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Josh Gordon Steps Away From NFL For Mental Health Reasons, Could Face Indefinite Ban For Marijuana

Brendan Bures
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Josh Gordon Steps Away From NFL For Mental Health Reasons, Could Face Indefinite Ban For Marijuana

New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon announced on social media Thursday he’d be stepping away from football to “focus on [his] mental health.” Following a tumultuous football career, in which he faced multiple suspensions due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy after testing positive for marijuana, Gordon could’ve played his final football game, according to reports.

https://twitter.com/JOSH_GORDONXII/status/1075759466065338368

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported that Gordon could be facing an indefinite suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy once again. Under his reinstatement agreement, the violation could result in Gordon being banned for life from the NFL. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that Gordon is “not expected to play again this season or maybe ever again.”

The New England Patriots wrote in a statement they “support Josh Gordon in his continued efforts to focus on his mental health.”

After an early breakthrough in his career as a premier NFL receiver, Gordon played just 10 games between 2014-17. He was suspended for the 2015 and 2016 football seasons after he tested positive for marijuana. Gordon had come clean about his marijuana usage recently, however, even admitting that he’d been high for every single NFL game and making $10,000 for selling weed in college.

Early reports indicate Gordon’s latest possible suspension is also due to marijuana.

Former Patriot Martellus Bennett estimated earlier this year that almost 89 percent of the league uses cannabis. As with other players who have become open about their cannabis use and advocacy following retirement, Bennett spoke with the candor of someone with nothing to lose.

Despite this, Mike James, a free agent running back, was denied a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) request to use marijuana for pain management. Dr. Sue Sisley, James’ physician and a top cannabis researcher, said James was a perfect candidate for the TUE because of his family history of addiction to opioids. Since applying for the TUE, James has not been signed by any NFL team. Last month, Stigma, a cannabis health and wellness lifestyle brand, signed James to their team to help shift negative stereotypes lingering about cannabis users.

Budweiser And Tilray Partnering To Study Weed Drinks

Brendan Bures
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Budweiser And Tilray Partnering To Study Weed Drinks

First the heir to the Anheuser-Busch empire entered the cannabis industry on his own. Now, Budweiser itself has partnered with major industry player Tilray to research non-alcoholic drinks that include THC and/or CBD.

The companies announced Wednesday they’d each invest up to $50 million in conducting the research. Tilray’s research will be conducted through its subsidiary, High Park Company, while Anheuser-Busch will run its studies through its Canadian subsidiary, Labatt Breweries. Tilray told MarketWatch the partnership is limited to Canada, though the companies will discuss jointly producing products that come from the research in the future.

“For us, it’s early days in this industry and research feels like the right place to start,” Tilray Chief Executive Brendan Kennedy said. “At Tilray, we’ve been performing research and develop for almost five years on lots of different aspects of cannabis and cannabinoid delivery.”

Not only will the research focus on the effects of such cannabis-infused drinks, determining the duration of the product’s intoxication and its potency, the companies will also develop best practices for packaging cannabis products, scaling, and recipes. Kennedy said the goal will be creating “iconic and responsible cannabis infused beverages and brands” that disrupt the cannabis industry as is.

While Tilray’s competitors have also enjoyed headline-generating deals with massive corporations like the parent companies of Marlboro and Corona, those competitors received investments, which Tilray wasn’t interested in. Nor is Tilray interested in being acquired anytime soon.

“We obviously want to partner with other global pioneers and other leaders in their respective sectors,” Kennedy said. “We think it’s too early to give up control of our own destiny. Other companies have bought two of our competitors in this industry and it’s far too early for a transaction like that.”

As other industries eye their way into cannabis, the partnership between Budweiser and Tilray represents a new model to develop better products for consumers. Under this agreement, both Budweiser and Tilray can choose to maintain their independence moving forward or not.

“As consumers in Canada explore THC and CBD-infused products, our innovative drive is matched only by our commitment to the highest standards of product quality and responsible marketing,” Labatt Breweries President Kyle Norrington said. “We intend to develop a deeper understanding of non-alcohol beverages containing THC and CBD that will guide future decisions about potential commercial opportunities.”

Penn. Gov: Time To Seriously Look At Recreational Marijuana Legalization

Mary Schumacher
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Penn. Gov: Time To Seriously Look At Recreational Marijuana Legalization

It seems that Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has had a substantial change of heart in regards to the legalization of cannabis. Though he’s made it clear in the past that he’d consider it, he left no doubt after tweeting this on Wednesday:

“More and more states are successfully implementing marijuana legalization, and we need to keep learning from their efforts. Any change would take legislation. But I think it is time for Pennsylvania to take a serious and honest look at recreational marijuana.”

