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Northern Mariana Islands Vote To Legalize Marijuana

Mike Adams
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Northern Mariana Islands Vote To Legalize Marijuana

Marijuana legalization in the United States is heading west — about as far west as possible to still be considered part of Uncle Sam’s team. Lawmakers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), which consists of 15 islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, have approved a measure aimed at legalizing marijuana for any purpose.

The legislation, which has been sort of a whirlwind effort, would allow adults to use cannabis for recreational consumption, while also making it legal for medicinal application. Industrial hemp production would also be freed under the bill. It must now go before the Senate for concurrence.

The CNMI Senate made this push once before. Earlier this year, lawmakers in the upper chamber were all set to go on a similar piece of legislation, but there were some snags that prevented it from being picked up by the House of Representatives. The House eventually introduced its own proposal, which is the one was passed this week. The Senate must sign off on this legislation before it can be shipped to the governor. The bill reads as follows:

The Legislature finds that it is in our best interest to move marijuana into a regulated and controlled market for responsible adult personal use, allowing for the creation of jobs and the capturing of a new revenue stream that can be used to fund public safety programs, public school infrastructure and programs, supporting the retirement fund, and other government and social programs, such as drug abuse treatment; furthermore, providing an effective alternative medicine for those suffering from medical conditions; and allowing for the development of an industrial hemp industry here in the CNMI.

If this legislation is signed, CMNI will make history by becoming the first U.S. territory to go from prohibition to a fully legalized marketplace in one fell swoop. The island did not begin with a toe in the water approach to this reform by first legalizing a medical marijuana program or by implementing some kind of decriminalization measure. It has been an all or nothing deal. No other U.S. jurisdiction has managed to do this so far.

“The true essence of legalization has always been about having safe and legal access to cannabis without fear of arrest and harassment,” Gerry Hemley, co-founder of Sensible CNMI, said in a statement. “This thoughtful legislation will control, regulate, and tax marijuana in a manner that is similar to alcohol. It was carefully crafted to improve public health, protect children, and keep our communities safe. We hope senators will join their House colleagues in supporting this commonsense measure.”

If the Senate approves, the bill will slide across the desk of Governor Torres. It remains unclear whether he will embrace this common sense reform or slap it with a veto.

How To Come Down After Too Many Marijuana Edibles

Terry Hacienda
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How To Come Down After Too Many Marijuana Edibles

It happens to the best of us. Just ask Washington Post columnist Maureen Dowd. Dowd famously “became convinced that [she] had died” in Denver after she enjoyed w-a-a-a-ay too much of her legal caramel-chocolate candy bar in 2014. Eating marijuana edibles takes practice. There are a lot of variables (time of day, fullness of belly, potency of the treat, physical environment) to consider before taking your first bite. Sometimes you get it a little wrong, so here is how to come down after too many marijuana edibles.

But if you ignored the warnings – or you simply overestimated your tolerance – here are some tips to keep you from freaking out. Best to read this before you start to snack.

  1. Chill Out

The first thing to remember: Marijuana edibles won’t kill you. This not to say your brain might tell you to do something stupid or harmful. Resist! Relax! Ignore the voices in your head. Know that there have been ZERO fatal cannabis overdoses in the recorded history of mankind. Zero. Also know that the uncomfortable feeling will pass over time. Give the 9-1-1 operator and the emergency room doctor a break. Chances are what you are experiencing is not life threatening. You’re feeling anxiety and paranoia. Even experienced marijuana enthusiasts get this sensation from time to time.

  1. Try the Neil Young Black Pepper Balls Method

“Try black pepper balls if you get paranoid,” legendary guitarist Neil Young shared on the Howard Stern Show a few years back. “Just chew two or three pieces. I just found this out myself. Try it.” This is not an old-wives’ tale; Young has science on his side.

  1. Suck on a Lemon

Citrus fruits contain the terpene limonene, which for centuries has been used as a way to combat THC-induced anxiety. When you suck on a lemon and hold the tart juice in your mouth, the mucous membranes and sublingual tissue absorb it and delivers it into your bloodstream.

  1. Stay Hydrated

Drink water. Drink a beverage loaded with electrolytes. And then drink more water. The goal here is to flush your system of THC. As if you have a cold or flu. A trippy, trippy flu.

