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Indiana Senator Tallian Looks Toward Cannabis Legalization

Mary Schumacher
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Indiana Senator Tallian Looks Toward Cannabis Legalization

After the midterms, Michigan became the 10th state — plus the District of Columbia — to legalize adult use cannabis, and as it helps color in the nation’s “50 shades of green,” it may also be inspirational to their southern neighbor. Indiana could itself go green in 2019 if its Senator Karen Tallian has anything to do about it.

Tallian joined the Senate in 2005 and since her early years she’s was dubbed the “Marijuana Senator” as she sought early on to study state cannabis policy. She’s not alone, but she’s not the populous voice. And while legalizing cannabis in Indiana may fly through the house, it needs a few more senate votes, said David Phipps, communications director of the Indianapolis based branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), in the South Bend Tribune.

Sen. Tallian is not to be deterred though. Already her efforts have brought about sentencing reform in the way that possession of marijuana was brought down from a felony to a misdemeanor and she’s not stopping there: in next year’s session she plans to submit that possession of up to 2 ounces be legalized for adults; she also plans on another bill to legalize medical use; and, she wants to form the Cannabis Compliance Commission to oversee everything cannabis.

While Michigan was able to pass its adult use law via ballots, in Indiana the General Assembly must approve any measure. When Tallian started out in 2005 she was a lone wolf in Indiana, but she said that this year around a dozen pieces of legislation were submitted by lawmakers revolving around marijuana and its liberation.

Now Tallihan has to contend with or convince more lawmakers in her state, but also the governor and the attorney general, all of whom are wary of legalizing pot. She has an allie in Republican Indianian Representative Jim Lucas, who is also on a mission to at least get medical marijuana for the state, if not full legalization. His mind was changed on the topic over time as CBD rose up as a miracle aid for seizure disorder and then he tried cannabis in Colorado for himself with great success and “the best” night’s sleep.

Now Lucas sees what activists and advocates have been saying for decades and summed it up himself, “It’s not a political thing, it’s not a constituent thing. It’s simply the right thing.” In the meantime, it’s business as usual in Indiana and if you’re crossing over from Michigan, it’s best not to risk boldly bringing a stash. However, with Michigan gone green, this is the time to write local lawmakers, the governor and the attorney general to let them know how Hoosiers feel about legalizing cannabis in Indiana, too.

5 Facts You Should Know About Recycling

Maria Loreto
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5 Facts You Should Know About Recycling

Recycling is an important topic that can still feel a little overwhelming, especially for the uninformed. Despite plastic pollution and global warming, many of us are still in the shadows when it comes to having the necessary knowledge to contribute to the planet in a meaningful way.

We’ve compiled a list of the most important recycling tips for newbies, which are all simple, accessible and important in the grand scheme of things.

You can’t put everything in the recycling bin

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Related: E-Cigarettes And A New Threat: How To Dispose Of Them

Recycling has rules, and cities should be clearer with their labeling and instructions since these can be confusing. Due to this you need to put in the extra work, researching your local rules and regulations which are only a few keyboard types away. National Geographic reports that about a quarter of everything that’s put into recycling bins can’t be recycled because people include items such as food, wires, low grade plastics, and more.

Things can be recycled more than once

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Many items can be recycled over and over again without losing their quality. Glass and metal can be recycled indefinitely, paper can be recycled five to seven times before there’s a significant loss of quality, and even after that, it can still be repurposed into egg cartons and other types of packaging.

Buy recycled items

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By purchasing recycled items, you’ll encourage and participate within the recycling cycle, which is all there is to it. Buying these types of items reduce the need to extract virgin materials, the amount of pollution, and more.

Despite the skepticism, recycling works

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Related: 3 Ways To Be A Conscious Cannabis Consumer

Even though the government and responsible parties can at times send out confusing messages, according to the Environmental Protection Agency there are clear benefits to recycling, like the reduction of tons of energy. Recycling aluminum cans saves 95 percent of the energy it takes to make one brand new can. Recycling paper reduces 60 percent of the energy it takes to produce it from scratch. The same goes for steel and other recyclable items. This doesn’t mean that recycling will stop pollution entirely, but at least you’ll be helping in slowing down the process.

Let go of the useful stuff you don’t use

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If you have different useful items that you don’t use, give them up for recycling. Freecycle and Recycler’s Exchange are groups that can help you re-purpose your items, avoiding throwing them in the trash and creating even more waste and pollution.

