New Study Provides Clues Behind The Vaping Illness Outbreak

Brendan Bures

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October 4, 2019

New Study Provides Clues Behind The Vaping Illness Outbreak

A new study from the Mayo Clinic weakened a popular theory about the cause of the vaping illness. Now what?

Ever since news broke of the vaping illness outbreak, scientists have rushed to solve what caused it. More than 800 cases have been reported with at least 12 people dying from vaping. Vitamin E acetate was an early culprit by the New York Department of Health, among others. Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said their latest findings “suggest THC products play a role in the outbreak.”

While a number of the illnesses have been tied to the cannabis black market, “THC products” don’t provide specific answers to the cause. A group of Mayo Clinic researchers may provide a stronger suspect in the illness. In what these scientists have called a first, the Mayo Clinic analyzed 17 tissue samples from lungs of patients who suffered from the vaping illness, including two fatalities.

As published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the scientists said the samples compared to tissue damage following exposure to toxic chemicals. Previous studies suggested the vaping illness represented exogenous lipoid pneumonia, but none of the Mayo Clinic’s cases had such findings.

“What we see with these vaping cases is a kind of severe chemical injury that I’ve never seen before in a tobacco smoker or a traditional marijuana smoker,” study co-author Dr. Brandon Larsen said. “I think we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.”

lets discuss marijuana vaping deaths and the larger problem here — Photo courtesy of New York State Department of Health/Flickr

It’s important to note that analysis of 17 biopsies can’t stand in for more than 800 cases nationwide. While the study’s authors believe the illness is caused by “a form of airway-centered chemical pneumonitis from one or more inhaled toxic substances,” whatever “the agents responsible remain unknown.” The study remains significant because it poked holes in a popular theory that vaping fatty oils, including flavoring agents, was the cause behind the outbreak.

“Investigators believe, but have not yet confirmed, that one or more of the additives used in the underground manufacturing process has led to a toxic product when inhaled,” the Marijuana Policy Project wrote.

The lingering mystery behind the vaping illness has led some states to place a temporary ban on all vaping products. But this could cause more problems than it solves.

“Regulating cannabis use is effective public policy, and we strongly urge states to regulate — not ban — vapor products,” the MPP wrote. “Bans will simply make a difficult situation more dangerous by driving more consumers away from regulated businesses and toward illicit sources.”

5 Simple Changes That’ll Help You Eat Better Right Now

Maria Loreto

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October 3, 2019

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5 Simple Changes That’ll Help You Eat Better Right Now

Eating more fruit and having veggies for breakfast will improve your relationship with food and make you feel much healthier.

Diets are annoying and often hard to commit to, but we all know the gist of them: In order to lose weight, you should avoid processed foods and limit your intake of sugar. You should work out regularly and eat tons of veggies. Blah, blah, blah. These suggestions are obvious and don’t really do much when it comes to changing peoples’ habits and making them eat better in the long run.

Here are five simple tips that can help anyone develop better eating habits. The best part is that you can start using them today.

Have vegetables for breakfast

There’s a lot of pressure for breakfasts, with some experts explaining that it’s the meal where you should consume the most calories, since you’ll have the rest of the day to burn them off. This is true, but it helps if you start your day off with something healthy over something sweet.

marijuana — Photo by surajith s via Pexels

Having sprinkle pancakes first thing in the morning might make you crave sweets for the rest of your day, which will make it tough for you to stick to any diet. Veggies contain tons of fiber, which fill you up and contain antioxidants and other healthy components. Although veggies for breakfast sound a little unorthodox you can give it a try by adding some kale or spinach to your eggs or by chopping avocados into whatever dish you’ve prepared.

Use herbs and spices

If healthy food tastes bad for you it’s because you haven’t done the proper work with spices and herbs. Have fun and explore different ways of seasoning your meals, adding fresh herbs, salt and pepper, or even some spicy ingredients, like jalapeños. These are low on calories and will make your meal much more interesting than if you just take a veggie out of a bag and cook it in the microwave.

Eat fruit for dessert

Dessert is delicious but also highly caloric and addictive. Once you start having a treat after lunch it’s really hard to stop your cravings. Replace this with your favorite fruit, serving it cold and in an appealing way. It’s not as good as that doughnut, but it’ll make you feel light and like you’re craving’s been satisfied.

