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Kamala Harris ‘Reefergate’ Is The Dumbest Political Controversy Of 2019

Brendan Bures
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Kamala Harris ‘Reefergate’ Is The Dumbest Political Controversy Of 2019

The ruse goes something like this: Sen. Kamala Harris, a 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, went on “The Breakfast Club”, a popular hip hop-centric radio program in New York, and admitted to smoking weed in college. “I have [smoked] and I did inhale,” Harris said, chuckling at her Bill Clinton reference.

Since airing, critics have positioned the interview as a display of Harris’ deceiving ways. The controversy of Reefergate, as it’s been called, demonstrates Harris as a scammer, manipulating and placating voters to fit whatever agenda she’s pushing in the moment.

RELATED: Kamala Harris Smoked Weed In College While Listening To Snoop Dogg

To be clear, none of these accusations come as a result of Harris smoking weed. Apparently in 2019, we’re suddenly cool with our presidential candidates consuming cannabis in the past. What has caused consternation instead is pinning down when Harris said she listened to Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Was it in college? Was it in while smoking weed? While she was in law school? This tweet, which went viral and sparked the controversy, sums up the chaos.

People really, really care about this.  “Fox & Friends” dedicated a whole news segment to Reefergate. The New York Times wrote an explainer article about the controversy, and The Washington Post performed second-by-second analysis of her video — much like a football referee trying to determine if a receiver had possession of the football on a key catch.

The noise became so loud that Harris’ national press secretary, Ian Sams, had to clarify whose question the senator was answering when she said she listened to Snoop Dogg and Tupac.

Many activists, including those on the left, have pointed to Harris’ past as proof that she isn’t a true marijuana ally. Back in 2010 when Harris was California’s Attorney General, she opposed a proposition that would’ve legalized adult-use marijuana. What many fail to mention is how the prop only had 50-50 support in the state, and even the Los Angeles Times declined to endorse it, labeling the legislation “badly crafted” and “poorly thought out.”

Before that, when Harris was battling Steve Cooley to be California’s AG, Harris received support from NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). Why? Because Cooley wanted to prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries for over-the-counter cash sales to authorized patients. Harris, meanwhile, showed strong support for medical marijuana, saying, “We will not prosecute people who use or sell marijuana for medicinal purposes.”

RELATED: MedMen Facing Serious Backlash Following Allegations Of Racism

By the way, Harris has an A rating from NORML. She is also co-sponsor of the SAFE Banking Act, which would give banks certain protections when dealing with legitimate cannabis business, and the Marijuana Justice Act, which would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and effectively decriminalize the plant. Even if Harris wasn’t a bona fide cannabis stan back in 2010, she has more than demonstrated her position as an advocate for cannabis law reform and has backed that up in her voting record.

So again, I have no idea why we’re talking about this and how it is at all a controversy.

VICE’s Harry Cheadle accurately explains why this “scandal is the dumbest story of the year” and why it’s ultimately such a waste of time for voters:

This dynamic isn’t just bad because it clogs up our feeds with nonsense, and necessitates debunking. It ends up taking up space that could be occupied by more productive debates. It seems likely that all of the Democratic presidential contenders, save perhaps Joe Biden, will support cannabis legalization, but Harris is right that that’s far from the end of the story. Along with the question of how to issue DUIs for marijuana users, there’s debates to be had over whether and how to expunge the records of drug offenders, how licensing should work for legal cannabis businesses, and how to enact laws that actually bring an end to black market weed businesses, which has so far been a struggle in states that have legalized pot.

“All of these issues are a lot more important than whether Kamala Harris tried too hard to seem cool on the radio,” Cheadle added.

I couldn’t agree more.

Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez Is ‘Fine’ With Presidents Smoking Weed In The White House

Brendan Bures
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Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez Is ‘Fine’ With Presidents Smoking Weed In The White House

Good news for any cannabis consumers who hope to one day be President and light up in the White House — you have a supporter in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). In an interview with TMZ, AOC was asked if she’d be okay with a sitting president smoking weed. Her response was pretty chill.

“I don’t care. Yeah. I don’t care, it’s fine with me,” she said. “You’re not hurting anybody, you know?”

“There are plenty of people who drink,” AOC added. “They’ll go out to happy hour, they’ll go out and have one, two, three [drinks]. How is that different from anything else?”

