Leukemia And Medical Marijuana: Here Are The Facts

Kate-Madonna Hindes

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November 18, 2019

Leukemia And Medical Marijuana: Here Are The Facts

Chemotherapy and radiation are often suggested by care teams to help put the disease into remission, however, recent studies have also cited the benefit of cannabinoids or marijuana.

Few experiences are more devastating than a cancer diagnosis. A leukemia diagnosis can be especially jarring, given we typically hear of it in movies as a predator of children, even though the medical community has found that children have the highest state of remission at 94%, with adults at up to 40% after five years.

A cancer of the blood, Leukemia affects the bone marrow, red blood cells, white blood cells, and the cells that cause clotting. Its symptoms include chills, weakness, susceptibility to infection, weight loss, bruising, swollen lymph nodes, and bone pain.

Chemotherapy and radiation are often suggested by care teams to help put the disease into remission, however, recent studies have also cited the benefit of cannabinoids or marijuana. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) even has a page dedicated to cannabis and cancer, explaining the benefits and risks of marijuana and CBD oil.

Better treatments for patients

A 2017 study by the International Journal of Oncology found that when chemotherapy was combined with cannabinoids, the potency of the drugs was “slightly improved.” Even more impressive, the research team found that even when used alone, THC and cannabidiol killed cancer cells. The authors of the study wrote:

“Phyto cannabinoids possess anticancer activity when used alone, and a number have also been shown to combine favorably with each other in vitro in leukemia cells to generate improved activity. “

An option for palliative care

A 2013 study showcased the power of cannabis in palliative care, citing a case of a 14-year-old patient whose failing health wasn’t responding to chemotherapy and radiation treatment after being diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). After the family started giving the patient cannabinoid extracts by mouth.

5 ways medical marijuana can help you deal with pain — Photo by OlegMalyshev/Getty Images

Interestingly, after fifteen days, doctors observed that the patient had a decrease in the need for morphine and an increase in euphoria and alertness. The cannabidiol seemed the help the patient in the weeks before she passed away. Researchers noted that the patient died of a secondary infection, and the patient’s Leukemia seemed to be in remission.

Ultimately, whether or not to use cannabis in treatment comes to the all-important discussion between patient and doctor. With more clinical trials around the world focusing on marijuana, hopefully, new research will shed light on effective ways to combat the disease and keep loved ones around for many more years to come.

Your Designated Driver Should Be Someone Who Doesn’t Use Marijuana

Mike Adams

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November 18, 2019

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Your Designated Driver Should Be Someone Who Doesn’t Use Marijuana

Call it growing pains, call it just being stuck in the drug war mentality, but just know that there are still police all over the country looking to make it hard for people who use marijuana.

Just because some states have legalized marijuana for recreational use — something that allows adults 21 and over to buy cannabis products like beer — doesn’t mean that law enforcement is all of a sudden cool with drugs. In fact, the way the law is written in some cases, local jurisdictions have the right to ban cannabis businesses from emerging in their neck of the woods.

These are the spots where progressive attitudes have not yet sunk in, which gives local cops all sorts of ideas to keep busting the average stoner even though the law technically says, “Hey, leave them kids alone.” Call it growing pains, call it just being stuck in the drug war mentality, but just know that there are still police all over the country looking to make it hard for people who use marijuana.

The best method police have at this point to bust unsuspecting cannabis users is by leaning on the offense of stoned driving or Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID). Since there is currently no marijuana breathalyzer on the market that can determine whether a motorist is driving impaired, police use saliva swabs and other questionable roadside drug tests to make these assumptions.

But cannabis metabolizes in the body differently than alcohol, so police can really only tell if a motorist has smoked marijuana within the past 30 days. They cannot, however, distinguish between those people who smoked recently and the ones out there on the highways bugged out of their brains.

is new marijuana breathalyzer technology on the way — Photo by JasonDoiy/Getty Images

Therefore, as Michigan and Illinois prepare to launch their recreational pot markets in the coming months, toking tourists (not to mention the locals) should prepare themselves for some ramped up law enforcement shenanigans. For example, police in Naperville, Illinois, which is just about 30 miles southwest of Chicago, are already planning to target stoned motorists as soon as legalization takes hold.

