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Meme Of The Week: Moon Blob Is Stupid But We Like It

Maria Loreto
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Meme Of The Week: Moon Blob Is Stupid But We Like It

Good and positive things are hard to come across nowadays on the internet, which has become a space filled with depressing news and end-of-the-world scenarios. The moon blob is one of these rare and positive things. A meme that’s pure escapism, that doesn’t mock anyone or anything, and that isn’t feeding on our collective misery. I’m kind of into it.

What is the moon blob? Well, it’s name doesn’t give away much but it suggests that the meme is a little stupid. The moon blob is a sort of malleable and personalized emoji, that results in cute and funny tweets. Mashable reports that the meme made it’s first appearance mid-June on the form of this tweet.

By using the different moon emojis this person created a figure that’s leaning out or peeking behind a wall while smiling. It’s kind of creepy and innocent, like Casper or something. A lot of hard work and understanding of the physics of emojis resulted in this guy, who looks like it’s dancing to a Michael Jackson song.

While a lot of people don’t know what the original post means or tried to express, they borrowed the figure and added their own personal touches, such as the fact that sometimes we become the moon blob when we scarf down cheese at 3 in the morning.

Or, when we encounter an unexpected demon (For the moon blob to work properly, it demands a little bit of your imagination).

The moon blob can reflect real life.

Or fiction.

It can also be used to tribute adorable cinematic masterpieces.

Or that weirdly famous photo-shopped cat.

New York Report Says Recreational Marijuana Is A Winner

Brendan Bures
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New York Report Says Recreational Marijuana Is A Winner

Various moves have built momentum toward cannabis legalization in New York. From Mayor Bill de Blasio telling the New York Police Department to stop arresting people for smoking weed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo encouraging banks to work with cannabis businesses, all signs point toward an embrace of cannabis in the Big Apple.

The state’s Health Department continued the trend on Friday. In a report the Health department stated that the “positive effects” of legalization “outweigh the potential negative impacts.” In addition, the report recommends expunging the criminal records of New Yorkers in any cannabis-related convictions.

“Numerous NYS agencies and subject matter experts in the fields of public health, mental health, substance use, public safety, transportation, and economics worked in developing this assessment,” the 75-page document says, according to Forbes. “No insurmountable obstacles to regulation of marijuana were raised.”

Regulation of marijuana benefits public health by enabling government oversight of the production, testing, labeling, distribution, and sale of marijuana. The creation of a regulated marijuana program would enable NYS to better control licensing, ensure quality control and consumer protection, and set age and quantity restrictions.

The report also recommends that New York pursue a familiar strategy regarding righting past wrongs. As seen in San Francisco, Seattle, and San Diego, New York should “review, recall, re-sentence, potentially dismiss, and seal” past misdemeanor and felony convictions involving marijuana.

New York also has much to gain itself should the state legalize recreational marijuana. Legal sales could produce as high as $677.7 million in revenue, depending on tax rates.

Overall the report continues laying the framework for legalization in New York. Though the report does mention, possible negative effects like how smoking could impact your lungs or making people lazy, those “areas that may be a cause for concern can be mitigated with regulation and proper use of public education that is tailored to address key populations,” the report concludes.

Can Marijuana Blunt Your Sexual Health

Thomas Green, MD
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Can Marijuana Blunt Your Sexual Health

OK, first of all, weed is not going to give you a bigger penis with superhero abilities.

It makes sense that it could have some kind of influence though. Science has shown that we have receptors distributed from our head to toes made to interact with our endocannabinoids, compounds similar to those found in cannabis. It is part of our chemistry, at a cellular level. 

We wanted to know more about how cannabis may affect men’s sexual health, so we asked The Fresh Toast Medical Director, Dr. Thomas Green, a board-certified urologist who has helped men be their best sexual selves for the past (nearly) 40 years. He pointed out that for young men, a common concern is erections:

When I evaluate men with impotency, I categorize the potential causes: circulatory, neurologic, hormonal and psychological. My experience is that there is commonly psychological overlay for medical erectile difficulties. In the younger age groups, there is a higher incidence of pure psychological impotence than the older age groups.

