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Meghan Markle Had To Give Up Garlic To Be A Royal

Amy Hansen
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Meghan Markle Had To Give Up Garlic To Be A Royal

It’s hard to be a new royal. Just ask Meghan Markle, who’s still adjusting to her new life as Prince Harry’s wife.  Not only does she have to curtsy to her in-laws, decline autograph requests, and lean her legs together at public events instead of crossing them, today we learn she also can’t eat one of her favorite ingredients: garlic.

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At what point is a Duchess considered a hostage? Meghan, blink fast three times if you need us to come get you, girl!

It’s been reported that The Queen hates garlic and refuses to eat any meals with the pungent herb (some would say flavorful, but whatever). She also expects the royal family to shun garlic at royal events and state banquets, both at home or on the road, to avoid bad breath.

“We can never serve anything with garlic or too much onions. The Queen would never have garlic on the menu,” Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady told The Daily Express.

In 2012, Today published some “healthy food ideas” from Markle (before she became royalty and was referred to as “‘Suits’ star.” Oh, the simpler days). Here’s what she said about chicken adobo, one of her favorite dishes:

I am a big fan of Sunday suppers. Whether we’re eating lamb tagine, pot roast or a hearty soup, the idea of gathering for a hearty meal with friends and family on a Sunday makes me feel comforted. I enjoy making slow-cooked food on Sundays, like Filipino-style chicken adobo. It’s so easy—combine garlic, soy (or Bragg Liquid Aminos), vinegar, maybe some lemon and let the chicken swim in that sauce until it falls off the bone in a Crock Pot. I have a beautiful Le Creuset that could also do the trick, but the Sunday supper ‘Americana’ of it all calls for a Crock Pot. Set it and forget it and serve with brown rice and salad.

Markle and other royal family members must also avoid shellfish while traveling, as it’s believed to contain a high risk of food poisoning.

[h/t/ Elle]

CBD Is The New Darling Of The Wellness Market

Sara Somerset
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CBD Is The New Darling Of The Wellness Market

Just like the açai craze, CBD is now being added to anything and everything by companies that are desperately trying to cash in. So, how do you differentiate products that have genuine health benefits from the snake oil with irrelevant amounts of questionably-sourced CBD?

Let’s start with Omax Health.  They recently announced the launch of their first CBD fusion product called Phyto-Max Stress Remedy, which the company claims is designed to alleviate stress. Their product description uses a lot of consumer-friendly adjectives like “premium” and “pure,” but it does not say where the CBD comes from, or if it is even full spectrum.

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Their product also says Omax Health is at the forefront of the emerging CBD market. This. Is. Not. True. Any company that is debuting a CBD product in 2018 is late to the game. Marketing people get paid a truckload of money to come up with these stories, because they sell.

Their claim is about as valid as every food and beverage company suddenly slapping a “gluten-free” label on everything to gain sales. (Gluten-Free bottled water? Really?)

A quick perusal of their website reveals they are primarily a fish-oil company that appears as if they are attempting to expand.

While Omega oils are known to have positive qualities, hemp oil is rich in a number of them. There is no reason to add omegas to hemp oil (or vice versa), because hemp oil is a rich enough nutrient without them.

Green tea is also a dubious additive because it is more of a stimulant than a relaxant. This product is being marketed as a stress reliever and calming agent. (“I enjoy a relaxing cup of green tea right before bedtime,” said no one ever.) Green tea contains caffeine and is usually taken to help focus, not calm the mind.

There are a number of ingredients in tea that have positive effects, and L-Theanine is one of them. It can be found in almost all tea.

“The original research done by the founders of  Vipova Tea, which was acquired by Lexaria BioScience last year, included the realization that there could be synergies between tea and hemp oil. So the mix, in general, is a good one,” said Chris Bunka, CEO of parent company Lexaria.