Cozy Up To These 6 Comfort Cannabis Cultivars

Mary Schumacher
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Cozy Up To These 6 Comfort Cannabis Cultivars

Curling up in a quilt in front of a warm, crackling fire, coming in from the blustery cold, making spiced cider and mulled wine, and embracing the smells and sensations of the winter months is the best way to make it through without getting seasonal depression. Cozy up to your favorite person, pet or stack of pillows with these six different cannabis cultivars that comfort your soul on the coldest, wettest of days.

Jack Frost

 

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Related: 7 Ways To Get Lifted And Stay Fit While Indoors This Winter

A lightly euphoric, yet clear headed hybrid, Jack Frost is a powerful strain that is heady and good for aches and pains the chill might have put into your bones. A strain made up of the well known strains Jack Herer, White Widow and Northern Lights, the mesh became a new favorite of growers, hash makers and cannabis users alike.

Afghani

 

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The ultimate indica coated in frost and perfect to match bowls with on a snowy day, Afghani wraps around you like a blanket. This is a very good cultivar for combatting any homebound born anxiety and makes you feel more comfortable in your own skin. A great strain to pair with milk and cookies, hot chocolate or spiced seasonal coffee, you’ll feel the warm fuzzies all over.

Chemdawg

 

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This legendary strain is an indica dominant hybrid that is potent to say the least, so if you’re in for the day or night and are ready to get in some down time, smoke or vape this pungent cultivar ‘til your heart’s content. The origin cultivar of the powerful cannabis strain Sour Diesel, it also has a gasoline-like aroma.

Bubble Gum

 

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Sweet to the pallet, relaxed and the perfect replacement for a chill pill, Bubblegum is a fun strain to toke as much as it is to fall back into its overarching effects. Its flavor is distinctly sugary like a hunk of Double-Bubble and it’s won several awards for its all around goodness.

G13

 

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Related: Why We Should Reach For The Bong When We’re Angry

Another legend, but in the urban sense, G13 weed was rumored to be concocted by top government agencies out of the best strains in the world for combatting depression, seizures, pain and hunger issues. Though its origin story will never be proven, it is a heavy, beautiful indica to contend with and will have you on your ass in the best possible way.

Blueberry

 

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A crafted creation by lauded cannabis breeder DJ Short, Blueberry is known for its fruity flavor, but it’s equally infamous for its sophisticated cannabinoid profile that calms the nerves and leaves one feeling comforted and content in the moment. Perfect for staving off winter blues, Blueberry is a favorite, frosty cultivar for most any warmy sesh.

Will Chris Christie Become Next US Attorney General?

Mike Adams
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Will Chris Christie Become Next US Attorney General?

Now that marijuana-hating Jeff Sessions has been kicked out of the Department of Justice with extreme prejudice, the cannabis industry is safe and sound from a federal crackdown. Or is it? Some mainstream media sources have reported the former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been marked by President Trump to become the next U.S. Attorney General. If this happens, he could end up being more of a problem for legal marijuana in the United States than Sessions ever was.   

It was just days after Trump demanded that Sessions’ resignation that sources close to the situation pegged Christie for the next attorney general. The news seemed legit. Christie is a longtime friend of Donald Trump and even endorsed him during his presidential bid. What’s more is Christie has the experience, serving as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey for several years before becoming governor.

There was even speculation early on that Trump wanted Christie to fill the spot of attorney general before the name Jeff Sessions was ever uttered. Christie expressed some interest in the position, telling the media more than once that he would probably resign as governor if offered the job.

It is no secret that Christie is no friend of legal marijuana. As governor, he often said that marijuana would not be legalized in New Jersey on his watch. He even went as far as to tell conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in 2015 that, if pegged for attorney general under President Trump, he would enforce federal marijuana laws.

“I will crack down and not permit it,” he said. “Marijuana is a gateway drug. We have an enormous addiction problem in this country. And we need to send very clear leadership from the White House on down through the federal law enforcement. Marijuana is an illegal drug under federal law. And the states should not be permitted to sell it and profit from it.”

Fortunately, Christie’s opinion on the marijuana issue seems to have progressed to some degree. When asked about it recently, he said“states have the right to do what they want to do.”