Let’s take a look at each of those.

Circulatory concerns

Some Canadian researchers chose to study marijuana and monkey erections. Really, they did. They discovered a negative effect in the smooth muscle tissue of the monkey penis. It seems that high doses of THC decreased the ability of the smooth muscle of the erectile body to contract and made erections less likely, while smaller doses showed no change. Thus, a super high monkey is not always a hard monkey. Point taken.

Neurological

We do know that being high can create the perception of shifted time or an ability to be lost in the moment. In one small Canadian study, half of respondents said cannabis was sex enhancing and delayed orgasm. We do not know if this was a true change or a difference in the perception of time. Two-thirds said it had a positive effect on their sexual desire. Others found it killed their love buzz.

Hormonal

Findings regarding how using cannabis affects testosterone vary widely and are rather inconclusive so far. Higher consumption rates of cannabis have been tied to lower testosterone levels. These levels seem to readjust as quickly as 24 hours after use is stopped or reduced. We do know that frequent users are leaner and less likely to be obese. Being fit can allow for a more active and even athletic sexual expression. That’s not bad.

Psychological

“It’s not about the body, it’s about the mind,” to quote the late, great musical genius Prince, who certainly knew a thing or two about sex. Performance anxiety can increase with an intense high. So, guys with an inconsistent erection may not want to smoke out before the big moment or they may risk getting too much in their head. On the other hand, cannabis can help make a good sexual experience a nearly mystical one, given the right balance.

As you may have gathered, none of this is absolutely resolved, not by scientific standards.

Being a good doctor, concerned for our general health and safety, Dr. Green left us with a bit of professional advice:

We have much to learn about the effect of cannabis on erections. Lower doses tend to reduce anxiety and higher doses tend to increase anxiety. If we look at the effects of anxiety on erections, it appears that anxiety can cause intermittent impotence. Therefore, on an anecdotal basis I would recommend moderation to increase the odds of erectile success.

Here is some fun homework if you are ready to take matters into your own hands. Find some time and privacy to enjoy some good, clean cannabis home alone and see how marijuana may affect your erection. If things go well, invite your partner to try a special, elevated experience. While we wait for additional data to answer these questions, you may have fun doing your own home-grown research. 

Note: Dr. Thomas Green writes the “Ask the Doctor” column for The Fresh Toast. If you have any medical questions, please send it to Dr. Green. 

North Dakota Will Vote On Legalizing Marijuana This November

Brendan Bures
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North Dakota Will Vote On Legalizing Marijuana This November

The next state that could legalize marijuana is one that hasn’t received much publicity: North Dakota. More than 18,700 signatures were submitted to the Secretary of State’s office Monday in support of a measure that would legalize recreational marijuana. North Dakotans required a total of 13,452 signatures to secure the measure on the ballot and now will have the chance this November to vote on legalization.

According to the Bismarck Tribune, the petition effort was largely driven by 100 volunteers starting back in December. The group reached the necessary signatures in May but added more to provide a “pillow.” Dave Owen, chairperson of the ND Legalization Initiative, said 451 packets, each including 44 signatures, was submitted.

“It’s great to see three to four years of hard work finally pay off, and to get people what they really want and what they deserve, because the people of North Dakota deserve this,” Owen told the Bismarck Tribune.

The effort to put marijuana on the ballot was a completely grassroots initiative, similar to the successful endeavor by Oklahomans to legalize medical marijuana. The ND Legalization group received no financial backing from national advocacy groups like the Marijuana Policy Project or the Drug Policy Alliance.

“Not a single penny was spent on petitioning and gathering, because we wanted this to be the will of the people, not the will of some big company out in Lord knows where,” Owen said. “This is, primarily, a grassroots effort.”

The ND Legalize website clarifies specifically what the petitioned measure would legalize:

The measure legalizes the use, sale, possession, and distribution of marijuana for anyone 21 years or older.  For anyone under the age of 21, the law creates a new specific subset of non-felony penalties. Additionally, the law legalizes “paraphernalia” for marijuana exclusively. Finally, records are expunged for anyone that followed the new law even if it occurred in the past, except for cases of someone being under the age of 21.