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Therefore, while it is probably better than drinking tea without CBD, it makes more sense to drink a cup of calming tea, such as chamomile, after taking a couple squirts of a reputable brand of CBD, such as Charlotte’s Web. Swallowing a couple of capsules of CBD, such as Turbo CBD, with a cup of tea or water, is also a better idea.

The words “multi-spectrum,” or “full spectrum,” are the key words to look for in CBD product packaging. There are too many companies out there using CBD isolate, because it is simple to work with, and has virtually no flavor or aroma. However, if the consumer does not receive multi-spectrum oils, then the health benefits are significantly reduced.

“Until, and unless, companies can verify they use multi-spectrum oil, verify whether they are using any isolate, and verify the source of the CBD/hemp, most consumers are far better off drinking whatever tea they might normally drink, and supplement their CBD from a purer source,” said Bunka.

Omax sells their Stress Remedy with CBD for $99.99 for a pack of sixty.

For $100, depending on what supplemental effect is desired (calming, focus), a blend such as Turbo CBD, which contains 15mg of proprietary CBD, within 50mg of full spectrum hemp oil, plus 200mg of Ginseng and 80mg Ginkgo Biloba, is probably a better bang for the buck.

Don’t get caught up in the CBD craze without trying to find products that fit your individual needs.

Now You Can Make Dispensary-Grade Cannabis Products At Home

Sara Somerset
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Now You Can Make Dispensary-Grade Cannabis Products At Home

There’s a device that’s about to make your pot a lot more potent. Meet Attorney Shanel Lindsay. She’s the founder and president of Ardent, which makes the Nova Decarboxylater, (aka the “Nova Decarb”), which Lindsay invented.

The Nova Decarb allows anyone to make any dispensary-grade products they can think of, with very little starting material, in the comfort and privacy of their own personal space. Fast acting sublinguals, effective topicals, and even accurate edibles, are all possible, with a small supply of herb.

“Ardent means passionate and I think that embodies everything cannabis is about. I have an ardent love for cannabis and I want to share that with people. We are genuine, true and are changing the perception of this plant,”Lindsay said.

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What the science side boils down to is that all of the cannabinoids we look for THC, CBD, etc., are in acid form in the raw plant. They have an additional molecule attached to them, which needs to be removed, without destroying the underlying THC or CBD. It is difficult to fully activate it, without lose a portion of it. (Think of that friend who is happy to pack a bowl for you, but never lets you touch his bud, because he does not want the crystals or hairs getting stuck to your fingers.)

When the THC and CBD have that acid form, they bounce off the body’s cannabinoid receptors because they’re too big to fit. In order to connect with your cannabinoid system, they need to be decarboxylated.

“It is not vaporizing, it is just an activation step. You can vaporize afterward, with much more yield, and at a much lower temperature, because the decarboxylated cannabis will go up into the vapor stream more easily,” explained Lindsay.

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PTSD patients, for example, tend to decarb and then smoke, which makes their medicine more potent. You can stretch your plant material a lot, this way.

The most basic fundamental process of cannabis is largely unknown, because of prohibition. The information wasn’t available.

Nowadays, most everyone knows that in order to consume cannabis, you need to heat it up in some way. When you smoke it, about 80 percent of the THC is wasted; most of the THC is burned off during the process.

“If you have a lab grade, precision device that gives perfectly even heating, it hones in on the time and temperature that is necessary for preparation,” said Lindsay. Dual sensors and a high tech, thermal blanket allow for precise heating cycles.

“Our only competition is the oven,” says Lindsay, “But a toaster oven, crock pot, etc., can’t do what the Nova decarb does. The smell is also an issue,” she pointed out. “Do you want your neighbors to smell you cooking cannabis?”

The Nova is a very even, precise way of activating any form of cannabis, such as the flower, raz, or shatter.

The Nova’s simple, sleek, compact purple design, looks as innocuous as a thermos and is just as portable.

Other uses for the Nova include decarbing CBD to infuse topicals; however, using full spectrum CBD is an important factor. Just like food selection, knowing exactly what is going into your body, is important. If the CBD is distillate, it is not full spectrum.

