OkCupid Says That People Are Prioritizing Politics Over Sex

Maria Loreto

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January 25, 2019

OkCupid Says That People Are Prioritizing Politics Over Sex

Since OkCupid‘s inception in 2004, the website has become one of the leading dating sites in the world, creating matches and gathering data on people’s dating habits. OkCupid works differently than most other dating apps, in that it relies on questionnaires to determine matches instead of swipes.

The company tells The Huffington Post that for the first time ever, users in cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles placed more value on compatible politics than great sex. This trend has doubled in women all over the country since 2016. “Without a doubt, the recent presidential election and current administration have driven young women in particular, but millennials of both genders, to say, ‘Swipe left if you support Trump,’ or ‘I don’t even want to see you as a match if you don’t vote,” says Melissa Hobley, chief marketing officer of OkCupid.

Before you use OkCupid, you must fill out a brief questionnaire that asks general questions about you, including your sexual and political preferences. The quiz is built with the input of experts and psychologists and it’s tinkered every once in a while to improve the odds of successful matches. It makes sense that in our current political climate, users are valuing their politics now more than ever.

According to the app’s stats, conservative men have been having more trouble dating, which in turn has lead to claims of discrimination and a rise of right wing dating apps. OkCupid is not concerned with those who accuse them of making it harder to find matches though: “This is so counter to what previous generations did, or what your own parents told you: ‘Don’t talk politics or religion until you’ve been dating a while,’” says Hobley. “Not only are people not waiting till the third or fourth date ― people are saying, ‘I don’t even want to see you as a potential match if you don’t vote.’”

Millennials and Gen-Z members are valuing politics starting at a younger age, so this trend is unlikely to go away. Even though constant conversations about politics are draining, we could do worse than having a society that values the state of the world.

How Marijuana’s THC Breaks Down The Toxic Plaques Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Trey Reckling

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January 25, 2019

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How Marijuana’s THC Breaks Down The Toxic Plaques Of Alzheimer’s Disease

In 1906, scientist Alois Alzheimer was the first to describe the toxic plaques he found in the microscopic spaces between nerve cells in the brain. More than a century later, we know his name because over five million Americans suffer from the disease named for him. It is expected to affect three times that many people within 50 years as a new case is identified every 68 seconds.

Two abnormalities found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, or AD, are the existence of tangles of misfolded proteins and reduced connections between cells, causing diminished function and cell death. In advanced stages, the brain shrinks in affected areas.

A third abnormality is the build up of plaques, especially in the area of the brain regulating memory. Plaques are made up of peptides like amyloid-beta or Abeta. It is not yet known if plaques could be helping to cause Alzheimer’s disease or whether they are one of the results of the condition.

There is no drug currently available that prevents or reverses AD. Some clinicians argue whether the efficacy of available prescription therapies are worth their high price. This opens the door to great hopes from some that cannabis may hold a better answer for these patients.

In a 2006 study published in Molecular Pharmaceutics, researchers concluded “THC is a considerably superior inhibitor of Abeta aggregation” compared to currently available pharmaceuticals.

Another study published July 2014 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease investigated whether THC could slow or halt the well-known symptoms of AD.

“These sets of data strongly suggest that THC could be a potential therapeutic treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease through multiple functions and pathways,” according to the study.

In 2016, Salk Institute scientist David Schubert announced, “although other studies have offered evidence that cannabinoids might be neuroprotective against the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, we believe our study is the first to demonstrate that cannabinoids affect both inflammation and amyloid beta accumulation in nerve cells.”

Researchers in the Netherlands studied 50 patients with dementia, which is most often caused by AD. They found no therapeutic effect of cannabinoid therapy. A smaller study of 11 patients in Israel concluded that “delusions, agitation/aggression, irritability, apathy, sleep and caregiver distress” were all reduced with the help of cannabis.

Cannabis will not be a panacea for all that ails us. There is some hope in these early studies of how cannabis may help patients with Alzheimer’s, but it is still too early to make promises. Possible connections between cannabis and AD are turning the heads of some of the finest researchers from Stanford to Tel Aviv University. That may be enough to inspire more studies and continued hope.

