While dads notoriously get in trouble for getting lit while watching the kids, they rarely get credit for becoming a calmer, more patient and creative parent with the help of cannabis.
Dads who toke tend to buck trends, but many claim that when they take care of themselves with cannabis, they can make play times more exciting, supper times more delightful, and storytimes more engaging. Sex and relationship advice columnist (slash, activist) Dan Savage didn’t smoke pot until he was 34-years-old, but once told the now-defunct The Cannabist that he couldn’t sit and play cars with his son for two hours unless he was high. Dan also regularly recommends pot to couples who are looking to reconnect; maybe another reason it should be a part of “dad life.” Art dealer Mark Wolfe agrees. In his 2012 op-ed for the New York Times, Mark wrote about how pot makes him a better parent. Pretty brave for 2012!
As a dad and businessman, Bay Area rapper MC Zumbi wants to stay functional and present when using cannabis. And the best way he’s found to do that is low-dose mints made by a local Oakland cannabis confection company. The 17-year rap game veteran needs to focus at work, and by taking small doses of cannabis, or microdosing, the high is very manageable. “As an adult now trying to be more aware of myself — I just like the smaller doses.” But there’s no one way to be a good pot dad. Take, for instance, stand up comedian and UFC announcer Joe Rogan who smokes tons of pot and talks on his podcast about spending plenty of time with his three daughters.
With cannabis prohibition slowly fading away, pot-smoking papas — and there are plenty of them already — are feeling safe to come out about their little secret. In Canada, where recreational use is now legal, the person passing you a joint here is likely a dad, according to a recent report from Deloitte. Specifically, they predict a shift from the average smoker being 18 to 34 years old to the 35 to 54-years-old, a group they’re calling the “conservative experimenter.” “Legalization may provide some Canadians with the opportunity to occasionally return to their younger days — legally,” the report theorizes.
The next time you smell something skunky coming from dad’s garage, now you know he’s just transporting back to his salad days.
Meghan Markle’s mum could be spending Christmas Day with the Royal Family after claims the Queen extended the invite to her new in-law. Just months on from the Royal Wedding, Doria Ragland has reportedly been asked to Sandringham, Her Majesty’s country estate in Norfolk.
A senior royal source said the offer was a “very thoughtful gesture” – and an unusual one. Kate Middleton’s family has previously been invited to the Christmas morning church service, but have preferred to celebrate the day at the Cambridges’ home in Anmer Hall.
Speaking to the Daily Express, the source said: “It’s a mark of the Queen’s respect for Meghan and an acknowledgement that she doesn’t have any other relations in this country – unlike Kate who has the support of a very close family.”
Doria Ragland’s calm, warm demeanour appears to have impressed the Palace, after she was seen chatting away to her in-laws at the Royal Wedding. She is known to be very close to Meghan, 37, and is said to even be planning a return to London to help with her new grandchild in the New Year. The 62-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, has been described by the Duchess of Sussex as a “free-spirited clinical therapist” who often took her travelling to remote places when she was younger.
In an upcoming episode of Sunday Today, host Willie Geist asks the actor, 47, if his wife, Rhea Durham, and kids (Ella Rae, 15, Michael, 12, Brendan Joseph, 10, and Grace Margaret, 8) like the song.
“I was at a football game — my son’s game — last week,” Wahlberg says. “In the middle of the game, they start playing ‘Good Vibrations’. My wife is just cracking up laughing, but she’s looking at my son who’s basically burying his head in his helmet.”
“It’s fine for me,” he adds. “I don’t want to make their life any more difficult. My past is not their burden to bear.”
“They give Justin Bieber a hard time,” Wahlberg said during an awkwardly funny appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2014. “I was an absolute train wreck. Wow.”
Justin, who is already very inked up, got a tattoo with his new wife Hailey Baldwin. Tattoo artist Bang Bang, aka Keith McCurdy, did the tats, and he told Page Six, “They each got a tattoo. Justin’s tattoo is on his face, and I haven’t seen any photos of it, so he’s doing a good job of laying low.”
Bang Bang also revealed a little bit about the tattoo saying “It’s really thin and delicate. And [it’s] also not a traditional couples’ tattoo.” He added that the tattoo was next to Justin’s eyebrow and consists of little words.
