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Aretha Franklin: Sublime Soul Diva Whose Voice Inspired The Civil Rights Movement

Leah Kardos
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Aretha Franklin: Sublime Soul Diva Whose Voice Inspired The Civil Rights Movement

It is no coincidence that two of Aretha Franklin’s celebrated contemporaries who travelled to Detroit to see the singer in the last stages of her illness were Stevie Wonder and Jesse Jackson. It is hard to overestimate Franklin’s importance to both music and the civil rights movement – and the presence of one of music’s greatest figures alongside Martin Luther King Jr’s right-hand man at her bedside in the final days of her life is a fitting tribute to one of the true greats of Black American culture.

Aretha Franklin was the “Queen of Soul”. One of the bestselling recording artists of all time, she became famous in the 1960s as a singer with a uniquely expressive voice possessing great passion and control. Her hit songs in the late 1960s tapped into the spirit of the civil rights movement while her hit cover (and gendered re-authoring) of Otis Redding’s Respect was an anthem of black female empowerment.

The first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Franklin’s voice was declared one of Michigan’s important “natural resources” two years before. She won 18 Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award (in 1994) and presided over a rich recorded musical legacy preserved in 42 studio albums, 131 singles, six live albums and more. Her iconic performances and productions came to define the term “soul music” in the 20th century, setting the standard for black female vocal excellence.

Gospel origins

The daughter of celebrity Detroit minister CL Franklin, Franklin was born in Memphis in 1942 and raised in Detroit, starting her singing career in the choir at her father’s New Bethel Baptist Church. She belonged to a generation of African American artists who migrated from the south during a time when segregation and Jim Crow law was still in effect, who then went on to participate in mainstream American culture.

Her deep connection to the southern freedom movement was familial and spiritual as well as musical – her father was actively involved with Democratic party politics and the civil rights movement. Politicians and activists – along with many of the gospel superstars of the day – were a fixture in the family home. As a result, Franklin received formative musical mentoring from stars such as Dinah Washington and Mahalia Jackson in addition to inheriting a strong commitment to social justice. She was to support progressive politics throughout her career.

For people stuck in political struggles for equality and respect, Franklin’s voice came to articulate the collective emotion, frustration, strength and depth of their experiences. Her voice rang out at historical political milestones – at the 1968 Democratic party convention in Chicago that shortly followed the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy, and at the inauguration of the first African American president Barack Obama in 2009. She also performed at pre-inauguration concerts for Democratic party presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Inspired to follow in the footsteps of Sam Cooke, Franklin began her solo singing career in 1960 performing on the gospel circuit and signing a record deal with Columbia Records. Her first secular albums in the early 1960s blended R&B styles with pop and jazz and achieved only modest success. It wasn’t until her move to Atlantic records and a deliberate return to gospel music stylings in 1967 that Franklin made her commercial breakthrough.

Recording at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, working in partnership with Atlantic co-owner and producer Jerry Wexler and the legendary Muscle Shoals rhythm section, Franklin’s debut for Atlantic, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, was certified gold in the same year of its release. Her work with Wexler at Muscle Shoals during this period spawned many well-known hits such as Chain of Fools, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Respect, and I Say A Little Prayer.

Great interpreter

While she recorded and performed her own compositions from time to time (hit 1968 single and feminist anthem Think is an original song of hers), Franklin earned a great part of her fame as a unique interpreter of other people’s songs. Through gospel-influenced musical rearrangement, and her striking changes to melodic content, she effectively re-authored material written by others, asserting a sense of creative ownership through spirited and dynamic vocal performance.

Franklin often altered the context of the existing lyric through her inflection and emphasis or by introducing call and answer interplay with her background singers. These voices of sisterly support were often provided by her very own siblings, Erma and Carolyn Franklin or The Sweet Inspirations (a girl group founded by Cissy Houston and Lee Warwick, the mothers of Whitney and Dionne). Using these techniques, as she did with Respect, lyrics could be repositioned to reflect the black female perspective. Another later example of this can be found in her interpretation of the Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash in 1986, which was used as the theme tune for the Whoopi Goldberg film of the same name.