The goal is to drag as many people as possible to jail for driving under the influence of marijuana.

“Impairment is impairment, whether it’s alcohol or any drug. It affects their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle,” Illinois Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Jennifer Cifaldi told ABC News.

To keep from getting jammed up in the court system, we would advise anyone traveling into legal states to visit the dispensaries to use a designated driver who is not a marijuana user. At the very least, use someone who hasn’t smoked weed within the past month. In the event of a traffic stop, the person behind the wheel should be able to pass all of the officer’s roadside drug testing and even submit a clean blood sample if asked.

Everyone else in the vehicle can be stoned beyond stoned, but if the driver so much as tests positive for THC, chances are he or she is going to jail for DUID. There is also a possibility if no one else in the vehicle can drive, that the car could be impounded. Yet, as long as your designated driver passes the officer’s tests, there should be no problem.

Having a designated driver who can pass a roadside shakedown is also imperative for those people hoping to smuggle legal weed into a prohibition state. Make no mistake about it, law enforcement will be looking for any reason they can to arrest people for DUID and search vehicles for illegal contraband. Having someone behind the wheel who can navigate this process is crucial in making sure that everyone gets home from their dispensary adventure without legal consequences.

Remember, break only one law at a time.

How Does Marijuana Affect My Sleep And Dreams?

Brendan Bures

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November 18, 2019

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How Does Marijuana Affect My Sleep And Dreams?

Marijuana use lowers your amount of REM sleep, which decreases the time you’re able to dream each night.

The first part of an old stoner tale goes something like this: At a certain point, after habitually using marijuana so many consecutive days, you lose the ability to dream. Your head hits the pillow, and your mind becomes a blank canvas until you rise the next morning.

The second part, meanwhile, regards what happens should you stop smoking weed. Instead of another night of silky blackness, your sleep will roar with vivid color, indescribable scenarios, and intense eruptions of dreamscape. It will be like all the dreams you didn’t have while smoking come rushing back all at once in operatic phantasms.

Scientists have also documented this phenomenon. A 2001 study published in JAMA Psychiatry aimed to better understand how individuals who were daily recreational marijuana users reacted when they abstained from smoking weed. The subjects agreed to continue smoking marijuana as usual for several days, undergo a three-day window of abstinence, resume their usual weed habits for a stretch, then quit cold turkey for another three days. Included among the side effects scientists noticed during the abstinence periods were decreased appetites, sleep difficulties, raised levels of irritability, and that “strange dreams increased significantly during one abstinence phase.”

cbd for sleep — Photo by Ivan Obolensky via Pexels

Many people have a basic understanding of how sleep works. When we close our eyes, our physiological systems circulate between a set stages of sleep—Stages 1 through 4, then what scientists call REM sleep, or Rapid Eye Movement sleep. REM sleep is where you dream, as your body enters a stage of paralysis (if you weren’t paralyzed, you’d likely act out your dreams in real life).

“People who use marijuana, they tend to suppress REM sleep. They have less REM sleep,” said Dr. Samoon Ahmad, a practicing psychopharmacologist and psychiatrist. “And when they have less REM sleep, you’re going to have less dreams because dreams only happen during REM sleep.”

A pharmacologist explains how marijuana affects your dreams pic.twitter.com/jzuJJ5OpWV

— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) November 15, 2019

Research suggests marijuana usage disrupts your body’s usual circadian rhythms, or your sleep wake cycle. As a 2008 study using polysomnographic (PSG) testing found, marijuana use “decreased REM sleep” and shorter “REM latency.” Prior to that, a 1975 study was the first to report that THC consumption “significantly reduced eye movement activity during sleep with rapid eye movements (REM) and, to a lesser extent, the duration of REM itself.” In addition, the 1975 study also found a “rebound” effect for REM sleep.

This might seem contradictory for those with sleep problems, like sleep deprivation or sleep apnea, who use marijuana to help them fall asleep. Overall, your quality of sleep lowers from doing so. However, most scientists will tell you that lowered quality of sleep is still better than no sleep at all. That said, if you dare to dream, you’ll have to forgo the marijuana nightcap.