Bang Bang didn’t share when the couple got these tattoos though, and some people suspect that it might be this mark above Justin’s brow that was seen in July:
That said, Justin has been wearing a lot of hats lately (see below), so it’s possible that he’ll walk outside without a hat one day and will have “I love Hailey” tattooed across his hairline.
As I mentioned in my latest article featuring Tim Seymour, founder and Chief Investment Officer of Seymour Asset Management, best known as the co-host of CNBC’s Fast Money, cannabis is going mainstream by the minute.
Yet another piece of evidence to support this thesis: Amazon Prime has its own cannabis-focused, Shark Tank-like pitch show: The Marijuana Show. Created by Wendy Robbins and Karen Paull, the fourth season is about to start shooting, following a successful launch of Season 3 in August.
For the next (roughly) 24 hours, Fresh Toast readers will be able to watch the entire Season 3 of The Marijuana Show, currently available for Amazon Prime subscribers only, for free, courtesy of our good friends Paull and Robbins.
Let’s face it: A foundational aspect of comic books is a budding, blossoming bromance. From the X-Men to the Avengers to the Justice League and beyond, every superhero team boasts at least a few. Mostly they serve as comedic relief, but a close platonic bond between two dudes—or ladies, bromances aren’t dude-exclusive—underscores the human relationships beneath the costumes.
It’s why when stories feature heroes fight amongst each other (Batman v. Superman; Civil War), it carries such dramatic weight. You know these two dudes—or ladies—really just love each other and want to bro out.
In honor of that spirit, we’re presenting the five bromances in comics you absolutely need to know.
Honorable Mentions
Not everyone can make this short list of quality bromances, but here are several still worth checking out and could’ve very easily made the list, depending on my mood.
– Hercules and Amadeus Cho
– Barry Allen and Hal Jordan
– Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen (Hal Jordan is rich with Bros)
– Superman and Batman
– Luke Cage and Iron Fist
– Tony Stark and Dr. Strange (Facial Hair Bros!)
5) Spider-Man and Deadpool
Deadpool, in many ways, is the ultimate bromance target. He loves pop culture like Hello Kitty, always delivers a sarcastic quip, and more interested in bro-ing down than saving the world. So it’s no surprise Deadpool has loads of bros—including the iconic “Cable and Deadpool” pairing. But with Spider-Man and Deadpool, Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness have broken the mold with this one.
Initially Deadpool receives a contract to kill Peter Parker, which leads him to investigate Peter’s “bodyguard” Spider-Man. But in true Deadpool fashion, he develops a huge bro-crush on Spidey, causing complications since Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
Cover art courtesy of Marvel
It leads to wacky adventures, disastrous double dates, and Deadpool killing Peter and bringing him back to life… twice. The bromance really stand out as it forces the usually wise-cracking Spidey into the straight man of the duo. That unique reversal and relationship explains why this bromance gets my pick over others.
4) Swamp Thing and John Constantine
Swamp Thing may disagree, but he and The Hellblazer John Constantine are total bros. When they first meet, Constantine teaches Swamp Thing the ropes of dealing with mystical and occult problems. This was training to prepare him for a fight against the Brujería and primordial “Great Darkness.”
Later when Swamp Thing returns from space, Constantine lets Swamp Thing possess his body so that he could get his wife Abby Arcane pregnant with their “daughter” Tefé. From the outside looking in, they might appear to have an almost antagonistic relationship, but in reality, these two are bros to the end. At one point Swamps even grows some “elemental” grade green for Constantine.
3) Hyperion and Thor
One of the standout threads of Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers/New Avengers run was watching a bromance birthed from two of the team’s heaviest hitters. Hyperion coming from another universe that was destroyed by an incursion sought friendship from what he saw as possibly his only peer, a literal god. Thor and Hyperion went on to experience many great adventures which were followed by many barrels of ale—that’s barrels, not pints. Finally, in the coldness of deep space, they even faced death together.
2) Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman
Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) and Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) are BFF. They’ve fought dinosaurs, aliens and even experienced pregnancy together. That’s right, when Jessica was pregnant, Carol invited her to stay in Alpha Flight’s maternity ward, nestled safely in a black hole where no one could do them harm.
Cover art by DC Comics
That is until Skrulls attacked. But this is just one example of many, proving these two are bros, and would do anything for each other. I think what separates these two from the rest on this list is how they absolutely frustrate each other, but still adore one another at the same time. That’s what gets me excited when one is in the other’s book—oh what are they going to fight or fight about next?