The statement immediately piqued the interest of his constituents and cannabis advocates and activists. With over 500 retweets and nearly 2,000 likes, it was a popular sentiment. And a welcome one. Senator Daylin Leach, who is supporting a legalization bill currently that will be introduced in January, was pleasantly surprised by the tweet.

“I’m excited and encouraged by the governor’s change of heart,” Leach said on Philly.com. “He and I have spent a lot of time talking about this issue. The experience of other states shows that ending prohibition has no downside to it. Additionally, it will go a long way moving the ball forward on criminal justice reform. I’m sure whatever bill we pass will be the best in the nation.”

Optimism and proactive measures, like penning and supporting new cannabis legislation, are certainly taking the path to justice and possibility for Pennsylvania. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale estimated back in July that legal cannabis could bring $580 million or more annually. And keeping people out of jail for marijuana possession is top priority.

So far 10 states have legalized the adult use of recreational cannabis, and more are weighing their options and leaning toward the green at a rapid clip. States around Pennsylvania like New Jersey are on the cusp of flipping over to legalization and NY Governor Cuomo recently also called for the legalization of cannabis in his state in 2019.

The green wave continues to swell and with well over half the country having medical marijuana laws and with legalization becoming nearly as normalized, it seems that there’s no clear end of this cannabis onslaught in sight. Now if only the federal government would come around, things would unravel more quickly and states would domino against each other until the U.S. of A. was a deep sea of green.

Why Legalization Could Actually Combat Cannabis Use Disorder

Mike Adams
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Why Legalization Could Actually Combat Cannabis Use Disorder

Marijuana is a lot of things to a lot of people. For starters, it is often revered as a miracle treatment for a variety of conditions ranging from anxiety to chronic pain. But now that the herb is finding legal status in more parts of the country for recreational use, a term often used to describe weed being used in a manner similar to alcohol, there is some concern that more people will fall susceptible to a condition known as cannabis use disorder, otherwise known as CUD.

You may have never heard of CUD until now. It’s not a new condition or anything. It’s essentially what most people have spent the past few decades referring to as marijuana addiction. The thing about CUD is it’s not nearly as devastating as an addiction to drugs like heroin. In fact, they are entirely different.

Only around 9 percent of people who use marijuana will end up with some kind of dependency issue. There is a similar risk for dependence associated with coffee. Still, in some cases, the situation can become extreme.

“Loss of control over use, compulsivity of use, and harmful consequences of use,” are signs of CUD, Itai Danovitch, chair of the department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai, toldWIRED.

Still, more people use marijuana than they do heroin. Some of the latest statistics show there are around 55 million regular cannabis users in the United States. This means close to 5 million of them could be at risk for CUD. That’s a rate destined to increase as more states (or perhaps the entire country) move to legalize for recreational use. But to reiterate, dependence is not addiction. The country is not on the verge of being plagued by more crime and overdose deaths as a result of legal weed. There has never been a reported case of death by marijuana overdose, and in states where weed has been legal for the past six year there have been reported upticks in evil.

Some reports, however, suggest there is a dark side to cannabis dependence. “Users or former users I spoke with described lost jobs, lost marriages, lost houses, lost money, lost time. Foreclosures and divorces. Weight gain and mental-health problems. And one other thing: the problem of convincing other people that what they were experiencing was real. A few mentioned jokes about Doritos, and comments implying that the real issue was that they were lazy stoners,’” contributing editor Annie Lowrey wrote earlier this year in a piece for The Atlantic.

How can legalization help remedy the situation?

Well, the first thing that is important to point out is nothing is going to be a magic shield to prevent people from harm. There will always be those tragic cases that just cannot help but tread in the downtrodden. But legalizing marijuana in the United States would allow the herb to be regulated just like alcohol and tobacco. More research could take place, which would give the industry new insights on how to encourage responsible use. Some cannabis advocates believe the use of accurate labeling might be the logical first step. The idea is to show users what it means to moderate. “The reasons we demand proper labeling is all because of an awareness that cannabis is a mood-altering substance,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director at NORML. “It possesses some potential level of dependence and it carries potential risk. And we believe prohibition exacerbates those potential risks, while regulation potentially mitigates those risks.”