What To Know About Traveling With Cannabis And CBD Over The Holidays

Becky Garrison

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November 18, 2019

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What To Know About Traveling With Cannabis And CBD Over The Holidays

Depending on state and local laws, those caught traveling with cannabis may find themselves facing harsher penalties including fines and jail time.

Cannabis consumers traveling over the holidays will be pleased to know that the TSA has now relaxed their regulations regarding traveling with medical marijuana. According to their website, passengers can now transport FDA-approved medications containing CBD, as well as any other products containing CBD. These products can be transported in both carry-on and checked luggage.

However, these regulations apply only to hemp-derived CBD that’s in compliance with the 2018 Farm Bill. These regulations do not apply for those who need a cannabis product containing more than .3% THC.

While federal law still prohibits flying with weed or transporting cannabis containing more than .3% THC across state lines, the TSA website states that their “screening procedures are focused on security and are designed to detect potential threats to aviation and passengers. Accordingly, TSA security officers do not search for marijuana or other illegal drugs.”

If any illegal substance is discovered during security screenings, the TSA’s website notes they will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer. Anecdotal stories indicate that TSA officers in states where cannabis is legal tend look the other way. They may confiscate any cannabis and paraphernalia they find, but then then send travelers on their way. However, depending on state and local laws, those caught traveling with cannabis may find themselves facing harsher penalties including fines and jail time.

Consume Cannabis Discretely

For those who decide they will take the risk and consume cannabis en route, consider leaving flower at home. A cannabis infused edible or capsule are two very discrete methods of consumption that do not require any paraphernalia which can be confiscated. Also, they can be consumed before boarding one’s plane, train, or bus. Be mindful though of the dosage as airline terminals, train stations, and bus stops have the right to refuse passengers who are clearly under the influence. Also, those who exhibit clear signs of being stoned are much more likely to face scrutiny by security.

Avoiding Cannabis Odors When Traveling

For those who prefer flower, simply putting one’s paraphernalia and cannabis into a baggie will not keep the smell of cannabis at bay. Dr. Alison Draisin, Psychologist at the AIMS Institute in Seattle and CEO/Founder Ettalew’s Edibles, solves this problem by placing her flower in her trusty carry on Skunk (smell proof) bag. Another option is the Cannador, which functions similar to a humidor for cigars by keeping one’s cannabis fresh and the surrounding area odor free. Either option will prevent one from developing a strong cannabis smell while using local public transportation, as well as keeping one’s car free from the smell of cannabis.

Be mindful that a qualified budtender will not give recommendations regarding how to circumvent the laws pertaining to traveling with cannabis. Hence, consumers are advised to check the laws for all those states they plan to visit prior to their journey. Those traveling internationally are advised to check the laws such as those issued by Air Canada for those countries on their itinerary. Armed with this information, travelers can decide for themselves the degree of risk they want to take when traveling with cannabis.

How Does CBD Affect Your Memory?

Maria Loreto

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November 18, 2019

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Marijuana is not memory’s best friend, though some studies find CBD might improve brain function.

One of the great benefits of smoking marijuana is that there’s rarely any hangovers on the following day. Sadly, the plant still has the capability of rattling your memories.

Cannabis, or THC more precisely, tends to affect people’s cognitive function and short term memory skills, which is why smoking sometimes leaves you feeling a little dumb and spacey. This is all due to THC and the fact that it temporarily attaches itself to parts of the brain that process memory formations. This isn’t the case with cannabidiol (CBD): some studies even claim that the compound can boost memory functions and work on your brain health.

A 2017 study on CBD and it’s impact on Alzheimer’s provided some of the strongest evidence between CBD and it’s positive impact on memory loss. The study was conducted on mice, which were tested for a period of eight months in order to gauge the effects that CBD produced in them.

Marijuana-Induced Memory Loss Is A Feature, Not A Bug — Illustration via rawpixel.com

Researchers found that the compound reversed some of the mice’s cognitive deficits, especially when it comes to their social recognition memory. The compound promoted neurogenesis in the mice, encouraging the growth and development of their neurons.