Music culture owes Franklin a debt for bringing ecstatic pentecostal fervour to popular music, pushing the expressive boundaries of the contemporary singing voice. She was one of the first true great divas of soul (alongside Diana Ross) – fusing gospel and African American spiritual music traditions with the blues, pop and R&B to create the template of vocal expressiveness and authenticity that artists aspire to still. In doing so she set the stage for the technical virtuosity of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

The ConversationA fierce musical talent not only in sensitive and dynamic vocal interpretation but also as a skilled pianist and arranger, Franklin demanded respect from us. And because of her many great artistic and cultural achievements, it will forever be given.

Leah Kardos, Senior Lecturer in Music, Kingston University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. 

Alcohol Invests $4 Billion In Cannabis

Mary Schumacher
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Alcohol Invests $4 Billion In Cannabis

Booze is starting to go in big fun weed.  A major Alcohol invests $4 billion in cannabis, and it could be a trend. Constellation Brands is the owner of beers we know and enjoy, like Corona, Modelo and Pacifico. Now the umbrella of these mega brands has invested $4 billion dollars in the Canadian cannabis company, Canopy Growth.

While Constellation Brands saw a dip in stock after the move, which is likely related to market trends, Canopy Growth saw a 26.6 percent increase in theirs. Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton sat down on CNN and said that the investment, “gave them more credibility.”

The two companies have been working together since October 2017, but Linton said, “this shows that Constellation gets it. This is happening globally very quickly.” And that’s the truth. Countries around the world are working on marijuana reform, from the UK to Jamaica, people want their ganja and they don’t want to go to jail for it.

According to Linton, Canopy Growth is the number one cannabis brand as of now. They’re based in Canada, but operate in 11 different countries. Not the U.S. though, where cannabis is still federally illegal despite 30 states and the District of Columbia having implemented their own variations of legalization laws at the state and district levels.

Canopy has been operating under the medical marijuana rules to serve a huge portion of Canadian patients. But when recreational cannabis sales will become fully legal in Canada on October 17, that’s when the market is really going to open up for them. Perhaps imminent legalization contributed to the timing of Constellation’s big investment, right ahead of the curve and right on time.

“It’s kinda like our experiment,” said Linton, “Canada allows us to create formulations from plants, so we think about running clinical trials, both with humans and animals. We use those same plants and extractions to think about, well how can we create beverages that don’t have any calories, that aren’t sponsoring depression or getting quiet, but might make you feel a little more upbeat?”

As long as Canopy continues to think compassionately and outside the box, the path before them will open up to them even more monetarily, but most importantly they’ll have a standard to set. As the largest cannabis company to date, they have the opportunity to do things the right way. In a way that treats all imbibers like sacred human beings and that seeks to find via research the next big breakthrough with the miraculous cannabis plant.

Disney Definitively Refuses To Reinstate James Gunn On ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’

Brendan Bures
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Disney Definitively Refuses To Reinstate James Gunn On ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’

Has there ever been a more on-again, off-again celebrity relationship than the one between Disney and director James Gunn? Earlier this year Disney fired Gunn from the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie after old tweets resurfaced that included rape and pedophilia jokes, which could jeopardize Disney and Marvel’s family-friendly image, particularly in the #MeToo era. The tweets mostly came from 2009-2011 and were dug up by alt-right agitators aiming to undermine the left.

Cast members of the Guardians movies came to Gunn’s defense, including stars like Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel. In an open letter signed by the actors, they stated their disappointment in Gunn’s “inappropriate jokes,” but emphasized they “fully support” Gunn, privately and publicly pressuring Disney to reinstate Gunn on the movie.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl3OVfeF8Dc/?taken-by=prattprattpratt

Disney appeared to be considering the actors’ request but will now firmly stand by their decision not to reinstate Gunn, according to Variety. The trade publication detailed a meeting between Gunn and studio chairman Alan Horn where Gunn and his representative pushed hard for a second chance. While the meeting was apparently “civil and professional,” Horn would not change his mind.

Notably absent from the meeting was producer Kevin Feige, who is often regarded as the architect behind Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. He was out of town and unable to attend, according to sources. Rumors circulated that Feige had joined the push behind the scenes to reinstate Gunn, though Feige will now stand behind Disney’s decision. Once he returns, Feige will join Marvel and Disney in finding a new director for the next Guardians installment.

Pratt revealed this week in an Associated Press interview that “it’s not an easy time” for him and that he’s consciously stayed away from media. Dave Bautista has also threatened to quit the Guardians  movies should Gunn not be reinstated.