As you can see, the measure leaves many open-ended questions to provide the framework of recreational marijuana in North Dakota. Details like possession limits, dispensary regulations, and home-growing aren’t mentioned, which activists say was by design.

“We leave our bill wide open so the legislature can do their job—regulations, taxes, zoning, whatever,” Cole Haymond, an adviser to the Legalize ND campaign, told the Washington Post. “This bill is by far the most progressive yet most conservative marijuana legalization bill that will be on any ballot across the country.”

Owen added that North Dakota will have the “strictest” law when it comes to operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana. The possibility of “stoned” drivers, Owen said, is a major hang-up for those that oppose the measure.

The Secretary of State’s office must now validate the signatures, which could take up to 35 days. A draft of the ballot measure will follow.

420 Suites In Boston Offer An Holistic Cannabis Experience

Mary Schumacher
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420 Suites In Boston Offer An Holistic Cannabis Experience

Later this month, visitors to the Boston area who are into everything cannabis have an alternative to traditional hotels, the latter of which are pretty much across the board straight and narrow. At these 420 themed condos situated in East Boston, downtown, Fenway, Back Bay and Longwood, you’ll be treated to a CBD treat on your pillow instead of a mint.

The shampoos and conditioners are made with hemp and a book of coupons for local dispensaries is reportedly available at the front desk. They also provide transportation to and from a dispensary in Somerville, where there are also discounts, consultations and consumable treats for current medical patients until recreational is fully enacted.

There’s a small catch, though. Even with all this cannabis, CBD and dispensary business, which is all well and very, very good, smoking cannabis flower is not allowed in the domiciles. However, 420 Suites told The Fresh Toast that in East Boston, “the apartment building has a rooftop where guests have access to. There is a pier right there where you are allowed to walk out on and there is a quiet safe little harbor walk with trees and plants.”

They also had this to say, “Unfortunately none of the units are currently smoke friendly due to building codes… You are welcome to consume edibles in the room because they don’t produce smoke and we even encourage vapes [in all units].”

Being able to vape without worry and eat edibles that turn your eyes as red and glossy as can be without judgment, but with encouragement is a very cool thing indeed. Plus, the suites are discreet and every stay comes with a goodie bag filled with hemp/CBD infused products, including things like moisturizers, gummies and lip balms. The rooms themselves look like you’re staying at a luxury hotel, just that these rooms encourage the cannabis experience and supports hemp farmers around the world.

420 Suites, which also offer educational experiences, have additional locations in other populous, weed-friendly cities like Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York City, to name a few. They also offer suites with full kitchens, sitting rooms and bedrooms separated from the main areas. Refreshing artwork hangs on the walls and there is a breezy feeling to the decor.

The next time you’re traveling to Boston, be sure to first check the availability of 420 Suites if you want to enjoy an immersive marijuana experience in a warm and welcoming environment.

Legal Marijuana Might Help Democrats Gain Control Of The Senate

Mike Adams
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Legal Marijuana Might Help Democrats Gain Control Of The Senate

There was once a time when all politicians avoided the marijuana issue like the plague. Regardless of their secret, personal beliefs on the topic, most felt that siding with hippy nation would inevitably lead to career suicide. Decades ago, this may have been true. But now that a heavy majority of the America public supports the idea of both medical and recreational marijuana, a recent report from Politico finds that more Democratic Senators entangled in tight races across the country are getting into bed with the cannabis cause in hopes of seizing votes from the progressives.

“I think what it means is how far along this issue has evolved just over the last couple of years,” Ben Pollara, a Democratic strategist connected to campaigns run by Florida Senator Bill Nelson, who also had a heavy hand in the ballot initiative that led to Florida legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes with 71 percent support. “It is no longer an issue with political downside; it’s an issue with almost entirely political upside.”

It seems that legal weed could provide Senators in red states with a way to secure more votes at the liberal end of their party. However, the cannabis opposition, namely Kevin Sabet, founder of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, doesn’t buy into the concept of marijuana legalization giving politicians the upper hand. “I’ve never seen marijuana swing any kind of election,” he said. “It’s such a low priority vote.”

