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Study: People Are Willing To Pay $300 For A Good Night’s Sleep

Maria Loreto
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Study: People Are Willing To Pay $300 For A Good Night’s Sleep

The average American sleeps less than seven hours a night, with many reporting that they spend an average of 99 horrible nights a year. It makes sense then that people would be willing to pay significant amounts of money to get some rest.

This data, compiled by Mattress Firm, surveyed more than 3,000 people and was aiming to find the most significant sleep trends of 2018. The study discovered that half of Americans get six hours and 17 minutes of sleep, and they report around 106 nights of perfect sleep. However, most participants also reported 99 horrible nights, a number that amounts to 30 percent of their sleep year. Participants that slept with pets reported feeling more rested and those who slept on their backs also managed to find better quality of sleep than others.

“Bedtime routines and habits can make or break the quality of sleep you get each night, and how we sleep has a direct impact on how well we function every day,” says Sunni Goodman, Mattress Firm’s VP of Communications & Customer Experience. “If we’re not well-rested, we can’t perform our best.”

A study from SWNS Digital reports that the average American is so affected by poor sleep that they would be willing to pay $290 a night in order to find “perfect sleep.”

The importance of sleep is well documented, affecting your quality of life and your health. Bustle reports that poor sleep damages your lifestyle and adds on to your health care costs, easily exceeding $150,000.

“Poor sleep, studies show, contributes to decreased energy and work and athletic performance, as well as memory lapses, anxiety, irritability, depression, stress, mood swings, weight gain, marital strife, and a host of health problems,” says Wayne Caswell, Modern Health Talk’s founding editor.

Still, almost $300 a night? To sleep? Were only rich people surveyed?

FDA Commissioner Outlines Pathways For CBD In Food And Supplements

Debra Borchardt
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FDA Commissioner Outlines Pathways For CBD In Food And Supplements

President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill last week that included provisions that eliminate several federal barriers to the cultivation, production, and commercial development of hemp and hemp products. It also eliminated hemp from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. “Hemp” is now defined as “the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a statement by Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb on the agency’s regulation of products containing “cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds,” in which the Commissioner acknowledged there are “pathways” for FDA to consider “circumstances in which certain cannabis-derived compounds might be permitted in a food or dietary supplement.”

Many people immediately assumed that with the signing of the bill, hemp-derived CBD and products made with hemp-CBD would be legal. The FDA has the authority to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds, and declared that such ingredients – clearly including hemp and hemp derivatives, such as cannabidiol (CBD) – are treated “as we do any other FDA-regulated products.”

Gottlieb restated FDA’s concerns over “drug claims being made about products not approved by the FDA that claim to contain CBD or other cannabis-derived compounds,” as well as the agency’s position that under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) it is “unlawful … to introduce food containing added CBD or THC into interstate commerce, or to market CBD or THC products as, or in, dietary supplements, regardless of whether the substances are hemp-derived.”

Dr. Gottlieb also emphasized that FDA “has authority to issue a regulation” that would allow these naturally-occurring hemp compounds in a food or dietary supplement. He also stated that FDA is now evaluating whether to pursue such a process and clarified that the agency “would only consider doing so” if it determines “that all other requirements in the FD&C Act are met, including those required for food additives or new dietary ingredients.”

“The food and supplement industry should read Dr. Gottlieb’s statement first and foremost as an indication that FDA shares our desire for hemp and CBD products to be properly regulated under federal law, and now recognizes its statutory authority to address the agency’s view of the prior-drug status of some Cannabis compounds through rulemaking,” noted American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) President Michael McGuffin. “The relevance of this authority was first seen by AHPA’s Cannabis Committee over two years ago, and AHPA identified this publicly in May of this year as an approach that FDA should be encouraged to consider.”

“At the same time, the Commissioner’s emphasis on the legal requirements that must be met for food additives or new dietary ingredients (NDIs) is a clear signal of FDA’s thinking, and we should not be surprised if any forthcoming FDA action focuses on compliance with the law’s provisions for NDI notifications for supplement ingredients, and for hemp ingredients used in foods to meet the provisions to establish these as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) under the law,” added McGuffin.

Commissioner Gottlieb’s statement also announced that FDA intends to convene a public meeting in the near future to discuss products that contain hemp-derived ingredients, including food and supplement products.