“We all love James and he’s a good friend of ours, but we also really love playing the Guardians of the Galaxy,” Pratt said. “It’s a complicated situation for everybody.”

Tom Cruise No Longer Speaking To Jamie Foxx; Demi Lovato’s Overdose Will Cost Her Millions

Naughty Gossip
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Tom Cruise No Longer Speaking To Jamie Foxx; Demi Lovato’s Overdose Will Cost Her Millions

TOM CRUISE NO LONGER SPEAKING WITH JAMIE FOXX – EXCLUSIVE

 

Former best friends, Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, are now officially not speaking, and it has everything to do with Katie Holmes.

“As Jamie and Katie have become more and more public about dating, Tom has become more and more distant with his former best friend, Jamie. Tom hasn’t spoken with Jamie in months and now the friendship is officially over,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “The final straw was when pictures of his ex-wife and Jamie were taken frolicking on a beach in Malibu together. People close to Tom think that the timing was very suspicious. On the same weekend that ‘Mission Impossible’ was released in theaters, Katie and Jamie get caught together. They have managed to keep their relationship on the down-low for years. They are never seen together, but the weekend that Tom has the biggest release of his career they are photographed playing with each other on the beach. No way is this a coincidence; this is personal! “

DEMI LOVATO’S OVERDOSE WILL COST HER MILLIONS – EXCLUSIVE

 

Demi Lovato’s recent overdose not only almost cost the young singer her life, it also is costing her a massive amount in lost income.

“Demi can have a musical comeback but it is going to be really hard to win back those big corporate sponsors and network TV shows after such an ugly episode,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “Demi is going to have to fight to prove that she can be trusted. Winning over her fans will be much easier than winning back the business people who decide who they want to sponsor, and the TV executives that are looking to pay big money for talent to host primetime shows. This recent overdose could end up costing her millions in lost revenue.”

“Singers now make more money from endorsements and TV gigs that they do from singing,” one top industry insider tells us. “No company is going to want to take a risk or be associated with Demi for a while. She is too controversial at the moment.”

Cronos Group Is Soaring With Second Quarter Results

Mary Schumacher
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Cronos Group Is Soaring With Second Quarter Results

Investors are buzzing with Cronos Group’s 466 percent jump in year-over-year gross profit in their second quarter results. An increase in medical marijuana patients in their fold, a much high production capacity and an increase in cannabis oil sales all contributed to their great burst of growth.

Another factor benefitting Cronos is that their expansion efforts are on track and on point. Their Peace Naturals Building 4 is on schedule to begin cultivation by the end of 2018. The Canadian based pot stock (NASDAQ:CRON) is a hot ticket at the moment and continues to grow and expand its reach.

“Cronos Group is prepared for the domestic recreational market with the launch of our first premium-focused brand COVE and is applying a thoughtful approach to our supply and inventory build,” CEO Mike Gorenstein said in a statement. “Simultaneously, we are working to advance the operations within our current global footprint and bring new partnerships and distribution relationships to the table.”

Cronos has worked out a five year deal to keep the Canadian region of Cura flush in cannabis, contributing at least 20,000 kilograms annually. June saw a distribution agreement with Poland unfold and then Cronos joined forces with an Australian company and will soon be developing there as well.

With all the forward progress, it’s a tempting investment. The company’s mission statement, “We don’t strive to follow best practices; we aspire to set them by building industry leading companies that transform the perception of cannabis and responsibly elevate the consumer experience,” sets the stage for forward thinking advancement. A trait necessary to build up a brand with staying power.

A member of Gotham Green, Gorenstein comes from a law background that led him to venture capitalism and investor managements before becoming CEO of Cronos. His leadership is likely part of the reason Cronos seems so investable, he brings with him a solid foundation of financial success.

A visit to the Cronos site leads one to believe that they try and accomplish much more than making money, however. With a patient focus and an eye on quality of product, integrity of services and “writing history not reading it” they are poised to stay on an upward trajectory.

Ouch! Online Dating Study Finds Women Peak At 18, Men 50

Amy Hansen
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Ouch! Online Dating Study Finds Women Peak At 18, Men 50

Forty may be the new 30, but not if you’re hoping to get lucky with online dating. New (depressing) research finds that women peak at 18-years-old. EIGHTEEN! But, guys, you’re okay. You just get better with age! You don’t peak until age 50, when you have a nice head of salt and pepper hair. In other words, when you’re considered “distinguished” and not “out to pasture” like your female counterparts.