  1. Listen to Music

What do you listen to when you want to relax? Classical? Reggae? Metal? (Metal, really?! How does that work?) Whatever it is, turn it on. Take your mind off of your discomfort, close your eyes, and groove. Just don’t go to the dark side of the moon, mentally.

  1. Take a Stroll (Just Make Sure You’re Dressed)

If you have the energy – and the coordination – put on your walking shoes and move. Often times, THC can overwhelm your thoughts and you may have difficulty keeping your mind from racing. Go for a slow walk in a comfortable place. Look at the trees. Feel the wind. Count how many seconds you can keep a smile on your face.

  1. Bust Out the Crayons

If you don’t feel comfortable going for a walk (or you can’t find your shoes or pants), don’t fret. You can stay indoors and channel your inner child. Buy yourself a couple of adult coloring books and a box of crayons and create art. Anybody can do it. Even while high.

  1. Talk About It!

That’s right. Share your experience with your friends and family. Not only will it be a possible learning experience for them, it will let those close to you know to remind you when to say enough is enough!

  1. Keep This Quote Handy

“The brain on marijuana will never deviate from its destined disposition, nor be driven to madness, marijuana is a mirror reflecting man’s deepest thoughts, a magnifying mirror, it’s true, but only ever a mirror.” – French poet Charles Baudelaire

Penn. Gov Says Citizens Are Not ‘Ready’ for Recreational Marijuana

Brendan Bures
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Penn. Gov Says Citizens Are Not ‘Ready’ for Recreational Marijuana

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf didn’t mince words in a radio interview this week when discussing his stance on recreational marijuana in his state. Wolf doesn’t think Pennsylvania “is ready for recreational marijuana,” he said to KDKA Radio.

“There are, what, six states that have legalized recreational marijuana in the United States?,” Wolf said in the interview. “I don’t think the citizens of Pennsylvania are ready for it, and so the answer I would say is no.”

Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, for the record. Wolf offered little to no explanation during the interview regarding why Pennsylvanians aren’t “ready” for recreational marijuana. Instead, the governor reminded citizens that the state just legalized medical marijuana, filling in the “gap that existed in terms of doctors’ options for treating their patients.”

Wolf’s stance shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s been listening to the Democratic governor.  He made a similar argument last year in response to Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, who’d been arguing in favor of recreational marijuana for the possible tax incentives.

“I don’t think Pennsylvania is ready for it,” Wolf said to NBC10 in March of last year. “I think that’s important. This is a democracy and you can’t move ahead of the electorate.”

Excuse the pun, but the governor operates as a lone Wolf amongst his party on the issue. The mayors of both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are in favor and, as mentioned, DePasquale is a vocal advocate, stating Pennsylvania could rake in more than $500 million in tax revenue through legalization. A September 2017 F&M poll showed that 59 percent of Pennsylvanians also support recreational marijuana.

John Fetterman is running for lieutenant governor this fall and will act as Wolf’s running mate throughout the election. When asked on Twitter by someone to “put a bug” in the governor’s ear, his emoji-filled response said it all.

Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops THC Beverage Is A High Minded Beer Alternative

Mary Schumacher
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Lagunitas Hi-Fi Hops THC Beverage Is A High Minded Beer Alternative

Heineken International’s new non-alcoholic beer features a different kind of buzz for the beverage making company. Each can of Lagunitas “hoppy sparkling water” features either 10mg of THC or an equal mix of 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD, for an even more mellow effect. They aren’t the first beer makers to dive into the pot market, but they’re certainly making a splash.

Beer and soda sales have been in a steady decline as of late, and with the cannabis market expanding at a rapid clip, this type of near beer is likely to become popular with millennials especially. It’s not so cool to get blotto drunk and thus foolish or dangerous anymore. Of course, plenty still do, but the zero alcohol cannabis beers are set to be all the rage.

The bubbly beer-like concoctions are only currently available in California since July 30 at a price point of $8 each, but they’re flying off the shelves already, according to Harborside Dispensary in Oakland, California. Not a bad price for an “edible,” though a six pack, which is what it will likely take experienced users to get a real heady buzz going, will cost nearly $50. But maybe that’s part of the point.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmCJLD5ljxB/?tagged=hifihops

Cannabis has always been a communal substance. Even if you’re at home alone toking up, if a roommate or friend pops in the first thing you’d be likely to do is offer the bong or joint. Now you can offer friends an ice cold one, with just a little buzz, that will likely be folded into other forms of cannabis ingestion, thus making one or two bud beers the perfect amount.

