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Seinfeld Writer Wants $1 McDonald’s To Pay For This

“It’s a million dollar idea.” If you’re a “Seinfeld” fan, you know that line is from The Muffin Tops episode; the one where Elaine gives her former boss Mr. Lippman the idea to open a muffin top shop because “I don’t like the stumps.” She sells him on the concept, convincing him that the tops are the best part because they’re “crunchy and explosive and where the muffin breaks free from the pan and does its own thing.”

Now, one of the writers of that episode is asking much more for the idea: $1 billion. Spike Feresten wants to be compensated for the line of muffin tops McDonald’s is about to launch. Of course, he’s kidding (we think).

RELATED: Here Are 7 Ways Jerry Seinfeld Refuses To Play Nice

McDonald’s announced last week that muffin tops would be arriving in locations across the U.S.. “We continue to look at ways to offer new breakfast menu items and experiences at the compelling value of McDonald’s. This includes our commitment to coffee, and continuing to give customers more tastes and choices from McCafé,” a representative for McDonald’s said in a statement.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkkOCbig7JH/?tagged=muffintop

In a video posted on TMZ , Feresten says, “What took so long? This episode was written 21 years ago.”

He says it’s critical that McDonald’s use the same slogan as the one in the “Seinfeld” episode.

“Top of the muffin TO YOU…exclamation point. That’s the most important part,” Feresten said.

RELATED: 13 Life Lessons ‘Seinfeld’ Taught Us

“Secondly, you’re going to have to pay me a billion dollars, but I’m going to use that money very wisely; I’m going to buy a bigger car collection than Jerry Seinfeld and make him feel bad. So, that money will be put to good use.”

He says if one and two aren’t possible, McDonald’s can just sponsor his podcast, Spike’s Car Radio.

Meet The First Recreational Marijuana Shop In Massachusetts

Cultivate Holdings in Leicester is a seed-to-table dispensary in central Massachusetts that’s recently made waves, having gained the opportunity to be the first MA dispensary to open for recreational business.

The dispensary opened for medical use in late 2017, and though there are still hurdles before recreational cannabis can be sold, they’ve already built themselves a reputation of having a friendly, knowledgeable staff and good selection of products such as flowers, extractions and edibles.

As far as Mission Statements go, theirs is sweet and to the point, reading, “At Cultivate, we strive to deliver the best quality of Cannabis, whether it is a product we produce or one that we outsource, we aim to make our communities better through passion, dedication and commitment.”

One way that Cultivate builds community is by giving discounts to those who need them most. Veterans receive a whopping 20 percent discount and seniors and those with financial hardships get ten percent off. It’s a helpful, compassionate practice and one in step with the history of cannabis dispensaries from their humble yet exuberant beginnings.

Cultivate is open seven days a week, with a shorter block of 11am to 3pm on Sundays and they do good business, but opening up to the recreational market, especially as the state’s first of its kind dispensary, will make their stake all the more precious. Cultivate Holding’s President Sam Barber seemed a little shocked that they could be first to be licensed for rec.

“We’ve been kind of lining up everything and felt good about it, but I was not expecting to get that call this morning,” admitted Barber. But get it he did, and now it is up to the Cannabis Control Commission and other types of facilities to get the recreational sales going.

Though Cultivate is able to grow cannabis in the same building as retail sales take place, they still need to be given a licencing go ahead from the Commission for recreational and the product will have to be tested at a licensed and approved facility, which as of yet doesn’t exist. Their existing cannabis products do get tested through DPH regulations, but it is yet to be seen if that will hold up to the Commission’s standards.

Kudos are in order to Cultivate for the chance at making Massachusetts history and for their seed to table method, already in place. This is definitely a dispensary to keep an eye on.

A Guide To Your First Marijuana Dab

Dabbing is not anything like smoking a joint. It requires a whole new set of tools.

I remember — vaguely — the first time I did marijuana dabs. Within 15 minutes I had passed out. It didn’t have to be this way.

What is dabbing? Is it safe? Why am I hearing more about it now? Before you even consider dabbing, do yourself a favor and read this first. Chances are, you’ll avoid fainting and you may enjoy it. But it’s not for everybody.