But to hear Christie tell it, he and President Trump has not even met to discuss the possibility of him taking over as the country’s leading law enforcement hammer. “He hasn’t asked and we haven’t even spoken about it,” Christie said, according to the Hill.

Christie told reporters that he did, in fact, visit the White House recently for a meeting regarding criminal justice reform. But he said that it was something that was scheduled long before Sessions resigned.

“I was in the White House Thursday for a previously scheduled meeting on prison reform and sentencing reform which we did a lot of in New Jersey, it’s been really successful,” he said. “And so the White House has asked me to help with what they’re trying to do on the national level. And that’s what I was doing there. I didn’t even see the president or speak to him.”

While Jeff Sessions was attorney general, the cannabis community operated in fear that a federal crackdown was on the horizon. But nothing of the kind ever happened. The worst thing Sessions did against marijuana, other than taking some vocal pot shots against its medical benefits and blaming it for the opioid epidemic, is prevent the expansion of medical marijuana research opportunities.

President Trump has said since the beginning that the issue of marijuana legalization should be left up to the individual states. It is conceivable that the next attorney general will be forced to adhere to this philosophy. Whether Trump is actually considering Christie for the position remains to be seen.

8 Ways to Enjoy Marijuana Without Smoking It

Terry Hacienda
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8 Ways to Enjoy Marijuana Without Smoking It

 

So many ways to enjoy life and chill. Lighting an herb on fire and inhaling the combusted plant matter into your lungs isn’t for everyone. And dusting a bong can feel a bit too much like reliving your undergraduate days. Whatever reason you have, here are eight ways to practice your marijuana enthusiasm without starting a fire. Hey, maybe that’s what Billy Joel was singing about!

Infused Food

Nearly everyone has a “brownie story.” Most of these tales begin with a bite of a baked goodie and end with the protagonist on the floor moaning about the meaning of life or impending death. It happens. But cannabis’ culinary culture is growing up fast. Brownies and cookies are still common staples at most retail stores. But have you tried pulled pork? Mac & cheese? Caramel corn? Foie gras?

This is the future of pot edibles. According to Arcview Market Research, the food and beverage sector account for roughly half of the estimated $5.7 billion cannabis industry. By 2020, ArcView projects the industry to grow to $22 billion overall, with more than $12 billion of that in the edible space. That’s a lot of brownies!

Beverages

The cannabis cocktail culture is already a full-blown trend in trendy West Hollywood. Can the rest of the nation be far behind? But you don’t have to go to an upscale drinking establishment to get your cannabis buzz. You can buy tasty infused lemonades and sodas (make mine a sarsaparilla, please).

Related: 8 Things You Need To Know About Eating Marijuana Edibles

And for those who want a little caffeine jolt with their cannabis, there are infused coffees you can buy at a retail store. Or you can brew your own easily at home.

Tinctures

Cannabis tinctures have been around for centuries but fell out of favor in the 1930s following the U.S. prohibition of marijuana. But the potent method is making a comeback as more and more Americans find non-smoked marijuana healthier and cleaner.

Tinctures are essentially concentrated marijuana in liquid form. Dosing varies depending, but in general an eyedropper or two. When you read a story about a child using CBD oil to combat epileptic seizures, chances are he or she is medicated via tincture.

Tinctures are discreet and easily fit in a purse or pocket. Add an eyedropper to a beverage or take it straight.

 Skin Care

Yes, you can bathe, exfoliate, shampoo, shave and moisturize with marijuana. Don’t fear the skunky marijuana smell; these products are not only infused with cannabis, but they contain natural scents such as lavender, mint and citrus.

Will these skin-care products get me high? Most of these products are made with hemp, marijuana’s non-psychoactive cousin. And even if THC was present in these products (most don’t), it will not be absorbed by the CB2 receptors on your epidermis. So you get the therapeutic benefit without any of the euphoria.

Vape Pens

The slim, inconspicuous, ubiquitous devices have become the standard form factor for many enthusiasts. The vape pens are easy to carry and conceal when discretion is key. If convenience, cost and efficiency matter to you, consider a vape pen.

Vape pens, as the name implies, is a vaporization method, meaning there is no combustion of plant matter. The heating element brings the temperature just hot enough to create a light vapor. No inhaling smoke.

Vaporizers

For home use, larger vaporizers are becoming trendy. The Volcano he industry standard for years and is the go-to device used by Bill Maher, Willie Nelson, and other cannabis aficionados. The Herbalizer is an egg-shaped contraption that looks like something from the future.

