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Non-Cannabis Based Business Owners Are Flourishing In Weed

Mary Schumacher
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Non-Cannabis Based Business Owners Are Flourishing In Weed

People’s passions are as varied as the wildflowers that coat a fragrant hillside. They’re vibrant, they’re colorful and ofttimes more than one passion is plucked for life’s journey. People who are passionate about pot are passionate for a number of reasons, ranging from it feels good to its healing properties and social impact.

Activists and advocates who love weed from seed to consumption can rattle off state laws, pontificate on the many wonders of the plant, give lectures on the virtues of hemp and likely smoke one under the table, but that passion, that love, doesn’t always equate to business acumen in the cannabis arena.

There’s no question that cannabis has become big business, and though its roots are grounded in compassion and societal wellbeing, the fresh leaves that are getting the most monetary sunshine aren’t necessarily native to the plant; people have literally spliced themselves onto the marketplace because of rapid growth and high yields.

Not to say that newcomers aren’t joining for the right reasons. There are plenty of venture capitalists, investors and CEOs who have seen the proverbial light and recognize that they have an opportunity to not only make beaucoup bucks, but to help people in need. Philanthropy is practically built in when it comes to the business of cannabis.

What having this new wave of ganjapreneurs will ultimately mean for the marijuana movement isn’t clear quite yet, but a few things are for certain. Being able to smell test Maui Wowie versus Lemon Haze no longer a resume makes in this burgeoning industry and the business of cannabis has gotten a lot more serious.

While it’s an uncomfortable shift for many who never felt it right to monetize on a plant or especially on the very ill, with bigger businesses comes more regulation, and that can be a good thing, depending on the intentions of the people doing the regulating. Tracking weed from seed form to its final sale and testing pot for mold or pesticides are well intended, patient friendly practices. In another way, the taxes that come with to pay for it all are a hardship for many who need marijuana’s relief the most, such as seniors and veterans.

Striking a balance will take the efforts of those whose true love is making numbers crunch, those whose love to make businesses grow, grow, grow, and, importantly, those who love cannabis through and through. We can all learn from each other to create a non-exclusionary market if we can accept each other as the uniquely passionate beings that we are.

Missouri Will Vote On 3 Medical Marijuana Measures This November

Mary Schumacher
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Missouri Will Vote On 3 Medical Marijuana Measures This November

Whereas in 2016, when Missouri pot activists were not able to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot, this year, three separate measures made the cut with John Hancocks to spare. Two are constitutional amendments, and one is a change to state law. Here’s how the three break down, what happens if two or even all three pass, and what Missouri law enforcement thinks of potential medical marijuana legalization.

All three measures will allow for growing at a wholesale level (only one measure allows for home grows), manufacturing, sales and consumption. The ailments covered are also similar in scope, including chronic conditions such as PTSD, pain, muscle spasticity and other ailments commonly found under the cannabis treatment umbrella.

Missourians for Patient Care is the measure aiming to change state law. It clocks in with the lowest tax, 2 percent, yet aims to spread the revenue across more causes than the other two. Taxes would go to veteran services, addiction treatment, public safety and early education for children living in the vicinity of medical marijuana facilities.

Funded in part by a non-profit that goes by the same name, Missourians for Patient Care are not required to report on other involved donors, though it shares an address with a media company run by the “Index-fund pioneer” himself, Rex Sinquefield, also known as a “mega donor.”

New Approach Missouri is one of the two constitutional amendments and it proposes a tax of 4 percent which would go specifically to veterans programs. New Approach Missouri’s proposed measure would give the Department of Health and Senior Services the authority to regulate licensing, cultivation, testing and the sales of marijuana. Missouri would also then be in the right place to start a seed to sale system that ensures cannabis goes to the patients for which it is intended.

Unlike the other two ballot measures, New Approach Missouri has hundreds of donors at different levels and they gathered the most signatures, including over 33,000 in the 7th Congressional District. Also unlike the others, New Approach allows for at home cultivation.

The Bradshaw Amendment would tax cannabis at 15 percent, but that money would be going toward establishing an institute of the state in order to research cures for incurable diseases. The amendment was concocted by a board of 9 and said board would handle the decisions as to licensing fees and exactly how much cannabis could be bought or sold at a time; they’d determine how many grow ops could operate and they’d identify and decide which diseases should be covered under the potential law.