1) Blue Beetle and Booster Gold
Although the bromances on this list aren’t really in any kind of order, Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) and Booster Gold (Michael Jon Carter) definitely rank No. 1. This is like the original superhero bromance. Meeting as members of the Justice League International, the pair of C-List superheroes become instant best friends. Their misadventures include becoming superhero repo men, opening a casino/resort called Club JLI on the living island of Kooey Kooey Kooey, and stealing Martian Manhunter’s cookies.
This wisecracking duo is always game for get-rich quick schemes and practical jokes and that’s why they’re my favorite. Things just haven’t been the same since Ted Kord’s death, but his reappearance in DC’s Rebirth has me hoping for the return of “Blue and Gold!”
Social media probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words ‘good mental health’. Often times, this type of platform has the exact opposite effect, making us feel subpar in a world where everyone seems to lead better lives than us; Instagram and Facebook especially can put unrealistic expectations on us. But the good news is that there are social media accounts that are actually interested in provoking the reverse reaction.
The following accounts feature doodles, musings, cute dogs, and all sorts of things that are good and relaxing. It’s okay to follow dozens of social media accounts that only revolve around making you feel better and more valid. They can make you smile in times when the world and social media appear overwhelming. Check out 10 of the coolest Instagram accounts that can improve your mental health.
Great things can be accomplished when like-minded creatives come together over really good marijuana. We’re dubbing this phenomenon “weedtastic.”
Whether it’s music, movies, television, art, or science, countless works of popular culture have been sculpted as a result of collaborations or interactions between fellow pot smokers.
Take a look at just a few examples below and let us know your favorite cannabis-smoking duos.
Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and others from their crew were immediately entranced by the wonders of the plant beginning a relationship with pot that would affect their music to come … including the RIAA gold certified “Got to Get You Into My Life” (above).
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones
There are few bands quite as quintessentially rock and roll as The Rolling Stones and despite the fact that their pot use brought heat and threats of jail time from the police in the 1960s for Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the band members continued to use the herb to inspire some of their greatest hits.
As the story goes, Dr. Lester Grinspoon’s original interest in marijuana was aimed at finding the evidence necessary to prohibit the plant, but what he found out instead was that his original assumptions about the plant were all wrong. Grinspoon’s good friend, astronomer Carl Sagan, was an avid pot smoker and encouraged him to give it a try, which he ultimately did. As the two grew closer, their smoke sessions grew more and more frequent.
Grinspoon would, of course, write “Marihuana Reconsidered,” while Sagan went on to host “Cosmos.”
Ticking off successes in television, film, and comedy Dave Chappelle and his writing partner Neal Brennan first garnered a cult following with the 1998 classic film “Half Baked” before captivating audiences with the sketch comedy masterpiece that was “Chappelle’s Show” and there is no doubt that the two passed the pipe during the writing sessions that developed the likes of “Tyrone Biggums” and “A Moment in the Life of Lil Jon.”
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have amassed a writing and production resume that is impressive by any standards in the industry. The childhood friends have put together a string of hilarious films that has included titles like “Superbad,” “Pineapple Express,” “This Is The End,” “The Interview,” “Sausage Party,” and more, all while battling rumors that their old office on the Sony lot stank so much of marijuana that film exec Amy Pascal had to delay moving into the space while swapping rooms with them … a rumor they claim is totally false by the way.
Curaleaf began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange on October 29 with the symbol CURA. The stock fell almost 20% on the first day of trading but quickly began to rebound. The company had an initial valuation of $4 billion.
The New York Stock Exchange listed Aphria Inc. and then delisted India Globalization Corp. Aphria stock will begin trading on the NYSE on November 2, while IGC shares have been suspended immediately. Diego Pellicer did a 20 to 1 reverse split and received a temporary stock symbol from the OTC Markets of DPWWD until November 30, when it will revert to DPPW.
Arizona is hot this week and not just temperature wise.
MedMen acquired Arizona-based Level Up in a cash and stock deal valued at $33 million. It includes licenses for 2 vertically integrated operations with retail stores in Scottsdale and Tempe. In addition, MedMen gets a 40% stake in K.I.N.D. concentrates and will get to put its locally made MedMen products in the Arizona stores.