The lawmaker’s comments come on the heels of many Democratic presidential nominees, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), openly embracing cannabis legalization ahead of the 2020 Election. AOC believes the change in policy is a positive one for Democrats.

“I certainly think people used to run away from it but we just need to accept that there is nothing more inherently damaging about marijuana than, say, legal substances like alcohol or anything else,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “So I’m glad that we’re moving towards a more just position as a party.”

RELATED: Could Democrats Use Trump Shutdown Strategy To Decriminalize Marijuana?

“Not just legalize marijuana, but to really make up for the damages done by the war on drugs and the people that were unjustly incarcerated by the war on drugs,” she added.

While Donald Trump attests to never doing any drugs in his life, including alcohol, the previous three Presidents all admitted to past cannabis use in their lifetimes. Maybe instead of voting a President Americans can have a beer with, soon enough they’ll voting for a President they can light up with.

The Importance Of Barneys New Partnership With A High End Cannabis Company

Maria Loreto
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The Importance Of Barneys New Partnership With A High End Cannabis Company

Like most luxury chain stores in America, Barneys is the kind of place that dictates what goes on in the shopping market. For cannabis enthusiasts then, it’s huge news to learn that the store is opening an exclusive space for marijuana paraphernalia.

The High End officially opens this March, and it’s the result of a collaboration with Beboe, a California based cannabis company that’s known for their luxurious products. A partnership of this type is not one you would have predicted a couple of years ago, but it’s one that’s happening now, a reflection of our culture’s changing perspective regarding marijuana.

RELATED: Spike Jonze And Jesse Williams Are Shooting A Secret Project For MedMen

“More than just a creative collision of cult-favorite brands, The High End also symbolizes Beboe’s tireless work and mission to destigmatize popular culture of preconceived notions of cannabis and its users,” explains the store’s press release.

As one of the first partnerships of its kind, The High End is a place where shoppers will be able to browse through bongs, pipes, and joints as if they were purchasing a new coat or a pair of shoes. “Being in a place where culturally it’s possible to have a luxury venue like this, where cannabis can be properly addressed and celebrated, is very exciting,”  Scott Campbell, co-founder of Beboe, tells The Fresh Toast. “I grew up in Texas where having a roach in your car was a felony. On this store cannabis is literally put on a marble pedestal. I think it’s a cultural milestone. Cannabis is completely out of the bottle and it’s not going back in.”

Photos courtesy of Beboe

Since cannabis is still a scheduled drug that’s bound by laws, the store won’t be able to sell marijuana directly. “We will have samples of our products on display and a representative speaking with people telling them about our products. We also have a delivery service so people can order products immediately. So we can’t sell it at the store, but you can touch it, feel it and have it delivered shortly afterwards,” explains Campbell.

RELATED: How PAX Plans To Truly Become The ‘Apple Of Marijuana’

Introducing marijuana to shopping spaces in the US is a big step for cannabis users and for marijuana culture in general. A store located in Barneys allows non-consumers to get acquainted with marijuana in a respected and controlled setting, hopefully opening their minds to it and removing some of the stigma that surrounds it.

Having a bong next to a shoe might not sound like a big change in the grand scheme of things, but it represents an evolving and more welcoming America. Although Barneys caters to an exclusive market, it’s a foot in the door for all sorts of marijuana distributors. In a couple of years, you could be buying marijuana at your local mall.

Peppa Pig Is Causing Kids To Speak With British Accents

Maria Loreto
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Peppa Pig Is Causing Kids To Speak With British Accents

It’s no secret that kids parrot sounds and phrases that surround them. It’s a trait that teaches them how to act like humans, but it can become annoying when they’re modeling these things after an animated pig that snorts every other sentence.

Janet Manley, Senior Features Editor  for Romper and mother of two, explains the toll that “Peppa Pig” has had on her family. She writes that after a 21 hour flight from New York to Australia, her kids had adopted Peppa’s British accent.  “She was calling me ‘Mummy’ and finishing her sentences with Peppa’s trademark snort.” Cute? “Two years later, she still oinks in conversation. Call it the Peppa effect.”

The article mentions other parents who’ve also experienced this effect. In fact, there are hundreds of them all over social media.