The Springfield News-Leader reached out to all bodies of law enforcement they seemingly could, and though most of the answers came back with some form of “we are confined by state law, so however state law goes, we go,” others were clearly upset by the idea of medical marijuana and the potential next step of adult use cannabis.

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said, “The Missouri Police Chiefs Association has consistently opposed the legalization of marijuana, and that position, which I as a member and past president support, has not changed.”

It’s possible that once a law is enacted, should it be voted in, law enforcement officials such as Chief Williams will see that there there will not likely be a spike in crime and that arrest rates will actually go down, as patients will finally be able to obtain legal cannabis and show proof that what they’re carrying is legal. These should be positive signs along with the other many benefits of legalizing medical marijuana, such as a drop in opiate overdoses and not to mention the tax revenue it brings in.

All three potential medical marijuana enactments would clearly mean a positive step forward for Missouri and its residents, especially the very ill who need their medicine, but all three can’t be enacted. If there’s any kind of tie, the winner will be the one with “the largest affirmative vote…even if that (measure) did not receive the greatest majority of affirmative votes.” It really boils down to if Missourians want to grow their own weed, where they want their tax dollars to go and whom they want at the helm of this potential new medical marijuana marketplace.

You Can Adopt Dogs Too Nice For Government Training

Maria Loreto
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You Can Adopt Dogs Too Nice For Government Training

All dogs have unique personalities and some of them are too nice and/or lazy to graduate from service training. These are obviously the best pets to keep around and now you can adopt one of your very own.

These puppies are available for adoption at TSA headquarters in Texas. For different reasons, be that because of their nervousness, lack of drive or simply being too friendly, these dogs didn’t complete the necessary training to be government qualified and are now up for adoption.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnKCP5GHNi2

These dogs are all large breeds: German Shorthaired Pointers, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and Belgian Malinois. They’re all big animals suitable for sniffing out drugs, contraband, and intimidating people, which makes them even cuter.

There are several organizations that make sure to give “career dogs” a home. Some of these include Mission K9, which connects families to older and retired dogs, and Freedom Service Dogs of America, which trains shelter dogs to become service dogs and puts the pups who don’t make the cut  up for adoption.

While it’s a little sad to see a dog fail, especially after trying so hard, it’s very adorable and reassuring that programs like these exist, giving the puppies a second chance to do something else with their lives. Some would say these dogs got the better end of the stick; sleeping and cuddling sounds like a much better option than being a career dog anyway.

GOSSIP: MTV Blames J-LO For Disaster Ratings; Meghan And Harry Ask George and Amal Clooney To Be Royal Godparents

Naughty Gossip
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GOSSIP: MTV Blames J-LO For Disaster Ratings; Meghan And Harry Ask George and Amal Clooney To Be Royal Godparents

MTV BLAMES JLO FOR DISASTER RATINGS – EXCLUSIVE

MTV Video Music Awards ratings hit an all-time low this year and now producers are blaming Jennifer Lopez and even talking about scrapping the entire show all-together!

“You cannot forget the TV is a business and live award shows are expensive. With the ratings hitting an all-time low for the VMA’s there is no way the company can justify continuing with the award show. Shows must get viewers to get advertisers or else they will get cancelled. At this point MTV has little other choice but to finally cancel the show,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER.

“Whenever there is a ratings disasters fingers are pointed. At the moment, most fingers are aiming at Jennifer Lopez. She got the big award and put on the big performance and she couldn’t attract the viewers. It is going to be a long time before anymore builds a live TV show around her again.”

MEGHAN AND HARRY ASK GEORGE AND AMAL CLOONEY TO BE ROYAL GODPARENTS – EXCLUSIVE

Meghan and Harry are getting so close with Hollywood royalty, George and Amal Clooney, that the Duke and Duchess have asked their new best friends if they would consider being godparents when the little baby arrives.

