoid personalizing what happened to you,” explains Psychology Today.

Watching for the sweet, relaxing brain tingles. | Photo by
skyNext/Shutterstock.com

Talk it out

A lot of the times we overreact because we’ve been bottling up feelings for a long time, using the first chance we get to open the flood gates and take down everything in our paths. To prevent this try to address issues the minute they bother you, talking about them to a loved one who can provide some perspective or feedback. If you prefer a more private route, you can also write down your feelings in a journal or a piece of paper.

Is New York Promising False Hope To The Marijuana Industry

New York City is the number one city for marijuana sales, but the state’s systems have made it only profitable for the black market.

When New York State voted for full recreational weed in 2021, the industry salivated with the prospects of the market. They thoughtfully crafted a plan to help move existing medical dispensaries to recreational, providing they jump through hoops and spend hundreds of thousands.  With existing population and a huge tourism population, people were willing to invest.  At the last minute, NY changed everything and today there are 23 legal operators and over 1,500 unlicensed dispensaries in NY racking in hundreds of millions a month. And not paying state or city taxes.

Now, is New York promising false hope t the marijuana industry again with the state Supreme Court stepping in?o

RELATED: California or New York, Which Has The Biggest Marijuana Mess

New York City has proven unable to close the unlicensed dispensaries. Giving fines or imposing temporary closures at a rate of 1-2 a week, they recently turned to a unique solution. Rather than focus on expanding legal retailers, they established a policy to punish landlords with hefty fines for allowing unlicensed dispensaries in their building. Whether the landlord knows of the true nature of the business beforehand, is irrelevant. And now it has gotten even messier.

Photo via rawpixel.com

A New York judge approved settling a lawsuit filed by a group of service-disabled veterans. The Court granted the group a provisional license and paved the way for more than 400 provisional licensees to open marijuana dispensaries. The new business owners would have to compete against the existing retailers.  The veterans businesses will be able to finally open after a painful and expensive wait. Most likely they will miss the cash rich holiday season.

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By allowing this group new licenses, the state now has to focus on clearing backlogged provisional licensees as mandated by the court. New applicants will have to wait even longer for licensure. It appears April is the current target for the net way of licensures and it is drawing criticism.

A representative of the New York Cannabis Retail Association told one media outlet 30 members of his association are on the verge of bankruptcy and can’t wait until April. The 1,500 dispensaries are stocked with an estimated $500 million in products.  It seems part of those are from the illicit market, which only increases income for black market.

It has been quickly proven the market has a big demand, but New York will have a long way to go to solve the mess they started and retrain consumer into new purchase patterns.

Cryptocurrency Has Not Changed The Cannabis Industry

It was the buzz of the industry – everyone saw it as an another way to make bank….but it hasn’t worked out

It was the buzz of the marijuana world as legalization become the normal for more states. Everyone wanted to jump on the bandwagon. Cryptocurrency was offered as the answer for dispensaries who couldn’t take mainstream credits. Plus, weed aficionados could make money with “pot coins”. At the time, the industry was flooded with conferences and crypto was a topic on stage and at the wrap around events.  Mainstream and marijuana media ate it up. But, cryptocurrency has not changed the cannabis industry.

The biggest example cyptocurrency isn’t solving any major cannabis industry problem is the excited around the slow-moving Biden administration moving to reschedule and the Senate embracing SAFER Banking.  Both will have a significant impact on the entire industry generating jobs, investment and hope. Together they will create an atmosphere for mom and pop businesses and large operators to have a fair chance at success.

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One of the most high profile boom and bust crypto moments was in 2018. High Time just on the early coin moment and announced they would accept it as a way to invest in their IPO. Days later, theyremoved bitcoin as a payment option for its the yet to happen IPO.

Photo by MichaelWuensch via Pixabay

Multiple firms wanted to exploit a perceived loophole to sell cannabis by credit card. Each company got close and then the effort failed. Posabit, now a specialized point-of-sales system for dispensaries, tried and made it work for a short period. In fact, the site updated its FAQ with a statement, saying “Why is credit card processing illegal? (…) Simple: Cannabis is categorized as a Schedule 1 controlled substance at the federal level, which makes it illegal. This hinders credit payment processors from deliberately working with cannabis businesses.”

