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Marijuana Retailers Struggling To Keep Budtenders

Terry Hacienda
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Marijuana Retailers Struggling To Keep Budtenders

For most cannabis consumers, your friendly neighborhood budtender is somebody you want to know on a first-name basis. He or she will clue you in on sweet deals, hot new products and other important shopping decisions. Need sleep? Pain relief? Help with stress? A good cannabis guide can be very useful in helping you find the right product just for you.

But according to a new study conducted by Seattle-based cannabis data and analytics company Headset, retailers are having a difficult time hanging onto workers. “Budtending is an amazing job. … But it’s not all sampling product and shooting the breeze,” the report found.

According to the study, “budtenders are the core of any retail business, being the most customer-focused employees. Though they might technically be the lowest people on the totem pole, smart cannabis business owners know that they’re really the foundation. Thus, keeping them around is key.”

RELATED: This Is How Much It Pays To Know Your Cannabis Science

Headset found that turnover in the industry is higher in cannabis than in most industries. The study looked at retail outlets in Colorado and Washington, the two most mature markets in the U.S. The report found the two states had very different turnover profiles. In Colorado, only 38 percent of budtenders stayed with the company for more than a year. In Washington, 47 percent stayed for 12 months.

The report also found:

The highest-performing budtenders have the highest retention rates. Obviously, it feels good to be good at what you do, but they’re probably also making a killing in tips! It’s easy to forget that budtending is a tipped industry, so there’s an element of revenue sharing going on for high performers.

Headset’s data-crunching revealed that 58 percent of budtenders overall did not last in the job two months; 40 percent quit or were let go in less than 30 days.

Is this turnover seasonal? Headset discovered that August was a big month for turnover in both Washington and Colorado. But Washington also had a spike in October and Colorado had an uptick in December.

So the next time you visit your favorite budtender, you may want to toss a buck or two in the tip jar. It could make a difference for the both of you.

Chinese Fishermen Catch A Fish Which Looks Like This

Maria Loreto
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Chinese Fishermen Catch A Fish Which Looks Like This

While out on a regular trip, Chinese fishermen catch a fish which blew their mind. The men, from the providence of Guizhou in southern China,  were surprised to discover a strange looking at the end of their hook looking like a mash-up between a fish and a bird. Or a fish with a dolphin’s head.

RELATED: These 2 Lynxes Screaming At Each Other Is Everyone On Social Media

The footage of the strange fish went viral, with many people questioning its origins. While it looks strange, it could totally be a type of fish that was never discovered before, right? Not really. According to China’s Guizhou Urban Newspaper, which was the first to break the news, the fish is a common freshwater carp that probably suffered a mutation.

Science Daily discussed the topic with some experts who claim that the look of the fish is probably due to a developmental problem early in its life. Sadly, fish-birds do not exist.

“Any talk of a fish-bird is way off the mark,” says Andrew Cossins, animal physiologist at the University of Liverpool, explaining that the fish’s strange face is likely due to defective cell growth. “A swelling caused by a deformity in the skeletal system of the head region likely forced the downward tilt of the mouth.”

RELATED: Spotify Releases Playlists For Each Of The ‘Queer Eye’ Guys

As for the cause of the deformity, experts agree that it’s really hard to pinpoint. It could be due to environment pollution, a series of genetic mutations, or a rapidly growing tumor. While no one can know why this fish looks the way it looks, Cossins believes that it lead a normal and healthy life due to the look of the rest of its body. If the strange growth had affected the fish’s central nervous system then he’d have trouble feeding or breathing.

The fishermen reported that, after recording and looking at this weird fish, they decided to return it to the water. So it’s a very lucky fish.

Gwyneth Paltrow Has Been Smoking Weed This Whole Time

Mary Schumacher
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Gwyneth Paltrow Has Been Smoking Weed This Whole Time

Gwyneth Paltrow hasn’t been shy about her cannabis use and has even talked about CBD and medical marijuana in her lifestyle magazine Goop. Her most recent “confession” came on the Howard Stern show, when Paltrow reminded listeners that it is now legal in California.

Though Paltrow will only admit to smoking “sometimes” and won’t give up her tools or times, at least the woman behind all this lifestyle guru business is letting ladies know that it’s fine to toke. Not that many needed reminding or permission, but still, celebrity endorsements are big in California and cannabis can still use as many champions as it can get.