Cresco Labs has acquired Arizona Facilities Supply for an undisclosed amount. It includes 2 cultivation facilities, a processing facility, and a dispensary.
Separately Sugarmade acquired the hydroponic supply company Sky Unlimited in a $40 million deal.
Lots of capital raises to go over.
Hydrofarm raised $55 million and said it is planning a 2019 IPO.
Tiger Global and Casa Verde combined to invest $50 million into seed-to-sale software company Metrc.
Wayland Group Raised $50 million, Indus Holding company raised $46 million. and Jane Technologies raised $6 million.
And finally, the Nevada Dispensary Association issued a report on the effect of legal cannabis sales to the economy. Currently, adult use cannabis sales account for 63% of all cannabis sales in the states, while medical sales make up the remaining 37%. Between 2018 and 2024, the state’s adult use cannabis industry is expected to generate an estimated $8 billion of economic activity.
Additionally, the industry is expected to support approximately 67,000 jobs in the same period. Cannabis regulations are also forecasted generate roughly $3.6 billion in direct, indirect, and induced labor income.
Direct spending in the cannabis industry is also projected during this period to have a multiplier effect of 1.63; which means that for every $1 spent on retail cannabis, another $0.63 will be generated throughout the state economy.
Here are some fantastic low-dose marijuana edibles available in states with legal recreational and medical cannabis: they will make just just a little high.
Are you a little distrustful of cannabis edibles? Did you have the “one time I ate a pot cookie and thought I was dying” experience, and now you steer clear of THC-infused treats? Sure, it can be an uncomfortable experience if you consume too much marijuana—but in this brave new age of lab-tested, low-dose marijuana edibles, there are all sorts of safely medicated munchies to try out. When consuming cannabis, always “go low and slow.” Start with 5-10 mg of THC and wait a full two hours to determine its effects on you. Here are the best low-dose edibles available in states with legal recreational and medical cannabis.
This California company has a most winning design aesthetic—its gumdrops and artisanal chocolates come sumptuously packaged “For Your Royal Highness.” The gumdrops are hand-crafted using five simple ingredients: fruit essences, sugar, gelatin, citric acid and cannabis extract. The Chocolate-Covered Sea Salt Caramels are enrobed in Ecuadorian dark chocolate infused with cannabis extract. Reliable, delicious doses are available in 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg (for experienced individuals). Available in locations throughout California.
Crafted from micro-roasted Tanzanian coffee beans and coated in dark chocolate, KIVA Terra Bites are just 5mg of THC per piece. That’s some convenient low dosing! The re-closable tin makes it easy to enjoy a little now, and then pop it in your pocket for a little later, too. Available in California.
This low-dose drink provides the perfect balance of energy and cannabis medicine. All-natural, cannabis-infused bottled coffee is roasted from high-quality Guatemalan beans. With 110mg of caffeine and 10mg of THC per serving, this cannabis coffee will help you start your day out right! Available in Colorado.
These THC-infused breath strips were developed in Seattle, and are all-natural, vegan, and gluten-free. Each peppermint-flavored slip is infused with 10 mg of THC. Slips are available in Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, and CBD + THC versions. Freshen your breath and get lifted at the same time! Available in Washington.
Every box of Mellows contains twelve gourmet marshmallows, each one gently dosed with 5 mg of THC. These artisanal treats are designed to deliver pleasure and relief in each scrumptious bite. Flavors include brown butter sage, birthday cake, cookies + cream, orange dreamsicle, and raspberry rose lychee. Mellows are a real treat that novices can safely enjoy. Available in California.
7 The Crescendo Collection
A lovely six-piece collection of 10 mg THC truffles in three flavors: white chocolate with fresh lemon and a hint of juniper berries, milk chocolate steeped with Earl Grey tea leaves and sweetened with Colorado honey, and luscious caramel spiked with Maldon salt crystals. The set is niftily packaged for a perfectly elevated indulging experience. Available in locations throughout Colorado.
It’s a common sight to see people leave an expensive boxing or crossfit class early, just because they want to avoid stretching. It’s completely understandable; stretching is a boring and painful activity, even for people who are active and workout several times a week. Here are 5 stretches if you’re not flexible and it will change your body.
Even though stretching is the blandest part about working out, it’s still an important aspect of it that helps you out in the long run, making you more flexible, stronger, and preventing injuries. LifeHacker compiled a list of tips and suggestions from experts and physical therapists that’ll help you stretch without knowing you’re stretching, thus making the most of your time and your sanity.