Related: What Is The Safest Way To Consume Cannabis?

These appliances come at a high price, but are worth it in the long run since they require less herb to achieve the required effect. Plus, they are healthier for you than smoking.

Concentrates

Wax. Shatter. Oil. Crumble. You’re going to be hearing these terms a lot if you start hitting up the local marijuana store.

All of these are concentrates that typically produce an enhanced and quicker high. If you are a beginner, be careful. Concentrates are for those with a higher tolerance for THC and/or medical patients that require super-intense dosages.

My advice: Leave these extracts to those who know what they’re doing. Find a savvy friend to show you the ropes the first few times. And prepare to sit or lay down.

For Women Only

Sex and marijuana is a natural combo. And Foria has found a way to make it even better.

Earlier this year, Whoopie Goldberg teamed up with award-winning edibles maker Maya E`lisabeth to launch Whoopi & Maya, a California-based medical marijuana company focused on producing “cannabis-infused salves, balms and edibles designed to relieve menstrual pain and discomfort.” Unfortunately, only Californians can buy these products so far.

NOTE: Synthetic marijuana is NOT an alternative. Please leave that stuff to the amateurs.

5 Important Questions You Should Always Ask In A Job Interview

Maria Loreto
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5 Important Questions You Should Always Ask In A Job Interview

One of the most basic indicators of a good interview is an engaging conversation. The conversation doesn’t have to be the best one you’ve ever had but if you’re nodding along to whatever the recruiter is saying and not being an active participant in the discussion, then odds are you won’t be getting that job.

Hiring managers and experts agree that asking questions and showing interest during your interview is one of the most important things when it comes to getting a job. This isn’t an easy trick to master and it takes practice and preparation. Here are 5 questions you should always ask in a job interview in order to give the impression that you’re very prepared and invested in the position.

What are the challenges the position provides?

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Related: 5 Apps That Will Help You Land Your Next Job

This question can tell you a lot about your future job, letting you know more than the brief description that’s provided on the job search website. By asking this question directly, you’ll get a chance to hear the details of the inner workings of the company from an employee. They might tell you about the people you’ll be working with, the office space, and other potentially unsavory bits of information such as challenging workers, bad coffee, and budget limitations on certain areas of your job.

What’s a typical day in this job?

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Aside from the fact that you’re visualizing yourself in the position and that looks great for your confidence, this question is also pretty damn vital when starting off in a new job. Whatever your new job entails, the more information you have, the more prepared you’ll be and the better you’ll perform.

What are the company’s values?

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Before you ask this question, be sure to do your homework —  researching the company and obtaining a deeper and clearer picture of who they are. This question should tell you what the company values most, giving you tools that’ll help you thrive in your new job position.

What differentiates the good employees vs. the great ones?

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Alison Green, job recruiter and expert, told The Cut that this was the strongest question she’d ever been asked in a job interview, cutting straight to the heart of what hiring managers are looking for. By asking this question, you’re positioning yourself as someone who wants to deliver the best work possible and who wants to excel in their new position.

What is the company’s culture and work environment?

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Related: 5 Signs That Indicate Your Job Isn’t Making You Happy

Every company is different, with some caring deeply about hierarchy and organization, and others caring more about creating a relaxing environment where everyone is free to do their own thing. With this question, you’ll know what to expect your first day on the job or maybe even set off an alarm or two regarding this new position that doesn’t fit well with who you are as an employee.

Green Market Report: Marijuana Money Nov. 9

Debra Borchardt
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Green Market Report: Marijuana Money Nov. 9

Cannabis arch enemy Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigned this week at the request of President Trump. If you’ll recall Sessions rescinded the Cole Memorandum and initiated lifetime bans at the northern border of people that work in the cannabis industry. It’s hard to say at this point whether the acting AG Matthew Whitaker will be for or against cannabis legalization, presumably he will be focused on the Russian investigation and not legalization issues.

We also got the results from the midterm elections this week and Michigan became the 10th state to legalize adult use cannabis. Missouri and Utah both legalized medical cannabis. North Dakota just said no to approving adult-use cannabis.

In New York, the state gained a democratic majority and many believe that this will result in legalizing adult use cannabis.

Golden Leaf is merging with Terra Tech (TRTC) after the company reported a net loss of $5.5 million in the third quarter. Revenues did climb to $5.1 million, but the value of its biological assets fell.