“AHPA has been engaged in issues related to the safe use and responsible commerce of lawfully marketed products derived from Cannabis since 2010 and we will continue to actively participate in any and all relevant FDA meetings and rulemaking activities,” noted Jane Wilson, AHPA’s Director of Program Development and liaison to the AHPA Cannabis Committee.

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Marijuana Legalization Would Eliminate Drug Smuggling Better Than Trump’s Wall

Brendan Bures
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Marijuana Legalization Would Eliminate Drug Smuggling Better Than Trump’s Wall

If a primary goal of Donald Trump’s presidency is to curtail Mexican drug cartels from smuggling illicit substances across the border, he should seriously consider cannabis legalization. In addition, hiring more border agents while creating better channels of legal immigration is the way to go, according to a new study.

Conducted by David Bier at the Cato Institute, the new report demonstrates that less marijuana is being smuggled across the border amidst cannabis legalization at the state level. Bier reached these conclusions by studying recent government data of Border Patrol drug seizures at the border.

“State-level marijuana legalization has undercut demand for illegal Mexican marijuana, which in turn has decreased the amount of drug smuggling into the United States across the southwest border,” Bier writes.

“Based on Border Patrol seizures, smuggling has fallen 78 percent over just a five-year period. Because marijuana was the primary drug smuggled between ports of entry, where Border Patrol surveils, the value of the agency’s seizures overall — on a per-agent basis — has declined 70 percent,” he adds.

It goes without saying that 2018 represented a banner year for cannabis legalization. In total, 10 states have legalized recreational cannabis while 33 states have legalized medical marijuana. More states are expected to either expand their medical marijuana programs and/or legalize cannabis for adult use.

Bier’s research also calls into question Trump’s current proposal to construct a wall and increase border patrol to stop drug smuggling. Trump’s insistence on his Border Wall has led to government shutdown that won’t be resolved until the President can have his wall built.


Data visual via the Cato Institute

“Given these trends, a border wall or more Border Patrol agents to stop drugs between ports of entry makes little sense,” Bier wrote. “State marijuana legalization starting in 2014 did more to reduce marijuana smuggling than the doubling of Border Patrol agents or the construction of hundreds of miles of border fencing did from 2003 to 2009.”

Rep. Matthew Gaetz (R-FL) made a similar argument at a congressional hearing last week, when he told the head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security her job would be a lot easier if the federal government ended marijuana prohibition. Gaetz cited an inspector general’s report from earlier this year, which showed that from 2005 to 2017, seizures of illicit marijuana at the border had dropped by 330,000 pounds.

“Some think that state-based marijuana is a gateway drug and makes people want illicit products more,” he said. “But the people who’ve looked at [the DHS] are saying that if states have the ability to innovate and make legal, high-quality medical cannabis available to people, then we’re not going to have as difficult a job for you and your border patrol agents and for the people who live across our border.”

However, Bier also suggested that marijuana legalization and its impact at the border could provide a useful model for stopping the flow of illegal immigration.

“The legalization of marijuana eliminated the incentive to smuggle it across the border. In the same way, the legalization of migration and employment by foreign workers in the United States would eliminate the incentive to cross, live, and work illegally,” Bier writes. “The state-level legalization of marijuana has had a major effect on cross-border smuggling, implying that even modest reforms to legal immigration could have strong effects on illegal border crossers.”

5 Best Trashy Christmas Movies You Can Watch Now On Netflix

Maria Loreto
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5 Best Trashy Christmas Movies You Can Watch Now On Netflix

There’s an entire sub-genre of Christmas movies, featuring films that deal with the topic directly and others that are simply set during the holidays and have developed a large following over the years. These movies are great but sadly those aren’t the ones that are available on Netflix, or not all of them at least.

During the last couple of years, Netflix has been steadily developing a long string of Christmas movies, which share a couple of similarities. For some reason, many of these movies deal with princes and royalty, they’re all set during the holidays, and, most importantly, they’re all awful. This is not a criticism, I am just stating facts.

Cheesy movies and Christmas pair amazingly well together; they provide an easy option for those days where all you want to do is eat, drink, and lounge in the couch. You don’t need to pay attention to these movies, you’re just here to have a laugh and maybe cry a little if you’re feeling particularly nostalgic. It’s great. Check out the best 5 Christmas movies you can watch right now on Netflix:

Christmas Inheritance

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Christmas Inheritance stars Eliza Taylor and Jake Lacy, who somehow ended up in this film for no understandable reason. It tells the story of Ellie, a girl who is forced to return to her hometown in order to inherit her father’s business. Predictably, Ellie falls in love with a guy from the town and ends up really loving the place, growing as a person in the mean time.