Eaze, tried to find a workaround to be able to charge credit cards, by obfuscating the nature of the charges.  Then, Smoakland tried to do the same thing but surrendered when their process partner terminated the relationship.

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“Crypto has not changed the legal cannabis industry. It is not an accepted payment method at dispensaries, and I have not seen vendors using it either. However, crypto is popular for making black market purchases, as it is global and harder to trace.” stated Jesse Redmond, Head of Cannabis for Water Tower Research.

And how are the marijuana crypto companies doing?

PotCoin (POT) is trading at $0.00083517.

Tokes (TKS) is trading at $0.001874.

CannabisCoin (CANN) is trading at $0.004641.

Cryptocurrency has not changed the cannabis industry, but federal action will.

Does A Low Dosage Of Marijuana Help The Libido

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Nothing is more fun than “fun”…and marijuana maybe able to help

Cannabis is known for relaxing, chilling, and making life more pleasurable – in the right amounts. Data results indicated both men and women perceived cannabis use increased their sexual functioning and satisfaction, particularly increased desire and orgasm intensity. The modern medical community recognizes the importance of libido as one of the key indicators of general health and quality of life, and if a little weed could help….

“Several studies have evaluated the effects of marijuana on libido, and it seems changes in desire may be dose dependent,” explain the authors of the review. “Studies support lower doses improve desire but higher doses either lower desire or do not affect desire at all.”

The review surveyed 20 different studies published between 1970 and 2019. “We used the following search terms: ‘cannabinoids,’ ‘endocannabinoids,’ ‘marijuana,’ ‘cannabis,’ and ‘female sexual function’ or ‘sexual function’,” explain the authors.

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

Photo via rawpixel.com

The studies analyzed include 8 researches with animal subjects and 12 with human participants. The animal trials found THC had an effect on female hamsters’ libidos. When they consumed THC, they were more likely to mate. The review also found female hamsters who’d ingested too much THC weren’t as receptive to sex as those who’d consumed lower doses.

As to human studies, we’re still lacking researches conducted with human subjects, so most answers were obtained from questionnaires. Overall, women were more likely to report arousal when consuming marijuana. A study from 1974 revealed 57.8 percent of female college students had higher sex drives due to cannabis. Only 39.9 of male participants reported the same. Another study said women who consume cannabis before having sex were more likely to have pleasurable orgasms when compared to women who didn’t.

RELATED: How Does Cannabis Affect Your Sex Life?

While marijuana’s exact role on sex remains unknown, reviews like this are important, re-contextualizing the information we have and guiding researchers for future studies. More and more data suggests cannabis’ impact on sex is positive, especially when it comes to women.

5 Foods To Energize Your Mornings

Mornings can be a challenge for some people – a little extra natural boost could be helpful!

Not everyone is a morning person – and a mixed couple can make it difficult. Sleep is imperative to health and wellness. However, some people experience residual grogginess upon waking, even after receiving adequate sleep. This phenomenon is known as sleep inertia, and is particularly common in those with alternative sleep schedules. Luckily, here are 5 foods to energize your mornings and help you day to start off right.

While breakfast has been touted as the most important meal of the day, it is now in dispute.  But what is important and data agrees is what you eat which is what makes a key difference. Waiting until your hungry is fine, but supply your body with the materials to build a great day.

Honey

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RELATED: What To Keep In Mind When Using Cannabis To Sleep

Honey is a great morning food, very malleable and delicious. Look for honey products which are 100% natural to avoid additives and chemicals. Honey can be added to almost any breakfast meal, helping avoid sugar in oatmeal or yogurt. It’ll also prevent a sugar crash and leave you with a burst of lasting energy.

Salmon

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Salmon is a typical breakfast food even if it isn’t the first thing which comes to mind when you first wake up in the morning. It’s a meal packing tons of nutrients and vitamins like B12, which fights off fatigue and boosts your energy naturally. Look for simple, easy, recipes containing salmon, it doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s also important to get the habit of eating savory things for breakfast, since these meals tend to be significantly healthier than the more common and sugary alternative.