Prohibition kept the science behind cannabis and its potential potency shrouded in mystery. Said Lindsay, “Now more of it is coming to light.”

This App Can Keep You From Being Eaten By A Shark

Maria Loreto
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This App Can Keep You From Being Eaten By A Shark

Ever since a certain shark movie came out in the ’70s, the fear of sharks has become a big presence in our culture. It’s understandable; sharks look evil, and there’s a lot of media that perpetuates that image.

There’s “Shark Week” and a whole genre of shark films that pop up every other year. It’s normal to hear the Jaws theme song in your brain when you’re swimming in the depths of some beach.

While we usually hear of shark attacks occuring in the U.S., this fear is much more palpable in Australia, where authorities and people have looked for ways to cope with the amount of shark attacks. While shark attacks are rare in Australia, they’re much more deadly than in other countries. Australia also has the highest diversity of sharks and rays, roughly possessing 180 of the 509 known species.

SharkMate is an app developed by Sam Aubin, a 15-year-old Australian who believes that he can help surfers and swimmers with his tech development. The app lets users know about the probabilities of spotting a shark on the beach on any given day.

According to Mashable, the app functions by analyzing 13 factors that determine the probabilities of sharks lurking around beaches. These factors include the presence of life guards, water temperature, historical shark data, rainfall and river mouth proximity. “We present a number out of 10 to our users, which indicates the risk level at a beach. We get this risk level from many different factors which have been proven to increase the likelihood of a shark attack,” said Aubin.

SharkMate currently works on over 150 different beaches in Australia. The app is planning on expanding it’s services throughout the rest of the country and hopefully the US.

July’s ‘Blood Moon’ Is Supposed To Signal The End Of The World

Maria Loreto
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July’s ‘Blood Moon’ Is Supposed To Signal The End Of The World

On July 27, the longest lunar eclipse of the 21st century will occur, lasting an hour and 43 minutes, and giving the sky a reddish tint. It’s also the day of the apocalypse, according to several doomsday preachers.

According to Mirror, this prediction began with Christian ministers John Hagee and Mark Blitz who said that the ongoing “tetrad” signals the end of the world. The “tetrad” is a moment in the Bible where there’s four consecutive lunar eclipses.

Other theorists such as Irvin Baxter quote the Book of Joel as the text that predicts the end of the world. “The sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes,” says a passage from it, apparently providing sufficient evidence for tons of people.

Baxter has been making these sort of predictions since the 80s and he’s not stopping any time soon. “The Bible teaches that end event is coming just ahead of us now and that will be the greatest prophetic fulfillment in the last 2,000 years.” Sure, Jan.

Space.com reports that blood moons are safe to observe for the naked eye, requiring no telescopes or special glasses. The sunlight going through the Earth’s atmosphere falls on the Moon’s surface and causes its impressive red tint. Sadly, due to the timing of the eclipse, it won’t be visible on North America. People will be able to see it from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the eastern side of South America.

Prince Harry Has Secret Social Media Accounts; Pete Can’t Afford To Keep Up With Ariana

Naughty Gossip
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Prince Harry Has Secret Social Media Accounts; Pete Can’t Afford To Keep Up With Ariana

Watch out what you are saying about Prince Harry on social media because he might just be following you.

“Harry has secret social media accounts under an alias name. He is very active and reads a lot of the comments about himself. His brother William sees almost nothing but Harry is very different. Harry is much more vulnerable and insecure. If he sees 100 comments that are all great and one that is negative, he will focus on the bad one,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER. “Harry has embraced modern technology and loves that he can be anonymous and hide is identity. He gets to feel like a normal person online.”

Pete Can’t Afford To Keep Up With Ariana

Pete Davidson is head-over-heels in love with his new fiancé Ariana Grande, but love is only going to get him so far – he will need a lot of money to keep up with the popstar’s extravagant life.