While talking about her recent engagement to Brad Falchuk, who is best known for co-creating both “Glee” and “American Horror Story,” Paltrow opened up again about weed to Howard Stern. Of course, nothing is shocking to Stern, but he does like to stir the pot, so to speak.

Sadly, cannabis was left out of her recent engagement party, but that doesn’t mean the couple doesn’t puff together. You know what they say about creativity and cannabis: they go hand in hand. Plus, there’s the other saying, the couple who puffs together, stays together. Or something to that effect…

Anyway, back to Paltrow’s private life. It’s believable that Paltrow only smokes “sometimes,” but her coverage of CBD and the medical side of THC leads one to wonder just how much of a champion she’s willing to be. Will there be “Gwyneth Golds” out by next summer or CBD pens with her recognizable smile?

At the recent “In Goop Health Conference,” the future of cannabis was a prominent theme. “I love this subject,” Paltrow was quoted as saying. “It really has the potential to shift old patterns of thought and change lives, and I feel like we really could be on the precipice of something a lot bigger than we realize, scientifically.”

The 40 minute weed panel at “In Goop Health” covered different cannabinoids, how to ease into the pot world, it covered seizures in children and other very important medical benefits. Plus, attendees walked out with swag bags carrying products from the likes of MedMen, stuffed with their premium offerings like Kush Queen CBD Bath Bombs. Yeah, we’d say that Paltrow is definitely down…

Canada Marijuana Legalization Delayed Until October

Mike Adams
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Canada Marijuana Legalization Delayed Until October

Although Canada officially legalized recreational marijuana earlier this week, giving way to predictions that dispensaries would be selling marijuana by summer’s end, Prime Minister Justine Trudeau says he is delaying the implementation of legal sales until mid-October in order to give provinces sufficient time to get their regulatory affairs in order.

Just 24-hours after the Canadian Senate approved the final draft of the Cannabis Act (C-45), ending more than 90 years of cannabis prohibition in the Great What North, Trudeau told reporters that he was giving provinces more time to prepare for legalization by postponing the launch date until October 17. Putting on the brakes to some degree is intended to provide jurisdictions with a “smooth” transition when it comes to readying systems geared toward production and retail sales, according to the Globe and Mail.

The timeline for full legalization is a few months later than the government originally predicted. It was said most of last year that legal sales would pop off in the beginning of July 2018 – right around Canada Day. But Senate snags with C-45, along with the requests of provinces for more time to assemble their regulations have pushed everything back 17 weeks.

“This is something that we want to get right,” Trudeau said. “It is our expectation that—even though we recognize legalization of marijuana is a process, not a single-day event – by giving the provinces more time to ensure that they are fully ready for the day of coming into force of this legislation, it will be a smooth success in all the ways that we can hope for.”

While the law has been moved through legislative channels and is in the final phases of becoming an official entry on the books, marijuana possession is still a criminal offense in Canada. It is for this reason that Trudeau has no intention of initiating pardons for those convicted of pot-related crimes until the country’s new marijuana law is in full swing.

“There is no point looking at pardons while the old law is on the books,” he said. “Once the law comes into force, we will start looking at the issue of pardons and criminal records.”

Canada is the second country in the world—the first of the G-7—to fully legalize marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco. Uruguay was the first to embrace this concept. The law gives adults 18 and older the freedom to possess up to 30 gram of weed in public and grow up to four plants at home for personal use. Anyone who breaks these laws, especially those who sell to minors, can face stiff penalties. Selling marijuana to an underage kids can get a person locked up in prison for up to 14 years.

So far, the United States has yet to respond to Canada’s historic move to make marijuana a part of legitimate commerce. It remains to be seen whether this policy shift by our northern neighbors will inspire the U.S. government to embrace similar legislation.

5 Tips That’ll Help You Save Money On Groceries

Maria Loreto
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5 Tips That’ll Help You Save Money On Groceries

Food eats up a lot of your money. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s the third-largest expense after rent and transportation, which at first sounds crazy, but makes a lot of sense.

While eating out in restaurants is much more expensive than cooking for yourself, grocery shopping can be surprisingly pricey. Of course this all largely depends on where you shop and where you live, but there are a few effective ways of saving money and shopping smart. You just need to know what to do.

Lifehacker compiled a list of tips that’ll help you save up the next time you go to the supermarket.