RELATED: Dog Relaxation Videos Are Your New Favorite Thing 

Roberto Rey Agudo, the language program director at Dartmouth College, tells Romper that the rise in young Peppa Pig accents is due to Peppa’s incredible popularity. “Peppa Pig has been such a phenomenon with the 2 to 5-year-old crowd,” he says. This is also conveniently the age when kids start to develop their accents, making it the perfect moment for the Peppa effect to strike.

If you’ve never seen an episode of “Peppa Pig,”  here’s a little taste of what these poor parents are going through:

Why Is New York City Embargoing CBD Products?

Danielle Guercio
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Why Is New York City Embargoing CBD Products?

Just like Los Angeles in late 2018, America’s other big trendsetting city, New York, suddenly outlawed CBD infused food and beverages in a seemingly backwards snap. Announced the same week as the federal relaxations on hemp from the Farm Bill, New York’s Department of Health decided to crack down on cannabidiol dosed prepared food items— not tinctures or manufactured foods, which they see as dietary supplements, landing under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration. This means those CBD cookies, brownies, and lattes are cancelled, for now. 

According to local news site Gothamist, “The DOH apparently does not consider CBD to be a food item unto itself, but rather an additive. The DOH did not respond to a question about who would be considered a “qualified expert” in order to have CBD approved.”

RELATED: New York Restricts CBD-Infused Food And Beverages

This sudden and silly turn against the tide is not going to do anything to make CBD safer. If New York regulators really cared about safety, they would follow the lead of states that already have lab testing requirements and make pathways to safe products rather than banning them outright due to a lack of information and infrastructure.

New York food bible Eater writes, “This will impact an increasingly robust market in New York, one that’s following a national swell of CBD food and drink sales. Bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries have all jumped into the game.” 

CBD is seemingly everywhere from the corner bodega to the boutique shop, and preventing small businesses from providing it to their clientele is limiting in a grossly unfair way. It would take a simple testing initiative and some guidelines to bring the city up to speed, plus training for the on-site executors, but Mayor Bill DeBlasio seems more interested in beating out Governor Andrew Cuomo to become the first Italian American President in 2020.

RELATED: How New Yorkers Are Fighting For A More Diverse, Inclusive Legal Weed Scene

This Sicilian American writer would prefer they both focus on the betterment of their existing constituency, which includes reinvesting in New York communities harmed by cannabis prohibition before adding more bans to the long list of no-nos. CBD can help countless New Yorkers dealing with pain, inflammation, addiction, and more, but it seems until they can find a way to permit and tax CBD activity, they’d rather partially withhold it from the public.

It’s no secret that NYC is a deeply capitalist city, and CBD entrepreneur and restaurateur Ron Silver used this angle to plea to the better senses of the metropolis’ financial sector. He opinesfor Crain’s Business New York, “If New York wants to compete in the most exciting growth industry in our lifetime, we must adopt a robust and affirmative stance on hemp-based extracts and CBD in foods and supplements.”

There are few things cherished in NYC more than the mighty dollar, and ignoring this multibillion dollar pocket of growth that is happening right now— not just a projection— is done at the peril of those who can’t accept cannabis’ place in our future.

Silver continues, “The informed public wants this product. And will get it. The smart localities will welcome it and reap the rewards in their tax base (or lose out, period). The market is moving and it is up to the local regulators to decide if they want to thrive with the industry or not. Because the industry will thrive; it will just relocate to where it is welcome.”

Should Voters Trust 2020 Democrats’ Newfound Support Of Marijuana?

Mike Adams
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Should Voters Trust 2020 Democrats’ Newfound Support Of Marijuana?

Now that there seems to be increased support on Capitol Hill for marijuana reform, namely among those Democratic lawmakers taking a shot at the presidency in 2020, some cannabis advocates are splitting hairs over which of them supported cannabis reforms in the past and those who have recently jumped on the bandwagon.

Senators Kamala Harris of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are part of this conversation. Both lawmakers were once opposed to progressive pot policies, but over the past few years have evolved.

But this shift in opinion could be an illusion, some advocates say. Although many states have legalized the leaf for recreational use and more presidential candidates are onboard with legalizing at the national level doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. If history has told us anything, it’s that the path can be reversed.

RELATED: Could Legal Marijuana Swing Midterms For Democrats?