5 Ways To Start Eating Better Now — Photo by Louise Burton via Unsplash.

Set a snack bedtime

One of the best and most healthiest things you can do is set a bedtime for your snacks. Whether that’s after you’ve brushed your teeth or at 7 p.m., stick to this schedule. Developing this habit will stop you from munching on late at night and will eliminate all of those empty calories that you usually don’t account for.

Take your time to eat

Eat patiently and slowly, savoring each bite and enjoying your food. Planning diets and cooking healthy is exhausting and time consuming, so try to avoid hating on the process. Think about the health benefits and all the good that that food is doing for you, trying to transform your relationship with it into something healthy and less combative.

Medical Cannabis Combats Anorexia's Obsessive Thoughts — Photo by Brodie Vissers via Burst

This Super Bowl Champ Used Medical Marijuana

Brendan Bures

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October 3, 2019

0

This Super Bowl Champ Used Medical Marijuana

Even Super Bowl-winning athletes suffer from anxiety, but cannabis can help manage those symptoms.

Two data points don’t make a trend but what about a couple hundred? Anyone who still doesn’t comprehend the relationship professional football players have with cannabis—i.e. NFL athletes routinely use marijuana to manage pain, inflammation, and injuries—only need to read the news. Following retirement, notable stars continue to emerge as cannabis advocates while others enter the marijuana business. And like millions of others, this Super Bowl champ used medical marijuana to relieve so serious health issues.

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin is the latest to discuss his trials as an NFL athlete and how marijuana helped him cope. In a Bleacher Report interview, Harvin revealed his struggles with anxiety throughout his eight seasons in the NFL. He was given several anti-anxiety medications but none worked until Harvin tried cannabis.

“The only thing that really seemed to work is when I would smoke marijuana,” Harvin told Bleacher Report. “There’s not a game that I played in that I wasn’t high.”

Untold Stories Episode 3 with Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin shares how he smoked weed before every game to help with his anxiety disorder/migraines.

Plus, he opens up about fighting Golden Tate before Super Bowl 48.https://t.co/8xnaY9qOCZ

— Master (@MasterTes) October 2, 2019

Harvin, who also suffers from migraines, visited the Mayo Clinic to better understand what was going on. Even when he was diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder, he didn’t confront what that meant. But when he was traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Seattle Seahawks, he said it was “probably the worst years of my life. My anxiety is at its worst when I go into unfamiliar situations.”

Eventually, he learned what it meant to live with anxiety as a public person. Cannabis helped him manage those symptoms, which is why he decided to speak out about using marijuana and anxiety now.

“That’s what I kind of want the world to see today,” Harvin said. “It’s not a stigma and you know people doing it and getting in a whole bunch of trouble. It’s people that’s just living regular life that got deficiencies or maybe want to enjoy themselves. It’s a natural way to do so.”

Fans Think Kylie Jenner Is Dating Jaden Smith — PDA Photo Surfaces; Khloé Kardashian Called Out For Posting Another Unrecognizable Photo

Uncategorized

Naughty Gossip

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October 3, 2019

0

The Kardashian sisters are back in the tabloids. Jaden Smith is seen dancing with his hand on Kylie Jenner’s rear, so fans think they’re dating, naturally; and Khloe Kardashian is looking very…different—again.

Fans Think Kylie Jenner Is Dating Jaden Smith — PDA Photo Surfaces

Via iHeart Radio:

Fans are convinced Kylie Jenner and Jaden Smith are dating following her split from Travis Scott.

Just as news broke about the 22-year-old business mogul and 27-year-old rapper’s alleged “break,” TMZ shared a photo of Kylie and her ex-boyfriend (and longtime friend) Jaden dancing and holding each other close while at Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin’s wedding reception earlier this week.

While the shot, which can be seen HERE, doesn’t prove that anything is going on between the two, fans thought Jaden’s hand placement — his hand appears to be right on Kylie’s butt — during their dance was enough to claim their dating. And in millennial and Gen-Z fashion, fans took their opinions about the whole butt-touching situation straight to Twitter.

Khloé Kardashian Called Out For Posting Another “Unrecognizable” Photo

Via iHeart Radio:

Khloe Kardashian is being trolled (again) after posting an “unrecognizable” photo of herself (again). The KUWTK star shared a close up photo of herself on Monday (September 30), writing “old photo but I like it.” Shortly after sharing, however, Khloe’s comments section was overflowed with comments about her appearance. Eventually, Khloe turned off the comment feature on her post.