Educate Yourself

Dabbing is not anything like smoking a joint. It requires a whole new set of tools. The cannabis is in completely different form. The psychoactive effect is exponentially more intense. And the intoxication will last longer.

Essentially, a dab is a small dose of highly concentrated cannabis that is heated on a hot surface and then inhaled. Focus on the word “concentrate” — and fully grasp the meaning. Cannabis concentrates are exactly what they sound like: Take the herb and extract all the THC out of it as you can. The extreme amount of THC in the concentrate means you will need very little (just a dab) to achieve the psychoactive effect.

Related: What’s The Deal With Dabbing 

Dabs are concentrated doses — typically about the size of a Tic-Tac breath mint — of marijuana.  Dabs are manufactured by extracting THC, most commonly by using a solvent such as butane. The end product is a potent oil often referred to as wax, honey, shatter, budder, crumble or butane hash oil (BHO).

Typical marijuana bud contains roughly 15 to 25 percent THC; concentrates typically range between 65 to 85 percent THC, depending on the type and quality of the product.

Find A Dab Buddy

Dabbing alone is not advised the first few times you try it. Find a friend who is willing to experiment with you — or at least be your chaperone as you do it yourself. Ideally, you will know someone who not only has tried it, but can bring along his or her own dab kit — the set of tools one needs to dab correctly.

Related: 8 Ways to Enjoy Weed Without Smoking It 

Why a dab buddy? Just as a precaution in case you feel faint or paranoid. Other possible side effects include a rapid heartbeat and hallucinations. If you feel any of these symptoms, hydrate, lay down and close your eyes.

Remember, you can’t suffer a fatal overdose from cannabis — and that includes dabbing. But you can harm yourself if you should fall down. Your dad buddy is there for insurance just in case the situation becomes uncomfortable.

What You Need

The technology of dabbing is changing quickly, with more and more ancillary products promising more effectiveness, greater ease or lower cost. But, essentially, if you are going to dab on a regular basis, you will need to purchase some new tools:

  • The concentrate: Whether it is wax, honey, shatter, budder, crumble or BHO, this is the THC-rich product. It is highly recommended that you purchase the concentrate from a licensed, tested retailer. There is a lot of black market wax out there that is full of residual contaminants from processing. Trust me on this: The raw material needs to be high quality — and that does not mean high in THC, it means well made. Start small. A small dose looks no larger than a crumb. If you need more, go for a second dab. But it’s better to be cautious when it comes to dosage.
  • Dabber: The dabber looks like a small poker. Typically, the dabber is made of metal or glass or ceramic and is used to apply the concentrate to the nail. With the dabber, take the small amount of the concentrate and keep it on the tip of the dabber.
  • Dab rig: Dab rigs, also known as oil rigs, are basically glass water pipes (bongs) used for vaporizing extracts, oils, and concentrates. Like bongs found at head shops, there are sorts of sizes, shapes and colors. You will use the rig to inhale the fumes after lighting the nail.
  • Nail: The nail fits inside the gauge of your rig (or water pipe). Most experts swear by the nails made of high-quality titanium, but there are also ceramic nails and quartz nails. Glass nails are out there, but are a bit tricky.
  • A dome (or carb cap): There are some “domeless nails” on the market, that do not require a carb cap, but most standard nails need a dome to trap the vapor. Essentially, all the dome does is limit the amount of air flow inside the rig, allowing for the vapor to be inhaled rather than vanish in thin air.
  • A torch: Have you ever used a crème brulee torch? Well, if you have then you will be able to use a dab torch. A butane cigar lighter or something like that is simply not powerful enough for a dab. The torch is used to heat the nail to extreme temperatures. The goal is a red-hot nail in a short amount of time.
  • Butane: You’ll need butane to refill the torch.