Because that’s what happens when you go back home for the holidays. Sure.

Christian Mingle

Starring a post-Mean Girls Lacey Chambert, she plays Gwyneth, a 30-year-old single woman who finds God when she can’t find a boyfriend. Throughout the film’s run time, Gwyneth discovers a Christian boyfriend, starts going to church, and lives happily ever after. It’s absolutely insane but hey, you’ll laugh and wonder how this movie was even made in the first place.

The Princess Switch

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Starring Vanessa Hudgens and…Vanessa Hudgens, The Princess Switch tells the story of Stacy, a commoner from Chicago who ends up in Belgravia and discovers that the country’s Princess is her doppelganger. Both women decide to switch places, because that’s what you do in those instances, and fall in love with men that have vastly different backgrounds.

A Christmas Prince

So many things happen on this movie that it’s practically impossible to recount them. Starring Rose McIver, A Christmas Prince is about Amber, an undercover reporter who infiltrates the palace as a tutor in order to get a really great scoop on a the palace’s prince. There’s a secret adoption, an undercover assignment, family drama, a commoner who gets engaged to a prince, and more, all in under 92 minutes. It’s the perfect movie to watch with your grandma.

The Christmas Chronicles

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This movie stars Kurt Russel and it’s also not a romantic comedy, which makes it a standout among this list. Two siblings decide that they want to trap Santa on Christmas Eve, accidentally crashing his sleigh and derailing his plans of delivering presents. It’s like The Grinch, only it’s kind of bad, but Kurt Russel has a really impressive gray beard and makes a great Santa so it’s totally worth it.

Thailand Legalizes Medical Marijuana As New Year’s ‘Gift’

Brendan Bures
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0
Thailand Legalizes Medical Marijuana As New Year’s ‘Gift’

In what its legislators are calling a “gift” to the country, Thailand has officially approved medical marijuana for usage and research. Recreational use will remain illegal. The move positions Thailand as the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis use, which is significant, as the region maintains some of the harshest drug laws in the world.

The actual legislation the junta-appointed parliament voted on was an updating of Thailand’s Narcotic Act of 1979. A total of 166 members of thee National Legislative Assembly voted in favor of the change, with no votes objecting effectively legalizing medical marijuana.

“This is a New Year’s gift from the National Legislative Assembly to the government and the Thai people,” said Somchai Sawangkarn, who was chairman of the drafting committee.

While countries across the world have legalized cannabis in some form this year, taboo stigmas are still pervasive in Southeast Asia. Those caught trafficking marijuana in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia can be subject to the death penalty.

However, Thailand had a tradition of using cannabis for pain relief and fatigue until the 1930s. The main controversy of cannabis legalization “involved patent requests by foreign firms that could allow them to dominate the market,” reports Reuters. This could block Thai patients from accessing the medicine while also limiting Thai researchers keen on studying the drug.

“We’re going to demand that the government revoke all these requests before the law takes effect,” Panthep Puapongpan, Dean of the Rangsit Institute of Integrative Medicine and Anti-Aging, told Reuters.

Marijuana activists in the country believe this could represent a serious move toward legalizing adult-use cannabis in the future.

Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton Playing Nice On Christmas; Paul McCartney Christmas Warning To Fans

Naughty Gossip
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Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton Playing Nice On Christmas; Paul McCartney Christmas Warning To Fans

Meghan Markle And Kate Middleton Playing Nice On Christmas

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton were all smiles Tuesday as they walked to Christmas church services, despite rumors of a royal rift.

There was no trace of frostiness between the duchesses as they glided toward the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, chatting happily and greeting hundreds of well-wishers.

Rumors of a feud between the women surfaced following reports that Meghan and Prince Harry, 34, would be moving from their Kensington Palace residence to Frogmore Cottage next year, after the birth of their first child in the spring.

But the “Fab Four” appeared as a united front as they greeted adoring crowds lined up outside the church in the English countryside.

After the services, the royals congregated at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate for a roast turkey lunch, according to the Daily Mail. In the afternoon, they watched the Queen’s annual televised address to the nation.

Harry is expected to bow out of the royals’ annual Boxing Day pheasant shoot in support of his animal-loving wife.

Paul McCartney Christmas warning to fans

Paul McCartney‘s Christmas message to his fans around the world: Don’t be like me and eat and drink too much.