But is it really?

Some of the latest national polls show that nearly 70 percent of the American population believes marijuana should be legalized at the federal level — similar to alcohol and tobacco — while 91 percent think it should be out on the books for medicinal use. These numbers have been consistent for the past couple of years. But, as the Politico piece points out, marijuana is not a top-ranking problem “facing the country today,” according to Gallup.

But if you ask Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, one of the founding members of Congressional Cannabis Caucus, the marijuana legalization issue “does, in fact, motivate voters.” Going on to reference elections in Pennsylvania and New York, where a candidates vocal support for cannabis seemed to clinch the win, Blumenauer says that “In a close race, [marijuana] could absolutely determine the outcome.”

Still, many candidates remain afraid to use the word marijuana in their campaigns. Political experts say that while media professionals fully understand how to run ads for most issues, these people are quite inexperienced when it comes to handling the cannabis cause. To make things worse, most campaign managers are “risk-averse,” says Representative Blumenauer, and they believe highlighting their candidate’s support for marijuana is “just stupid.” But for those politicians with the balls to go weird, they could come out ahead.

But the victorious lawmakers will need to take action on Capitol Hill. So far, the Senate has been less than enthusiastic about considering legislation pertaining to marijuana.

‘Rick and Morty’ Fans Are More Diverse Than You Think

Brendan Bures
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‘Rick and Morty’ Fans Are More Diverse Than You Think

Fans of “Rick & Morty” aren’t typically discussed in positive terms. In fact they’ve become a symbol of the toxic fandom the internet can breed, thanks to tantrums over Szechuan sauce at McDonald’s and harassing the show’s women writers. GQ even wrote a profile of the show’s co-creator Dan Harmon as he grapples with the success and fans of the show.

But “Rick & Morty” itself remains brilliant, an intoxicating—and intoxicated—space ride into the exciting and meaningless possibilities in the universe. Which is why, perhaps, the actual fans of the show may be more diverse than you think.

Hulu just released Season 3 of the show to its streaming platform. According to Hulu’s internal data and analytics team obtained by Mashable, the audience is more equal than previously assumed, with women making up 40 percent of the show’s viewers via the streaming service.

Of course these numbers don’t represent the entirety of the show’s fans. Nowadays, everyone accesses content in a myriad of ways, so to rely upon one platform’s data would result in paltry conclusions. But it does showcase something we often choose to ignore on the internet—the most vocal minority of a group doesn’t typify that group’s ideology or demographics.

Basically, just because you like “Rick & Morty” doesn’t make you an asshole. And that’s worth noting, as last year the show exploded and became the No. 1 show for millennial viewers. So enjoy “Rick & Morty” with the knowledge there are other normal fans like you.

World Cup Fan? Here’s How It’s Affecting Your Brain And Body

Amy Hansen
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World Cup Fan? Here’s How It’s Affecting Your Brain And Body

If you’re a soccer fan, you know that when your team wins, you also feel like a winner. But while fandom is good, creating a sense of belonging, camaraderie, and a spike in mental well-being, World Cup is another animal.

Newsweek reports that this international event is “especially impactful” because of it’s size, where the team is basically a stand-in for the country it represents, which can boost a fan’s national identity, according to Susan Whitbourne, a psychological and brain sciences professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

“The emotional boost really can’t be overemphasized,” she told Newsweek. “I feel that [national identification] can really enhance a person’s overall well-being.”

But in the case of  “superfans,” their reliance on a team for their self worth can interfere with their everyday life. There’s a condition specifically related to sports fans called deindividuation, that is basically a crowd mentality. There are things you’d do when you’re just another face in a sea of people that you’d never do solo. And that can lead to obnoxious behavior (you know who you are).

Whitbourne tells Newsweek:

It’s enjoyable, fun, exciting, stimulating, but when it starts to bleed into your relationships or makes you unable to work or concentrate then yes, I think it’s time to take a break. It can enhance your identity, but when it starts to crowd out other aspects of identity, that’s when it starts to turn the corner a bit.