Step-By-Step

  1. Sit Down: Dabbing is best sitting down. Get comfortable on a couch or chair. Have all the tools arranged in front of you.
  2. Heat Nail: Turn on the butane torch. Once you have properly adjusted the flame, heat the nail until it begins turning a medium shade or red.
  3. Dome It: Once the nail is red-hot, turn off the torch — the last thing you need is to accidentally start a fire. Turning off the torch is important. Now that the nail is ready, place the carb cap or dome over the nail.
  4. turn off your torch and place the glass dome over the nail. It’s recommended to let titanium nails cool for about 10 seconds and quartz nails about 45 seconds so the surface temperature isn’t too hot.
  5. Apply Dab: After the nail is domed or covered, count to 1o to let the nail cool just a little. Put the dabber in your dominant hand and touch the dabber on the hot nail. You will see white vapor (it looks like smoke, but it’s really vapor) collecting inside the dome. Slowly inhale. Rotate the tip of the dabber on the nail until the concentrate is gone.
  6. Exhale: Stay seated for a few minutes. Drink a glass of water. Enjoy the experience. And thank your dab buddy,

 

Meme Of The Week: Diego Maradona’s Crazy Celebrations

If you know even a tiny bit of soccer then you’ve probably heard of Diego Maradona. Almost solely responsible for Argentina’s legacy in the sport, Maradona is one of the most famous and accomplished athletes of all time. It’s logical that he’d be in the FIFA World Cup, supporting his team, which he also coached for a couple of years (with disastrous results). While his achievements in soccer cannot be disputed, Maradona is a controversial figure, known for his gigantic ego, drug problems and overall weirdness.

Argentina has had a pretty interesting World Cup thus far, barely managing to qualify to the knockoffs. Even though the team has drama going on with their coach and their star, Leo Messi, no one is capable of eclipsing Maradona, who milks every ounce of attention in order to make the headlines.

In the midst of a very stressful game, Messi managed to score his first goal of the cup and to pave the way for his teams to the knockoffs. Maradona was stressed, almost leaping out of the stands with his arms stretched out, with one of his security guards holding him by the waist. It was very reminiscent of Titanic, just much less charming.

Twitter couldn’t cope. Memes were born. Check out some of the best memes that Maradona’s bizarre behavior lead to:

Marijuana 101: Inside Cannabis Patents

In cannabis intellectual property (IP) law, as in most areas of cannabis law, separating the flowers from the weeds is difficult. There is a lot of misinformation available on the internet and elsewhere about whether pot is protectable under patent or similar laws, and what patentability means for the industry.

This post gives an overview of IP protection potentially available for cannabis strains and related plants. Under U.S. federal law, new plant varieties can be protected under the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), as a plant patent under the Plant Patent Act (PPA), or as a utility patent under the Patent Act. Plant varieties could also be trade secrets or subject to contractual (licensing) protection.

PVPA: The Plant Variety Protection Act protects sexually reproduced (by seed) or tuber-propagated plant varieties, except for fungi or bacteria. The statute, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture, usually provides 20 years of almost-exclusive rights after the date on which the plant variety is certified. A variety for which PVPA certification is sought must be new, which is similar to the novelty requirement under the Patent Act. The variety must also be distinct, uniform, and stable, accordingly to USDA regulations. A certificate holder may pursue civil infringement remedies in court.

PPA: The Plant Patent Act protects asexually reproduced (e.g., by cuttings, grafting and budding) plant varieties, which are not tubers. For PPA protection, the Patent and Trademark Office requires that a variety be new, nonobvious, and have some de minimus utility, among other things. These requirements are common to all U.S. patents, and are the subject of extensive statutory and case law interpretation. In addition, a patented plant must differ from known plants by at least one distinguishing characteristic which is more than that caused by different growing conditions or fertility. A plant patent is limited to one genome of the plant, so that mutations or hybrids would not be covered in the patent, but would be separately patentable. Plant patents expire 20 years after the filing date of the application for the patent. A patentee may pursue civil infringement remedies in court.

Patent Act: Utility patents under non-Plant Patent Act law can be granted for plants, seeds, plant varieties, plant parts (e.g., fruit and flowers), and processes of producing plants, plant genes, and hybrids. As with other patents, a variety sought to be patented must be new, nonobvious, and have some utility, among other things. Civil infringement remedies are available in court.