This Marijuana Company Will Give Free Weed To Government Workers Affected By Shutdown

Brendan Bures

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January 25, 2019

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This Marijuana Company Will Give Free Weed To Government Workers Affected By Shutdown

Access to medical marijuana probably isn’t your most immediate thought when considering the negative impacts the government’s shutdown has on federal workers’ livelihood. But with 800,000 furloughed workers not getting paid anytime soon, one business in the cannabis industry wanted to help them out where they could—by giving them free weed.

BudTrader.com, one of the largest online cannabis marketplaces which bills itself as the “Craigslist of weed,” will donate free cannabis to federal workers struggling to pay for their medical marijuana, as The Hill first reported.

“To any Federal Employee unable to pay for their medical cannabis due to the Government shutdown, BudTrader will donate to you the allowable, legal limit according to California adult use rules and regulations to help ease your suffering in this difficult time,” BudTrader wrote on the company’s Facebook account Monday.

BudTrader wants to make two important caveats clear: a) all communications through the company’s website will remain strictly confidential and b) they aren’t passing out charity weed to help unpaid federal workers chillax. Instead the company will aim to supply patients suffering from chronic pain or other illnesses who can’t currently afford to maintain their necessary medicine dosage.

“I don’t think federal employees are getting enough love and support,” Brad McLaughlin, the company’s CEO, said in a press release. “In these tough times, we want to extend the offer of a donation of medical cannabis to any federal worker affected by the shutdown.”

The company will donate the “maximum legal amount” to government employees. Bud Trader also told The Hill it’s working with an attorney to “ensure that all cannabis donations given to federal employees are confidential and compliant with California Cannabis adult use laws and regulations.”

Is It Possible Marijuana Makes People Smarter?

Mike Adams

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January 25, 2019

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Is It Possible Marijuana Makes People Smarter?

It was once believed that marijuana was a gateway to idiocy. Some people were of the opinion that no matter how much potential a person had when he or she landed on this planet, smoking pot was the one sure-fire way to drag them down the burned-out rabbit hole where they would be doomed to spend the rest of their days acting like Beavis and/or Butthead.

But science has since proven that marijuana does not make people stupid. It actually does the complete opposite. Although it might be a bit controversial to say that marijuana makes people smarter, it does appear to increase awareness and open the doors of perception.

Cannabis users are typically more health conscious than non-users. Many of them have used pot to lose weight, fight eating disorders and even unleash themselves from the grips of alcohol and drug addiction. But it goes deeper.

Some studies have shown that people living in legal states are now using pot as an alternative to prescription drugs. There is even evidence that the federal legalization of marijuana could help dig the United States out of the pits of opioid addiction – a scourge that is killing tens of thousands of people every year.

It stands to reason that if cannabis users are making better choices with respect to their overall health that they are first getting educated about the science of the plant. Although there is a limited amount of research out there proving that marijuana is a definitive treatment for all of the ailments that people purport it to be, there are a number of respected studies showing that cannabis has several therapeutic benefits.

One study published last year the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found evidence that cannabis could help with chronic pain and other conditions. Of course, it was soon after this research was published that data began to surface showing that prescription painkillers sales were down in states with medical marijuana laws on the books.

Even U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions admits that marijuana may have some medicinal value. “There are credible scientific studies that show where medical marijuana is legal, opioid overdose deaths have gone down,” Sessions said earlier last week.

People interested in how cannabis might be able to improve their overall health and well being will also start looking in to why this plant is still mostly illegal in the United States. This means getting in touch with the history of marijuana prohibition. It is at this point that they will learn how it is one of the biggest scams in of the 20th Century – one that is racial charged and still contributing to hundreds of thousands of arrests every year. They’ll also see that very little is being done in Congress to change the situation.

Marijuana may not make people smarter, but it has never contributed to the dumbing down of society either. If this were the case, the herb would not have made the progress it has over the past few decades.

Chinese Companies Offering Dating Leave For Women

Amy Hansen

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January 24, 2019

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Chinese Companies Offering Dating Leave For Women

Here’s a curious solution to the age old problem of how to get single ladies married already. There’s nothing more depressing than having to be around spinsters, right? What could be worse are Chinese companies offering dating leave for women who are single and under 30.