“Pete earns $6,500 per week on SNL and is worth about $500,000. Ariana is worth a $45 million. That is a huge difference. Pete paid $100,000 for that engagement ring, that is 20% of everything he has. At the moment, the two of them are surviving on love, but soon reality will bite and she will either have to live a much smaller life in his one-bedroom apartment on West 24th Street, or she will have to be become comfortable paying for him to live the luxury life she is used too,” sources tell STRAIGHT SHUTER.

Cannabis Shops Will Not Open On July 1 In Massachusetts

Mary Schumacher
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Cannabis Shops Will Not Open On July 1 In Massachusetts

The projected date of July 1, 2018 for Massachusetts to open cannabis retail stores for the recreational community is not happening. This puts a damper not only on potential imbibers, but also those who have been waiting to open up for business.

Independent testing laboratories to apply for licenses and for them to be approved by the Cannabis Control Commission is still mired in red tape. Any and all applications for such labs are being given priority, however, and though business licenses will be approved next week, no retail stores will be able allowed to open.

The Commission’s chairman Steven Hoffman says that he can and will not set forth any projections for a timeline as of yet. There are too many considerations and steps that have yet to be taken, not the least of which is getting city and town approvals for said facilities.

On Tuesday, Hoffman said, “I’m sorry that people have expectations that were not met, I am truly sorry about that. That being said, our objective is to satisfy the will of the voters of the state of Massachusetts to build a fair and safe and equitable industry. We are doing so. There is nothing in the law that says it has to be July 1.”

He raises a good point. It was the will of the voters that the law be voted in with the stipulation that all cannabis sold be tested at an approved and licensed independent testing laboratory. The lab will test the cannabis for THC and CBD percentages, but even more importantly, will also be testing for molds, mildew, pesticides and other chemicals to ensure the safety of the product.

It’s still a bitter pill to swallow for throngs of recreational cannabis enthusiasts, as the date has been set for some time, leading some to believe these potential problems should have been addressed months ago. Perhaps it was lack of a crystal ball, but as the french are wont to say, c’est la vie. In this case it is better to be safe than sorry.

The first license was approved last week, and the Commission says that they will be approving applications at their next meeting, though they’ve only committed to “a handful” until the next and then the next. Testing facility applications are prioritized and hopefully more of them will be approved and on the way to keeping the Massachusetts masses in mold-free marijuana sooner than later.

Cancer-Fighting Potential Hiding In Medical Marijuana Hype

Dr. Eyal Ballan
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Cancer-Fighting Potential Hiding In Medical Marijuana Hype

Recent estimates put the international cannabis market at $31.4 billion by the year 2021. Even more noteworthy, the medical marijuana market is expected to reach $55.8 billion in value by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent.

These numbers are catching the attention of startups, healthcare giants and investors alike. While many of the benefits of medical marijuana are already being put to good use, researchers are discovering new uses that have the potential to change medicine as we know it.

Today, medical marijuana is used in a variety of cases. In the midst of an ongoing opioid crisis, medical cannabis can offer a pain management alternative to those who are chronically suffering. Death rates from opioid overdoses in states with medical marijuana dispensaries decreased by about 25 percent upon legalization. The drug is also currently being prescribed by doctors and caretakers to help treat cancer-related symptoms or side effects of cancer treatment. Cannabis provides pain management and other benefits that are far less risky than other drugs on the market, and there are indications that it has the potential to offer even more.

Why Research Matters

There is broad consensus on the palliative benefits of medical marijuana, and recent studies have also uncovered potential antitumor effects of the drug. This comes at an important time, as cancer cases are projected to increase by 50 percent worldwide by the year 2030 compared to 2012 rates. There are risks and potential side effects associated with every type of drug therapy, but current options for cancer treatment are especially harsh. Chemotherapy and radiation can produce side effects ranging from fatigue, hair loss, nausea, infection and more.