The 76-year-old former Beatle tweeted his lighthearted holiday wishes Tuesday illustrated with photos from his younger days.

He says “don’t eat and drink too much! I know I will, but that’s no excuse for you” before wishing everyone a good holiday.

He says “I hope you enjoy all your presents and I hope you remember the true meaning of Christmas, which is love and peace and being good to each other.”

McCartney briefly reunited with Beatles drummer Ringo Starr at a London concert last week.

Will Smith And Family Wear The Most Festive Christmas Outfits Ever

The actor posted a festive photo of his family decked out in red and green attire, silly hats and funny faces in front of a Christmas tree on Monday.

“Jada LOOOOVES Christmas! I think she’s finally Rubbin’ Off on the rest of us,” Smith wrote. “Merry Christmas Eve, Everybody!”

The actor was surrounded by his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and his children Willow, Jaden and Trey Smith.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrvQ_v-BmCF/?utm_source=ig_embed

5 Types Of People You Should Get Rid Of In 2019

Maria Loreto
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5 Types Of People You Should Get Rid Of In 2019

The New Year is a time of reinvention. People get nostalgic when the year is ending, reminiscing about all thier failures and accomplishments that took place during the past 365 days. No matter if you had a good or bad year in terms of emotional health and achievements, the first days of January represent the beginning of a new cycle, motivating you to change some of the bad habits and patterns that are impairing your life.

One of the most common struggles faced involve the different relationships in your life, especially the toxic ones that end up doing more harm than good. These relationships demand a lot from you, absorbing your time and damaging different areas in your life, including your mental health and other aspects you value.

The Huffington Post compiled a list of the different type of toxic people that tend to appear the most throughout your life. Check out five of the most harmful ones.

Ghosters

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Ghosters are a dime a dozen nowadays, and they’re not only limited to Tinder. These type of people can be friends and people you trust, conveniently disappearing or making themselves unavailable when you need them the most. According to relationship and family therapist Tania Wagner, ghosters excel at draining your time and energy, rarely offering you the same treatment.

Narcissists

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Despite the fact that we’re all a little bit self-centered at times, narcissism is a diagnosed personality disorder. People who show this personality trait are often toxic to themselves and those who surround them. Once you can identify the true narcissists in your life, it’s time to leave them behind.

Dependent people

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Healthy friendships and relationships go both ways, ensuring that all the parties involved are getting something positive out of the agreement. Calling a relationships or a friendship an agreement sounds distant and cold, and it is in some ways, but at it’s core these relationships that take time and emotional investment need to give you something positive.

Dependent relationships often involve someone who is stagnant and immature, needing you help to do things that they should be able to do on their own. While it’s encouraged to always lend a helping hand, especially to a friend, it’s in you to know when to draw the line.

Instigators

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Some people love to gossip and create drama where there is none, and while this can be fun when it doesn’t involve you directly, odds are you’ll be on the other end of the gossip at some point or another. Usually these people aren’t very trustworthy, so it’s important to have this in mind and to be careful of what you reveal to them.

Overtly critical friends and partners

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Healthy criticism is a good thing, even if it feels like an aggression or a personal attack. Friends and partners often have a perspective of you that you can’t have, and are capable of noticing patterns in your behavior that aren’t good for you. There’s a difference between this and criticism that’s harmful and meant to belittle you.

“You should never have to defend yourself for being who you are. There are many people in this world who will stand in your light and help you shine brighter,” says marriage and family therapist Laura Heck.

Green Market Report: Cannabis Trends for 2019

Debra Borchardt
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Green Market Report: Cannabis Trends for 2019

2019 is undoubtedly going to be an advantageous year for cannabis in Canada, as the country irons out the bumps of the legalization of cannabis in 2018.

Ronan Levy, a Canadian cannabis pioneer and Chief Corporate Officer & General Counsel of Canadian Cannabis Clinics and Chief Strategic Officer of Trait Biosciences, has offered some insights about what we’ll see in cannabis for the nation this coming year.

Elevation of the Cannabis Experience

The cannabis joint has always reigned supreme for cannabis retail and in cannabis culture; this could be the year that the joint takes a back seat. This year Levy predicts will be “the end of the joint as we know it,” as Canada ushers in its new regulations for edibles, topicals, beverages, and inhalables. Canadians will be able to access a bevy of new, sophisticated products that will change the way they consume cannabis.