Another older study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information on memory function and cannabis also provided some evidence that favored CBD. In it, researchers concluded that marijuana had a negative impact on memory, but made an important distinction: strains with high CBD content affected memory in much lesser degrees. The more CBD present in the strain, the less subject’s memories were impaired.

Many have focused on the fact that CBD doesn’t negatively affect memories, with a lot of people forgetting that there’s a lot of evidence that says that it promotes brain health, improving functioning. While there’s not enough research out there to draw conclusions, the compound could become an important tool in preventing memory-related diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Makeup Samples Contain A Disturbing Amount Of Bacteria

Maria Loreto

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November 17, 2019

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Makeup Samples Contain A Disturbing Amount Of Bacteria

An investigation discovered that makeup testers from beauty stores are crawling with all kinds of gross bacteria.

Makeup samples are extremely popular, with lots of people trying out products on all areas of their faces before making up their minds and purchasing them. Also, who doesn’t love free stuff? An investigation conducted by WCNC analyzed testers across different stores in Charlotte, N.C., finding plenty of bacteria that ranges from herpes to E. coli.

Results Are In

Ten makeup testers were compiled from different stores across the city, with researchers taking free samples from lipsticks, blush kits, mascara and eye shadow. In order to be analyzed in depth, these samples were placed in Petri dishes and combined with agar, a substance that reveals the organisms that have been growing in the sample. The results were shocking for doctors, finding evidence of bacterial infections from staph infections to even sexually transmitted diseases.

“You have even G.I. organisms like E. coli for example. What I’m really worried about some of these samples actually look like staph and MRSA infections,” says Dr. Arash Poursina, an infectious disease specialist.

This Woman Put Her Face Full Of Make-Up Under A Microscope — Photo by Matthew Henry via Burst

Staph and MRSA infections can be deadly if they interact with your bloodstream. Also, the presence of E. coli means that someone probably went to the bathroom, didn’t wash their hands and used the makeup tester.

While all testers contained traces of bacteria, the samples that were worse off were eyeshadows and lipsticks. These come in direct contact with eyeballs, lips and saliva, presenting a perfect opportunity for spreading diseases and infections. Moist products like mascara and lipstick are even more likely to spread around diseases, since bacteria loves these kind of environment.

Sephora and other large makeup stores have policies that ensure their testers never spend too much time on display, but there’s no way of guaranteeing that the product is clean. You could wipe the surface of what you’re sampling, for example, cleaning brushes and swiping a towel with alcohol over the surface of lipsticks and powders. You could also just buy the product and return it if you didn’t like it.

This Week’s Music: Billie Eilish, Panic! At The Disco And FKA Twigs

Maria Loreto

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November 17, 2019

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This Week’s Music: Billie Eilish, Panic! At The Disco And FKA Twigs

This week there’s new songs from Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs and Panic! At The Disco.

This Week’s Music is a weekly column that discusses the weeks’ best, worst, and most interesting songs. We try to select songs of different artists and genres to keep things interesting and to please a variety of music fans.

To whet your musical appetites, Billie Eilish returns with yet another song, Panic! At The Disco does the Frozen 2 soundtrack and FKA Twigs is back and awesome as usual. Have a listen to this new music:

Pop

Billie Eilish – Everything I Wanted

Singer songwriter Billie Eilish has had a great year, releasing a really good debut album, going on a world tour, singing on SNL and just being super famous. While you were moping about the end of yet another year, here’s another Eilish song, and it’s also great and moody like her best work. “Everything I Wanted” is more restrained than her crazier outings, maybe a little more adult, with a consistent and electronic hum that permeates and makes you wanna dance while you cry a little. It’s great.

Panic! At The Disco – Into The Unknown

I should preface this by clarifying that my tolerance for Panic! At The Disco is very low, but this song is just objectively awful. Although Brendon Urie is trying his best to pull off an Idina Menzel, nothing is working here. This is not “Let It Go.” No little kids will be obsessed with this song because it sucks.

FKA Twigs – Sad Day

FKA Twigs is alien similar to Frank Ocean, an artist who clearly enjoys pushing buttons and testing listener’s patience. Still, she’s well balanced, never distracting from the power of her music and lyrics. There’s no smoke and mirrors in her work; Twigs is weird but she’s also sincere and undeniably talented.