We must conduct large-scale research studies on cannabinoids to provide the medical community with vital information to best serve their patients for palliative care and beyond. Over 100 types of cannabinoid compounds have been identified to date, yet the effects of each of these strains are not well-understood, and 9 out of 10 physicians still feel that they do not have enough information about medical marijuana to effectively prescribe the drug.

Cancer patients can seek relief from treatment effects with medical marijuana, but with cancer rates on the rise and major drawbacks to existing therapies, it’s worth investing more resources into better understanding the cancer fighting potential of cannabis.

Early Anti-Cancer Of Cannabinoids

Available data is still somewhat limited, but research shows that there is great promise around the antitumor effects of cannabinoids. As far back as 2009, a Spanish research group found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) induced the death of various brain cancer cell lines and primary cultured cells. The International Journal of Oncology published a study last year indicating that cannabinoids successfully kill cancer cells. We conducted an early preclinical study, and the data demonstrated that the two main active compounds in cannabis – THC and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) – were successful in attacking cancer cells. These studies show the power cannabinoids may have in inhibiting tumor growth.

Anti-Cancer Research Should Be Prioritized

Fortunately, along with impressive market projections over the next 10 years, medical marijuana research efforts and investments are expanding worldwide. As one of the first countries to support research and to legalize the manufacturing of medical marijuana, Israel stands out as a leader in the space and will soon open a 1 million square foot cannabis growth, research and development facility – one of the largest in the world. Pharmacies in the country have also recently started dispensing medical marijuana, which was previously only available at select medical centers.

Medicinal marijuana use in Canada has been legal since 2001, and the country is another leader in research and major pharmaceutical investments. The Canadian subsidiary of Novartis, the world’s fourth-largest pharmaceutical company, recently signed the first-ever strategic partnership with a cannabis company to develop and distribute medical marijuana products.

In the United States, medical marijuana is legal in more than half of all states, but the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug—a category for substances with high potential for abuse and no accepted medical purpose. This categorization has slowed research in the country, with only one marijuana farm currently approved for the cultivation and procurement of research-grade cannabis. Even so, there are early indications that the United States is catching on to the potential of medical marijuana, as the Federal Drug Administration is imminently expected to approve the country’s first marijuana-derived drug.

It’s encouraging to see patient access to medical marijuana expand as more funding is invested in research and development across the globe. Governments, researchers, pharmaceutical companies and startups participating in the rapidly growing market would be wise to focus funding and research efforts on cannabis as a potential treatment option for cancer patients. Cancer rates will not begin to decline until we’re able to deploy new therapies that are effective and have fewer painful side effects than what is currently available. The medical marijuana market is exploding, and at the same time we’re searching high and low for a cancer treatment that is both effective and minimizes patient suffering. Cannabinoids just might be the answer we’re looking for.

Dr. Eyal Ballan, PhD, is co-founder and chief technology officer of Cannabics Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ballan brings years of experience in anticancer drug research and development.

5 Habits That Can Help You Get Over A Break Up

Maria Loreto
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5 Habits That Can Help You Get Over A Break Up

Break-ups are stressful and painful and since they’re so personal and intimate, there’s no one set way of getting over them. Some people get over break-ups quickly, while others struggle for months. One day, no matter the situation, you’ll feel much better and your ex won’t cross your mind for weeks at a time.

Even though there’s no way to hurry up the break-up process, there are habits that you can adopt that’ll make you feel more productive and healthy. Bustle compiled a list of healthy habits you can pick up once you break up with someone. Here are five of our favorites:

Work Out

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It’s a huge cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason. While working out is annoying and sometimes you’d rather do anything else, it really does work. Exercising is a simple way of making you feel good about yourself and getting some much needed distraction. Just try thinking about your ex while doing burpees and squats.

According to Julie Williamson, a professional counselor, exercise releases endorphins and has positive effects on moods. You know all of this, so just trust the science. Break-ups are the perfect moment to turn your life around — at least, from a working out perspective.