Oats

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While oats are not the most fun of foods – they’re flakey and taste a little bit like dirt – they are very flexible and can easily transform into something yummy when paired with the right compliments. With some milk, fruits and honey your oats will stop tasting like oats and will transform into a filling dish packed with fiber and antioxidants.

Greek Yogurt

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Many experts believe regular yogurt should be replaced with this alternative. This type of food is easy to eat on the go while also packing healthy carbohydrates, fat and protein. If you have a little more time on your hands, you can compliment your greek yogurt with fruits, oats, cereals, and more, resulting in something more filling and delicious.

Eggs

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Eggs are the most traditional of breakfast foods for a reason. They’re extremely flexible and are rich in proteins and B vitamins, which are a large influence on your enzymes which in turn will be able to break down your energy much more efficiently.

Best Hacks For The Home Marijuana Chef

People are cooking at home more than ever and experimenting. So here are some cannabis tips for when you are in the kitchen

Cooking at home is up with 60% of us cooking at home more than five days a week.  While embracing favorite recipes, some are experiments with new flavors, new styles, new methods – and maybe even cannabis.  To help, here are the best hacks for the home marijuana chef!

Clean Your Cannabis

Some plants, especially outdoor plants, can be contaminated with dirt, bacteria, and even bird poop. Avoid this first off by purchasing clean nuggets from a reliable source. Fix a bad situation by gently boiling the nuggets, since boiling water is not hot enough to mess with the cannabinoids you’re targeting with any infusion.

RELATED: Do This To Marijuana Before YouMake Edibles

Photo by underworld111/Getty Images

Decarboxylate

This step converts the active ingredients into tissue-penetrating THC from THC-A in the raw plant. Skip this step and your edibles may hit you hours later in your liver, rather than in your mouth, stomach, esophagus, etc where they will work faster.

Strain With Gloves

DO NOT press or strain with your bare hands. Not only is it unsanitary, you will get stoned. The sheer amount will definitely make you feel something. People say that’s not true, but it has happened to me a few times when breaking this essential rule. Plus you can use a spatula to salvage the last drops of your brew from gloved fingers, you can’t it with your bare hands, ew.

Illustration by Danielle Guercio

Use Devices Where Possible

Devices can be helpful since they do a lot of the tricky work for you. Temperature regulation, stirring, and timing are all things you can screw up no matter how great of a chef you are. When I tried the Magical Butter, I realized technology is about to run wild in the cannabis world.

Use A Good Saturation Ratio

Try not to overpack any infusion with nugs; you need to have enough liquid to actually strain out. The less liquid you use, the harder it will be to recoup liquid filled with goodies. A good starter ratio is 1g material per 1oz of medium, be it alcohol or glycerin.

Invest In A Sodastream

If you like mixing up mocktails and cocktails with your creations, buying seltzer in cans and bottles is not only bad for the environment, it’s bad for your wallet. A Sodastream pays for itself in months and you will always have bubbles on hand.

Negroni
Photo by Flickr user mariobonifacio

Freezer Is Your Friend

Save anything you don’t eat right away in the freezer, where it’s shelf life will be greatly increased. Even a bottle with a few drops of olive oil left can dress a salad when the time comes. Same goes for the brownie you smartly cut in half, stash it in the freezer where it won’t start to go bad. Top it with ice cream another day!

Don’t Go Overboard With The Heat

One reason you don’t see a lot of sautéed or deep fried cannabis items is for the simple reason direct heat from a pan or grill could burn off those party vibes and leave you with sleepy CBN. You can grill and fry things, but try to leave it to things which cook quickly, or add the cannabis after the fact. Ovens are such a common application because of the steady and controlled heat. Staying under 350 degrees is the smart plan.

RELATED: 7 Super Simple Ways To Add THC To Your Coffee

With these tips you can now avoid most major ganja goofs. Now you can do your best while waiting to be able to purchase cannabis cooking aids in the store like we should have been able to get all along.

Illustrations by Danielle Guercio 

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