Dogs Of Instagram: Basenji

Culture
News

Anthony Washington

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November 17, 2019

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Originating from Africa, this hound of sorts with its erect ears shares traits of the pariah dog groups, such as the dingo and New Guinea singing dog.

Did you know? Due to its unusual larynx producing a yodel-like sound, the Basenji is known as the “barkless dog”.

Originating from Africa, this hound of sorts with its erect ears shares traits of the pariah dog groups, such as the dingo and New Guinea singing dog. At full stride, this hunting dog can track down any bird, while resembling the beauty of a racehorse.

It’s no wonder the Basenji, with its shiny coat and a tightly curled tail, wrinkled forehead, and longing eyes, has a cult following.

Here, we find some of the most striking Basenjis of Instagram.

Yoda

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4aErYCBtn0/

Loki

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Ja6uxBNNq/

Jason

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4elv7oBWv5/

Kayode

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4eUumkhGiU/

Kusti

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NR1oNgWaU/

Olive

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4cmPApBwJj/

Nova

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4bMMuVBJhR/

Should Holiday Office Parties Include Marijuana Bars Now?

Brendan Bures

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November 16, 2019

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Should Holiday Office Parties Include Marijuana Bars Now?

Cannabars at company outings can change the vibe, one catering service says, and bring people together in a new way.

Office holiday parties aren’t the easiest social interactions most of us encounter this time of year. On one hand, your company rewards your hard efforts all year with free food and drink—a combination sure to get you in the holiday spirit. But on the other hand, you’re still around colleagues and your actions, whether anyone says so, remain under scrutiny. Drink too much and suddenly you’re embarrassing yourself out of that promotion you wanted.

Thankfully, some companies have invited new ideas into their party planning committees. According to The Daily Beast, corporations in states with legal marijuana have introduced cannabars hosted by budtenders to their usual holiday office parties. That means those who abstain from alcohol, or those who prefer marijuana otherwise, can consume cannabis so they can reasonably enjoy around their colleagues.

In a world where more than two-thirds of American support marijuana legalization, it should come as no surprise that our social outings might change, too.

“It’s a lot of fun because when people are not from the cannabis space, we get to learn about the first time they smoked, or hear if they smoked once and had a bad experience, and we get to change it for them,” Bec Koop, who co-owns Irie Weddings and Events, told The Daily Beast. “We can engage with folks and even change their minds.”

no regrets how to embrace your holiday weight gain — Photo by Teddy Rawpixel via Rawpixel

Here’s how it works

Companies hoping to include cannabis lounges will legally purchase all the marijuana from a licensed cannabis dispensary they’ll serve to employees. If you’re using Koop’s business, you can choose between a Flower Package—which will cost $7.25 per person and ensure them all the edibles and weed they could possibly want—or the Beverage option—which will run you $12.50 a head and include mocktails with microdoses of THC.

Of course, these social cannabis catering services can also add a layer of privacy for employees nervous about smoking a joint around their bosses. Positioned away from the main bar and dance floor, most cannabars will include a white “weed tent” for additional security and seclusion. That way you can light up in peace away from your co-workers. Or you might find a new friend at work you never knew you had. Either way, you’ll celebrate the holiday in a way you probably haven’t previously.

“[Weed bars] change the vibe of a company party,” Koop said. “People will see their co-workers smoking and say, ‘Oh, you’re a homie, we should hang outside work.’ We say it all the time, cannabis is a common denominator across all demographics—East Coast, West Coast, rich, poor, white, black, gay, straight; it brings people together.”

5 Things We Usually Get Wrong About Sex

Maria Loreto

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November 16, 2019

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There are tons of myths and generalizations surrounding sex, perpetuating beliefs both outdated and not based on science. How could this not be the case? Our culture is one that mystifies the act and immortalizing it in books, movies, porn, while stifling it and preventing us from speaking openly about it.

Luckily, we’re entering an era where there’s more information, body positivity and less shame about sex. Anyone of any age should feel comfortable enough to ask questions about sex, or to at least Google them.

Here are five of the most common myths about sex.