This new study, which focused on the hierarchy of dating, researchers were able to pinpoint some characteristics of desirability. The found that average desirability varies with age for both men and women, but that it varies more strongly for women, and the effects run in opposite directions:

Older women are less desirable, while older men are more so. For women, this pattern holds over the full range of ages on the site: The average woman’s desirability drops from the time she is 18 until she is 60. For men, desirability peaks around 50 and then declines.

How fun!

The study also showed clear and consistent dependence on ethnicity, with Asian women and white men being the most desirable potential mates by our measures across all four cities — New York, Boston, Chicago and Seattle.

What’s more, education doesn’t seem to pay off for ladies like it does for men:

Desirability is associated with education most strongly for men, for whom more education is always more desirable. For women, an undergraduate degree is most desirable; postgraduate education is associated with decreased desirability among women.

But don’t let any of this discourage you (or give you too much hope, if you’re a man).

“The fact that somebody is appealing or unappealing in an online dating profile isn’t particularly useful in predicting how compatible you’ll be with that person when you meet face to face,” Eli Finkel, a professor of psychology and management at Northwestern University, told CNN.

“I recommend that people spend less time browsing profiles … and more time meeting people for a cup of coffee or a pint of beer.”

The Only CBD User’s Manual You Need

Project CBD
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The Only CBD User’s Manual You Need

In 2009, a handful of CBD-rich cannabis strains were discovered serendipitously in Northern California, America’s cannabis breadbasket, where certified patients could access medical marijuana legally. Thus began a great laboratory experiment in democracy involving CBD-rich cannabis therapeutics. The advent of whole plant CBD-rich oil as a grassroots therapeutic option has changed the national conversation about cannabis. It’s no longer a question of whether medical marijuana works—today the key question is how to use cannabis for maximum therapeutic benefit. But most health professionals have little experience in this area. Here is a CBD User’s Manual for patients that addresses key questions about cannabidiol and cannabis therapeutics.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol or CBD is a non-intoxicating component of the cannabis plant with enormous therapeutic potential. Although CBD doesn’t make people feel high like THC does, it’s causing quite a buzz among scientists, health professionals, and medical marijuana patients who are using CBD-rich products to treat a wide range of conditions—chronic pain, cancer, Crohn’s, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, PTSD, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, antibiotic-resistant infections, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, and more. Academic research centers in the United States and elsewhere are currently studying the effects of CBD on these and other ailments. Scientists refer to CBD as a “promiscuous” compound because it confers therapeutic benefits in many different ways while tapping into how we function physiologically and biologically on a deep level.

Extensive preclinical research and some clinical studies have shown that CBD has strong anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, anti-tumoral, and neuroprotective qualities. Cannabidiol can change gene expression and remove beta amyloid plaque, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s, from brain cells.

Which Is Better CBD Or THC?

Cannabidiol and THC (The High Causer) are the power couple of cannabis therapeutics; they work best together. CBD and THC interact synergistically to potentiate each other’s curative qualities. CBD enhances THC’s painkilling and anticancer properties, while lessening THC’s psychoactivity. CBD can also mitigate adverse effects caused by too much THC, such as anxiety and rapid heartbeat. When both compounds are present in sufficient amounts in the same cannabis strain or product, CBD will lower the ceiling on the THC high while prolonging its duration. (“Relaxing but not intoxicating” is how one patient described CBD-rich cannabis.) CBD broadens the range of conditions treatable with cannabis, such as liver, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, which may be less responsive to THC-dominant remedies. CBD and THC both stimulate neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells, in adult mammals.

What’s The Best Way To Take CBD?

The most appropriate delivery system for CBD-rich cannabis is one that provides an optimal dose for a desired duration with few unwanted side effects. CBD-rich cannabis flower varietals for smoking or vaping are available in many medical marijuana dispensaries, but most CBD patients prefer non-inhalable products made with cannabis oil concentrates. Although banned by federal law, measurable doses of potent CBD-rich cannabis remedies are available in many non-smokable forms and can be utilized in various ways.