High Times has extended its stock offering to the end of November. The company said it wanted to accommodate additional investors that have resulted from the ad campaign as a result of the iHeart Radio deal. The iconic magazine also updated the market on declines in its revenue, but it seems the company’s expenses have fallen.

Green Growth closed on another C$30 million raise bringing the company’s total capital raise so far to $140 million.

Third quarter earnings have begun to roll in. Innovative Industrial Properties (IIPR) reported that its revenues climbed 150% to $3.9 million for the third quarter versus $1.6 million for the same time period last year. The company also delivered a net income of $1.5 million or $0.21 per diluted share. and IIPR said it would pay its sixth consecutive dividend.

Insys Therapeutics (INSY)  delivered a quarterly loss of $0.37 per share missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate for a loss of $0.20. The company also delivered revenues of $18.35 million, which also fell short of Zack’s estimate by 18%. Insys said that it was reviewing its portfolio of opioid assets including Subsys meaning it could be on the selling block.

Aphria (APHA) acquired German-based CC Pharma. Germany is key to the company’s international expansion.

Aurora Cannabis made a $20 million investment in the upscale chain called Choom.

This article was originally posted on Green Market Report.

Mythbusters: Does Marijuana Increase Your Metabolism

Brea Mosley
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Mythbusters: Does Marijuana Increase Your Metabolism

Have any of those weed-induced trains of thought lead you to wonder why marijuana makes you so darn hungry? Thought so. It is pretty remarkable when you think about the amount of food you can fit in your stomach when you’re stoned. Two pizzas, a burrito and 17 chocolate chip cookies for dinner? Not sober, no problem. Does marijuana increase you metabolism?

If you know what we mean, you’ll also know it happens almost immediately. When we say ‘it’ we mean the very real and very demanding force every smoker has come to know as the munchies. A few puffs in and your stomach gives you that grumbling signal that it’s ready for some grub. But what exactly is it about marijuana that makes you hungry? Is it a mental thing, or is it actually physical?


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First things first, let’s clear the air in saying that the properties in marijuana itself can not make you fat.

In 2013, the American Journal of Science released a report that noted the low prevalence of obesity in cannabis users despite an abundance of empirical and anecdotal evidence linking stoners to high caloric diets.” According to the study, “the most important finding is that current users of marijuana appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than nonusers,” Murray Mittleman, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the lead author of the study, told Time. “Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level.

So far so good, right? Maybe, but even with all of the studies and research out there, it seems that there is still not definitive answer on this serious debate. With a lack of scientific evidence to back up the argument that marijuana in fact does increase your metabolism, we are left to speculating alternative points of view.

RELATED: 8 Things You Need To Know About Eating Marijuana Edibles

Some suggest that Mary Jane may be inducing a mental rather than physical need for munchies. Go Ask Alice explains that “the cannabinoid receptor system in your brain is thought to be involved in pleasure-seeking behavior, sensitivity to smells, and a heightened response to sweet flavors — all things that could send you dashing to the pantry.”

However researchers also have argued other physical benefits related to metabolism. Go Ask Alice also suggests that, “some research on endocannabinoids — chemicals similar to marijuana, that your body naturally produces — has led researchers to think that blocking cannabinoids may decrease the chance of someone developing metabolic syndrome — which is a group of risk factors that can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and other possible health issues.”

RELATED: What Is The Safest Way To Consume Cannabis?

Without having a clear answer, we say enjoy the munchies responsibly and opt for delicious and healthy rather than “whatever is in the fridge.”


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Do you have discovered the mythbuster, does marijuana increase you metabolism?

How Marijuana Helped A Mother With Stage 4 Colon Cancer

Celia Behar
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How Marijuana Helped A Mother With Stage 4 Colon Cancer

I’ve been trying to get my sister, Julie, to smoke pot with me since she was 14. Over the last 26 years, I’ve succeeded only twice.

The first time was when we were in our early 20’s. It was Thanksgiving and we were at my grandparents’ farm in upstate NY. After dinner we were both losing our minds, stuck in a political/religious bashing of all things pop-culture with our relatives – and seriously needing a drink…or an escape route…or a lobotomy. But no one there drank and none of the knives were pointy enough, so we were basically screwed.