Trade secrets/licensing: Though trade secret protection might be available to plant varieties, the ability of a skilled person to independently reproduce the variety in question could eliminate any protectable secret. Some breeders have sought to protect plant varieties by licensing contracts that purport to limit the use or distribution of the variety. Often known as “bag-tag” or “seed-bag” licenses, these are generally covered by state law.

The PVPA, the PPA, and the Patent Act all provide exclusive rights for 20 years, which can be enforced in court. The PVPA and the PPA differ primarily depending on whether the plant is sexually (PVPA) or asexually (PPA) reproduced. Utility patents may have more stringent requirements for applications than plant patents, but generally offer broader protections than plant patents. In particular, whereas a plant patent has only a single claim that defines the scope of the patent, a utility patent can have multiple claims, each addressing different parts of the plant or ways of using the plant that are disclosed in the specification of the patent. Also, utility patents are available for both sexually and asexually reproducing plants.

IP protection for cannabis plants used to be theoretical, but this changed recently. In the last two years, the PTO has issued plant patents, e.g., U.S. PP27475 P2 (Cannabis Plant Named ‘Ecuadorian Sativa’), and utility patents, e.g., U.S. 9,095,554 (Breeding, Production, Processing, and Use of Specialty Cannabis). In the next installment of the Cannabis Patent Primer, I will discuss what cannabis patents mean to the cannabis industry and try to dispel some of the patent myths common to the industry.

John Mansfield is an attorney at Harris Bricken, a law firm with lawyers in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Beijing. This story was originally published on the Canna Law Blog.

Marijuana Is So Mainstream There Are Now Clearance Sales

Weed is dirty cheap right now in California, but only for a limited time. Call it clearance cannabis, bargain bud, discount doobage or reduced reefer, dispensaries in the Golden State are blowing out their inventory over the weekend in order to prepare for a brand, spanking new set of rules and regulations set to take effect July 1.

It has been six months since California launched its recreational marijuana market, and now the state is phasing in updated safety regulations that will render most of the cannabis supplies on the shelves right now obsolete. All of the untested weed must go to make room for products that fall in line with the new testing and packaging guidelines. These changes are coming Sunday, July 1. After then, all of the pot products sold in area dispensaries will be required to adhere to stricter checks on pesticides and mold.

It has been reported that dispensaries are seemingly desperate to move their old cannabis supplies before the new regulations take hold. Pot shops are said to be discounting their pot products by 50 percent. This is because any untested marijuana that remains come Sunday will have to be destroyed, as per the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. So it is conceivable that discounts will increase significantly on Saturday evening. One medical marijuana operation called A Therapeutic Alternative even plans to give away its remaining inventory, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Due to California’s strict laws regarding cannabis advertising, none of the dispensaries have been able to promote their clearance sales through the mainstream media. They have been restricted to mostly word of mouth and online, passing the deals on to their regular customers and those lucky newcomers who stumble in.

But is it safe to consume this untested marijuana? More than likely, yes. People have been smoking untested weed in California for decades. Although some medical marijuana dispensaries had their products tested before, most of them took this step to show potency and ensure their patients that their weed was chemical free. There have been a number of reports surface from California over the past several months regarding pesticides and mold. All of the tainted products were pulled from the shelves and destroyed.

But the new rules aim to raise the safety standards for the recreational sector. Some of those connected to the cannabis industry are not happy about the changes, while others say they are “very necessary for consumer protections, environmental protection and public safety protections.”

However, there are concerns that the new regulations will bring about a shortage of clean weed.

People Are Screaming What During What????

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This trend of people calling their boyfriends “daddy” while they have sex has amassed a certain following. Even though it’s taboo and something that’s not discussed openly, it’s still pretty popular. While it sounds deeply sketchy and problematic, it’s really not that bad. At least that’s what one psycho-sexual therapist says.

Jacqueline Hellyer spoke with Whimm and explained that this nickname is not that freaky, expressing that it’s just another form of role-play and that it doesn’t mean that these people want to have sex with their fathers. “Role plays — and in particular, power exchange role plays — are a very safe way for people with strong personalities to let go.