Here’s the photo causing such a stir, which fans believe Khloe either intensely photoshopped or that the reality star had work done on her face. The Kardashian family is no stranger to photoshop fails, though, so it’s definitely possible this another case of photo-editing gone awry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Cdn0gBENf/

Just a few months ago, Khloe experienced a similar situation on a since-deleted photo she also shared on Instagram. “What happened to your nose?” one person wrote. “Giiiiirl I adore u but what the hell did you do to your nose?” another chimed in. “Who ever did your nose is a genius! So much better! You look gorgeous,” another follower added to the mix.

Though Khloe hasn’t responded to any of the comments she received on her most recent “unrecognizable” photo, she has spoken about her desire to get a nose job in the past. A fan once even straight up asked Khloe if she’d gone under the knife. She responded “one day I think I’ll get [a nose job] because I think about it everyday. But I’m scared so for now it’s all about contour.”

The United States of Cannabis Reveals Each State’s Distinct Cannabis Identity

Anne Marie Fischer

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October 3, 2019

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The United States of Cannabis Reveals Each State’s Distinct Cannabis Identity

The United States of Cannabis presents comprehensive information about who’s buying what in the legal cannabis states. Here are some of the best selling products according to the platform with some surprises.

As the platform that processes 21% of all wholesale orders of cannabis products in the U.S., LeafLink had gotten a birds-eye view of the preferences and spending habits of cannabis retailers, allowing them to compile insightful data into one source.

The United States of Cannabis is a new data source developed by LeafLink, which is the largest online marketplace for wholesale cannabis in the country. Using the information about the wholesale orders placed by 3,800+ retailers in 12 states, The United States of Cannabis presents comprehensive information about who’s buying what in the legal cannabis states.

Suzannah Rubenstein, Director of Marketing for LeafLink calls their concept and platform “the industry standard of connecting wholesale orders”, where the platform serves as a connection between retailers and manufacturers for regulated cannabis products. “We process $1.4 billion in orders placed annually through the marketplace,” states Rubenstein.

This intel, achieved through tracking wholesale orders state-by-state, has allowed LeafLink to gain insights about who’s buying what, and why, in 12 legal cannabis states, as presented in the interactive cannabis map entitled The United States of Cannabis.

Most Favorite Products

Here are some of the best selling products according to the platform with some surprises:

California – Dosist Bliss Vape Pen
Colorado – Wana Sour Gummies
Washington – Happy Apple Beverage
Oregon – Winberry Farms – Tropical Trainwreck cartridge
Nevada – District Edibles – Tropical Punch
Michigan – Platinum Vape – Alien OG
Pennsylvania – Vireo Health – Red Cartridge
Arizona – Timeless Vapes – Lemon Faderade
Alaska – Red Run Cannabis Company – Hashade

Here are some overall insights that The United States of Cannabis reveals:

There are 18 product types on the LeafLink marketplace, but three main categories account for 67% of total sales in the country: Flower, Cartridges, and Edibles, yet these product categories differ distinctly state-by-state;
Every market that was tracked by LeafLink has a distinct cannabis identity, that can be viewed state-by-state;
In newly legalized cannabis states, there is less product and brand diversity; newer states’ packaging and marketing are more “medical” in look and feel, while states with a long-established legal market are more diverse in products available, and in branding.

“Our data shows that in states with more maturity, there is greater product diversification,” says Rubinstein, “Where there’s product diversification, it means that people are experimenting with different methods of consumption.”

Photo by Ethan Miller/Staff/Getty Images

The United States of Cannabis allows users to examine state-by-state marketplaces, to see what product types, and what products reign supreme. Here are a few examples of legal states and what LeafLink uncovered:

In Colorado, the longest-established legal cannabis market, the top 3 product categories are cartridges, concentrates, and disposable vapes, with pre-rolls rising up as the fastest-growing category;
In Pennsylvania, one of the newer medical cannabis states, the top 3 product categories are cartridges, edibles, and flower, with flower being the fastest growing product category in the state;
In Alaska, the top product categories are cartridges, concentrates, and vapes, with concentrates being the fastest growing product category;
In Michigan, a new recreational cannabis state, the top product categories are cartridges, flowers, and edibles, with cartridges being the fastest growing product category for that state;

In addition to top product categories and fastest-growing product categories, the United States of Cannabis contains information on the biggest brands, product superlatives, most unique products, and even the state flower and producer.