Then I remembered I had some weed in my car and at that point my sister was ready to try anything in order to feel less stabby about the entire situation so she snuck outside to smoke with me. Of course I had nothing on me that we could smoke it with. Not a paper, a bowl, or even a one hitter because I had either convinced myself that this year wouldn’t be so bad, or ya know, I was still hiding the fact that I smoked pot from my parents. Apparently having the weed itself wasn’t the dead giveaway but having a bowl would be. Nice work, Behar. Anyway, I made my sister go swipe a coffee filter (a brown-close-to-cardboard-cause-of-course-that’s-all-we-had coffee filter) rolled possibly the worst joint ever and inhaled that sucker like little Jewish Cheech and Chongs.

While our family argued on about gay rights, health care, birth control, and whether or not Meg Ryan had her ‘lips done’ (OMG who cares, and also, DUH. She became a blowfish.) My sister and I went to go watch TV on the 20-yr-old beat up, pullout couch that sank in the middle basically creating a mattress taco with us as the very stoned filling. We stared at each other, giggling like we were 9 and 12, all kinds of high. We tried to contain ourselves when our grandmother decided to come offer us some relationship advice by informing us that she and our grandfather no longer had sex because she could “hardly move her ass”. Ya know, just the image that every grandkid longs to emblazon in her mind … high … in a mattress taco.

Diagnosis: Stage 4 Colon Cancer

The second time I got my sister high was a month after she found out she had stage 4 colon cancer. Metastasized. She’s 40 and the mother of four. Her cancer symptoms had been masked by her last pregnancy and by the time they caught it, it was everywhere. Her colon, gallbladder, liver and lymph nodes. Her doctor gave her 12 to 24 months to live, if she responded to treatment. There was no talk of recovery, or ‘beating this thing’, no words of encouragement.

Now I understand doctors often remain detached and provide just the facts. But I had hoped the center where she would start chemo would be a bit more compassionate. Nope. Three days before chemo was scheduled to start, she got a call from the treatment center telling her that because she had no insurance (which they knew from the start and yet STILL put a port in her – i.e., a hole in her body where the chemo gets delivered), they would not be giving her chemo when she was scheduled and basically wished her luck. This is the same center that made it clear to her that if she didn’t start chemo as soon as her body could handle it she would die within months.

The lack of empathy shown from this place was really just astounding. After a very long and stressful two days and with the help of a little Mama power, she got insurance and started chemo. I flew out to be with her and it sucked. She was sick to her stomach, lethargic, dehydrated, and jaundiced. Her boyfriend and I took turns calling the hospital to ask for advice and every time I was struck with how totally cold they were. We were just numbers. This wasn’t my sister to them; this was just a patient. Not a person, but a number. A statistic – and not a good one. It felt horrible. Had I not been experiencing the exact opposite treatment from a different group of providers at the same time, I can say without a doubt that my faith in humanity would likely have been lost.

Photo courtesy Celia Behar 

When I got the call that my sister was sick I did two things:

  1. Sobbed uncontrollably and felt like I was drowning.
  2. Told the people closest to me what was going on – two of whom are in the cannabis industry and from that minute on, had our backs.

The first person I spoke to was Mama Tracy Ryan of Cannakids. If you don’t know Tracy’s story, she has been helping her little girl Sophie battle brain cancer since she was an infant by using cannabis. She founded and runs Cannakids and knows more about medical marijuana than anyone I know. She was the first person to give me hope by telling me about the healing properties of cannabis and how different organs have different receptors that process it. She told me of studies where cancer damage was actually reversed after treatment involving cannabis. She then went on to offer any services that she had at her disposal to help my sister. She was, and has continued to be, an amazing support.

The next person I told was my longtime friend, Tom Grubbs. Tom and I grew up together and not long after I moved to L.A., he moved to Oregon (about 2 hours from where my sister lives now). He is also a partner at the cannabis farm Moto Perpetuo Farm. From the second I told him what was going on, Tom rallied.

He informed (and I mean INFORMED) me that my sister’s cancer would be “attacked thoroughly” by cannabis and before I knew it, he had special cannabis oils made for her, connected me to a cancer survivor who beat it by only using cannabis, scheduled meetings for me with the oil creators so I could ask questions, and set my sister up with the product and supplies she needed. I never asked him to do any of this – he just did it. And since then, every single person that he has put me in touch with has gone out of their way to help me and Julie.