Check these out:

Plan Ahead

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If you need to cut back on costs, planning your meals ahead of time will help you stick to a plan and avoid wastes. You can also plan your menu depending on the items that are on sale, allowing you to buy them in bulk and save a little bit of money.

Having a meal plan will also eliminate the odds of purchasing something that you won’t eat and that’ll end up expired in the back of your fridge. Supercook is also a big help, letting you know which meals you can cook with whatever you have on your fridge.

Loyalty Programs Work

If you’re a regular at a grocery store or pharmacy, make sure to sign up for their rewards program which will save you tons of money in the long run and offer you coupons and rewards. This will help you stock up on points and the store will also notify you when there are offers available.

Shop For What You Need

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Before you shop for groceries check your fridge and pantry and write down all that you have. This will help prevent you from buying the item again and only having what you really need. If you’re on a budget, sticking to your plan and avoiding temptation will make a big difference in your wallet.

Buy Cheap Basics

Stocking up on cheap basics that won’t expire such as rice, flour, canned foods, and others is a smart way of saving money in the long run and of always having food in your house, allowing you to get home late and cook something up instead of ordering delivery or spending money on a deli.

Compare Shops

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Be sure to compare grocery store prices by either using an app or writing down the prices on a notebook. Apps like Favado and Grocery Pal make things really easy, comparing grocery prices for you and helping you save some money. While making trips to different stores can sound like a lot of work, it could also help you save up a significant amount of money.

Pete Davidson Is Really Excited To Be Engaged To Ariana Grande

Brendan Bures
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Pete Davidson Is Really Excited To Be Engaged To Ariana Grande

You probably expect most men, and probably some women, to react with unabashed glee if they were engaged to Ariana Grande. But most men, and probably some women, are not Pete Davidson. Instead, the Saturday Night Live and stand-up comedian described his engagement with Grande as “so sick” and “fucking lit” on a Tonight Show appearance this week.

Davidson’s words confirmed reports that he and Grande were officially engaged after dating less than a month. Young love cannot be contained, as they say. When Jimmy Fallon welcomed Davidson onto the program, he said, “”Now, you know you didn’t have to get engaged to Ariana Grande to come on our show, right?”

Davidson replied: “But I did. I feel like I won a contest. It’s so sick . . . It’s fucking lit, Jimmy. It’s so lit.”

However Davidson did come through with his candid self-deprecation and flippant attitude. Following the announcement of his engagement, Davidson described his interactions with strangers to the 2014 farewell commercial with New York Yankee legend Derek Jeter, where New Yorkers tip their cap to him as he makes his way to the stadium.

The comedian says he doesn’t understand the fervor over his engagement, and why random people care so much. “It’s weird because, like, the president’s trying to pardon himself and he’s fucking a porn star,” Davidson said. “Shouldn’t we care about that?”

RELATED: Pete Davidson Discusses Marijuana And Borderline Personality Disorder

Davidson recently starred in the celebrated Netflix rom-com Send It Up, which also stars Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, and Lucy Liu. It’s doing quite well,” Davidson said. “I’m in it for like 10 seconds, but it’s a great movie and you should see it for the other great actors that are in it.”

Amazon Partners With Marriott To Bring Alexa To Their Hotel Rooms

Maria Loreto
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Amazon Partners With Marriott To Bring Alexa To Their Hotel Rooms

While Amazon’s Alexa has found a pretty successful spot in people’s homes, allowing them to ask about the weather or to add something onto their shopping list, one of the devices coolest features is how well it lends itself for hospitality.

Exploiting this potential, Amazon decided to partner up with Marriott Hotels to bring Alexa devices to their rooms, helping out guests with simple requests such as ordering room service and necessities without having to call anyone.

Alexa for Hospitality is Amazon’s plan to include their device in hotels, providing guests with a personalized experience and their own “virtual concierge.” The Alexa devices at Marriott hotels will be able to control all amenities within the room, play music, and provide guests with local recommendations of bars, restaurants, and other places.

According to Mashable, the idea of Alexa for hospitality has two motivations: It gives Echo customers more opportunities to see Alexa in other scenarios, and it reduced the friction that travelers experience while being in a new place.