LeafLink’s wholesale marketplace is unique in that each state has a closed marketplace. Retailers access only the products and brands that are available in their state, across 24 different markets. “This allows in-state communities to be built,” says Rubenstein, “Brands are able to promote products in-state directly to retailers,” she says, which helps quite a bit when marketing and advertising regulations are so tight in every state.

Emerging brands can use each state’s distinct cannabis identity to find niche markets and new opportunities to create products in product categories they know people of different states are interested in.

More about the LeafLink platform can be found at https://leaflink.com/

This post originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Here’s Why Millennials Are Choosing Cannabis Over Alcohol

Mary Schumacher

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October 3, 2019

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Here’s Why Millennials Are Choosing Cannabis Over Alcohol

It turns out that more and more millennials are gladly waking up with a little dry mouth from smoking too much weed instead of a gnarly hangover from booze.

If you’ve ever woken up with a killer hangover that makes it nearly impossible to get through your day without double fisting aspirin and coffee, you already know one reason why young adults are choosing cannabis over alcohol. But there are many other motivating factors the have made cannabis the preferred way to socialize for a lot of millennials.

For one thing, cannabis is the epitome of social. You “pass the dutchie on the left hand side,” which usually forms something of a circle or crowd and definitely gets people talking. Whether it be your crew or a mishmash of people who’ve gathered around the dabber or joint, a good laugh and an elevated conversation are very likely to occur.

Millennials have also made their preferences for craft beer and wine over binge drinking the cheaper stuff pretty clear. Craft cannabis easily falls into their wheelhouses in that respect, as there is a bouquet, aftertaste, effect and aftereffect all to contemplate while getting elevated at the next level.

College students demonstrate this growing trend of millennials choosing cannabis over alcohol consumption. In 2016, daily alcohol users made up 4.3% of the student population, whereas in 2017, that number fell by almost half to 2.2%. And it’s nearly three times lower than in 1980, when 6.5% of students were drunk on the daily.

It’s a nationwide phenomenon without signs of slowing down. It was found that in counties where cannabis is legalized that there’s been a 15 percent drop in alcohol sales. That’s an enormous number. Match that with the fact that millennials make up the biggest demographic of cannabis imbibers. And don’t forget that only 25% of millennials smoke alone, preferring to use it socially, according to a 2017 Yahoo News poll.

The study concluded that, “For the first time, trends in alcohol and marijuana use are substantially diverging, suggesting that the historical relationship between these two drugs may be changing.” It certainly seems that they are.

It’s a whole new world and marketplace that’s being embraced by young adults who want a safer way to imbibe when out and about. They also seem to be embracing a way of altering the mind. While a nice stiff drink at the end of a long day will always be the ticket for some, a wave of tokers is coming ashore and they’re leaving a slew of unopened bottles bobbing in their wake.

Miley Cyrus’s Wacky Relationship With Marijuana

Brendan Bures

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October 3, 2019

0

Miley Cyrus’s Wacky Relationship With Marijuana

Miley Cyrus has experienced a very public and very torturous relationship with marijuana. Lucky for you, we break it all down.

This week, Lowell Café, America’s first fully legal cannabis lounge, opened its doors to the public. So far, the West Hollywood lounge has been a huge hit. Its existence provides a glimpse at how legal cannabis could reshape our social lifestyles for years to come. All of which is great news for Miley Cyrus, as earlier this month Lowell Cafe announced Cyrus had become an investor. Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, and Mark Ronson are also notable celebrity investors in Lowell.

But it’s Miley who has received the most attention as an investor. In a recent post asking who is marijuana’s newest power players, Politico snidely dismissed Cyrus, stating “yes, we’re well aware of Miley Cyrus’s cannabis café.” To be fair, this is primarily Miley’s fault. Cyrus becoming a cannabis investor was inconceivable at several moments across the past several years; at other junctures, it appeared as she’d rent out a restaurant like Lowell Café for three nights straight.

In honor of that juxtaposition we thought we’d detail Miley Cyrus’s complicated relationship with weed.

