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North Dakota Full Marijuana Legalization Measure Officially Makes November Ballot

Brendan Bures
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North Dakota Full Marijuana Legalization Measure Officially Makes November Ballot

Thanks to activist-led petition drives, North Dakota will officially vote on full cannabis legalization this November. Enough signatures were collected by activists to qualify the ballot initiative that would allow adults 21 and over to legally consume marijuana recreationally, said Secretary of State Al Jaegers.

Dave Owen was part of the group that got medical marijuana on the ballot two years ago in North Dakota but told the Bismarck Tribune “that its implementation got bogged down in too many details, leading to delays involving the Legislature.” Patients still don’t have access to medical marijuana, according to local media.

Owen is the chairperson for Legalize ND, the group that sponsored the recreational marijuana initiative. Though the group submitted 17,695 signatures submitted to the state’s office, only 14,637 signatures qualified as valid. However, that surpassed the necessary figure of 13,452 signatures for the measure to make the ballot.

The North Dakota ballot measure is somewhat radical, as it does not set limits on the amount of marijuana citizens can possess or grow, unlike the legislation found in states that have legalized recreational cannabis. In addition, the measure has framework that would approve the commercial cultivation and legal sales of cannabis. Owen told the Bismarck Tribune that he wrote a “very simple” measure that would be “implementable on day one,” partly in response to the current holdup over medical marijuana in the state.

“This (measure) is basically a referendum,” Owen said. “Do you want recreational marijuana? Yes or no.”

Erik Altieri, who serves as executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law (NORML), “applaud[ed] the hard work and dedication from the campaign and countless volunteers” who made the ballot initiative possible.

“Marijuana legalization is no longer a regional or partisan issue,” Altieri said. “Well over 60 percent of all Americans support ending our nation’s failed prohibition and I expect North Dakota voters to send shockwaves across the country this fall when they join the growing contingent of states who have chosen the sensible path of legalization and regulation over prohibition and incarceration.”

In June, a poll found that a plurality of North Dakotans supported full cannabis legalization, with 46 percent voting in favor and 39 percent voting against. The key constituency this November will be the 15 percent of North Dakotans who were undecided about full legalization at the time.

Starbucks Introduces Vegan Protein Blended Cold Brew

Amy Hansen
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Starbucks Introduces Vegan Protein Blended Cold Brew

Starting today, you can grab yourself a Starbucks blended cold brew with zero animal products and loads of plant-protein. . The new vegan smoothies come in two flavors: almond and cacao.

In addition to cold brew coffee, the protein blended drinks are made with non-dairy milk and plant-based proteins. A grande (16 oz) sized Protein Cold Brew tops out at 270 calories and costs $5.95. According to Starbucks, the beverage was “inspired by our customers’ love for Starbucks Cold Brew and a growing interest in plant-based proteins.”

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The Almond Protein Blended Cold Brew is made with almond milk, plant-based protein, almond butter, Banana Date Fruit Blend and ice. A grande size contains 12 grams of protein.

The Cacao Protein Blended Cold Brew also includes plant-based protein, Banana Date Fruit Blend and ice, but is made with coconut milk and cacao powder. A grande packs 10 grams of protein.

If you want to customize your drink, you can swap a whole banana for the Banana Date Fruit Blend and adjust the amount of almond butter or cacao powder (or even add a little bit of both!).  You can also add an extra packet of plant-based protein or additional shot(s) of espresso.

So Far, This Is the Best Performing Marijuana Stock Of 2018

Mary Schumacher
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So Far, This Is the Best Performing Marijuana Stock Of 2018

While Canada has a corner on the cannabis stock market, the U.S. is beginning to produce its own hot stocks. This year the NASDAQ beauty to watch seems to be MariMed (OTC:MRMD). MariMed helps cultivation centers and dispensaries with everything from design to funding solutions.

Their site describes the services they provide as, “Helping build gold standard medical cannabis facilities and programs, one state at a time.” So though they don’t grow cannabis themselves, they do everything needed to help others do so in the best way possible.

Another thing that sets this company, and thus stock, apart is that it also helps to procure state licenses, which can be a hurdle for many. The application process is often so involved and complicated that potential dispensary owners and cultivators need the help of a professional. It just so happens that these professionals also provide turnkey solutions.