Along with this emergence of sophisticated products, “the cannabis and hemp consumers are going to become more discerning, both in terms of the quality of product as well as the purity, safety and reliability of product,” Levy told Green Market Report. “It’s going to be a challenge for most producers to keep up with the ever-evolving tastes of consumers.”

Put that Sh*t on Everything

Levy predicts that CBD will be the new Frank’s Hot Sauce, where people will be keen to “put that sh*t on everything”. With the U.S. Farm Bill in the now passed, and more attention being put on CBD over THC, we can expect to see an influx of CBD products come to market.

Of concern to Levy, however, is whether consumers will grow weary of familiar products being brought to market “now with CBD” as cannabis fever takes over.

Above All, Safety

The reports from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) that legal cannabis is containing molds, pesticides, even bugs, there has been a pretty big light cast on cannabis safety across the country, and consumers are the ones shining the biggest light.

“From a purity and safety perspective, we expect to see a few hiccups around mold and pesticides as new entrants into the hemp and cannabis industries face challenges scaling up production,” Levy told Green Market Report. “As we’ve seen in edibles in California [and now in Canada] producers are still struggling to control cannabis pests and mold, which has resulted in excessive use of pesticides. These challenges will create a stronger demand from consumers for purity and safety of the products they consume.”

Big Pharma Moves In

“With more research emerging showing the many different medical applications of cannabinoids,” said Levy in his insights, “drug companies are going to start to feel the heat as safer, natural and effective cannabis-based therapeutics possibly for cancer, pain management, diabetes and a host of other ailments emerge.”

With this shift will come the need for ultimate prudence in the way Big Pharma blends its approaches with the existing knowledge, and culture, surrounding medical cannabis.

“The most important thing the industry can do is to continue investing in science and research of the medical and therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, as well as professionalizing their business practices,” says Levy to Green Market Report.

“The biggest risk to the industry is people making unsubstantiated claims about the safety or efficacy of cannabinoids, which end up being refuted,” he continued. “Prudent, thoughtful and professional research and development, as well as business management, to avoid any large scandals is the best thing the industry can do.”

Move Over THC and CBD

It’s time for the minor cannabinoids found in cannabis to take center stage in 2019. “As over 100 cannabinoids have been isolated, people will start looking for ways to produce these “minor” cannabinoids in scale, and an increasing amount of research will focus in on them.”

According to Levy, the most likely targets of this work are cannabinol (CBN), which has been shown to be an effective therapy for insomnia; cannabichromene (CBC), which is a potent anti-inflammatory; and cannabigerol (CBG), which is believed to have neuroprotectant and anti-bacterial properties. These are the most well-understood of the minor cannabinoids and thus will receive much of the attention.

A Positive Time for Canada, With Caution

According to Levy, this is a crucial time as cannabis moves forward to develop the consumer experience, explore new cannabinoids, ensure the safety of products, and Big Pharma sets its eyes on cannabis.

“Attitudes are already changing toward cannabis and hemp, and the world is embracing it,” says Levy. “We just need to make sure we don’t give people a reason to change their minds.”

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

7 Budget-Savvy Champagne Alternatives For New Year’s Eve

Erin James
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7 Budget-Savvy Champagne Alternatives For New Year’s Eve

Like pearls and the good china, Champagne has long been revered as the drink of special occasions. Reserved for traditionally made sparkling wines of the eponymous region in northeast France, Champagne tends to turn up the price point more so than other sparkling wines from outside the famous viticultural appellation. Reign in that extra spending in a naturally costly time of year by following this list of non-vintage (NV), budget-savvy Champagne alternatives for New Year’s Eve, all for around $20.

Chandon NV Brut Classic  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN7cI-fAlrV

Anyone who has ever worked at a corporate-owned bar knows this sparkler, often the solo domestic sparkling wine glass-pour on the list. And for a good reason: it contains the holy trinity of Champagne grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the lesser known Pinot Meunier) for a solid sip of tree fruit (apples, pears) and citrus zest, backed by creamy spices and a crisp finish.

Gruet NV Blanc de Noirs 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFeiI3_IgO5

A popular style in Champagne, “blanc de noirs” quite literally means “white and black,” in reference to the white grapes (Chardonnay) that are blended with the red grapes (Pinot Noir) in the classic blend. This bottle of bubs is predominantly Pinot, which is where it gets its salmon-pink hue, flavors of red berry fruits, toasted baking spices and dazzling acid.