“A lot of people who were around in the ‘70s told me we went through this before,” Douglas Hiatt, a marijuana reform activist and attorney, told the Washington Examiner. “We had a big wave of decriminalization. Lots of states you wouldn’t expect were decriminalizing and things were looking good … then, boom, the whole thing got turned around in four years and Reagan restarted the war on drugs. Everyone thought it was over.”

This attitude appears to be one of those deeply rooted in old-timey conspiracy theories and sheer paranoia. Even if it wanted to, it unlikely that the United States could launch back into another full-fledged drug war scenario. There has been too much truth spread about these “failed” tactics to ever get Congress behind it, and the citizens would surely revolt against any rekindling of these hammer fisted ways.

Even Joe Biden, who has supported some questionable drug-related policies in the past, has said that his support on those matters was “a big mistake.” Biden is another potential contender for the Democratic nomination for 2020.

Other marijuana advocates are not at all concerned about the anti-pot records of Harris and Klobuchar. What’s past is past, in their opinion. But most still agree that Biden is too much of a political dinosaur ever to win the support of the cannabis community.

RELATED: Why Intelligent Cannabis Reform Is Good Politics For 2020

“No way, absolutely not, I would not support Biden,” said Adam Eidinger, a pot advocate who was instrumental in legalizing in the District of Columbia. “Until he sits down with me and begs for my support, I wouldn’t support him. I don’t trust him at all — he’s someone who could have done something in the vice president’s office, and they wouldn’t touch it.”

There are plenty of Democratic presidential candidates that have been consistently in the cannabis corner. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, have all stood in support of ending prohibition. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, too, has been a vocal supporter for marijuana legalization.

There is even speculation that President Trump will up the ante by embracing federal legalization to win another term. Democrats have said for months that they expect Trump will use this tactic if Congress doesn’t use 2019 to pass far-reaching pot reforms.

Want To Be 25 Percent Happier? Make Sure You’re Doing This

Amy Hansen
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Want To Be 25 Percent Happier? Make Sure You’re Doing This

The next time you feel the urge to move to another city, or even another part of the city you currently reside, you may want to consult your BFF.

But before we get to the “why” of this statement, consider for a moment that a recent-ish poll found that only one-third of Americans reported being happy in 2017. That’s depressing.

The findings reveal that we’re all basically a bunch of stressed-out, lonely, overworked and unsatisfied people. But, as Best Life reminds us, we can all take comfort in the words of Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He says there is another reason we’re unhappy and it has nothing to do with how terrible we all are.

https://giphy.com/gifs/9wHtWs7MJct1u

RELATED: Suffering From Chronic Stress? Marijuana Can Help With That

According to Dolan, those who live within a mile of a close friend are 25 percent more likely to feel happy than those who don’t. As Dolan writes in his book, Happiness By Design, people around us are way bigger influences than we think:

We are wired, automatically and unconsciously, to mimic and absorb the emotions of others around us… Since other people matter so much to your behavior and happiness, the proximity of your family and friends is something to take into account when thinking about a new job or place to live. A basic starting question for any locational decision should be, ‘Where do the people who contribute most to my happiness live?’

But just because you live close to your bestie doesn’t mean you are automatically going to get happy. Instead, your happiness stems from the act of going to visit.  

https://giphy.com/gifs/boy-meets-world-3o6gEdtXJp2BwTFdi8

RELATED: Science Tells Us Exactly How Marijuana Makes Us Feel Happy

As Best Life summarizes, “having a friend who you see on most days boosts your sense of well-being by the same amount as earning an extra $100,000 a year. 

That seems a little incredible, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with being close to someone who, if nothing else, can provide a shoulder to cry on when you realize how unhappy you are.

Here’s How You Can Learn A New Language By Watching Netflix

Maria Loreto
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Here’s How You Can Learn A New Language By Watching Netflix

It’s a known fact among bilinguals that watching movies and listening to music in other languages expands brains and brings people closer to understanding new words. Now, with the accessibility that technology provides, there’s never been a better time to learn a new language. There’s all sorts of learning apps available for download, and then there’s Netflix, an app that allows you to watch hundreds of shows in all sorts of languages.

While exposing your ear to different languages helps, in order to learn a new language from scratch you need some sort of guidance and a translator. Language Learning With Netflix is a free Chrome extension that allows you to select the language you want to learn and have its subtitles appear onscreen. These subtitles are accompanied by a translation in a language you understand.