Like when you trick kids into eating veggies by hiding them in their food, the key here is to sneak in stretches as your mind is busy doing other things, such as waiting in line at the grocery store or riding a bus. While these stretches have to be simple, you can still do calf stretches, hamstring stretches, and squeezing your glutes for intervals of time in order to strengthen your core.
You can turn on the TV, listen to a podcast or to a new album as you stretch or start to use the foam-roller, making time pass by faster. Yoga teacher Lauren McCabe suggests creating a relaxing playlist for your stretches and timing your exercises according to the songs.
Yoga is a great practice for developing your flexibility and toning your body, but it’s also a great way to stretch. Yoga is entertaining and beloved by many people, stretching out limbs and muscles without making you feel like you’re bored. You can find basic yoga workouts in all sorts apps, classes, and websites.
There are all sorts of classes that focus on deep stretch workouts, such as Pilates and restorative yoga. These activities are great because they’re lead by an expert who guides you, pushes you to work hard, and corrects you when you’re doing something wrong.
You can also go to the gym with a friend and help each other out while stretching, making the activity a little bit more fun.
Try to think of stretching as a necessary evil, providing tons of benefits for your body that’ll improve your workouts, tone your muscles, and make you look and feel better. The more you stretch, the easier it becomes, and the further you’ll be able to go on all of your work outs.
Have a Heart is best described as a local mom and pop cannabis shop turned national success story. What started as a single medicinal marijuana shop in Seattle in 2011, grew exponentially into a vast, cooperative network of successful retail shops within a few short years. Have a Heart is quickly becoming one of the cannabis space’s most heartwarming and well-deserved success stories.
Although Have a Heart operates in a recreational environment, it maintains a wellness approach to all of its retail storefronts.
“No matter how large Have a Heart becomes, we will always be hyper-focused on providing our guests with a small company/local feel,” says Have a Heart’s CEO and Founder, Ryan Kunkel.
The decor inside the flagship store located in the tiny Belltown neighborhood was crafted by former Disney Imagineer Mike Dillon of Dillon Works. It stands out in an industry where many retailers, such as Columbia Care, have a sterile atmosphere, similar to other pharmacies (Walgreens, Duane Reade).
While MedMen’s flagship is often compared to the Apple store, Have a Heart correlates to Best Buy. The atmosphere is playful and fun. The space was formerly occupied by the nightclub See Sound Lounge, providing the retail store with a decent amount of space.
Photos courtesy of Have a Heart
The immersive environment is reminiscent of its Canadian counterpart The Friendly Stranger cannabis culture shop in trendy Queen Street West.
The outlet’s extensive product selection is divided easily into departments containing flower, edibles, vapes and cartridges. Knowledgeable staff are always on hand to describe the experience a user will have with any product. The staff are subject to quarterly pop-quizzes to ensure they are up to date with their knowledge of product selection and qualified to make appropriate recommendations to customers, who the company refers to as “guests.”
“Because we are so retail focused, and because we are so passionate about product assortment and availability, our guests have rewarded us with their loyalty. Therefore, we are experiencing exceptional growth in every market we serve,” says Kunkel proudly.
Have a Heart currently operates five locations in Washington, and a medical-only shop in Kauai, Hawaii. They recently opened the first and only recreational/medical shop in Fresno County in the city of Coalinga, California, with two more stores opening soon in Oakland, and three additional locations in San Francisco.
By the end of 2018, Have a Heart plans to expand to 18 operational stores. A whopping 55 shops are projected across the country by the end of 2019, including medical marijuana shops in the Iowa areas of Davenport and Council Bluffs.
The company takes corporate social responsibility seriously. They claim they are on a mission to “Do Good.” Their social justice mandate is an organizational commitment to invest 2 percent of the net income from each and every store, directly into local community causes and initiatives.
As COO Ed Mitchell points out, “City council members like Have a Heart because we are not sticking all of our stores in the heart of downtown areas. Our stores have a delivery service, so that isn’t necessary. We aren’t luring in teenagers. We are giving back to the communities in which we serve.”
While the cannabis space is evolving daily into a more corporate and sterile environment, it is comforting to know that this aptly named cannabis company still has a heart.