But don’t be too concerned about CUD. Even if a person is part of the population that is sensitive to this condition, chances are they will be just fine. “Those who quit [using marijuana] generally experience fairly subtle physiological signs of withdrawal—a mildly elevated pulse, irritability and cravings,” said Harvard medical professor J. Wesley Boyd. “These symptoms are much less obvious or powerful than those seen when someone addicted to alcohol, painkillers, or tranquilizers suddenly stops using.”

People Are Not Happy About Will Smith’s ‘Aladdin’ Genie; Michael Rapaport’s Controversial Ariana Grande Comments Spark Major Backlash

Naughty Gossip
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People Are Not Happy About Will Smith’s ‘Aladdin’ Genie; Michael Rapaport’s Controversial Ariana Grande Comments Spark Major Backlash

People Are Not Happy About Will Smith’s Genie

Fans have been introduced to the whole new live-action world of Aladdin—and they’re not so happy about it.

Entertainment Weekly published first-look photos of the upcoming Disney remake, due out in theaters in May, on Wednesday. In the snaps, fans of the 1992 animated classic get to see Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as everyone’s favorite carpet-flying couple, Aladdin and Jasmine.

Topping off the trio, Will Smithappears in costume for the first time publicly as the beloved Genie. While their outfits are somewhat reminiscent of the characters’ iconic looks, fans have a lot to say about the revamped ensembles.

To start, there were a lot of concerns over the fact Smith was not blue.

So many, in fact, that the star soon addressed the issue on social media. “I’m gonna be BLUE!,” he responded to one fan on Instagram. “This is how the Genie is in Human/Disguise Form. My character will be CGI most of the movie.

There were also some questions about the Genie’s new ‘do for the film with some likening the style to Madonna’s iconic ’80s pony tail or Goro from Mortal Kombat.

Michael Rapaport’s Controversial Ariana Grande Comments Spark Major Backlash

On Wednesday, the 48-year-old actor posted a throwback photo of the “Thank U, Next” singer on his social media. He captioned the picture, which shows Grande giving the peace sign, “Ariana Grande is 27 acts 12, you take off those boots she hides her legs in, the cat eye make up and the genie pony tale and I think there’s hotter women working the counter at Starbucks no disrespect to Starbucks.”

The post, which he shared on Instagram and Twitter, has since drawn much criticism from fellow social media users.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Brk2nZ3lurS/?utm_source=ig_embed

“You know I ride for you 10/10 times @MichaelRapaport but why are we shaming @ArianaGrande without makeup on?” @milktyson tweeted. “You have a loud voice and large reach don’t let this be a moment where young girls feel they need to be in costumes or full makeup to be beautiful.”

After seeing the backlash on social media, Rapaport tweeted, “When I talk vicioulsy about The Leader of the Free World aka Dick Stain Donald Trump or Tiki Torch Tough Guys in Virginia, I’m a Social Media HERO, but a joke about Ariana Grande is SHAMING. EAT Dwycks SnowFlakes.”

He later added, “I can say ANYTHING about Cockeyed Kellyanne, Laura Ingram,Melania,Ivanka or Candance Owens & you little Hipster Fake P–sy Power Hat Wearing MoFo’s get hype.Elation Talk shit about Arianna Grande & I hate Women? #Eat3Dwycks.”

Grande, 25, has yet to respond to the actor’s comments.

Amy Schumer fires back at critics of her stance not to do Super Bowl commercials

Amy Schumer is well aware of the hate she received after announcing her personal Super Bowl protest — but, despite the “cutting remarks,” she thinks she may have made a difference.

Schumer took to social media to comment on the reports that Maroon 5 can’t find other high-profile acts to perform with them during their halftime show on Feb. 3. “I have done 2 Super Bowl commercials in the last couple years,” she wrote, “and I’m so stupid thinking my opinion would matter right? Well guess what? I may have made a difference. No one is stepping up to perform.”

To her haters, she asked: “Would you do that to stand up for people of color? I may have made an impact.”

Schumer went on to call out “white sports writers” specifically for their “snide” comments after she announced that, in support of Colin Kaepernick, she won’t do a Super Bowl commercial. “You can write about sports and even be the best at it but what have you done to help the marginalized or under represented?” she asked. “I will continue to do everything I can. Even with all the snide little white sports writers making cutting remarks.”