The time of onset and duration of effect vary depending on the method of administration. CBD-rich cannabis oil products can be taken sublingually, orally (as edibles, lozenges, beverages, tinctures, and gel caps), or applied topically. Concentrated cannabis oil extracts can also be heated and inhaled with a vape pen. Inhalation is good for treating acute symptoms that require immediate attention; the effects can be felt within a minute or two and typically last for a couple of hours. The effects of orally administered CBD-rich cannabis oil can last for four hours or more, but the onset of effects is much slower (30-90 minutes) than inhalation.

Can CBD Cure Epilepsy?

Marijuana has a rich history as a medicine for quelling seizures and convulsions going back thousands of years. In the mid-19th century, the U.S. Pharmacopeia listed cannabis tincture as a treatment for pediatric epilepsy, and subsequent scientific studies have documented the anticonvulsant effects of CBD, THC, and whole plant cannabis. CBD-dominant/low- THC cannabis strains and oil extracts can facilitate dramatic improvement in some children with intractable seizure disorders. Between 10-15 percent of severe childhood epileptics who are given CBD oil products experience a near complete cessation of seizures; most improve (with a decrease but not total elimination of seizures); and some children have worse seizures when they take CBD. Many parents of epileptic children have learned through trial and error that augmenting CBD-rich oil by adding some THC—or better yet, THCA, the unheated, non-psychoactive form of THC that’s present in raw cannabis flowers and leaves—helps with seizure control. The take-home message: Low-THC cannabis oil products don’t work for everyone. Patients of all ages need access to a wide spectrum of whole plant cannabis remedies, not just high CBD oil.

What Is The Right CBD/THC Ratio For Me?

Cannabis therapeutics is personalized medicine. There is no single ratio or strain or product that’s right for everyone. Optimize your therapeutic use of cannabis by finding the proper combination of CBD and THC that works best for you. A person’s sensitivity to THC is a key factor in determining the appropriate ratio and dosage of CBD-rich medicine. Many people enjoy the cannabis high and can consume reasonable amounts of any cannabis product without feeling too high or dysphoric. Others find THC unpleasant. CBD can lessen or neutralize the intoxicating effects of THC. So a greater ratio of CBD-to- THC means less of a high. In some states with medical marijuana laws, cannabis oil concentrates and other products with varying ratios of CBD:THC are available so users can adjust or minimize psychoactive effects to suit their needs and sensitivities. Those who don’t like THC have the option of healing without the high by using a CBD-rich remedy with only a small amount of THC. But a low THC remedy, while not intoxicating, is not always the most effective treatment option. In essence, the goal is to administer consistent, measurable doses of a CBD-rich remedy that includes as much THC as a person is comfortable with.

Are Specific CBD/THC Ratios Better For Different Conditions?

Some patterns are beginning to emerge. For anxiety, depression, spasms, psychosis, and seizure disorders, many people report they do well starting with a small dose of a CBD-rich remedy with little THC. For cancer, autism, and many other diseases, some say they benefit more from a balanced ratio of CBD and THC. Extensive clinical trials conducted outside the United States have shown that a 1:1 CBD:THC ratio can be effective for neuropathic pain. Some people use cannabis products with different CBD:THC ratios at different times of the day (more CBD for sunlight hours, more THC at night). Almost any cannabis strain or product theoretically could benefit a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders because THC and other cannabis components activate the CB2 cannabinoid receptor, which regulates immune function. Note: The CBD:THC ratio in not an indication of how much CBD or THC is present in a given cannabis product or strain.

What Is The Optimal Dosage Of CBD?

An effective dosage can range from as little as a few milligrams of CBD-enriched cannabis oil to a gram or more. Begin with a small dose of high CBD/low THC oil, especially if you have little or no experience with cannabis. Take a few small doses over the course of the day rather than one big dose. Use the same dose and ratio for several days. Observe the effects and if necessary adjust the ratio or amount. Don’t overdo it. Cannabis compounds have biphasic properties, which means that low and high doses of the same substance can produce opposite effects. Small doses of cannabis tend to stimulate; large doses sedate. Too much THC, while not lethal, can amplify anxiety and mood disorders. CBD has no known adverse side effects, but an excessive amount of CBD could be less effective therapeutically than a moderate dose. “Less is more” is often the case with respect to cannabis therapy.

What Should One Look For When Choosing A CBD-Rich Product?