And if you’re super into soccer, it can actually hurt your health. According to Newsweek, cardiac emergencies in men tripled during the 2006 World Cup, and nearly half of those 9-1-1 calls corresponded to the day the patients’ favorite teams played.

Now, for the good news. Dopamine, that adrenaline precursor, is prevalent during positive outcomes and, according to Whitbourne, the occasional dose of adrenaline can “add some spice” to the lives of sports fans. But you already knew that.

Third Time’s A Charm? Denver Keeps Trying To Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms

Sara Somerset
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Third Time’s A Charm? Denver Keeps Trying To Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms

In a city known for its progressive drug policies, Denver has yet to decide if it wants to decriminalize magic mushrooms. If marijuana is acceptable, why not psychedelics?

Supporters of the Denver for Psilocybin campaign, which includes cannabis doctors, can’t seem to catch their footing since announcing their push for decriminalization earlier this year. And here’s why.

Legal Framework

The as-yet-unnumbered, fungus-facilitating bill has gone through various iterations of its language to make sure it is affording the kind of protection its backers want for the public in Denver.

The bill’s two previous attempts for recognition were rejected, the most recent one in My.

All bets are now on refining the language of its latest draft petition. Devin Alvarez, CEO of Denver-based Straight Hemp and his colleague Kevin Matthews, Director of the Denver for Psilocybin campaign (Dev & Kev as they are known about town) are working with some of the top attorneys in the field, refining the language to resubmit the bill to the Denver elections next week.

“We want to make sure there aren’t any loopholes, or paradoxes, as well as understanding that this can work as a model for future space,” said Alvarez, the first signer of the original petition to attempt decriminalization of the funky fungus.

A prominent law firm is currently reviewing it for a May, 2019 vote, which will give Alvarez and his cohorts an appropriate amount of time to further their campaign. New York City-based attorney Noah Potter is the principal legal consultant working together with the campaign to draft the revised language of the bill.

Alvarez supports the bill on moral, as well as personal, grounds. He experienced trauma related to drugs and alcohol. “I’ve lost family members and friends, and it has been painful,” he confesses. “I knew there was a better way to help them heal.”

Alvarez used mushrooms to treat his college alcoholism. “People should have access to natural therapies that promote health, happiness, and harmony. Hemp is one of those things. I’ve always supported plant medicine. It is ancient technology. We are meeting a growing number of challenges in our world that require something better. I am supporting this initiative for my family and loved ones,” he says.

Whether it is an all-out medical model, or a natural rights model, Denver is a place where decriminalization could likely occur, so it is an excellent place to start.

The campaign’s third attempt to get approval to start collecting signatures is underway. Approximately 5,000 signatures are needed by May, 2019; it’s not the group’s initial goal of November, however, they remain cautiously optimistic.

The Denver Elections Division will review the bill for legal efficacy, and ensure the language is not confusing and is transparent to voters. The previous two submissions were rejected because the bill might cause voter confusion.

“We could have made a few small tweaks, but we started over from the ground up. We want to make sure that the DED will approve it, and it will be understandable and accessible to the general population,” says Matthews.

If and when the Denver Elections Division approves, the campaigners will have six months to collect the necessary signatures. If their submission is supported by the end of July, or early August, they will have until February, 2019 at the latest to collect the signatures.

“We anticipate being able to collect the required signatures in a few months, by let us say October. That is our target,” said Matthews.

Once the signatures are collected and validated by the city of Denver’s Elections Division, the bill will be assigned a number and will appear as a question on the May 2019 ballot.

Medical efficacy

Alvarez points out that Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs (also known as “antidepressants”), are losing functionality in the population, and treating trauma and depression is “an important piece to the human puzzle.”

Matthews wholeheartedly concurs. “In many ways, we have a mental health crisis in our country. Traditional therapy models SSRIs or SSNIs, for some reason, don’t seem to be working when you look at the data over a 50-year period. The rates of anxiety and depression are increasing annually. There has been a rash of high-profile suicides. We need alternatives to pharmaceutical interventions,” he says.