She ended her post with a Gloria Steinem quote that said, “Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrkjxQZlvLJ/?utm_source=ig_embed

Here’s The One Thing You Should Always Avoid Doing On Airplanes

Amy Hansen
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Here’s The One Thing You Should Always Avoid Doing On Airplanes

It’s bad enough that most parts of the airplane are filthy. When you’re on a long flight home for the holidays, the last thing you want to think about is how many diapers have been changed on the folding tray — and how many feet have used it for a little respite. Not to mention every part of the lavatory, the complimentary blankets and pillows that haven’t been washed since touching however many other passengers, and in-flight magazines.

But have you ever wondered about…the floor? While flight attendants will likely never mention it to you, walking around the cabin barefoot is something you should avoid at all costs. Let’s consider for a moment how many people have walked those floors, which likely have never been cleaned.

Related: These Are The 3 Dirtiest Places In The Airport

That yoga sesh you’re thinking about doing in the galley? Think again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXdcrhNB9-E/

If you need to stretch your feet, keep your shoes on. Or make sure you have some durable socks on. And please, whatever you do, try to refrain from stretching your feet out on the tray table. As a reminder, it’s not the same as putting your feet up on the dashboard of your buddy’s car.

[h/t The Active Times]

Marijuana Could Lower And Potentially Alter Sperm Count In Men

Brendan Bures
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Marijuana Could Lower And Potentially Alter Sperm Count In Men

Just as scientists have previously studied what effect alcohol and tobacco could have on pregnancy, researchers have begun to place cannabis under a similar microscope. A recent study, however, focused on the male side of things. According to a report published in Epigenetics, habitual cannabis usage could reduce male sperm count and also alter sperm as well. Previous studies have also shown that cannabis use could lower sperm count.

Scientists at Duke University discovered that cannabis use could significantly change how genes operate in the cells. In other studies, similar changes in sperm’s genetic makeup were associated with abnormal growth and cancer. However, researchers could not determine if these changes affected fertilization and the long-term health of children. They did advise caution, though.

In the absence of a larger, definitive study, the best advice would be to assume these changes are going to be there [in sperm],” said study co-author Susan Murphy, a gynecology professor at Duke. “I would say, as a precaution, stop using cannabis for at least six months before trying to conceive.”

The study was divided into two different types of participants: rats and humans. One group of rats was given THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, and another group was not. Duke scientists also recruited 24 human males, comparing the sperm of men who consumed cannabis weekly and men who smoked marijuana less than 10 times in their lives.

In both humans and rats, scientists found lower sperm counts and altered genes in the sperm. Though researchers did not control for THC count in male cannabis users, they did find that more THC in the urine correlated with more changes in the sperm.

Murphy emphasized this was a pilot study originally focused on if cannabis usage had an effect on sperm whatsoever. The scientists have already planned follow-up studies.

“We don’t yet know what that means, but the fact that more and more young males of child-bearing age have legal access to cannabis is something we should be thinking about,” senior study author Scott Kollins, a psychiatry professor at Duke, said in a statement.

Numerous scientists have stated the need for further research on just what effect cannabis could have on sperm. Would they have long-term impact on offspring and how mutable sperm could be to change cannabis usage represent just some of the questions scientists hope to explore.

“I want to be very careful to not have the results turned into something that they’re not,” Murphy told The Verge. “It’s not intended to scare people. Our whole objective is to learn more about biology and what effects there might be.”

Here’s How You Can Wrap Weird Shaped Presents

Maria Loreto
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Here’s How You Can Wrap Weird Shaped Presents

There’s nothing like unwrapping a perfectly wrapped Christmas gift. It’s the reason why kids in movies are always ripping them apart. Despite the fact that there are really cute Christmas bags, which are also convenient and easy to use, presents wrapped with holiday themed paper are without a doubt superior. The issue is that wrapping these gifts takes time and skill.

When presents are shaped weird, like bottles or a tennis racquet, your problems are increased tenfold. Wrapping these gifts is complicated, demanding that you waste an entire roll of tape and cut your fingers only to have the end result look like crap.

Since gift wrapping makes up around 80-percent of Christmas, we’ve compiled a short list of videos that can help you wrap up these presents like a pro. Check them out:

Wine and alcohol bottles

Related: How To Choose The Perfect Wine For A Wedding Present

A good bottle of wine is a great Christmas present but its shape isn’t the friendliest for wrapping paper. The method above requires few tools and is simple enough, twisting the wrapping on the top of the wine bottle to make it look like a giant piece of candy.