It’s a big deal to be the top performing pot stock for the first half of 2018, and that success could be in part that MariMed is so multifaceted while keeping a sort of cohesion. They sell infused edibles under their umbrella along with all of the services at the ground level of creating a successful cannabis business.

As MariMed continues to expand their reach “one state at a time” we’ll see if they can keep momentum. As any good trader knows, past performance isn’t a guarantee of future prosperity in the stock market.

From 2017 to 2022 the cannabis market is set to increase threefold to upwards of $22 billion. This bodes well for any cannabis stock worth its salt, but it’s not an end all be all of a statistic, investing in MariMed or any other pot stock has its own set of particular risks.

The biggest risk for any marijuana stock is cannabis’ Schedule I status, meaning that it’s completely illegal at the federal level and seen as a drug with no medical value and a high potential for abuse. Though the benefits of medical marijuana are by now beyond well documented, the U.S. government carries on with old, failed drug war remnants.

The other risk is that though they continue to expand, MariMed is in a lot of debt. And they continue to lose money. They’re paying down said debt, however, and while we can’t predict what the future holds for any of us, “MariMed continues on a solid trajectory of year over year growth that it has achieved each quarter since 2015,” according to MariMed CEO Robert Fireman.

UN Reviewing Marijuana’s Place With International Drug Treaties

Mike Adams
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UN Reviewing Marijuana’s Place With International Drug Treaties

Just two months after the U.N.’s World Health Organization published a report calling marijuana a “relatively safe drug” that only seems to lead to “euphoria, laughter and talkativeness,” the intergovernmental organization as a whole is reportedly diving in to determine whether it is even necessary to restrict the herb under international law. The outcome could force the United States to reconsider marijuana’s Schedule I classification on the Controlled Substances Act, according to a report from Marijuana Moment.

In June, the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) found that cannabis is a “relatively safe drug” and not substance that has the power to lead to fatal overdoses. It went on to explain that there is very little evidence pointing to the herb as a threat to cardiovascular health, and it even suggested that marijuana had the ability to slow the growth of cancer cells.

Most of the health concerns related to cannabis consumption, the reports states, are from smoking. But “increasing use of vaporizers and other non-smoking modes of delivery is likely to reduce” health complications.

Overall, WHO said the only adverse reactions of marijuana are “euphoria, laughter and talkativeness.”

In response to that report, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote this week that, “The Committee recommended that preparations considered to be pure CBD should not be scheduled within the International Drug Control Conventions” and that “there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a Critical Review” of all things marijuana.

The organization will conduct its first-ever in-depth review of the cannabis plant in November. Scientific experts will look at the chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, epidemiology, and therapeutic use of marijuana to determine if it belongs under international control.

“This initial evaluation is also an opportunity to identify gaps in the available scientific data,” a WHO document reads. “A critical review is carried out when there is sufficient scientific evidence to allow the ECDD to make informed an recommendation that the substance be placed under international control, or if its level of control should be changed.”

Essentially, the U.N. plans to look at both CBD and THC to make a determination as to whether the compounds still fit the dangerous drug criteria as outlined in the international drug treaties.

“Several countries permit the use of cannabis for the treatment of medical conditions such as back pain, sleep disorders, depression, post-injury pain, and multiple sclerosis,” the document reads. “The evidence presented to the Committee did not indicate that cannabis plant and cannabis resin were liable to produce ill-effects similar to these other substances that are in Schedule IV of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The inclusion of cannabis and cannabis resin in Schedule IV may not appear to be consistent with the criteria for Schedule IV.”

If the U.N. moves to change the status of the cannabis plant, the United States government would be required to review its Schedule I status.

Andy Cohen Is Livid Over Luann de Lesseps Interview; Will Jen & Ben’s Divorce Be Dismissed?

Naughty Gossip
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Andy Cohen Is Livid Over Luann de Lesseps Interview; Will Jen & Ben’s Divorce Be Dismissed?

ANDY COHEN LIVID LUANN DE LESSEPS DOES FIRST POST-REHAB INTERVIEW WITH MEGAN KELLY – EXCLUSIVE

 

“Luann is a Bravo star and her first interview should be with Andy Cohen on his late-night Bravo show WWHL. This isn’t right and Andy is livid,” sources tell NAUGHTY GOSSIP. “Andy made her a star and he should be the first interview she does. Period.”