It’s impossible to get pregnant while you’re on your period

https://giphy.com/gifs/what-shalita-grant-7KFcFwPvpEU3S

This is a common misconception that makes couples feel like having unprotected sex during a period will prevent pregnancies. OB-GYN Christine Grieves spoke with The Huffington Post and explained that getting pregnant while you’re on your period is rare but possible. “The problem with saying that you ‘cannot get pregnant on your period’ as a general statement? Sometimes women have bleeding not associated with a true period, and they may think they are getting a period, but that’s not actually the cause of bleeding,” she says.

So no planning to have sex during your period is not an effective birth control method.

Men are the only ones who want sex

https://giphy.com/gifs/schittscreek-pop-schittscreek-poptv-eugunelevy-26xBFTiNlwXWJEL96

If someone says something like this around you, feel free to run away. This damaging and pervasive stereotype is one that hinders sexual performance and makes people feel a lot of shame.

According to a survey from 2016, men underestimate their wives desire to have sex, with 71 percent of the women reporting they’d like to have more sex than what they’re currently having.

Orgasm is the point of sex

https://giphy.com/gifs/teamcoco-conan-italy-ce1sqpbYnyr1Buhj8O

While orgasms are great, they’re not the point of a healthy sex life. Focusing too much on orgasms can make you distracted and frustrated when you don’t achieve it. Other aspects of sexual satisfaction like kissing and touching feature benefits of their own, improving your mood and making you feel close to your partner.

Condoms protect you from all STIs

https://giphy.com/gifs/meryl-streep-its-complicated-jane-adler-nPcjSTVJ7LgI0

While latex condoms are very effective in protecting against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV and gonorrhea, other infections like HPV and herpes — both transmitted through skin-to-skin contact —are harder to protect yourself from. The only way to truly prevent an illness is to talk with your partner about STIs (sexually transmitted infections) before you have sex and always be careful.

You’ll know when you orgasm

https://giphy.com/gifs/justin-kate-mckinnon-who-knows-l4KieBrGOpzpR2d1K

Female orgasms can be confusing, with a high amount of women claiming they don’t know if they’ve even experiencing orgasmic satisfaction during sex. There are vaginal orgasms, clitoral and sometimes hybrid orgasms, making it difficult for women to understand what exactly is going on down there.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Leukemia And Medical Marijuana: Here Are The Facts

Chemotherapy and radiation are often suggested by care teams to help put the disease into remission, however, recent studies have also cited the benefit of cannabinoids or marijuana.

Better treatments for patients

An option for palliative care

Your Designated Driver Should Be Someone Who Doesn’t Use Marijuana

Call it growing pains, call it just being stuck in the drug war mentality, but just know that there are still police all over the country looking to make it hard for people who use marijuana.

How Does Marijuana Affect My Sleep And Dreams?

Marijuana use lowers your amount of REM sleep, which decreases the time you’re able to dream each night.

What To Know About Traveling With Cannabis And CBD Over The Holidays

Depending on state and local laws, those caught traveling with cannabis may find themselves facing harsher penalties including fines and jail time.

Consume Cannabis Discretely

Avoiding Cannabis Odors When Traveling

How Does CBD Affect Your Memory?

Marijuana is not memory’s best friend, though some studies find CBD might improve brain function.

Makeup Samples Contain A Disturbing Amount Of Bacteria

An investigation discovered that makeup testers from beauty stores are crawling with all kinds of gross bacteria.

Results Are In

This Week’s Music: Billie Eilish, Panic! At The Disco And FKA Twigs

This week there’s new songs from Billie Eilish, FKA Twigs and Panic! At The Disco.

Pop

Dogs Of Instagram: Basenji

Originating from Africa, this hound of sorts with its erect ears shares traits of the pariah dog groups, such as the dingo and New Guinea singing dog.

Yoda

Loki

Jason

Kayode

Kusti

Olive

Nova

Should Holiday Office Parties Include Marijuana Bars Now?

Cannabars at company outings can change the vibe, one catering service says, and bring people together in a new way.

Here’s how it works

5 Things We Usually Get Wrong About Sex

It’s impossible to get pregnant while you’re on your period

Men are the only ones who want sex

Orgasm is the point of sex

Condoms protect you from all STIs

You’ll know when you orgasm

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