“Meghan and Harry have made it no secret that they both want children as soon as possible and although no official baby news has been announced yet, the couple have already signed up George and Amal as future godparents, once again shaking Royal norms,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “The four of them have become very close and the royal couple have vacationed with the Clooney’s in Italy. This is now the circle that Meghan mixes with. Lots of her old friends have disappeared.”

MATT DAMON DUMPS BEN AFFLECK! – EXCLUSIVE

While Ben Affleck fights his demons in rehab, one friend who will not be by his side is Matt Damon.

“Matt will always love Ben and think of him like a brother but sometimes you have to step away to let people save themselves. The two of them are not as close anymore. Matt is focused on his wife and family and put his party days well behind him. While Ben is still living the fast life,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “They have a long history together and will always have each other’s backs, but at the moment they don’t talk a lot or even see that much of each other anymore. This is something that Ben needs to do alone.”

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Has To Pay $145K For Vaginal Egg Claims

Maria Loreto
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Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop Has To Pay $145K For Vaginal Egg Claims

It gets harder and harder to believe that Goop is a sound business that produces revenue instead of being a very elaborate joke from Gwyneth Paltrow. The site, which has advertised everything from coffee enemas to bee sting therapy, has settled over unsubstantiated claims that one of her products has health benefits. Finally, the law sees what doctors, experts, and people with common sense have suspected all along.

Buzzfeed News reports that Goop has settled with California prosecutors over allegations that accuse the company of making statements that weren’t scientifically accurate. Goop will pay $145,000 in civil penalties over advice regarding vaginal jade eggs, which were available for purchase on their site. “The wellness empire sold a series of women’s health products whose advertised medical claims were not supported by competent and reliable science,” said the District Attorney’s office in a statement.

Goop will also be forced to provide refunds for costumers who purchased the products and will have to stop advertising the jade eggs as health remedies.

The vaginal jade eggs appeared on Goop’s website as having healing capabilities, increasing sexual energy and bladder control, toning vaginal muscles, and balancing hormones. An accompanying oil can also cure depression, so says Goop. The eggs also claimed to be rechargeable by the energy of the full moon, and cost upwards of $55. Goop was just begging to be shut down here.

Despite the fact that Goop is a big joke all over the internet, the company has a lot of success and continues to be one of the leading businesses in the health and wellness scene. Maybe bad press and crazy products don’t matter as long as you remain in the spotlight and have a really cute and functioning website.

Stockton University In NJ Now Offers A Minor In Marijuana

Mary Schumacher
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Stockton University In NJ Now Offers A Minor In Marijuana

Stockton may have only become an official University in 2015, but it is about to be the spot for higher learning in the truest sense. Last week, the school made the official announcement: you can now minor in cannabis in its many facets at this Atlantic County school.

It may sound like a half-baked pipe dream to some, but on paper (and in actuality), it looks like the future, here and now. The idea was first proposed in March with a hefty and heartening outline about the minor, its areas of focus, its course load and its relevance to students. (The initial proposal states that, “All Stockton students benefit from this minor.”)

“The minor in Cannabis Studies, as an interdisciplinary minor, will provide Stockton students with not only the basic knowledge of cannabis industry business models and cultivation practices but also the recognition of complex historical, cultural, and social/political/economic contexts,” reads the proposal.

In addition, this minor will offer all students an inclusive experience, drawing on a variety of backgrounds and modes of understanding, in addition to emphasizing how societal structures have affected drug legislation, business ownerships, and the current and future challenges anyone entering this industry is likely to face.

The faculty members involved are called The Cannabis Working Group. The 11 professors, deans and administrators that make it up developed the program with the intention of giving students an edge in what the Group accurately sees as a burgeoning industry across the states and even globally.

Students will have four required classes: introduction to Medical Marijuana, Cannabis Law, Internship Preparation (including Cannabis research and basic understanding of small business operations) with opportunities for experiential learning. There will also be a fifth course required as an elective. The elective could dig deeper into the business areas, examine botany or be a specialized course on hydroponics.

Preparing the next generation of ganjapreneurs with tools like an understanding of how policy works and the knowledge of what’s legal moving forward — matched with a mandatory internship at Reliance Health Care’s marijuana grow facility and dispensary in Atlantic City — is truly arming students and future pot purveyors with life skills that fit what’s coming and what’s already here.

