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New Jersey’s New Adult-Use Cannabis Bill Just Might Pass

Mary Schumacher
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New Jersey’s New Adult-Use Cannabis Bill Just Might Pass

In January of this year, Phil Murphy became governor of New Jersey for a slew of reasons, not the least of which was his promise to legalize weed in the Garden State within his first 100 days in office. That benchmark has come and gone, but lawmakers continue to work on it and now a new legalization bill is finished, polished and ready for possible implementation.

The new bill calls for the lowest proposed cannabis taxes in the U.S., marijuana delivery services and locations for imbibers to toke, other than in the privacy of their own homes. The law will be for adults 21 and over and will tax and regulate the plant. That low tax is big news, though, written in at a mere 10 percent.

Marijuana retailers would be able to apply for commercial “consumption” spaces as well, so social lounges, cannabis themed coffee shops, spas and maybe even restaurants could be coming soon to New Jersey. With provisions as liberal as these, Jersey could be raking in the bucks, even with the lower taxes. Atlantic City and the infamous Jersey Shore still draw, but cannabis can be a louder tourism boost in today’s age. 

Though the bill doesn’t yet outline how many cannabis licenses can be issued, it does say that 25 percent of said licenses will go to minorities, women and veterans. This is in keeping with the focus on social justice that is so important to Gov. Murphy. Getting rid of arrest disparities in the minority population, lifting up gender equality and a having a deep appreciation for those who served also helped him to win his gubernatorial bid.

Another standout in this newest bill will be the concocting of a five-person Cannabis Regulatory Commission, which would basically be making the rules as they go along. The five members would be governor appointed; three with consent from the Senate, one with consent from the Senate president, and one with consent from the Assembly speaker.

Though Senate President Stephen Sweeney told NJ Advance Media that the bill is unlikely to pass before October, that’s still an encouraging statement for cannabis pioneers across the state and nation. Having Jersey turn a deeper shade of green will put even more pressure on New York to do the same. Plus, many New Jersey residents would have a shot at benefiting fiscally. Ten percent of licenses issued will be “micro-licenses,” meaning small businesses can get in the game, too.

Brad And Angelina Met To Discuss Their Bitter Split; Demi Lovato Is Getting Tons Of Support From Ex Wilmer Valderrama.

Naughty Gossip
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Brad And Angelina Met To Discuss Their Bitter Split; Demi Lovato Is Getting Tons Of Support From Ex Wilmer Valderrama.

POSITIVE STEPS: BRAD AND ANGELINA MET IN PERSON TO DISCUSS THEIR BITTER SPLIT

“Brad and Angelina actually set up a secret meeting at her house,” says a source. “It’s the first time they have truly gotten together to make things work since their group therapy with the children. Brad and Angie’s meeting was a success. They are going to stay with the plan set forth through the courts.”

DEMI LOVATO, WHO HAS BEEN IN REHAB FOR 2 MONTHS IS GETTING A TON OF SUPPORT FROM HER EX, WILMER VALDERRAMA

TMZ has learned Demi quietly transferred from a rehab center on the East Coast to another facility that is world-renowned for its addiction programs. She’s been at that facility for more than a month, and Wilmer has flown there several times during visiting days to be with her. Several people in a nearby town tell TMZ, they’ve seen Demi and Wilmer at a local Starbucks several times, and it appeared to people in the shop they were boyfriend/girlfriend.

MARIAH CAREY IS TRYING FOR A COMEBACK WITH A NEW SINGLE CALLED GTFO

FLOP …Just weeks after reports that sales for her Vegas residency were disastrous, Mariah Carey is trying for a comeback with a new single called GTFO.

Unfortunately, after less than a week it was dropped OUT of the Top 100 songs on iTunes

Trump Wants To Ramp Up The International Drug War

Mike Adams
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Trump Wants To Ramp Up The International Drug War

President Trump is planning a series of meetings next week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in an effort to push his agenda in the international drug war.

The event, which is being sponsored by the U.S., has been deemed the “Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem” and it is seemingly designed to get member states to reaffirm their commitment to battling the illegal drug trade. Yet, according to a report from the Intercept, drug policy advocates are concerned about the implications of the meeting and the document members are being asked to sign.

“It’s not an official document, it doesn’t go through any of the official channels, it’s not negotiated, and it is linked to the event that’s being put on by Trump that will include the secretary general,” said Hannah Hetzer, the senior international policy manager at the Drug Policy Alliance.

“It seems to be a way to get countries to fall in line behind Trump and his administration,” she added. “I think countries that sign this and then show up to this photo op should be very careful — they don’t really know what they are signing up to.”

The Trump Administration sent out a letter last month stating that all countries that sign this document will “receive an invitation to attend this High-Level event” with President Trump.

“The purpose of this event is to demonstrate international political will to enhance efforts to effectively address and counter the serious threats posed by the world drug problem,” the letter reads.