Look for products with clear labels showing the quantity and ratio of CBD and THC per dose, a manufacturing date, and a batch number (for quality control). Select products with quality ingredients: No corn syrup, transfats, GMOs, artificial additives, thinning agents or preservatives. CBD-rich products should be lab tested for consistency and verified as being free of mold, bacteria, pesticides, solvent residues, and other contaminants. Best to avoid products extracted with toxic solvents like BHO, propane, hexane or other hydrocarbons. Opt for products that utilize safer extraction methods such as supercritical CO2 or food-grade ethanol.

If CBD Is So Good, Won’t Pure CBD Be Even Better?

Single-molecule CBD will inevitably become a federally approved Big Pharma medicine. Products infused with a crystalline CBD isolate, derived and extensively refined from industrial hemp, are already being marketed by unregulated internet storefronts. But single-molecule CBD is less effective therapeutically than whole plant CBD-rich oil extract. Scientific studies have established that synthetic, single-molecule CBD has a very narrow therapeutic window and requires precise, high doses for efficacy, whereas lower dose, whole-plant, CBD-rich treatment regimens are already showing efficacy for many conditions among patients in medical marijuana states. Whether synthesized in a Big Pharma lab or derived from industrial hemp, single-molecule CBD lacks critical secondary cannabinoids and other medicinal compounds found in high-resin cannabis strains. These compounds interact with CBD and THC to enhance their therapeutic benefits. Scientists call this the “entourage effect.” Numerous cannabis compounds have medicinal attributes, but the therapeutic impact of whole plant cannabis is greater than the sum of its parts.

Is There A Difference Between CBD Derived From Hemp And CBD Derived From Marijuana?

If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and available, look for CBD products made from high-resin cannabis (rather than low resin industrial hemp) that are sold in medical marijuana dispensaries. Hemp-derived CBD-infused products of varying quality are also available via dozens of internet storefronts. Compared to whole plant CBD-rich cannabis, industrial hemp is typically low in cannabinoid content. A huge amount of hemp is required to extract a small amount of CBD, thereby raising the risk of contaminants because hemp, a bioaccumulator, draws toxins from the soil. That’s a great feature for restoring a poisoned ecosystem, but it’s not recommended for extracting medicinal oil. Heavily refined CBD paste or terpene-free CBD powder is poor starter material for formulating CBD-rich oil products. The FDA has tested dozens of so-called CBD “hemp oil” products and found that in many cases these products contained little or no CBD. CBD-infused nutraceuticals have not been approved by the FDA as food supplements; nor are these products legal in all 50 U.S. states. By and large, however, interstate CBD commerce is tolerated by federal authorities.

Is It Safe To Inhale Hemp CBD Oil Fumes From A Vape Pen?

Many cannabis- and hemp-derived CBD vape oil products include a thinning agent, which dilutes the oil that is heated and inhaled by vape pen users. Beware of vape pen oil that contains propylene glycol. When overheated, this chemical additive produces formaldehyde, a carcinogen, as a byproduct, according to a 2015 report in the New England Journal of Medicine. Why do so many vape oil products contain this thinning agent? It’s because of the dubious quality of the extracted material from which these unregulated cannabis oil products are made.

Does CBD Have Any Adverse Side Effects? What About Drug Interactions?

CBD is a very safe substance, but patients taking other medications should check with their doctor about drug interactions, which are more likely when consuming high doses of single-molecule CBD products. At sufficient dosages, CBD will temporarily deactivate cytochrome P450 enzymes, thereby altering how we metabolize a wide range of compounds, including THC. Cytochrome P450 enzymes metabolize more than 60 percent of Big Pharma meds. CBD is a more potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 than the grapefruit compound Bergapten, so ask your doctor if grapefruit interacts with your medication. If grapefruit does, then CBD probably does, too. Patients on a CBD-rich treatment regimen should monitor changes in blood levels of prescription medications and, if need be, adjust dosage.

Will Big Pharmaceutical Companies Control The CBD Market When Cannabis Is Legalized For Adult Use?

Only if we let them. Cannabis is a medicinal herb and it should be regulated as an herb, not as a pharmaceutical or a street drug.

This story originally appeared on ProjectCBD.

Tourette’s Syndrome: Marijuana To The Rescue

Michael Okun
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Tourette’s Syndrome: Marijuana To The Rescue

Tourette’s Syndrome is a mysterious medical curiosity that has puzzled doctors for more than a century. People who have it suffer from tics and other behavioral problems, such as obsessive compulsive traits and attention deficit disorder.