A Love Affair Begins

Let’s go back to the pre-Trump years, when Rolling Stone declared in a now-iconic cover story that Miley Cyrus was “pop’s wildest child.” This is the era Miley released her star-defining Bangerz album and grinded on Robin Thicke at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. In that Rolling Stone interview, Cyrus announced her affection for cannabis loud and clear.

“I think weed is the best drug on earth,” she said. “One time I smoked a joint with peyote in it, and I saw a wolf howling at the moon. Hollywood is a coke town, but weed is so much better.”

Many fans still remember that Robin Thicke dance at the VMAs, but probably forget the other controversy Cyrus generated that night: she couldn’t stop confessing her love of weed on live TV. The Associated Press even wrote a story critiquing Cyrus and the VMAs for glorifying marijuana. At one point during the show, Cyrus went backstage and offered a joint to various photographers and media. (She also smoked a joint onstage at the 2013 EMAs.)

“Because you’re all my friends, and my song is kinda, sorta about the love of marijuana and the love of humankind, I brought a little joint if anyone would like any,” she said. “Anyone?”

Miley Cleans Up Image

But then Miley Cyrus tired of playing the wild child. In an all too predictable career turn, she attempted to rediscover her down-to-earth, country roots. To demonstrate she was done being the bad girl, she begun to demonize cannabis and stoners.

“I like to surround myself with people that make me want to get better, more evolved, open,” Cyrus told Billboard in 2017. “And I was noticing, it’s not the people that are stoned. I want to be super clear and sharp, because I know exactly where I want to be.”

Then she went on “The Tonight Show” and confessed to Jimmy Fallon that she worried about overdosing from the amount of weed she was smoking. “It’s like, no one’s ever died from weed but no one’s ever smoked as much as I did,” she said, acting as if Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson never existed.

Mom and Dad Made Me Do It

Peer pressure is a hell of a drug, especially when it comes from your parents. During a 2018 SiriusXM interview, Cyrus revealed she was smoking weed again — because her mom made her do it. “My mom got me back on it,” Cyrus said.

“My mom’s a big stoner,” Cyrus also told Fallon. “I remember when I started smoking weed. I mean, she thought I was growing little horns and just becoming the devil, but now she smokes more pot than anyone I know.”

That isn’t the full story, though. When Billy Ray Cyrus initially wrote his lyrics to the “Old Town Road” remix this year, he tried slipping in a joke about Miley’s weed habit. “For some reason I thought it was funny to say, ‘Baby’s got a habit: diamond rings and marijuana,’” Billy Ray Cyrus told Taste of Country Nights.

Unfortunately, the record company objected and Billy Ray re-wrote the verse. But if that story and her investment in Lowell Café doesn’t convince you, check out this Instagram and tell me whether Miley Cyrus is into marijuana again or not.

View this post on Instagram

Listen to Miley. She also knows what’s up.

A post shared by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Jan 21, 2019 at 3:43pm PST

Do Air Purifiers Work On Marijuana

Danielle Guercio

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October 3, 2019

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Some homes, especially those with any degree of indoor smoke, can have worse air quality than a congested city street. Are air purifiers the answer?

Many people who partake in cannabis are looking for ways to keep the air inside their homes as clean as possible, given the sometimes smokey circumstances. It can be hard to find accessible strategies for this task, as you can’t retrofit a negative pressure air system into your rental apartment unless you’re Elon Musk.

Researching the options online, a few basics about the situation become clear. Air pollution is a collection of problems, from dust and dander to particles found in smoke and exhaust and even gross bacteria and odor molecules. Some homes, especially those with any degree of indoor smoke, can have worse air quality than a congested city street.

The idea of plugging in a device to do what an intricate system can do may seem ineffective, but according to Home Air Quality Guides, it’s actually a sound process, scientifically. These machines help people with chemical sensitivities, asthma, and allergies live better and healthier lives, and can help people who don’t need them for medical necessity either.

Air purifiers use four different strategies, sometimes combined, to fight the various types of pollutants in a home. Light based systems use ultraviolet and LED light to sterilize the air that passes through it, but do nothing for odors. Ionic models cause pollutants to fall to gravity into a plate or on the ground, and carbon and HEPA filtration remove physical particles, carbon nixes smells while HEPA actually kicks irritants out of the air it treats completely.