It goes on to say that the U.S. is already working with over two-dozen countries (some of which are controversial for their willingness to execute drug offenders). But the note, which promises a group photo with Trump for all who sign on, appears to be more of a push for Trump’s ant-drug views rather than a plan drafted by the United Nations.

It was just two years ago that the General Assembly held a special session on drugs that produced an outcome document that shied away from imposing cruel and unusual punishment on drug offenders. The Obama Administration played a bug part in this shift. But as the Intercept points out, Trump could officially change that position by forcing more conservative views.

After all, Trump seems to have an affinity for national leaders like Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has carried on one of the most violent and deadly drug wars in history. And the president has also supported policies aimed at executing drug offenders. At a rally in Pennsylvania back in March, Trump said: “When I was in China and other places, by the way, I said, Mr. President, do you have a drug problem? ‘No, no, no, we do not.’ I said, ‘Huh. Big country, 1.4 billion people, right. Not much of a drug problem. I said what do you attribute that to?’ ‘Well, the death penalty.’”

In March, U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo recommending that federal prosecutors “include the pursuit of capital punishment in appropriate [drug] cases.”

The Trump document asks member states to provide updates at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2019.

How Does Cannabis Affect Your Sex Life?

Allison Tierney
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How Does Cannabis Affect Your Sex Life?

A scientific study has recently put a spotlight on the elusive relationship between cannabis and sex.

Published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, a population-based study about the relationship between cannabis use and sex showed that there indeed seems to be a connection.

In the study, which was highlighted earlier this month by Forbes, cannabis use was associated with “increased sexual frequency” in men and women. Those who reported using cannabis daily in the study had a lot more sex—20 percent more—than those who hadn’t ever used cannabis.

Its results also appeared to debunk that cannabis use impairs sexual function, which has long been the subject of debate.

Both of the study’s researchers, Dr. Andrew J. Sun and Dr. Michael L. Eisenberg, are affiliated with the Department of Urology at Stanford University. Their aim was to look into this mysterious connection between substance and sex because the “effects of [cannabis] use on sexual function are unclear, with contradictory reports of enhancement and detriment existing.”

The study’s analysis used data obtained from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) from over 51,000 Americans—both men and women of reproductive age—and relied on self-reporting. Responses from the study were only collected during a set period of time in participants’ lives, providing limitations.

Participants in the study were asked about their sex lives—specifically how often they had sex—within the four weeks before taking the survey. For cannabis, they were asked about their frequency of use within the last year. Survey respondents who didn’t answer questions about their sex lives were left out.

Though authors called the relationship they saw in their analysis “reassuring,” they said that the connection between cannabis use and sexual function should “warrant further study.”

“A positive association between marijuana use and sexual frequency is seen in men and women across all demographic groups,” the study stated in its conclusion.

This certainly isn’t the first time the coitus-cannabis relationship has been put under a scientific lens. Another study in The Journal of Sexual Medicine in January 2017 looked at sexual function in women who used cannabis. “The internet is rife with claims regarding the ability of marijuana to improve the sexual experience; however, scientific data is lacking,” the researchers cited in their objective.

The conclusion of that study found that “The majority of respondents who used [cannabis] prior to sex reported a better overall sexual experience, an increase in sex drive and a more pleasurable orgasm with minimal effect on lubrication.”

Well, that certainly explains all the cannabis-related sex products out there.

Kylie Jenner Just Tried Cereal With Milk For The First Time And The Internet Has A Lot Of Feelings

Maria Loreto
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Kylie Jenner Just Tried Cereal With Milk For The First Time And The Internet Has A Lot Of Feelings

Kylie Jenner is known for her random and sometimes oblivious comments. The sort of comments that you’d read on an anonymous board and instantly recognize the author. “That’s so Kylie,” you’d say.

On September 18th she tweeted that for the first time in her life she’d tried cereal with milk. That’s right, Jenner, a 21-year-old mother, had never tried cereal with milk in her life. Okay. We’ll believe her. Stranger things have happened even though I can’t think of a single one.

The minute she made the announcement Twitter had to make a thing out of it, with users asking her hundreds of questions such as the type of milk, the type of cereal, and most importantly, why?!

Kylie Jenner had answers for all.

While Kylie’s attitude was nothing but positive, all sorts of users had to jump in and roast her. Some made comments on how Kylie’s supposed to bring awareness to important things, and how she has a large following of fans that will listen to her. Others gave her food recommendations, and others were disbelieving. A mix of all of the above is appropriate, even if Kylie has the right to try all sorts of basic foods at whatever point in her life.

Are Cannabis Restaurants On The Horizon?

Mary Schumacher
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Are Cannabis Restaurants On The Horizon?