Two companies in China are giving their single “non-frontline” employees over the age of 30 an extra eight days of vacation over the Chinese New Year to to “go home and date”. Hangzhou Songcheng Performance and Hangzhou Songcheng Tourism Management, both located in Hangzhou in eastern China, are implementing this “dating leave” in hopes that it will give some of their more sheltered women workers a leg up on love, so to speak.

“Female employees mostly work in internal functional departments, and some are show performers,” Huang Lei, a human resources manager at one of the firms, told a local publication.

“They have less contact with the outside world; thus we hope to give more leave to them to give them more time and opportunities to be in contact with the opposite sex.”

According to The Independent, this dating leave announcement come after a secondary school, also in Hangzhou, introduced a new policy to give single, stressed-out teachers an extra two days off every month of “love leave” to relax and help lift staff morale.

Single women of a certain age in China (late 20s, early 30s) are considered undesirable. You can thank traditional beliefs for that ridiculousness. But in this day and age, many women are choosing to be single in favor of a career. But hey, an extra week of vacation just gives them more time to figure out how to take over their boss’s job.

The Super Bowl Allows Cannabis Ads In The Stadium, But Not On TV

Debra Borchardt

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January 24, 2019

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The Super Bowl Allows Cannabis Ads In The Stadium, But Not On TV

On February 3, the 53rd Super Bowl in Atlanta Georgia will decide the league champion of football for the 2018 NFL season. If you are in attendance at the Super Bowl, you will see CBD coffee ads in the stadium, but if you are watching the game from home you will be not be exposed to any cannabis related advertising.

New York-based Acreage Holdings, Inc. (CSE: ACRG.U) wanted to run an advocacy ad during the game. The ad featured three medical marijuana patients saying how the product had helped them. It made no health claims for their own products and it didn’t promote the purchase of the company’s products.

CBS which is airing the game sent an email to the company saying, “CBS will not be accepting any ads for medical marijuana at this time.” The ad would have cost approximately $5 million.

Acreage currently has the largest footprint of any cannabis company in the country with operations/licenses in 19 states. “It’s a public service announcement really more than it is an advertisement,” said Harris Damashek, Acreage’s chief marketing officer.

Football fans at the stadium will, however, see advertisements for Baristas Coffee Company, Inc. (OTCPK: BCCI) White Coffee and the new Baristas EnrichaRoast CBD Coffee. The White Coffee can be purchased through Amazon (www.trywhitecoffee.com) and the company’s new EnrichaRoast CBD Coffee (www.baristas.tv) which uses a proprietary technology introducing CBD to the beans after they are roasted can be purchased on the company’s website.

The company said that the ads will run throughout the day in and around the stadium before, during, and after the game, and will include a special offer to send a message to Maroon 5. The spots will be seen on numerous digital displays including mobile devices allowing fans to connect via special Portals.

Baristas said that the CBD ads are only available due to Canna Broadcast Medias’ (OTCPK: CBMJ) geofencing platform which will deliver ads in and around the stadium. Canna Broadcast Media specializes in getting mainstream media cleared promoting the cannabis sector including network TV, radio, and digital ads targeting those who wish to take advantage of the incredible investment opportunities that exist in the cannabis sector.

“Having Baristas White Coffee and our new EnrichaRoast CBD coffee ads at the Super Bowl will give us tremendous exposure,” said Barry Henthorn Barista CEO. “We are thankful to the NFL, ReelTime Media, and Canna Broadcast Media for making this possible. Baristas is growing its market awareness and expanding its product offerings.”

Marijuana Super Bowl History

This isn’t the first time cannabis tried to insert itself into Super Bowl week. In 2014, the Marijuana Policy Project put up a series of billboards highlighting the safety of marijuana and challenged the NFL’s punishment of pot smoking vs. the approval of alcohol. Smart Approaches to Marijuana, the anti-marijuana group went on the defense with their own billboards, which sparked a billboard battle.