In addition, they are cursed by a stereotype that they swear loudly and inappropriately. In reality, 10 percent actually experience these verbal outbursts, but many are stigmatized and isolated nonetheless.

I have studied Tourette’s syndrome for years, and recently published a book about treatments and the common spectrum of behavioral disorders associated with it. Swearing isn’t even one of the more frequent ones.

The fact is that over the last several years, many exciting and life-altering treatments have become available to Tourette patients and their families. We have reached a crossroads in this disease where it will become increasingly critical to re-educate the public and to make new therapies widely available.

Twitches And Tics

French scientist Jean-Martin Charcot, the founder of modern clinical neurology, coined the eponym “Tourette’s syndrome” after his student, Georges Albert Gilles de la Tourette’s, who in 1885 described nine patients suffering from the tic “malady.”

Researchers soon noticed that Tourette’s occurred among multiple family members across multiple generations.

Over the generations, however, new knowledge came slowly. Critical gaps in our understanding of the syndrome remain, and half of all cases remain undiagnosed.

Even the precise number of people affected has been hard to know. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in 362 children, or 0.3 percent, has Tourette’s. The Tourette Association of America, on the other hand, estimates the disease is twice as common, with one in 166 kids (0.6 percent) affected.

Some Tourette’s syndrome cases are mild, with symptoms such as non-bothersome eye blinking, or mild body twitching. In many cases, the motor tics will resolve in late adolescence or early adulthood. Many patients will even lead relatively normal lives.

Lessons from the brain yield advances

Knowledge of the syndrome has increased as scientists have learned more in general about the brain.

The normal functions of the human brain seem to be dictated by rhythmic oscillations that continuously repeat over and over, much like a popular song on the radio. These oscillations change and modulate, and they act to control various human behaviors.

If an oscillation “goes bad,” it can result in a disabling tic or other behavioral symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome.

An important secret to the development of new therapies for Tourette is that we can alter these oscillations with rehabilitative therapies, cognitive behavioral intervention therapy (CBIT), medications such as tetrabenazine or even deep brain stimulation, which involves a small straw-like probe being inserted into the brain. Electricity can be delivered through this probe to disrupt the abnormal oscillations responsible for tics.

Continued Study Also Helping

The genetics of Tourette’s remain opaque. Despite the fact that the disease tends to run in families, no one has discovered a single DNA abnormality linking all, or even most, cases.

In the meantime, however, technology is offering new means of detection and treatment. Scientists have recorded tic signals from the human brain and even deployed the first smart devices to detect and suppress tics.

Some investigators are studying newer generations of medicines that decrease the complications that can occur with old-fashioned drugs, such as Haloperidol, that have traditionally been used to treat Tourette’s. Scientists are also looking for way to suppress or modulate inappropriate brain signals, spurring development of new drugs with novel brain targets, such as cannabinoid receptors.

Using marijuana to treat the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome makes some scientific sense. Cannabinoids occur naturally in the body, and cannabinoid receptors are found throughout many brain regions. In fact, CB1 cannabinoid receptors are located in high concentrations in regions of the brain thought to be involved in Tourette’s syndrome.

Living With Tourette Syndrome

While it may appear to the casual observer that someone with Tourette’s syndrome outgrows it in adolescence or early adulthood, in fact most do not. While the motor and vocal tics wane in most cases, the obsessive-compulsive and behavioral features may persist and even escalate.

These behavioral features in Tourette’s syndrome, if left undiagnosed and untreated, will make it harder to live a normal life and will affect the person more than the noticeable motor and vocal tics.

While new treatments may lie in the future, there are many things that patients and their families can do today. Many changes, often very simple, can be incorporated into patients’ lives.

Comprehensive care teams from different disciplines play a key role. For example, a social worker can help to set up an individualized school education plan and connect families to resources that can transform difficult school situations into success stories. A rehabilitative therapist can now in many cases successfully address tics without the use of a single medication.

Our care team has taken care of close to 10,000 movement disorder patients at the University of Florida and tens of thousands more with our colleagues in the Southeast Regional Tourette Association of America Center of Excellence, which also includes neurologists, psychiatrists, rehabilitative specialists, social workers and scientists at the University of South Florida, Emory University, University of Alabama and the University of South Carolina.