As state after state legalizes weed, the number of cannabis users coming out of the proverbial closet  also continues to grow. As it does, so do the ways that food and cannabis can be incorporated, from imbibing and then enjoying a good meal to having said meal infused with cannabis in every morsel.

It sounds like a dream come true for lovers of edibles and good food, but it’s a legal gray area that no one has really delved into as of yet. There are private chefs who will whip up the best five-star cannabis-laced meal you could dream of in legal states, but the brick and mortar restaurants have yet to emerge. Their eventual existence seems inevitable, though, especially with the nation’s green wave happening.

At the National Restaurant Association Show earlier this year, speakers went into how the legal landscape hasn’t been thoroughly explored as of yet, and that where cannabis is consumed in public settings still had to be worked out. This could mean that cannarestaurants are still a little while away, but it also means that people are already thinking in that direction.

In Colorado, local jurisdictions decide whether a person can toke in public or enjoy an edible outside their homes. Because of this, the first cannabis cafe has sprung up in Denver called The Coffee Joint. Even at this concept cafe, they provide non-laced snacks and beverages and offer papers, water pipes and vaporizers, but it’s still BYOC.

Once regulations are set in place and marijuana is more and more normalized, cannabis restaurants seem like the obvious next big thing. It’s a targeted audience for sure, but one that makes up over half the nation. It doesn’t hurt that it’s unquestionably a very cool concept. French food with creamy, infused butter, all American diners with cannashakes and sandwiches. The innovations are endless…

One thing that’s going to certainly be discussed first is how people are to get to and from these high minded restaurants. It’s all well and good to have an easily accessible downtown location, but then what about those on the fringes of town? Will car services and food delivery services get a boost in the process? Will there be an increase in designated drivers for weed consumption? We can only wait with mouths watering as legislation is passed and chefs get ready to cook up cannabis for the masses.

Prince Harry’s Friends Are Not Into Meghan Markle’s ‘Trendy Lefty Stuff’ 

Maria Loreto
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Prince Harry’s Friends Are Not Into Meghan Markle’s ‘Trendy Lefty Stuff’ 

Hunting sounds like a very British sport to practice and apparently Meghan Markle isn’t a fan. According to a new report, it’s become an issue within Prince Harry’s social circle.

Before she got married to the prince, Markle was known for her liberal views and outspokenness. She publicly supported Hilary Clinton and spoke for women’s issues, criticizing Donald Trump and his misogynistic comments. After the wedding, Markle’s been forced to keep her opinions to herself and to watch her words, something that has led to some rumored loneliness and isolation. Despite Markle’s weariness, there have been a few slips that have pushed Kensington Palace into awkward situations.

In an interview with the Daily Beast, Lady Colin Campbell, a confident of Princess Diana, said that Markle has been unable to keep some of her opinions to herself, making some of Prince Harry’s friends uncomfortable and annoyed regarding her “trendy lefty stuff.” While there are several things that Markle has issues with, one of the most prominent ones is animal cruelty and the British customs of shooting and hunting.

“She is ultra-liberal and that trendy-lefty stuff does not go down well with some of Harry’s friends. He has introduced her to them all at parties and weddings and private dinners, but she is very anti- a lot of the things that their world functions upon, such as shooting,” says Campbell.

That’s an awkward position for Meghan to be in, but who knows? Maybe Prince Harry’s friends could learn a thing or two about the new world. They can always shoot discs or targets.

Brad Pitt Sees The Kids Every Other Day & He’s Still Being Monitored By DCFS; Tom Cruise Is Said To Be Dating A New Woman

Naughty Gossip
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Brad Pitt Sees The Kids Every Other Day & He’s Still Being Monitored By DCFS; Tom Cruise Is Said To Be Dating A New Woman

Though Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie‘s contentious custody battle is far from over, the father of six has been spending quite a bit of quality time with his brood lately, a source reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. With their temporary summer custody agreement over and their court-ordered child custody evaluation yet to be finalized, Pitt “has the children every other day,” explains the insider. And though the source notes the 54-year-old’s time with his kids is still monitored by officials from the Department of Children and Family Services, the visits are ample: “Four hours a day on school days and 12 hours on nonschool days.”

News of the arrangement comes just weeks after Jolie parted ways with her divorce lawyer Laura Wasser. The change, notes the Pitt source now, was “another delay in the process” of finalizing an agreement between the parents.

During Pitt’s sessions with Pax, 14, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 12, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 10, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor “is active with the kids,” says the insider. (At 17, Maddox is free to make his own decisions about which parent to spend time with.) Since the Maleficent star, 43, filed for divorce in 2016 — days after the private-jet altercation that led to the child services investigation of Pitt — the Oscar winner “continues to work on himself, his sobriety and being a present father,” says another source.