The FDA is currently considering a phase 3 clinical trial for Psilocybin, to explore its efficacy as a treatment for major depression in the US. When a drug is being examined for therapeutic use, it is a 3-phase process for FDA approval. Phase 1 examines the safety of the drug for human consumption. Phase 2 uses a small population with a specific set of symptoms and a control group in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, at major research institutions and universities. Phase 3 opens the clinical investigation to a broader portion of the population to test its efficacy.

The Phase 3 MDMA studies, for example, sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, were tested primarily on veterans with PTSD. Phase 3 studies are now open to the public.

MAPS’ mission is to develop medical, legal, and cultural contexts for the careful and beneficial use of psychedelics. In these contexts, no one would be criminalized for the possession or use of psychedelics, or any drugs.

“We support ballot initiatives decriminalizing psychedelics and other drugs in principle. However, MAPS believes that, in this political climate, resources would be better spent on FDA-regulated research aimed at medicalizing psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, science-based education campaigns, or other harm reduction interventions aimed at improving the safety of vulnerable psychedelic users,” said Rick Doblin, PhD, Executive Director of MAPS.

Criminal data and risk assessment to public health and safety

In addition to clinical trials, gathering anecdotal evidence of positive experiences while on magic mushrooms is essential research. “It is time for people to come out of the psychedelic closet,” says Matthews.

While the clinical and medical data are relevant to the campaign for decriminalization, risk assessment, public health & safety are also a concern.

The campaigners are also examining the relationships of classic psychedelic use with criminal behavior in the United States adult population.

Concerning arrests and seizures for drug-related offenses, Psilocybin is identified in 1 in 400 occurrences in metropolitan areas nationwide, according to data analyzed in 2017, by the National Forensic Laboratory. The same process demonstrated 1.3% of drug arrests in Denver, specifically, were Psilocybin-related in 2011.

The group is actively compiling research behind the scenes, while dealing with the bureaucracy of seeing their campaign come to fruition. During the tedious revision process, they want to keep their campaign to decriminalize a mind-expanding mushroom at the forefront of public consciousness.

[h/t/ Westword]

Why Do We Procrastinate Sleep Even When We’re Tired?

Maria Loreto
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Why Do We Procrastinate Sleep Even When We’re Tired?

Everyone has avoided going to bed even when tired, no matter how delicious it feels to rest after a long day. You know you should be going to sleep, yet you find something meaningless to distract you. This phenomenon varies from person to person, with some experiencing it repeatedly and with others succumbing to sleep without much of a fuss.

While this problem with sleep has existed forever, Popular Science reports that psychologists are only just now giving it a name. “Bedtime procrastination” is a common, yet largely misunderstood phenomenon. It’s not insomnia or the fact that you have a pressing issue that keeps you awake; it’s just delaying the inevitable and staying up for no particular reason.

Groups of scientists from different areas have different perspectives on why this phenomenon occurs. A team of psychologists from the Netherlands, who were the first to coin the term, chalk bedtime procrastination to poor self-regulation. Another group of scientists from Germany recently published a study that claims that night owls delay going to bed because they have a genetic predisposition to do so. Both groups of scientists have a point.

Researchers stress the importance of the lack of self-control. These researchers surveyed over 2,400 people and found that 53 percent of them went to bed later than they wanted to at least twice a week. These people also admitted to procrastinating in other areas of their lives and having lower self-control. These researchers theorize that even though sleep is pleasant, some people put it off in order to avoid dealing with the last chores of the day (teeth brushing, setting an alarm, etc.), which can sometimes feel impossible to get through.

The German scientists have a different stance, putting most of the blame on our inner body clocks. They claim that some people are genetically predisposed to be alert at night. Jana Kühnel, a psychologist from Ulm University, says that delaying your bedtime is different than other forms of procrastination, because with sleep, you don’t have full control of failing to go to bed. “The intention to go to bed earlier is not enough. Biological processes need to support this intention.”

While more research is needed to fully understand bedtime procrastination, it’s clear that a lot of factors need to be taken into account, and that there’s a decision making process involved. Due to people’s internal body clocks and their habits, some have an easier time than others when it comes to getting enough sleep.

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