Every home shop has a model, and they range from 50 or so dollars for a desktop model to up to 600+ dollars for combination methods. Reviews are a good start if you want to poke around for those with similar concerns to yours. If you have the cash to spare, bigger models are portable if you move, and tackle a long list of issues from particulate and pet dander to a neighbor’s cooking odors, so the investment can carry its value over a longer period of time.

Even if you get the best air purifier in the world, between pets, outside pollution and indoor cannabis use, these machines can only do so much. A combined attack of regular cleaning, limited combustion, and a good quality air purifier can help.

We asked Dr. Jack D’Angelo, Chief Medical Officer of Citiva Medical what he thinks about the topic. He said:

“Air purifiers simply help to eliminate the odors from smoking cannabis. Smoked cannabis particles are small and a carbon filter will work better than traditional HEPA filters. Ionizers are not all that effective for the smell of cannabis because they work on polarity and cannabis particles are often non polar. As a physician, I recommend vaporization, as the byproducts continue to pose less risk than the carbon monoxide and tars released in the smoking process.”

Straight from a doctor’s mouth, smoking simply compromises the air, so do your best to convert to vapes and other consumption methods if you are worrying about long term effects.

Photo by Your Best Digs via Flickr

5 Videos Of Cute Animals To Get You Through This Week: September 30

Maria Loreto

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October 2, 2019

0

5 Videos Of Cute Animals To Get You Through This Week: September 30

This week’s videos include a couple of puppies, some cats and llamas. Yep. Check them out

There’s no better pick-me-up than the one you get when you see a clip of an animal acting silly, which is why we’ve compiled this weekly column. These short videos feature all sorts of animals and can provide that much needed rush of endorphins, anywhere at any time.

This week’s cute animal column features tons of adorableness including a dancing dog, a puppy wearing a Stitch costume, a sleepy cat in a mug, some cute llamas and more.

A dancing dog

There’s no way of denying dogs’ levels of excitement and no video captures this as well as the one you just observed. This guy, called Bruce, can’t stop shaking his butt at the sight of his friend. You should follow him on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FAgzOFSIu/

A cat in a mug

This cat is a couple of seconds away from falling inside that coffee mug. He needs it, but still, someone help.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3HvrftF227/

Evil kitty

This guy is making the most out of his time spent inside that box, nibbling at its edges and looking a little crazy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FqpD6l6VB/

A Stitch puppy

There’s nothing more adorable than Stitch, except perhaps this puppy wearing a Stitch costume.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1fls7RAPUm/

Cute yet menacing

A never ending stream of llamas appear on this video, curiously approaching the camera, taking a sniff, and backing away to be replaced by an even more adorable llama. It’s the world’s most wholesome loop.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2PkT7NJHI1/

Vape Sales Showing Signs Of Recovery From Crisis

Debra Borchardt

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October 2, 2019

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Vape Sales Showing Signs Of Recovery From Crisis

Sales in Nevada and Washington have picked back up, while California seems to have stabilized. Most consumers are learning that the issues with vapes stemmed from products purchased outside the regulated channels.

Vape products, once considered the rising stars of the legal cannabis marketplace have struggled under the weight of the vaping crisis. Massachusetts banned all vape products for four months in order to err on the side of caution while the issue is investigated. Around the middle of August, vape product sales began dropping according to data from Headset, however, it seems the group may be slowly recovering. The following table was provided by Headset.

Sales in Nevada and Washington both began to pick back up, while California seems to have stabilized. Most consumers are learning that the issues with vapes stemmed from products purchased outside the regulated channels.

A report from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) stated, “In addition, the report from Illinois and Wisconsin showed that nearly all THC-containing products reported were packaged, prefilled cartridges that were primarily acquired from informal sources such as friends, family members, illicit dealers, or off the street.”

Vaping Is Up, Painkiller Use Is Down In Teens — Photo by Dmitry_Tishchenko/Getty Images

It seems illicit market and unregulated vape producers were using thickening agents like Vitamin E with disastrous results. The industry, in general, has suggested that regulation will solve this issue and many are trying to convince the consumer that they can trust a regulated brand.

“The widely publicized public health issue relating to the use of liquid vapes is something that SLANG takes extremely seriously,” said SLANG Worldwide (OTC: SLGWF) CEO Peter Miller. “We encourage investigation and research into the causes of this issue and hope that our collective understanding of the results leads to more thorough and effective regulation of the industry.”