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Michael Caine ‘Laughed For Five Hours’ The First Time He Tried Marijuana

Brendan Bures

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January 24, 2019

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Michael Caine ‘Laughed For Five Hours’ The First Time He Tried Marijuana

Michael Caine is acting royalty now, but in the 60s, he hung out with rock legends like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Though he was a heavy drinker and admits to smoking 80 cigarettes a day at one point, Caine abstained from drug usage others of that era are well known for.

That is except that time he tried marijuana, as Caine recently revealed to Rolling Stone. Though this isn’t Caine’s first time telling this story, it’s worthy of revisiting.

“I was at a party with [actor] Richard Harris and I said, ‘I’ve never smoked marijuana,’ and he said, ‘Well, smoke one.’”

What a wonderful scene. The guy who played Albus Dumbledore lighting up with the guy who played Alfred Pennyworth. Have to say, very on-brand for Dumbledore. Not quite as expected for Mr. Pennyworth.

https://twitter.com/BBCFrontRow/status/1040346259704434689

“I smoked the marijuana and I must have been terribly tense, because I laughed for five hours,” Caine said. “I couldn’t get a taxi home because I was standing at one o’clock in the morning on the pavement trying to wave a taxi: “I’m not picking him up, he’s nuts or drunk.”

The experience made Caine pass on marijuana, particularly because he believed it wouldn’t benefit his career long term.

“I was told by my doctor not to do it,” Caine said. “He said, ‘You’re an actor, you’ve got to remember lines, and marijuana is murder for the memory.’”

Caine reveals plenty of other great tidbits throughout the interview, like how the Beatles gifted the Rolling Stones their first No. 1 hit, and how his marriage has remained strong through 47 years (“separate bathrooms”). Our favorite is probably the career advice Caine received from John Wayne, which convinced the actor never to wear suede shoes again. Seriously.

“John Wayne said, ‘Never wear suede shoes,’ pointing at my shoes. I said, ‘Why not?’h He said, ‘’Cause you’re gonna be famous, and you’re gonna be in the toilet taking a piss and the guy next door to you is going to turn and recognize you and piss all over your shoes, kid.’ I gave all my suede shoes away to people who were unknown,” Caine said.

Is The World Health Organization Punting On Global CBD Reform?

Mike Adams

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January 24, 2019

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Is The World Health Organization Punting On Global CBD Reform?

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) was supposed to make a decision on rescheduling cannabis in the coming months, a report from Cannabis Wire indicates that might not happen at all this year. It is a situation that could not only jam up the course of international cannabis reform, but it is one that stands to sabotage the emergence of a global CBD market, the report reads.

Last month, the agency’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence was set to release a review of cannabis and its derivatives. There was hope that the assessment would lead all good things, especially for cannabidiol or CBD.

After all, WHO published a report in 2017 stating that “CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential… and is generally well tolerated with a good safety profile.” Many believed this meant the end of CBD as a Schedule I drug in the grips of international drug treaties.

But the assessment never came.

WHO said in December that it needed more time to mull over the details before it could reevaluate the outlaw classification of the cannabis plant. This news was concerning to marijuana advocates, especially considering that WHO is set to take a vote in this issue in March. Without a proper assessment, they feared the cannabis issue would be disregarded completely ahead of a final vote.

WHO representatives now say that vote may not take place at all.

“It is too early to foresee any possible development of this issue,” a WHO spokesperson told the news source.

Even if everything would sort of fall into place ahead of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ 62nd Session in Vienna, there is still a possibility that a vote on cannabis could experience further delays. Sources close to the UN believe a vote might not happen until 2020, even if the cannabis review is published before March.

As it stands, cannabis is still considered one of the most dangerous drugs in the world, according to international drug law. A recommendation to pull the cannabis plant out of this ranking would give national bound by prohibition an opportunity to legalize for recreational use without fear of repercussions. Considering that Canada and Uruguay have already made this move without any change to the law, we’re not sure it really matters. It would make it easier for the United States to come to terms on whether to take this reform nationwide, as well as open up the potential for more research. Eliminating CBD from the treaties completely would also open up a global trade for this non-intoxicating compound.

But we might have to wait another year to see how it all pans out.