Business Insider went to California to try the drink out themselves. One curious stand out is the tab, which must be popped at the top then slid back, but the obvious advantages are that after a night of sipping low-dose cannabis beer you A. are going to sleep better and more restfully than had you actually drank alcohol, B. are not going to wake up cringing and wondering what might have gone down the night before, and C. won’t have a hangover.

The cannabis market continues to open up and expand, leaving plenty of room for these types of innovation. What will stick and what will fall by the wayside as gimmicky is yet to be seen, but if the initial reaction to Lagunitas hoppy sparkling water is any indication, people are ready to incorporate cannabis into even more social facets of their lives.

WATCH: Viral Video Shows Tiny Ant Walking Off With Large Diamond

Amy Hansen
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WATCH: Viral Video Shows Tiny Ant Walking Off With Large Diamond

A video is making the rounds of a tiny little ant dragging a diamond across a desk at a jewelry store. But the surprising thing here shouldn’t be the strength of the ant, it should be its taste in jewelry.

It’s estimated the average ant can carry between 10 and 50 times its own body weight , and run at a rate of nearly 800 times its body length a minute.

Just look at the ant in this video. That chunk of stone is no contest for its might and determination. The little buddy makes it from one end of the desk to the other, even dodging a rubber band along the way.

[h/t Daily Mail]

What Did Maisie Williams Steal From The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Set?

Brendan Bures
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What Did Maisie Williams Steal From The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Set?

News and rumors regarding the “Game of Thrones” final season continue to trickle out, thanks to actors on the show. As each cast member finishes playing the character that made them icons in the eyes of many, we’re seeing various tributes that are equal parts cryptic and commemorative. We had Emilia Clarke’s Khal Drogo-filled goodbyes, Lena Headey teasing the story’s ending, and Maisie Williams posting bloody sneakers.

Fans have combed through every single word, trying to decipher any meaning to the series finale. And now, one more nugget to dissect, thanks once again to Maisie Williams. As a token of her portrayal as the princess-turned-assassin Arya Stark, the actress revealed the item she plucked from the set.

During Wednesday’s appearance on BBC Radio 1’s The Radio1 Breakfast Show, Williams said she took Arya’s memorable brown jacket. “I can imagine it being something that I’m like,‘Oh, I was on this show once upon a time and this was the jacket I wore. And my grandkids being like, ‘Please stop.’”

https://twitter.com/Maisie_Williams/status/1027081331564576769

The jacket’s design and color calls to mind the rest of the Stark clan as well, as we’ve seen Jon Snow and Robb Stark wearing similar-looking outerwear. The brown jacket only became part of Arya’s outfit when she returned to Westeros, following her training with the Faceless Men.

Facebook Is Sorry It Added Confetti Effects To Indonesia Earthquake Posts

Maria Loreto
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Facebook Is Sorry It Added Confetti Effects To Indonesia Earthquake Posts

Facebook is very embarrassed after their A.I. software confused the meaning of some words and burst out confetti when Indonesians were expressing their condolences over the earthquake that took place this past Sunday. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9 and killed more than 300 people.

Facebook’s A.I. is programmed to send out confetti and balloons whenever someone says “congratulations,” no matter the language. Turns out, the company didn’t foresee the intricacies and differences between languages, like Indonesian, where the word “selamat” has different meanings that include “congrats” and “to survive.”

In an email, Facebook told Motherboard that there was no malicious intent with the balloons and confetti effect. Their software was simply following its code without accounting for the differences between Indonesian and English. “This feature (a text animation triggered by typing ‘congrats’) is widely available on Facebook globally, however we regret that it appeared in this unfortunate context and have since turned off the feature locally,” said Facebook representative Lisa Stratton.

While it’s clear that what happened is no one’s fault, events like this prove that A.I. still needs some supervision from humans, especially if it means that the company would be spared from facing situations such as this one.

North Dakota Likely To Vote On Full Cannabis Legalization In November

Mary Schumacher
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North Dakota Likely To Vote On Full Cannabis Legalization In November

In a surprising turn of events that occurred without major backing or media coverage, Legalize ND collected more than 18,000 signatures to get North Dakota marijuana legalization petition on the ballot. They only needed 13,452.