  • Empower Body Care supplied bags of cannabis-infused bath salts and muscle rubs for her.
  • She has an electric nail from D-NAiL.
  • Phoenix Fire Labs made her oils.
  • By Colby Glass Store created a special glass piece to use near her bed that’s easy to hold in the dark and is heavy enough that it won’t tip over.
  • Genesis Pharms has been providing her with RSO suppositories that have been a total game changer.

For the most part, these people have done these things without knowing either of us. And their involvement in my sister’s treatment didn’t end once we received their products. They call and text us through the worst of her chemo reactions, offering advice, an ear, hope. They hug us when they see us. They know our names. They tell me I’ve ‘got this’, even when I sure as hell don’t feel like I ‘got’ anything of the sort.

Tests Are Looking Better

It’s a stark contrast to how we were treated on the other side by mainstream medicine. And here’s the most amazing thing: Since starting the cannabis treatment that all these phenomenal people have put together my sister not only feels better, but her tests are looking better. I don’t know what that will mean for her in the long run, but I do know that this wasn’t what the doctors were expecting. Now will they give the cannabis credit for that? Somehow I doubt it.

But I sure as hell can. Because I’ve seen her change. Cannabis isn’t a joke, a gateway drug, or whatever the hell propaganda we’ve been sold for years. It is a medical treatment, possibly a miracle. God, do I hope it is.

And the people who work in the cannabis industry, well, they aren’t that far off from angels in my opinion. Brilliant, hardworking, dedicated, and driven angels. They fly in the face of the image of burn out stoners who can’t get off the couch. These stereotypes and stigmas around cannabis – they have to end. We have this amazing, potentially lifesaving resource and because of years and years of misinformation about it, people aren’t using it. And those who do are judged and maligned. No. This needs to stop. We need to help change this. MOMS need to change this, because as one person in the industry recently said to me, “everyone knows that moms have all the power. Once moms embrace cannabis, game over.” Well, consider it embraced.

I think it’s pretty obvious by the way I started this post that I’ve been a cannabis user myself for years, and while I had already begun to advocate for its normalization before my sister was diagnosed with cancer, now I’m clearly all in. I’m a mom, a sister, a daughter and a person whose life is better because of cannabis and the cannabis industry.

How Cannabis Helped Me With Postpartum Issues

I used it for postpartum issues and now use it to treat my anxiety and insomnia. It works like nothing else ever has. I’m tired of hiding it. Tired of not talking about it. Why is it OK for moms to talk about wanting ‘ALL the wine’ but I can’t say I want my vape pen without being lambasted? How is drinking in front of my kids – and teaching them that drinking is OK when done responsibly – different than using marijuana in front of them and teaching them the same thing? It’s not.

My children are well aware that I use cannabis and that their aunt and friend Sophie are being helped by it. They are being educated about cannabis, not poisoned against it and they know that I have hope for my sister’s life because of it. How is there ever anything wrong with having hope?

So here’s a thing that I’ve learned when there is a crisis: Help and support takes many forms. Sometimes it’s a supportive text or a food delivery. Sometimes it’s a hug or laugh. And sometimes … if you’re lucky … it’s people who don’t ask what you need, don’t even tell you what they are doing until they’ve done it, they just make it happen and take you along for the ride. Those people? Those people are heroes. And in this story, it’s been the people in the cannabis industry that have been our heroes.

NOTE: My sister is still unable to work at this time and needs all the help she can get. Please consider donating to her cause.

Celia Behar is president of Lil’ Mamas, where this story was originally published.  

Listen: Best Selling Cannabis Author Releases New Song About Sexual Misconduct

Terry Hacienda
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Listen: Best Selling Cannabis Author Releases New Song About Sexual Misconduct

Earlier this year, 28-year-old Fresh Toast contributor and best-selling cannabis book author Javier Hasse was featured on NowThis after dropping a heavy-hearted, strongly worded public service announcement on cannabis legalization in an album that hit eight different Billboard Charts (including the #1 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, #9 on Rap Charts, and #11 on Independent Charts, among others).

The Whoodlum Ball, as the album was titled, was a collaborative, independent record produced by recurring billboard-topping duo Smith and Hay, alongside DJ Whoo Kid and Ranna Royce. The LP featured legacy rappers including Wu-Tang’s RZA & Inspectah Deck, Twista, Lil Windex, Riff Raff, Cyhi The Prynce, Faincarter, Compton’s Most Wanted’s MC Eiht, The Wake Up Show’s King Tech, Parliament-Funkadelic’s Jerome “Bigfoot” Brailey, Iliana Eve, and Eminem’s artists Kxng Crooked and Conway.