RELATED: This Is The Queen’s Favorite Champagne And It’s Totally Affordable

Vilarnau NV Brut Reserva  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BF_4d95jORg/

If you haven’t already, meet cava; the extremely affordable sparkling wine from Spain’s Catalonia region. The wine must be produced in the traditional Champagne method and the main grape varieties are macabeu, parellada and xarel-lo (try saying that 10 times fast), which are all seen in this fresh bubbler from the 67-year-old producer. Juicy melon, apple flavors and spice make it a solid standalone sipper but also one that fits just right with grapefruit juice in the morning.

Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace NV Brut Rosé  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOXSR7jhyiu

France’s own affordable alternative to Champagne, Cremant d’Alsace is a sparkling wine that hails from the hills of Alsace (picture everything about The Sound of Music but with wine.) Intriguing with its strawberry and raspberry notes, plus herbal qualities, spices and an elegant finish, this rosé sparkler is hands-down one of the best bubbles out there for the price.

Valdo Brut Prosecco DOC  

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Self-proclaimed as the best-selling prosecco brand in its native Italy, Valdo borrowed its name from its region: the consonant-heavy Valdobbiadene, in Italy’s Veneto. To receive the designated DOC status, the wine has to be 100 percent Glera, the grape variety usually (but not always) used in prosecco production. And they deliver, with an approachable sipper boasting a broad, creamy mousse zipped up with bright acidity.

RELATED: Moderate Wine Drinkers Are Healthier Than Non Drinkers, Says Our New Favorite Study

Dr. L Deutscher Riesling Sekt  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDL7Qe7A90U/

It might be easy to make the connection of Riesling and Germany — the grape originated in the Rhine region of northwestern Deutschland — but it’s less of a straight shot to German sparkling wine, better known as sekt. Dr. Loosen (you might know him from his record-shattering Riesling production at Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle winery) plugs his award-winning Riesling with carbonation for this racy refresher that will quench an Asian cuisine-fueled thirst.

Lini 910 NV Labrusca Rosso Lambrusco  

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDnoxyyF5iq

That’s right – cold, bubbly red wine. From north-central Italy, Lambrusco is the name for the grape itself and for the region in which it is grown and produced. Typically categorized into three levels of sweetness — secco (dry), amabile (off-dry) or dolce (sweet) — this is a user-friendly, approachable welcome to an off-dry rendition. A little rustic, a little fruity and plenty tangy for a feisty night out of stained teeth.

Hemp Is Officially Legal In The United States

Mary Schumacher
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Hemp Is Officially Legal In The United States

Last Thursday, the President officially signed the 2018 Farm Bill. That means hemp is officially legal in the U.S. and that hemp and its derivatives are no longer considered Schedule I narcotics. This opens many doorways to U.S. farmers who have been struggling more and more economically in recent years.

Senator Mitch McConnell signed the Farm Bill with a hemp pen before sending it to Trump and the luck carried over. Jack Herer is certainly smiling from the afterlife and pontificating about how hemp can save the world! The more likely outcome of hemp farming, however, is predominantly the manufacturing of CBD oil.

As long as the hemp plant has under .3 percent THC, it’s kosher, but most CBD isolates have 0 percent THC in them. That being siad, it’s important for non-cannabis experts to know that even having a small amount of the psychoactive component enhances the CBD component exponentially. There’s a synergy between cannabinoids, terpenes and other pot parts that makes the real magic happen.

And there enters the concern of the FDA. They see the claims being made by CBD manufacturers and salespeople and see them as reckless. It is possible to get FDA approval on a CBD product, but it must be considered “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS).

So far the FDA has approved three such products, including Hemp Fresh Foods, which uses the hemp seed as a nutritional supplement to foods, adding protein and omega-3’s. As to the food aspect of hemp seed, the FDA had this to say:

Although hemp is from the same species as cannabis (marijuana), the seeds themselves do not naturally contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. The hemp seed-derived ingredients that are the subject of these GRAS notices contain only trace amounts of THC and CBD, which the seeds may pick up during harvesting and processing when they are in contact with other parts of the plant.

The Farm Bill being passed is a major win for farmers, especially in states with a rich history of hemp production, like Kentucky. With machinery that separates the fibers from the seeds from the flowers, there are multiple avenues to producing quality U.S.-grown hemp products that will not only bring in profit, but will be amazing for environmental reasons like soil quality, the reduction of deforestation, and its many sustainable, earth friendly usages.

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