The meaningful nature of cannabis is already wafting across the nation. Regulation measures like testing cannabis for contaminants, tracking the pot from seed to sale, having proper packaging, and knowing how to market without involving the youth demographic are already requirements in many markets across the states.

This is why Stockton is a pioneer. Their latest curriculum shows an open-mindedness and willingness to teach controversial information that will not only benefit students, but the patients and clientele they will most certainly serve post-graduation.

This Is How Meghan Markle Spent Her Recent Solo Flight To Canada

Amy Hansen
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This Is How Meghan Markle Spent Her Recent Solo Flight To Canada

Unbeknownst to most passengers aboard Air Canada late last month, they were seated amongst royalty. Meghan Markle flew commercial (that is not a typo) for a three day trip to see one of her best friends, Jessica Mulroney, in Toronto. Way to play the DL, Duchess!

As if flying commercial wasn’t enough, Markle went the extra mile to go unnoticed by wearing all black from head to toe, including a baseball cap pulled down over her face, according to at least one passenger.

While her May 19 wedding to Prince Harry attracted more than 13 million viewers, she went mostly unnoticed.

One anonymous source told Royal Central that “Meghan was lovely,” adding:

“She had two secret service guys with her, but it was all very low key.

“Meghan had one glass of champagne before settling down to watch Book Club.

“She seemed very relaxed and sipped on peppermint tea during the journey.”

Book Club, for those of you not familiar, is a romantic comedy starring  Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen.

According to ABC News royal correspondent Omid Scobie (by way of PEOPLE), Markle spent three days holed up at Mulroney and her husband Ben’s home, explaining they “spent their days catching up, cooking together and, of course, playing with Jessica’s children, who love their ‘Auntie Meg.’” Mulroney’s 7-year-old sons, Brian and John, helped carry Markle’s wedding dress train during the ceremony.

Markle lived in  Toronto for many years while filming the “Suits”.

The trip was her first solo trip since marrying Prince Harry.

SCOTUS Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Stance On Marijuana

Mike Adams
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SCOTUS Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Stance On Marijuana

The U.S. Senate is presently in the process of grilling President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to determine if he is the man to uphold the law and the Constitution. Tuesday began a series of confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, launching a vicious bipartisan cat fight that resulted in Democratic senators trying to sandbag the proceedings during opening remarks. It is this claws-out, gnashing teeth reaction to the longtime conservative that has prevented us from learning more about Kavanaugh’s stance on controversial issues, including marijuana.

Democrats have a problem with the overall pulse of this nomination. The party was already opposed to Kavanaugh due to his position on abortion, gun rights and presidential power, so they want more time to review his history as a federal judge and White House staffer under George W. Bush.

Related: Is China Secretly A Global Cannabis Superpower?

But most of those records have not been made available. Trump’s gatekeepers have prevented the necessary documents from crawling to the surface. Only documents dealing with Kavanaugh’s White House days were released less than 24 hours prior to the initial hearing.

Not much is known, at least at this juncture, about whether Kavanaugh would be a detriment in the grand scheme of cannabis reform in the U.S.. But there are enough clues to suggest the nominee would not side with cannabis legalization or related topics if presented with a case. So, until he is asked directly about his position on the newly legal cannabis climate in parts of the country, we only have a few tidbits to go on.

On the subject of workplace drug testing, which was presented in an appellate court case dealing with employees who work with at-risk youth, Kavanaugh argued, “that the government’s strong interest in ensuring a drug-free workforce at these schools outweighs the infringement of individual privacy associated with this drug testing program.

“In residential schools for at-risk youth, many of whom have previously used drugs, it seems eminently sensible to implement a narrowly targeted drug testing program for the schools’ employees. In these limited circumstances, it is reasonable to test; indeed, it would seem negligent not to test,” he added.

The Supreme Court nominee is also of the opinion that terminally ill patients should not have the freedom to use experiment drugs not yet approved by the FDA. Over a decade ago, Kavanaugh ruled in a Court of Appeals case, saying, “there is no fundamental right ‘deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition’ of access to experimental drugs for the terminally ill.”