RELATED: 5 Tips: Learn A New Language In Time For Summer Vacay

The extension has several features that are also useful, allowing users to pick a level (beginner or intermediate) that will provide simpler or more complex vocabulary.  If you hover over a word, the extension acts as a dictionary, allowing you to see its different definitions. You can also adapt the speed of the subtitles, allowing you to slow down the program for better understanding. It won’t make for the best viewing experience, but it beats Duolingo in terms of fun.

Although this tool isn’t the most apt to binge the new season of your favorite Netflix show, it’s a good idea for when you want to re-watch old favorites or want to watch a crappy movie and feel like you’re not completely wasting your time.

Photo courtesy www.quotecatalog.com

Maury Povich Once ‘Inhaled’ A Marijuana Strain Called ‘Connie Chung’

Brendan Bures
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Maury Povich Once ‘Inhaled’ A Marijuana Strain Called ‘Connie Chung’

“What do you think, I’m gonna pull a Bill Clinton and say I never inhaled?” So said Maury Povich when asked recently if he had ever smoked weed. In other words, Povich isn’t playing coy about any past marijuana usage, as we’ve seen from other notable celebrities as of late. (That goes for Sen. Kamala Harris).

“Now it’s so legal, it’s like nothing,” Povich said during an appearance on Sirius XM’s “Sway in the Morning”.

Povich, one of the most popular daytime television hosts in America, isn’t a cannabis connoisseur by any means. But he did share a tale of traveling to Washington so he could smoke a marijuana strain named after his wife, veteran journalist Connie Chung.

The couple first learned of the strain from a friend, none other than comedian Lewis Black. According to Povich, Black was working on a story in Washington as cannabis was becoming legal in the state and, at some point, came across the “Connie Chung” in his findings.

“Lewis called up my wife and said, ‘Connie, do you know that there is a strain of grass called the Connie Chung?’” Povich said. “So you know, we had to try that.”

RELATED: Oprah Smokes Weed, Says Gayle King

The couple actually addressed the Connie Chung strain once before, during an appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen”. The strain is “very soothing and tastes like burning campfire, wood, and spice,” Cohen discovered. According to Leafly, “This [hybrid] has proven to be a heavy hitter and guarantees to lower your eyelids substantially.”

Chung was tickled by the strain, too, and gave Cohen a sample to try.

“I’m very easy to grow, I require less attention and care, and I give good yield,” Chung said. “I’m perfect for daytime use when facing deadlines, need to be alert and imaginative.”

The Company That Promised To Send Humans To Mars Is Bankrupt

Maria Loreto
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The Company That Promised To Send Humans To Mars Is Bankrupt

Mars One, the company that promised to take humans to Mars, has released a statement announcing that they’re bankrupt. There go our dreams of colonizing space.

The company’s statement explains that they are actively looking for a solution to bankruptcy and that they’re in conversations with potential investors who could help them secure their mission’s next steps.

Via Mars One:

Mars One will redirect its focus. For the execution of the actual voyage to Mars, the company will continue to seek strategic collaboration with renowned companies and organizations involved with the travel to Mars. Mars One itself will focus on the even more inspiring ‘being there’, the adventurous story of humans actually living on Mars, making The Red Planet their new home.”

Mars One was an ambitious project that gained a large following quickly, although many experts and scientists doubted them from the beginning. The project was first announced in 2012, gathering over 200,000 signatures from people who wanted to volunteer for the program. The initial goal was to send a rover to Mars by 2018 and land a ship and crew by 2022. Over the years, the project faced many hurdles, eventually forcing the company to realize their initial ambitions were way too optimistic. They first pushed the voyage to 2026 and then ultimately 2031.

RELATED: NASA Is Attempting To Fly A Helicopter Over Mars

CEO and founder Bas Lansdorp was criticized for presenting misleading information and for never explaining how he planned to get passengers to Mars. At one point, he suggested the development of a reality show of the project as a way of funding it.

Mars One was devised as a settlement mission, finding passengers who’d be willing to leave Earth and stay on Mars for a good amount of years, gathering data and creating a life in space. Although there are now several movies and shows set on Mars and everyone is interested in space travel, we still have no clue how to get there. Elon Musk? NASA? Are we getting to Mars before global warming consumes us all?

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