SLANG said it is not aware of any of its products being identified as a contributor to any of the recent illnesses associated with vaping technology. SLANG is not currently operating in Massachusetts and had postponed plans to enter that state. It doesn’t expect to be adversely impacted by Massachusetts’ temporary ban on vaping products.

vape pen — Photo by vadim kaipov via Unsplash

1933 Industries (CSE: TGIF) (OTCQX: TGIFF) said, “All our branded THC and CBD vape products do not contain vitamin E acetate, vegetable glycerin, or propylene glycol. All our products are made with ingredients that are known to be safe for consumers. All packaging contains our product ingredients, which are also listed on our website. Each and every product is third-party lab tested, and the results can be tracked via a QR code.”

Testing Boom

Of course, in order to be sure testing is the best way to go and this crisis could present an opportunity for the lab group to capitalize. CannaSafe, California’s leading accredited cannabis testing laboratory said it will expand contaminant testing to Vitamin E additives, in response to ongoing concerns around consumer vaping safety. CannaSafe is the first laboratory to offer this service and will also provide testing for additional additives including medium-chain triglycerides, vegetable glycerin, and propylene glycol in the coming weeks.

“Trusted cannabis companies are taking it upon themselves to impose high-quality standards on consumer products, and we are ready to work with any business that wants to show customers that their products are free of toxic additives,” said Aaron Riley, CEO of CannaSafe. “We also urge brands and retailers to share test results with their customers as a gesture of good faith.”

Modern wellness company, dosist, is the first brand to voluntarily undergo Vitamin E testing with CannaSafe. Other brands that will utilize Cannasafe’s testing technology include Orchid Essentials, Select, Heavy Hitters, Stiiizy, King Pen, Lowell Herb Co., Pure Vape, Tikun, and Raw Garden. The Vitamin E test is available to brands and manufacturers across the state for an additional $225.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

New Study Provides Clues Behind The Vaping Illness Outbreak

A new study from the Mayo Clinic weakened a popular theory about the cause of the vaping illness. Now what?

5 Simple Changes That’ll Help You Eat Better Right Now

Eating more fruit and having veggies for breakfast will improve your relationship with food and make you feel much healthier.

Have vegetables for breakfast

Use herbs and spices

Eat fruit for dessert

Set a snack bedtime

Take your time to eat

This Super Bowl Champ Used Medical Marijuana

Even Super Bowl-winning athletes suffer from anxiety, but cannabis can help manage those symptoms.

Fans Think Kylie Jenner Is Dating Jaden Smith — PDA Photo Surfaces; Khloé Kardashian Called Out For Posting Another Unrecognizable Photo

The Kardashian sisters are back in the tabloids. Jaden Smith is seen dancing with his hand on Kylie Jenner’s rear, so fans think they’re dating, naturally; and Khloe Kardashian is looking very…different—again.

Fans Think Kylie Jenner Is Dating Jaden Smith — PDA Photo Surfaces

The United States of Cannabis Reveals Each State’s Distinct Cannabis Identity

The United States of Cannabis presents comprehensive information about who’s buying what in the legal cannabis states. Here are some of the best selling products according to the platform with some surprises.

This post originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Here’s Why Millennials Are Choosing Cannabis Over Alcohol

It turns out that more and more millennials are gladly waking up with a little dry mouth from smoking too much weed instead of a gnarly hangover from booze.

Miley Cyrus’s Wacky Relationship With Marijuana

Miley Cyrus has experienced a very public and very torturous relationship with marijuana. Lucky for you, we break it all down.

A Love Affair Begins

Miley Cleans Up Image

Mom and Dad Made Me Do It

Do Air Purifiers Work On Marijuana

Some homes, especially those with any degree of indoor smoke, can have worse air quality than a congested city street. Are air purifiers the answer?

5 Videos Of Cute Animals To Get You Through This Week: September 30

This week’s videos include a couple of puppies, some cats and llamas. Yep. Check them out

A dancing dog

A cat in a mug

Evil kitty

A Stitch puppy

Cute yet menacing

Vape Sales Showing Signs Of Recovery From Crisis

Sales in Nevada and Washington have picked back up, while California seems to have stabilized. Most consumers are learning that the issues with vapes stemmed from products purchased outside the regulated channels.

Testing Boom

This post originally appeared on Green Market Report.

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