That doesn’t mean they’re in the clear just yet for a spot on the ballot. As with every initiative, signatures have to be verified. Things are looking good, though. The North Dakota Secretary of State’s office told The Fresh Toast, “They brought in more than they needed. We’re still in the review process, but we’ll let them know on Monday. So there’s no big huge red flags right now, we’re just going through like any statewide petition.”

The lack of red flags matched with their zealous signature collection makes it look like North Dakota could be one of the next states to go green. Like Oklahoma before it, the state may be in deep red republican country, but cannabis legalization is a bipartisan issue and as reported by The Washington Post, supporters of the measure hope that criminal justice reform will be the winning talking point.

And political leanings aside, the measure itself is wide open for legislation and regulation. One of the most solid points within it is its expungement process. It calls for the state to examine current cases that would not be applicable under the new law and for the release for those who qualify. After their release, the state would have 30 days to expunge their records. This would be life-changing for a number of non-violent pot offenders who want to go back to school or obtain employment.

The measure promises that cannabis will be 100 percent legal for adults aged 21 and over. It looks to make having a personal cannabis grow legal, to include paraphernalia as acceptable possessions, to be able to buy and sell weed both privately and via a business and that all forms of cannabis be allowed. “If it’s marijuana, it’s legal,” states the site.

It would potentially be the most progressive pot law in the land, in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964. Bipartisan or not, cannabis does tend to at least lean to the progressive side. How could it not with its rich history of grassroots measures, activism and compassionate leanings? Hopefully we’ll have a chance to see in November just how much support marijuana has in one of the states that utilizes it the least.

Roseanne Character Dead In Upcoming Spinoff; Meghan Markle Passes On Vogue Cover

Naughty Gossip
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Roseanne Character Dead In Upcoming Spinoff; Meghan Markle Passes On Vogue Cover

ROSEANNE CHARACTER DEAD IN COMING SPINOFF

The Decider reports:

Now that ABC is officially going forward with The Conners, there’s a Roseanne-shaped elephant in the room. How will the show continue without its star?

The logline for The Conners suggests that Roseanne has died: the series “will follow the Conner family who, after a sudden turn of events, are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before.”

Despite the political conversation surrounding the series, ABC insisted that The Conners is simply a show about one particular family in one particular small town.

MEGHAN MARKLE PASSES ON VOGUE COVER – EXCLUSIVE

Meghan Markle grew up dreaming on being in Vogue magazine, but now that she has been offered the cover and she is a real-life Duchess, she said, ‘thanks, but no thanks!”

“Beyoncé will be on the cover of Vogue’s September issue, the biggest issue of the year but this is after Meghan Markle passed,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “Bey has no idea that she was the second choice for the issue but inside the magazine several folks know that Anna Wintour (the magazines famous editor) really, really wanted Meghan. She wanted to do the first official cover and interview with the new Royal. She offered to shot the pictures anywhere Meghan wanted and would be willing to personally go to London herself to oversee the shoot and interview. Anna was even happy to allow Meghan to decide what photographer she wanted. But, she said no, so the magazine moved onto pop royalty – Beyoncé!”

There’s Now An Oscar For Most Popular Film And The Internet Is Not Having It

Maria Loreto
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There’s Now An Oscar For Most Popular Film And The Internet Is Not Having It

In an effort to gain more viewers, the Academy Awards is trying to appeal to the masses by creating a new category for the most popular movie of the year. If you didn’t watch the awards show last year, you’re not alone. The 2018 Academy Awards was the lowest ranked telecast on record. Ouch.

Other measures that’ll be added to the Oscars this year include the promise of a shorter and more entertaining program that will only last three hours. The Oscars have always been unpredictable with their run time, with one memorable show in 2002 that ran for a whopping 4 hours and 20 minutes. In order to control the length of the program, the Academy announced that some of the awards will be skipped and that an edited clip of the winners will be aired later on in the broadcast.

While it’s true that the Oscars need to adapt to a world where people no longer care about them, creating a new category for popular films doesn’t seem like the correct way to lure in more viewers. This new category will only contribute to the separation of prestige cinema and Blockbusters, implying that movies can’t simultaneously be popular and worthy of the proper recognition.

Giving an award to the most popular movie is sort of like giving an award to someone because you feel pity for them or something. You’re not the best movie of the year, you’re just the most popular one. Congratulations.

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