“I was in the shower one day and thought I’d get creative in my pitch to get an interview with Lin-Manuel Miranda – which I didn’t get, by the way,” Hasse told The Fresh Toast, talking about how his poem came to be.

“However, I showed the rap to a friend, who happened to also be a Senator, and he had me perform at a dinner cruise after a medical cannabis event in Pittsburgh.

“Jon Hay heard it and asked me if he could put it, as it was, in his upcoming album. I was instantly on board; being on an LP alongside some of my favorite rappers of all time like RZA and Twista seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he added.

With no beat on the background, Hasse delivered a live spoken-word highlighting some of the main reasons to support cannabis legalization, from economic factors, to political statements, to healthcare, to racial issues.

Jail Tattoos

Today, Hasse is at it again, with a new track on Jail Tattoos, the latest album produced by Jonathan Hay and Ranna Royce featuring Bizarre of D12.

Other big names on the album include Slim Jesus Sadat X from Brand Nubian, T-Rell, Louie Gonz and DJ Manipulator, Mike Smith, Chino XL, Bubba Sparxxx, Cyhi The Prynce and Felcia from Mo Thugs.

Fortunately, Hasse decided to share his new song, Letter Of Consent, with The Fresh Toast for us to premiere.

“Jon Hay reached out a couple of months ago and said he was producing a new album. He asked if I had another song for him… I didn’t,” Hasse said. “But I promised I’d have something ready within a week. Since I had already written about cannabis, I thought I’d go for the other topic I’m really passionate about: feminism.

“So I sat down with some female friends and asked them what they thought were topics I had to include in a song. I then wrote it, and went to my good friend Alan Senderowitsch of Cromo Musica and asked him to create a beat and record me. We spent a day in the studio and came up with a very old-school rap. Once ready, we went to Jon Hay and showed him what we had. He updated the beat completely and got Goldy Locks in the studio to add a hook.”

So, without further a due, here’s Letter Of Consent, and the lyrics below. Using headphones or speakers is strongly encouraged – gotta have that base.

Letter Of Consent

Hi men, do you like violence? (Yeah!)
Wanna end up with no friends, no girl, and shunned by society?
Join an “elite” club with Roy Moore and Harvey Weinstein?
Lose your fucking job, settle for millions like Bill O’Reiley?
 
She’s not your date,
If she can’t get her head straight. Make sure she’s awake.
Consent’s a fucking mandate!
Abstain, just refrain.
There’s no gain in pain, I’ll say it again.
There’s no gain in pain.
 
Since age twelve, you’ve loved Louis C.K.
Cause he said all the nasty stuff you never dared say yourself.
Then he jerked off in front of the wrong folks
And guess what?
It’s still rape… I’ve counted the fucking votes!
 
We all know, we make fucking “stroke” jokes
We say It’s a hoax, hope it is all smoke.
Well let me provoke you, invoke the law.
Consent is the fucking key. Come on, bro!
 
That P.E. teacher who thought that by senior high
It was fine to hit on students.
That guy was just fucking vile.
 
A bone fide sex offender
A certified child molester
The way that he addressed her
That time that he caressed her
Stroked her, touched her, like California white fur
That’s not rare. It’s unfair, but standard as Budweiser.
  
Fifty percent of the world fucking fears you
You just found out, but it’s been going on since the year Two
Or even before… since the Holy Spirit came to Mary
And without even asking, decided to make a baby.
 
Guess she couldn’t abort.
He was the son of the Lord.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just a whore
Delivering’s just a chore
The clothes that that lady wore
She knew what she was in for
Don’t underscore the décor
She lacked when she washed ashore.”
  
I got one more for you.
This one’s all about the Franklins
About women at work, taking nothing but a spanking
Never banking on their ranking, no one thanking them for handling
All that shit, it’s simply dazzling.
It’s just baffling, pretty saddening.
 
We’re changing now,
Oh while men cling to their power,
Acting nervous, disempowered,
Fearing they will get devoured.
We’re about to hit the hour.
So get ready.
It’s the era of the women,
Flower power, no more cowards.

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