Luann de Lesseps will sit down on Tuesday for her first interview since entering rehab, Page Six is told.

The “Real Housewives of New York” star — who went into treatment back in July — will appear on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today” to discuss her recent struggles.

JENNIFER GARNER & BEN AFFLECK’S DIVORCE MAY BE DISMISSED FOR LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH

 

The Superior Court of Los Angeles county filed Garner and Affleck a notice outlining the necessary steps for their divorce to be finalized, according to court papers obtained by The Blast. Supervising Judge Thomas Lewis also said the court “may dismiss” the case “for delay in prosecution” if they fail to provide the necessary documents.

However, a source tells PEOPLE the former couple is taking their time with the divorce as they navigate the best path for them and their three kids — daughters Violet, 12, and Seraphina, 9, and son Samuel, 6.

“There is no rush here,” the source says. “They continue to figure out ways of working together as a family and this is what works for them. They are doing what’s best for their family.”

Californians Still Prefer Buying Marijuana That’s Off The Grid

Sara Somerset
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Californians Still Prefer Buying Marijuana That’s Off The Grid

You might think legalizing recreational marijuana would change the buying habits of consumers. But according to a new survey commissioned by California-based weed delivery platform Eaze, that’s not the case.

One of their in-depth surveys on the high cost of legal cannabis sheds some light on how many people are still buying herb the way they have always done prior to legalization.

Other than financial reasons, the survey does not delve too deeply into the reservations people have about buying legal weed, such as having to give up their second amendment right to keep and bear arms or the violation of HIPAA laws that data mining of medical marijuana users causes.

From Marijuana Business Daily’s point of view, consumers buying weed on the black market is cause for concern. Why are people who have been smoking pot all along not jumping on the legal weed bandwagon? How dare they not pay higher prices and obscene taxes? Don’t they know shareholders need profits?

Reality check: Why should consumers pay higher prices for a lower quality product?

According to the survey, “A significant portion of California consumers who still purchase cannabis from unlicensed sources are satisfied with those sources and are not incentivized to change.”

No kidding.

“Nobody buys from the dispensaries in California,” says former California-based cannabis cultivator Hilary Clarkson.

The survey also finds that nearly 1 in 5 consumers (18 percent) have purchased from an unlicensed source in the past three months;  85 percent of those are completely or very satisfied with their purchase experience; 84 percent of those consumers are highly likely to purchase from the same unlicensed source again.

The study, conducted by New Jersey-based Marketview Research, concluded that 10 percent of the respondents surveyed consume non-recreational cannabis in California. Considering only 1,419 people were interviewed, it is more likely that the figures -and the people those figures represent -are much higher.

Does this common street knowledge necessarily require market research? Growers in California are being railroaded. They are being squeezed out by canna-corporations. Stamping out independent growers goes against the ethos that has been deeply ingrained in cannabis culture for decades before the canna-corporations came along. Simply put: not everyone who smokes pot or “consumes cannabis,” as it has been corporately rebranded, wants to drink the marijuana marketing Kool-Aid.

Clarkson witnessed farms that have been in families for generations put out of business by Prop 64.

“Legalization destroyed a whole culture that was built over decades. People who had generational farms were crushed. Kids who have grown up as farmers now face unemployment. Should they go work at Starbucks?” asks Clarkson. “Farming is such a healthy lifestyle and canna-corporations have destroyed it.”

Proponents of legal marijuana claim that it is mold free. Unless a consumer has access to a lab to spot check their cannabis, the way raves in Europe used to have on-sight MDMA pill testing, consumers will have to take a corporation’s word for it. Corporations never lie.

“I have a mold allergy, and I have been smoking hydro daily, delivered by bike messenger for over 20 years. No ill side effects to report yet,” said a pot smoker in Los Angeles.

Let us say for argument’s sake that more expensive legal weed is mold-free; it is not pesticide free. (Ziggy Marley is an advocate for pesticide-free herb.)

More cons of buying legal weed: It costs more; it is putting a choke hold on independent cultivators in California; the taxes are high; registering for a medical marijuana card violates patients’ privacy; medical marijuana cardholders are not allowed to own a firearm; the list of complaints goes on.

Legal weed has harmful impacts on the environment as well.