Related: 5 Things That’ll Help You Schedule Sex Without Killing Romance

You often find that women who like to be submissive in relationships — like the kind of women who’d call their partner “daddy” in bed — are actually pretty high-powered in their day-to-day lives. Engaging in this role play is their way of letting go and giving in to vulnerability.”

Sex is a way to relieve stress and for some people it really works to engage in fantasies even though these may never be explored outside of their bedroom.

Related: You Can Tell If Someone’s A Cheater By Their Voice

Hellyer explains that calling your partner daddy is a symbolic thing. It means that you trust your partner and that they make you feel secure and protected. “The father figure is a very safe person, so it’s an ideal way to express your sexuality and experience pleasure.” She concludes that relationships that engage in roleplay and that safely explore sexual fantasies are often the healthiest ones.

CNN: We Are At The ‘Tipping Point’ Of Marijuana Legalization

It was not that long ago when the subject of cannabis, or the legalization thereof, was considered taboo inside the national newsrooms covering the happenings of the day.

If the word “marijuana” did happen to come spilling from the mouth of a nightly anchor, it was to report on the degeneracy of a doped–up underworld and its criminal deeds. But times have changed. Now, not a day goes by when the pot topic doesn’t make it into a news cycle. What’s more, the coverage on this plant, which was once considered off-limits in the realm of journalism, is mostly favorable. Most recently, CNN published an analysis on the state of marijuana legalization in the United States, calling this moment in time the “tipping point” in the grand scheme of nationwide pot reform.

In the piece, Analyst Z. Byron Wolf calls to attention the fact that voters in Oklahoma – one of the reddest states in the union – just approved an initiative this week to legalize medical marijuana. “That will make 30 states with some kind of legalized marijuana,” he wrote, adding that “the entire West Coast of the United States has legalized the drug,” and “the entire northern US border abuts a country (Canada) that has legalized marijuana for recreational use.” Wolf points out that two more states will vote on the issue in November. Michigan has a chance of going fully legal, while Utah is gunning for medicinal use.

But the primary reason CNN seems to believe the nation is close to ending federal marijuana prohibition is “Candidates and Democrats, in particular, are taking note and trying to use the issue to their advantage.” Wolf talks about how Senators Chuck Schumer of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey have introduced their respective proposals in Congress aimed at legalizing the leaf at the national level. Yet, he fails to mention that Booker’s bill, despite picking up a handful of co-sponsors like Senators Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, has been lingering in the Senate without any action for more than a year. Schumer’s bill was just introduced this week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn’t had enough time yet to disregard it. But trust me, he will.

Earlier this year, McConnell, who is pushing to legalize industrial hemp at the national level, told reporters that he has no intention of getting behind a bill aimed at legalizing marijuana. “It is a different plant. It has an illicit cousin which I choose not to embrace,” he said. Considering that McConnell is the one who largely decides which issues the Senate debates, marijuana legalization still seems like a long shot. As I wrote in a recent piece for Forbes, “it may still be too early to get excited about the possibility of marijuana legalization going nationwide. There is still plenty of opposition in Congress that can and likely will prevent this much-needed reform from happening anytime soon.”

Perhaps the most humorous aspect of the CNN piece is where Wolf concludes his “analysis” by saying “boy does it feel like things are moving fast.” But the truth of the matter is things are not moving fast at all. The United States has more than 80 years of marijuana prohibition under its belt. And the past four decades have been filled with hammer-fisted law enforcement shenanigans. It has only been within the past few years that weed has started to find some mainstream acceptance. But there are still plenty of Americans going to jail every year for marijuana possession. Some of the latest data shows those numbers in the hundreds of thousands. And regardless of whether the marijuana legalization issue is beginning to find a place on the political platforms of Democrats and Republicans, it still has very little support on Capitol Hill.

So while it might feel “like the tipping point on marijuana legalization,” it going to take a whole hell of a lot more to make it happen.