Practice Self Care

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Taking a shower, using lotions, shaving, and just taking care of yourself is really important to do when you’re going through a break-up. It allows you to feel a little bit more positive about the whole experience. Amica Graber, a relationship expert from TruthFinder, says that self-care is sacred. “Take the time to wash your hair, light a candle, and give yourself a break. Go and splurge on a new bubble bath or shower gel. Drink a glass of wine and have a bubble bath.”

Get A New Hobby

A new hobby will light up new pathways in your brain, keeping you busy and, most importantly, not triggering any reminders of your ex.

Break-ups, aside from all of the awful feelings they produce, are also a jolt to your system. Before the split, you presumably had a person with whom you spent most of your free time with. Now, you have to fill that void with something else. “Take the energy you spent on your ex and put it back into yourself… Find a new hobby. Whatever you do it, make it fulfilling and make it about you,” says Graber.

Track Thoughts Of Your Ex

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It sounds creepy, but this really helps to control your thoughts. By tracking each time you think about your ex, you’ll have visual evidence of your improvement. As time goes on, you’ll see a dramatic drop in your entries, and you’ll feel great over the fact that you’re getting over your ex.

Hang Out With Loved Ones

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While it’s easy to push people away in favor of wallowing in self pity, it’s best to hang out with people and to remember why you love them and why they’re your friends in the first place. “Try to focus on being present with your loved ones and try not to spend the entire event rehashing the last six months of your late relationship,” says Graber. “It’s natural to discuss it and vent out your feelings, but talking in circles won’t help you heal. Practice gratitude for the love that’s still abundant in your life.”

Celebrate The Last Of Pride Month With Eaze

Mary Schumacher
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Celebrate The Last Of Pride Month With Eaze

Pride is celebrated during the month of June in so many ways that recognize the struggles as well as the many contributions of those in the LGBTQ community. It’s a celebration of community itself, and from the best parades to raising awareness, the rainbow flag flies high. Eaze is a company in the cannabis sphere that doesn’t let the month go by unrecognized, and neither do the brands under their umbrella.

Photos courtesy of Eaze

Eaze partners with dispensaries to get deliveries fast tracked. Their technological platform allows dispensaries and cannabis consumers to gain the secure access they need. Eaze is also a company that is constantly giving back and celebrating diversity.

This June they’ve been donating 5 percent of all proceeds to the cause of LGBTQ workplace diversity. Sheena Shiravi, Director of Consumer Communications at Eaze, told The Fresh Toast, “Both the cannabis community and the LGBTQ movement stemmed out of very, very passionate communities and groups. I think the sense of community and the sense of giving back are the fabric of the cannabis industry.

Photos courtesy of Eaze

“I think we see Pride as a celebration of how far we’ve come,” Shiravi continued, “but also as a recommitment to the road ahead. And as a company in this industry, we really want to do our part to support and to really help the other brands raise awareness for these issues and get them involved as well.”

Some of their brand offerings include PLUS gummies and Jetty Extract’s Reckless Rainbow products so you can celebrate in color! So if any of these goodies sound appealing, get to their sites and support those who are supporting good causes before June wraps up.

Jetty Extracts is donating a portion of their sales to Mr. Friendly, which raises awareness about HIV. PLUS is donating a portion of sales to the Trevor Project and Dosist is donating 100 percent of their proceeds to California Pride activities. At the same time, Eaze is working with its brand partners and is making a pledge with Out & Equal as part of its commitment to creating workplaces that are welcoming and supportive of LGBTQ+ persons.

Photos courtesy of Eaze

“One thing I’ll say about the cannabis industry,” said Shiravi, “is that we are very passionate and understand the sense of community and equality. I think if you look at the number of woman executives at Eaze, as a budding industry we’re having conversations about equality, in every sense of the word… It’s kind of the nature of it that makes it the perfect time to make way for the cannabis industry to be building out in the right way from the very beginning… I think the passion and the ethos of giving back are what built this industry and I think that it’s something we do to continue to keep the spirit alive.”

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