“Legal cultivators are required to take their plant waste and mix it with 50% non-plant waste such as dirt, soil, leaves and other compost. Then it gets put into trash bags, and it goes in a dumpster, to be compliant with the current regulations,” said Wil Ralston, President of SinglePoint.

Throwing cannabis farm refuse into non-biodegradable trash bags is a ridiculous way of disposing of the compostable material.

For now, if canna-corps want to win over more California consumers, they will have to come up with higher incentives than claiming to curb mold.

“The new laws are actually feeding the black market, and it snapped right back!” says Clarkson. “Even before legalization, it was legal to sell two ounces in California. Now, by making it illegal to purchase outside a dispensary, they want $300 to $420 an ounce. The going rate is $100 an ounce anywhere for cash in Cali, so legalized dispensaries charging three to four times as much for medicine is just criminal.”

5 Social Media Cues Your Significant Other Is Not Into You

Amy Hansen
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5 Social Media Cues Your Significant Other Is Not Into You

It’s no secret social media was designed to create transparency. Often times, way more than we asked for. But that shouldn’t apply to your love life. If you’re in a relationship, you don’t need to broadcast it to the world in order to legitimize it. But keeping it a secret? That’s a warning sign if there ever was one.

The dating site Plenty of Fish takes social media cues seriously when it comes to relationships, whether they’re brand new or comfortably worn in. Here are five red flags they say you should keep an eye out for if you’re seeing someone.

They’re not accepting your friend request 

Nobody expects a friend request after the first date, but after a year of dating? Come on, now!  If you’ve been seeing someone for a year or so and they won’t accept you on Facebook or reciprocate your follow on other social media platforms,  this isn’t good. According to Plenty of Fish, “Whatever reason they come up with, this may be a red flag that they want to hide the fact they are in a relationship. There is a difference between keeping things private and keeping things a secret, one is used to protect, the other is used to deceive.”

Accepting someone’s friend request — someone you’re sleeping with — shouldn’t be an issue.

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They’re commenting on inappropriate pictures

It’s odd how many people don’t realize you can see exactly what Instagram photos they’re liking and commenting on. It’s usually not a big deal, we all like dumb stuff now and then, but if your SO is engaging with sexualized photos or other accounts that appear to be NSFW, listen to your gut.

Says PoF: “If your partner is actively engaged in conversations with these people, or slipping into their DM’s, you may want to have a conversation about their activity. Each partner should always be accountable to actions and how they affect the other person. Interacting with accounts that are disrespectful to your relationship is not OK.”

They are addicted to social media

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell who’s addicted to social media and who just uses their phone a lot (almost everyone). But if there is an actual addiction involved, that could spell disaster for your relationship because if you’re in a relationship with your phone, you’re likely unable to connect with people IRL.  Plus, says PoF, it could give you false cues about your own life. “Social media often fails to show the bad, or tougher days people have which ultimately causes people to compare their lives to one that only looks perfect on the outside. There is no such thing as perfect.”

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They have reconnected with exes

“Social media is not an invitation to connect with the past just because you now have access to it. Chatting to exes can lead to temptation to pick up where you left off,” warns PoF. Not to mention, it’s completely disrespectful to the relationship you’re actually in. If you wouldn’t introduce your current SO to the ex you’re thinking about reconnecting with on social media, it’s probably not a good idea to go down that road.

You don’t exist on their social media

It’s one thing to keep your relationship on the DL, but if your SO appears to be single and ready to mingle to the rest of the world, that’s a bad sign. There’s a difference between keeping a relationship — especially a new one — quiet. But hiding it is another story…with a likely sad ending. According to PoF, “there should always be transparency about the fact that you are in a relationship. A subtle caption, a casual photo or mention are easy ways to communicate this to the public eye.”

You Want to Work In Weed? Here’s Some Advice

Mary Schumacher
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You Want to Work In Weed? Here’s Some Advice

As states medicalize and legalize cannabis at a rapid clip, many people are eager to join the Green Rush. If working in cannabis sounds like your dream job, but you don’t know where you fit in, read on.

When considering a career in cannabis, it’s important that you align yourself with the movement that created all the new opportunities. Marijuana advocates have labored down a long, hard road to get us where we are now, and continue to do so. One of the best ways to break into the industry is by volunteering for a compassionate organization first.