Related: Congresswoman Who Opposes Sessions’ Anti-Marijuana Actions Always Votes Against Pot

While Kavanaugh has all the makings of a ghastly beast, he said earlier this summer that his “judicial philosophy is straightforward.” He went on to explain that, “a judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law. A judge must interpret statutes as written. And a judge must interpret the Constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent.”

There is speculation that Kavanaugh will be asked questions about cannabis policy during the hearings. Yet, Democrats are riled up enough over other major issues that could end up overshadowing the topic. But we shall see.

How Marijuana’s CBN Is An Insomniac’s Best Friend

Trey Reckling
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How Marijuana’s CBN Is An Insomniac’s Best Friend

In 1964, Israeli scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and his colleagues identified and named delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Known by its abbreviation, THC is revered for its intoxicating effects and became the first rock star of cannabinoids, or active compound of cannabis.

Most people simply talk of THC and its increasingly famous cousin, cannabidiol (CBD). But did you know that marijuana contains over 100 cannabinoids? There is another active compound worthy of attention: cannabinol, or CBN. 

While CBN creates only a mild euphoria, it is most effective as a sedative. According to Steep Hill Labs:

The consumption of 2.5 mg to 5 mg of CBN has the same level of sedation as a mild pharmaceutical sedative, with a relaxed body sensation similar to 5mg to 10mg of diazepam (Valium).

An important note: CBN can deliver all of this sedative ability without the known side effects of popular and addictive drugs such as Ambien, which can include double vision, nausea, diarrhea, loss of sexual desire, painful intercourse, hallucinations and sleep walking. Just to name a few of the negative side effects. Cannabis enthusiasts will not be surprised to find that CBN is more prevalent in indica dominant strains.

But, like other cannabinoids, CBN’s strength lies in its multifaceted medicinal influence.

It is a champion at fighting bacteria, even the robust and hard to kill drug-resistant staph infections like the notorious MRSA virus known to plague hospitals, nursing homes as well as competitive wrestlers and gymnasts. CBN has even been identified as a non-narcotic painkiller as potent as aspirin, an agent to help with bone healing, and a powerful tool in fighting some lung cancers in lab mice. 

CBN can also reduce or prevent vomiting and seizures as well as increasing appetite. Again, it does all of this with little to no intoxicating effects, which is crucial to some patients who don’t want to feel the psychoactive high associated with THC. 

Although currently public access to CBN-focused products is limited, some vendors, like Mary’s Medicinals in the U.S. and  Herbal Dispatch in Canada, have staked a claim in this growing market.

With a growing body of evidence that this cannabinoid is a multi-talented healer, it should only be a matter of time before the public becomes more familiar with CBN and begins to share the love once reserved for only THC.

Instagram Is Developing An App Just For Shopping

Maria Loreto
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Instagram Is Developing An App Just For Shopping

Instagram has become one of the main internet distractions, a place where users willingly spend a lot of their time indoors, looking through other people’s or product feeds. It’s one of the easiest apps to navigate, which is why it makes a lot of sense for them to get involved with e-commerce.

The Verge reports that Instagram is planning on developing a standalone app called IG Shopping that’ll let users look through collections of items from buyers and businesses that they can then buy directly through the app. The development would put Instagram in competition with websites such as Shopify, exploiting the edge that Instagram has over its social media competitors.

Shopping on Instagram has become more and more popular over the years, with new statistics claiming that four out of five Instagram users follow a business account, and that there are over 25 million businesses active on Instagram today.

Via Instagram:

Shopping on Instagram gives your business an immersive storefront for people to explore your best products with a single tap. With shopping on Instagram, you can choose photos you’d like to feature, tag posts with up to five products per image or up to twenty products per carousel, add filters or captions and you’re done. You can also save drafts or preview your posts.”

Instagram first featured its shopping tool in 2016, allowing users to buy things from within the app by simply tapping into the photo of the product they want to purchase. While a standalone shopping app is different than what users are acquainted with, it could help businesses and shoppers find content more easily and shop in a way that’s simpler than what they’re used to.

There’s no date for the release of IG Shopping and Instagram has declined to make any comments, but the social media app has been testing out all sorts of features lately. E-commerce could easily be the logical next step.

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