Kylie Jenner Hints She Is Married; Kate Hudson Raising Daughter With ‘Genderless’ Approach

Naughty Gossip

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January 24, 2019

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Kylie Jenner Hints She Is Married; Kate Hudson Raising Daughter With ‘Genderless’ Approach

Kylie Jenner Hinted She Is Married

Kylie Jenner posted a series of three shots of herself from a photo shoot.

Two of the posts were captionless, and with the last one, she once again stirred up speculation that she and her boyfriend Travis Scott already got secretly married. Jenner captioned that shot “extraño a mi esposo,” which is Spanish for “I miss my husband.”

Not hubby, the affectionate nickname she’s used since October for Scott. Husband. Well…

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9OBWwnGtW/

Kate Hudson raising daughter with ‘genderless’ approach

Kate Hudson opened up about raising daughter Rani Rose, who she welcomed with boyfriend Danny Fujikawa in October, with a “genderless” approach.

The 39-year-old actress, who welcomed her first child with boyfriend Danny Fujikawa in October, recently opened up about her parenting style with 3-month-old Rani in a new interview with AOL.

When asked if she does anything differently when it comes to parenting a girl compared to boys, Hudson explained to the outlet that: “[Having a daughter] doesn’t really change my approach, but there’s definitely a difference.”

“I think you just raise your kids individually regardless — like a genderless [approach],” she continued. “We still don’t know what she’s going to identify as.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0rh4AAy_M/

Carrie Underwood Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 2

He’s here! Carrie Underwood gave birth to her second child, a boy, with her husband, Mike Fisher, on Monday, January 21.

“Jacob Bryan Fisher entered the world in the wee hours of the morning on Monday,” the country superstar, 35, announced on Instagram on Wednesday, January 23, alongside a slideshow of photos of her family with the newborn. “His mom, dad and big brother couldn’t be happier for God to trust them with taking care of this little miracle! Our hearts are full, our eyes are tired and our lives are forever changed. Life is good…”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs_U3ooAyrJ/

Um, There’s A Valentine’s Day Sweater You Can Wear With Your Dog

Maria Loreto

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January 24, 2019

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Um, There’s A Valentine’s Day Sweater You Can Wear With Your Dog

Single people are not particularly fond of Valentine’s Day, and it’s easy to understand why. This Hallmark holiday needlessly and relentlessly magnifies singledom. The entire day mocks those not in relationships for their lonely existence and inability to post #CoupleGoals pics on Instagram. (Pay no attention to those who actually choose to be single.)

But, wait! Lonely hearts just got closer to their hashtag dreams. If your idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day includes a companion that’s dependable, snuggly and loves to cover you in kisses, Zulily has got your back.

Introducing the company’s newest fashion accessory that celebrates the endless love you have with your better half — your dog— with an amazing two-headed sweater. You read that correctly.

This sweater provides a strong case for those who’d rather stay in on Valentine’s Day, keeping their dog close and snug in order to eat some snacks and have the perfect movie marathon. The sweater comes in multiple styles and can fit humans and dogs, displaying phrases like “Double Trouble” and “Heartbreaker” because what is V-Day without some cheesy quips?

You can purchase the sweater on Zulily’s website. What are you waiting for?

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

OkCupid Says That People Are Prioritizing Politics Over Sex

How Marijuana’s THC Breaks Down The Toxic Plaques Of Alzheimer’s Disease

This Marijuana Company Will Give Free Weed To Government Workers Affected By Shutdown

Is It Possible Marijuana Makes People Smarter?

Chinese Companies Offering Dating Leave For Women

The Super Bowl Allows Cannabis Ads In The Stadium, But Not On TV

Marijuana Super Bowl History

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Michael Caine ‘Laughed For Five Hours’ The First Time He Tried Marijuana

Is The World Health Organization Punting On Global CBD Reform?

Kylie Jenner Hints She Is Married; Kate Hudson Raising Daughter With ‘Genderless’ Approach

Kylie Jenner Hinted She Is Married

Kate Hudson raising daughter with ‘genderless’ approach

Carrie Underwood Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 2

Um, There’s A Valentine’s Day Sweater You Can Wear With Your Dog

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