But before you start submitting resumes and even before putting said resume together, first look at your own skill sets, really consider where you might add the most value and then begin by networking.

Getting to know the community around you and as a whole is essential to entering the work space. Join legalization groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and organizations like NORML. Reach out to people simply by leaving a comment on their Instagram feed or by commenting thoughtfully on their newest blog post.

Whether you’ve been waiting tables, trading on Wall Street, creating social media or actually have a green thumb, apply the skills you have to the direction you go with marijuana. The industry needs public relations gurus and webmasters as much as it needs dispensary managers, budtenders and distributors.

Once you’ve established and educated yourself in the community, then start researching companies and organizations in your area or conduct nationwide searches if you are able to contribute remotely or have the luxury of being mobile. When you’ve found some dreamy positions to apply for, personalize your cover letter to each place and be sincere. Personality and a compassionate comportment go a long way in this industry.

Don’t be afraid to sell yourself, but also don’t sell your soul. There are a lot of businesses out there that only aim to capitalize on a burgeoning market. You don’t want to go down the road of profiting off of patients who are being taken advantage of or to be aligned with a company that is clearly in it for the wrong kind of green.

The cannabis plant deserves our utmost respect and working in its field can be rewarding on many different levels, from helping strengthen the sick to building up a startup with the right intentions, you can be the difference needed in a brand that is truly high-minded. Research cannabis placement agencies, enter cannabis as a keyword in job searches and best of luck!

Bitcoin Billionaire Loses $24 Million In Apparent Scam

Maria Loreto
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Bitcoin Billionaire Loses $24 Million In Apparent Scam

We all know that scams come from all sorts of places, including situations where you thought you were safe, such as investing money in a “legitimate” business.

The Bangkok Post reports that Aarni Otava Saarima, a 22 year old Bitcoin billionaire, lost 5,564.4 coins while investing in what he believed to be legitimate casinos and companies. At the time, the amount of coins was equal to $24 billion dollars.

Over a six month investigation, Thailand’s Crime Suppression Division discovered that Saarima was approached by a group of nine individuals that met up with him and convinced him to send them the Bitcoins.

Saarima believed he was investing in different businesses, including a casino and a new cryptocurrency called Dragon Coins. The scammers had him convinced that his investments could help the casino accept this cryptocurrency as a form of payment. With every new payment made, the scammers converted the Bitcoins into cash and transferred it to different accounts, even investing some money on plots of land.

At the moment, three suspects have been arrested, including Thai actor, Jiratpisit ‘Boom’ Jaravijit, and one of his siblings.

Investigators from Thailand say that the fact that Bitcoin was involved complicated matters in unexpected ways. Since cryptocurrency is extremely difficult to trace, the money trail had to be carefully investigated, delaying the arrests for seven months.

New Zealand Just Banned The Use Of Plastic Bags

Maria Loreto
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New Zealand Just Banned The Use Of Plastic Bags

In hopes of reducing plastic pollution, New Zealand joins a short list of countries in banning the use of plastic bags. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the government’s plan last Monday, giving retailers six months to stop handing out single-use plastic shopping bags. In a year, New Zealanders hope to phase out plastic bags completely.

New Zealand is a large country surrounded by water, so their contribution to the cause is significant. “We’re phasing-out single-use plastic bags so we can better look after our environment and safeguard New Zealand’s clean, green reputation,” said Ardern in a press release. “Every year in New Zealand we use hundreds of millions of single-use plastic bags — a mountain of bags, many of which end up polluting our precious coastal and marine environments and cause serious harm to all kinds of marine life, and all of this when there are viable alternatives for consumers and business.”

Rumours of the plastic bag ban have been circulating for a long time, with thousands of New Zealanders marching the streets and signing petitions to enable it.

The government plans on working with retailers and the community in order to get rid plastic bags and in finding the appropriate replacements. The Prime Minister said that even though it’s great that a large amount of people are onboard with the change, it’s important for everyone to start changing their shopping habits as soon as possible in order to adapt smoothly to the coming changes.

Other countries that have banned plastic bags include China, Kenya, and Australia, which made the news earlier this year due to “bag rage,” the phenomenon where some costumers abused workers from markets and stores because they didn’t want to bring their own bags from home. You can’t win them all.

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