Cylinders shaped presents

This video teaches you how to turn the edges of your present, so your candle, box, or other cylinder shaped object looks like it was wrapped by someone who actually knows whats they’re doing.

The lotus wrapping method

Related: 5 Gift Wrapping Styles And What They Reveal About Your Personality

This style of wrapping is really cute and also eco-friendly, using a scarf instead of paper. All sorts of square items can be wrapped in there, and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Just large weird shaped things

Related: This Essential Gift Wrapping Hack Will Save Christmas

This video shows you what to do when you have to wrap something that has a very particular and unique shape. By wrapping each side individually, your gift will look much more careful than if you’d use a really long piece of wrapping paper, which would’ve surely ripped and wrinkled.

When all else fails… a bag made out of wrapping paper

There are objects out there that refuse to be categorized, so a paper bag is a good choice and also relatively easy to make. You can tie the top with a ribbon or tape it down, allowing for you to add anything you want inside your DIY bag.

10 Very Weird Christmas Traditions From Around The World

Maria Loreto
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10 Very Weird Christmas Traditions From Around The World

The holiday season includes many things; sharing and spending time with family and friends, exchanging presents, eating a lot of food and, sometimes, really weird shit depending on the country you live in.

Check out 10 of the world’s strangest Christmas traditions:

South Africa

https://giphy.com/gifs/caterpillar-3UdlObPQII9Ik

On Christmas day, people of South Africa enjoy a fine delicacy that’s actually just deep fried caterpillars.

Austria

The kids of Austria aren’t scared of the bogeyman, they fear Krampus, a Christmas devil who supposedly beats naughty kids with branches. That just sounds wrong.

Catalonia

People from Catalonia add a small statue of a man pooping on their nativity scenes. His name is Caganer. Lovely.

Norway

On Christmas day people hide their brooms in case witches come to town.

Japan

https://giphy.com/gifs/adweek-3ohhww2tfMpZ6bCWeQ

Thanks to a very popular ad from 1976, a lot of people eat KFC during Christmas Eve.

Germany

Some Germans hide a pickle in their Christmas tree, and give a small gift to the first child who finds it.

Greenland

Mattak, a dish of raw whale skin served with blubbler, and Kiviak, a dish made up of birds stuffed into a seal’s carcass. Both popular Christmas dishes.

Portugal

Consoda is a time for remembering the dead in Portugal, where people even set places for them at the dinner table.

Ukraine

People from Ukraine like to decorate their trees with fake spiders and spiderwebs.

Italy

https://giphy.com/gifs/halloween-witch-hocus-pocus-Megam1qbwJjz2

Instead of waiting for Santa, Italian children wait for Befana, a friendly witch who offers presents and sweets to kids on January 5th.

You can read the rest of this weird Christmas traditions list here.

New York Restricts CBD-Infused Food And Beverages

Sean Hocking
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New York Restricts CBD-Infused Food And Beverages
In the wake of the 2018 Farm Bill, New York quietly updated its position on CBD by creating a new license category for processing CBD and by issuing an FAQ that restricts CBD-infused food and beverage products. The deadline to submit CBD-related applications to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is December 28, 2018.

The new guidance bans the manufacture and sale of ready-to-eat food with CBD infusions or CBD extracts, such as CBD chocolate syrup, CBD soda, and CBD-infused frosting-drizzled cookies. Rather, any CBD product intended for human consumption must (1) be produced under accepted dietary-supplement standards and (2) be properly labeled and packaged for sale under FDA regulations for dietary supplements. Licensees intending to sell or distribute CBD dietary supplements in anything other than pill or tincture form must obtain the Department of Agriculture and Market’s prior written approval for each product it proposes to sell or distribute.

New York recognizes that its position is contrary to the FDA’s position that CBD products are excluded from the definition of dietary supplements. Accordingly, the state now requires all CBD processor licensees to sign a CBD processing agreement acknowledging the contradictory positions and the inherent risk associated with processing CBD for human consumption.

The CBD processing agreement also requires licensees to follow the product testing guidelines set forth in New York’s medical marijuana regulations for any CBD product intended for human consumption. Similarly, CBD products intended for human consumption must comply with stringent new labeling and notice requirements.

Read together, the new FAQ and CBD processing agreement forecast New York’s intent to strictly regulate CBD products intended for human consumption.

Read the full … https://www.natlawreview.com/article/new-york-tightens-its-grip-cbd-even-feds-ease-industrial-hemp-restrictions

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

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