There are good reasons to try different treatments, even if none seems to work. Patients need to learn how to recognize when a plan or therapy isn’t working and how to speak with their doctors and care team about trying something else. The point is that left unchecked, brain vibrations can, in some Tourette’s cases, lead to neck-snapping tics which can cause injuries, even paralysis. Today even the most severe cases have a chance for treatment with deep brain stimulation.

The ConversationThough Tourette’s syndrome remains mysterious in the public eye, it is important that we teach families about the broad palette of options that provide tangible benefits for quality of life. That is definitely something worth shouting about.

Michael Okun, is a professor of Neurology at the University of Florida. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Hundreds Of Instagramers Reporting Mysterious Hack

Maria Loreto
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Hundreds Of Instagramers Reporting Mysterious Hack

Hundreds of Instagramers reporting mysterious hack, where their usernames and passwords are no longer recognized, and the email addresses attached are switched to “.ru” domains.

Mashable interviewed half a dozen users who’ve reported incidents such as these ones, where their accounts become associated with Russian emails, their handles changed, and their profile images switched to Disney or Pixar avatars. Instagram hacks have become a bit of a trend lately, with Twitter reporting over 5,000 tweets from 899 different accounts mentioning these events during the past week.

Despite the fact that Instagram hacks are being very publicly discussed on social media, the company claims that there hasn’t been a spike in their hacks and that everything is working properly. “We work hard to provide the Instagram community with a safe and secure experience,” said an Instagram spokesperson. “When we become aware of an account that has been compromised, we shut off access to the account and the people who’ve been affected are put through a remediation process so they can reset their password and take other necessary steps to secure their accounts.”

According to Mashable, an influencing factor could be Instagram’s two-factor authentication, which most of the hacked users didn’t have turned on. These hacks are curious because hackers don’t upload new images or posts, they simply change all the information that links the account to the original users’ email and personal information, making it really hard to retrieve the account. Many Instagram users have also commented on Instagram’s famously complicated process of retrieving an account, which makes the process even more painful.

While for some users it’s simply a pain to get hacked, for others who work on social media, hacks have deeper repercussions that can affect their sponsorships and job opportunities. Instagram should have easier and more secure ways of helping out their users, especially now that it’s become a place where people work and make a living.

Wiz Khalifa’s Mansion Features Dab Bars And Weed Walls

Brendan Bures
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Wiz Khalifa’s Mansion Features Dab Bars And Weed Walls

Do you remember “MTV Cribs,” where camera crews would take you inside the million-dollar homes of the rich and famous? Of course you do. Well Architectural Digest does something very similar on its YouTube called “Open Door,” where you…see the million-dollar homes of the rich and famous, like Robert Downey, Jr. or Mandy Moore. But nothing compares to Whiz Kalif’s mansion features dab bars and weed walls.

Recently AD went inside the home of none other than Wiz Khalifa and wouldn’t you know — there’s a distinct weed theme to the rapper’s home. Located in the hills of the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wiz rents the $4.6 million mansion for $16,000 a month.

“There’s always music, there’s always pot, there’s always an adventure,” Wiz says in describing his home.

Included withint the mansion is a recording studio and Khalifa’s personal “Weed Wall,” which features portraits of marijuana icons like Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, Devin the Dude, and Snoop Dogg.

We also get to peek inside the rapper’s game room, where a “HIGH LIFE” neon sign hangs over Khalifa’s “Dab Bar”, which doubles as a regular drink bar. The “Dab Bar” stores all the necessary rigs and goodies, including a device that can roll 100 joints at once. (Khalifa says 100 joints would take a couple days for him to smoke.)

Wiz Khalifa appeared on Complex’s “Hot Ones,” another internet TV series, where he discussed Snoop Dogg comparison and his thoughts on the booming cannabis market.

Rapper Wiz Khalifa was only a kid when he started writing and recording songs. In 2011, he scored his first big hit with “Black and Yellow.” Khalifa also co-starred with Snoop Dogg in the comedy Mac and Devin Go to High School around this time. He went on make such popular rap albums as O.N.I.F.C. (2012) and Blacc Hollywood (2014). In 2015 Khalifa enjoyed huge success with the song “See You Again,” which he performed with Charlie Puth. Being 6’4′ the star is an tall marijuana fan a and we are down to see Whiz Kalif’s mansion features dab bars and weed walls.

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