Cleared of wrongdoing by the investigation, Pitt believes the self-reflection will pay off. “He’s maintained faith in the process throughout,” notes the first insider. “He’s hopeful that at the conclusion, he’ll have joint custody of the children. All Brad wants is to be a present dad and coparent with Angelina.”

A New Love

Tom Cruise is said to be dating a new woman.

Sources say the new couple were spotted last week and she is described as blond, attractive and in her mid 30’s. A source says Tom was private about his new lady pal and happily posed for pics with fans, but asked that fans NOT photograph his date.

This Restaurants Gets Their Lobsters Stoned Before Cooking Them

Brendan Bures
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This Restaurants Gets Their Lobsters Stoned Before Cooking Them

There are plentiful puns to deploy at the news that one Maine restaurant kindly—how do I say this?—smokes out their lobsters before boiling them alive so that plump customers can enjoy the juicy, tasty crustaceans. Should I make a “lobster bake” joke? Or should I invoke the late David Foster Wallace with something like, “Consider the (Stoned) Lobster?”

You need more information, I know. Charlotte Gill is the owner of Charlotte’s Legendary Lobster Pound, but it is also a “long-time animal rights supporter who has two pet goats on the premises” of her restaurant. That’s why, as the Mount Desert Islander so eloquently writes, she wanted a “more humane way of executing lobsters.”

Her solution: Lobsters are “placed for a few minutes in a covered box with about two inches of water at the bottom. Marijuana smoke [is] then blown into the water at the bottom of the box.” Correct us if we’re wrong, but that sounds like the lobsters are getting hot boxed. Gill believes this makes the death of being boiled alive less “traumatic” for the lobsters.

“I feel bad that when lobsters come here there is no exit strategy,” Gill said. “It’s a unique place and you get to do such unique things but at the expense of this little creature. I’ve really been trying to figure out how to make it better.”

Gill, who is a licensed medical marijuana caregiver, has established an outdoor station to sedate lobsters with marijuana, at the customer’s request. Otherwise they can have their lobsters cooked in the more traditional method. Gill hopes that next year all lobsters will be sedated in this manner before being cooked.

This story likely begs the question if this humane sedating process infuses the lobsters with THC. According to Gill, the answer is no. “I’m not selling an edible,” she attests. Gill explained to the Islander why she’s confident in making such a statement.

“For this new process though, in order to alleviate any and all concern about residual effect, as we will be dealing with the chemical compound THC, we will use a different method,” Gill said over email. “THC breaks down completely by 392 degrees, therefore we will use both steam as well as a heat process that will expose the meat to 420 degree extended temperature, in order to ensure there is no possibility of carryover effect (even though the likelihood of such would be literally impossible).”

What’s perhaps most exciting to carnivores and pescatarians alike is that Gill argues her sedation process actually makes the meat taste better. ““The difference it makes within the meat itself is unbelievable,” she said. “Everything you put into your body is energy.”

South Africa Court Legalizes Private Use And Growing Of Cannabis

Mary Schumacher
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South Africa Court Legalizes Private Use And Growing Of Cannabis

When South Africa’s highest court gave its historic ruling that cannabis was to be decriminalized for personal use and cultivation, people began cheering and chanting in the public gallery. Though South African leadership has been opposed to cannabis, seeing it as harmful, the vote to decrim was unanimous.

Attorney Gareth Prince is the man who led the campaign to lift the ban on cannabis for religious use, which then led to the decision by the Constitutional Court of South Africa to decriminalize marijuana for private consumption and even cultivation. Prince believes cannabis should be taxed and regulated like alcohol.

When asked during a BBC broadcast if it was his Rastafari practice that led to his activism, he had this to say:

Rastafari is indeed my way of life, but us using cannabis is much wider and larger than us smoking cannabis. We are saying that cannabis is a very valuable natural resource for the people of South Africa and that we should be using that resource to advance the causes and the desires of our people. Cannabis has the ability to do that and we are saying there is absolutely no reason why governments should not be using this valuable resource.

The highest court in South Africa has now said that an adult can grow cannabis as long as it’s for personal use and grown in private. It also says that right to privacy “extends beyond the boundaries of a home.” In an unusual twist, they gave police officers the power to decide if the amount of cannabis in a person’s possession is for personal use or for dealing.

Public use, selling the herb, or otherwise supplying it are still illegal in South Africa, where cannabis is known as “dagga.” Jeremy Acton is the head of the Dagga Party, which campaigns for the use of marijuana. He said that he thought the ruling didn’t go far enough and should have legalized carrying cannabis in public as well.

Still, South Africa’s brave new move is big news on the world stage, as more countries change their policies on cannabis, which has been realized as a medicinal, religious, fibrous, recreational plant of all trades. Though quantities of how much can be possessed or grown at a time were not included in the ruling, this makes South Africa the third country in Africa to implement cannabis-friendly laws, with Zimbabwe and Lesotho having medical marijuana laws in place already.

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