The Only Cocktail You Need This Summer: The Backslide, Anvil Bar & Refuge

Bobby Huegel, owner of Anvil Bar & Refuge, has been hailed the Cocktail King of Houston. But the James Beard Award nominee loves nothing more than to give credit where credit is due. And today, he shares Anvil’s signature summer drink concocted by his bartender Westin Galleymore, who was in the midst of a rekindling the flames of an old love when he created it. Love and alcohol, together again!

It’s called the Backslide. “At its core, it’s a summer twist on a classic gin martini,” says Huegel, who emphasizes the importance of a chilly drink during a Houston heatwave.

“Westin created the Backslide as a refreshing stirred cocktail that will stay cold for a while, thanks to a cube of ice left in the drink. When Westin was working on this cocktail, he started dating his ex-girlfriend again, and the bar staff joked that he was backsliding. He named the cocktail Backslide because this is the drink you want to get back together with.”

This drink is one of seven seasonal summer cocktails currently on the Anvil menu.

Backslide
(by barman Westin Galleymore)

  • 1.5 oz Citadelle Gin
  • .75 oz Carpano Bianco
  • 3 barspoons Emile Pernot Fraise des Bois

Stir. Serve. Garnish with lemon zest.

How A Cincinnati Doctor Helped In The FDA Approval Of Epidiolex

A hardcore researcher from Cincinnati is credited with getting Epidiolex approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Michael Privitera, who specializes in brain seizures, ran a clinical study of the drug that was so successful, the USDA approved it. It’s the first time a marijuana-based medicine has been ever been granted FDA approval.

Privitera calls it “historic,” telling Cincinnati.com:

We did the right kind of science. We took the anecdotal evidence, extracted the substance in marijuana that helps, tested it, and we followed the testing guidelines used for every other drug. This study really proves it, and we can make sure it’s safe.

Privitera, who founded and directs the Epilepsy Center at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, decided to study Charlotte’s Web oil — a high-CBD strain effective for seizures — after reading about, deciding it couldn’t hurt if it meant potentially helping patients.

At the same time, one of Privitera’s friends, Dr. Orrin Devinsky, of New York University Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, was launching an experiment of his on own to see the effects of a pure-CBD oil manufactured by GW Pharmaceuticals. According to Cincinnati.com:

One group of study subjects would get a low dose of Epidiolex. One group got a high dose. A third got a placebo. Neither doctors nor patients would know who was getting what. The hope was to put the brake on Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, which triggers terrifying “drop seizures” that mash the halt button in the brain. The body locks up, and gravity takes over, often resulting in disabling head injuries.

Privitera got UC included on the study that GW Pharmaceuticals was paying for, knowing that both the FDA and U.S. DEA would be watching. He told Cincinnati.com, “I didn’t realize what I was signing up for. I’ve been doing this work for 30 years, and this was far and away the most complicated and difficult study we’ve ever had to do.”

According to Cincinnati.com, every “i” had to be dotted and “t” crossed for this experiment to pass the feds:

To participate in the study, Privitera first needed a Schedule I license, which required a nine-month review including fingerprinting.

The drug could only be dispensed from the address on Privitera’s Schedule I license, the Medical Arts Building.

The DEA would only examine records there, too, so at every audit, nurse coordinator Donna Schwieterman rolled a full file cart from Privitera’s office in the Stetson Building to the Medical Arts Building across busy Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Privitera had to account for every drop of Epidiolex. Every bottle that left the building had to be returned, empty or not. Privitera had to hire a disposal company to collect and destroy the bottles and any leftover oil.

The results of Privitera’s study were published  this past May in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results? According to Cincinnati.com, “the average reduction in drop seizures was 37 percent at a 10mg dose and 41 percent at a 20mg dose. Even the placebo patients had a 17 percent reduction. In some patients, Privitera said, the decrease was as high as 90 percent.”

The most serious side effects were sleepiness, reduced appetite and diarrhea.

A month before the study was published, an FDA review committee unanimously voted to recommend approval of the drug. And earlier this week (June 25), the final approval was handed down, which means Epidiolex could be in pharmacies by the end of 2018.

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