During an interview with Business Wire, Daniel Rausch, Vice President of Amazon, said that customers have been very receptive of Alexa, and that the company wants to provide the Echo experience everywhere that fits. “Alexa for Hospitality makes your hotel stay a little more like being at home and gives hospitality providers new ways to create memorable stays for their guests,” he said.

Amazon has also covered their bases when it comes to privacy issues, claiming that the hotel won’t have access to any voice recordings or interactions with Alexa. These recordings will also be deleted on a daily basis, and the hotel won’t have any way of monitoring or tracking their guests.

These Amazon Echos will be just like the ones you have at home with two big differences: the devices will only be able to connect at the hotel’s wifi, and they won’t be capable of having a factory reset, so they’re pretty useless once they’re outside of the hotel.

While this initiative is nothing new and it doesn’t display any technology that we haven’t seen before, it does cement Amazon as the main company of voice enabled software, which is shaping to become the most promising technology of the future.

British Children With Seizures Are Changing Political Minds About Cannabis

Mary Schumacher
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British Children With Seizures Are Changing Political Minds About Cannabis

On June 11, 12-year-old Billy Caldwell was stripped of his cannabis-based medication at Heathrow Airport. Caldwell suffers from status epilepticus, a seizure disorder that sometimes lasts hours, often turning the boy blue. They are horrifically severe seizures and can be fatal.

After the medication was taken from the boy and his mother, the two waited for days while the government took its time. Thankfully, a few days after the event, Britain’s home secretary Sajid Javid stepped in and allowed Caldwell to have his medicine back.

The entire debacle has sparked a national debate, however, and it sounds like Britain is seriously considering the prospect of allowing for medical cannabis in the not so distant future.

William Hague, a former leader in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party, wrote in The Daily Telegraph that once the government had conceded and allowed the cannabis oil to be used, that “as far as marijuana, or cannabis, is concerned any war has been comprehensively and irreversibly lost.”

That was quite the concession on Hague’s part, as he used to be a “zero-tolerance” drug policy champion. Let’s talk about the real champion here, though. Basically referring to Javid as a hero without a cape on the talk radio station LBC, the mother of Caldwell couldn’t be happier to have her boy as healthy as possible in a circumstance that could have gone in the opposite direction very easily.

The New York Times reported that on Tuesday, Javid told lawmakers that the current way of dealing with cannabis, “is not satisfactory for the patients, it is not satisfactory for the doctors and it is not satisfactory for me.” And though he is clearly in favor of medicalization, he did make it clear that these were not steps toward broad legalization, despite what the public is buzzing about.

Javid also allowed for another little boy with severe seizure disorder, Alfie Dingley, to have a special licence to use the plant. Dingley is only 6-years-old and suffers through up to 150 seizures per month. PM May was supposed to have helped the family going on three months ago, but Javid stepped in again. The hero who will hopefully press for broad medical marijuana laws in Britain as soon as he’s able to break through the wall of prohibition.

Here’s Why Meghan Markle Has Only Worn Neutral Colors Since Her Wedding

Amy Hansen
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Here’s Why Meghan Markle Has Only Worn Neutral Colors Since Her Wedding

You may have noticed that Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, has been adopting a neutral wardrobe lately. Since walking down  the aisle in a Givenchy dress on May 19, Markle has been seen in creams and eggshell and a bunch of other bland tones. What gives?

According to one fashion commentator, the color is a ‘show of respect’ for the Queen. Yes, the Queen, known for her bright neon outfits.

The Daily Mail reports:

The Duchess of Sussex opted for a ‘regal’ monochrome number as she joined the Queen for their first official joint engagement in Cheshire on Thursday, proving herself an ‘exemplary royal’ according to Lucas Armitage.

The custom-designed number, which fell to just below the knee, featured a thin belted waist and was paired with a sensible black clutch and pumps – and sheer tights.

Armitage told MailOnline FEMAIL that “Meghan has opted for a neutral color once again. I feel this is a clever styling tactic as it will always work with the Queen’s look; she is known and applauded for her use of bright fun colors.”

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So there you have it. While the tones may be neutral in color, the clothes are still figure hugging, modern and chic, just like the Markle we’ve come to know and love.

Paris Cafes Now Sell Marijuana, But Don’t Expect You To Smoke It

Brendan Bures
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Paris Cafes Now Sell Marijuana, But Don’t Expect You To Smoke It

Queues have been lined up outside a brand-new Paris “coffee shop” since it opened June 5, but customers aren’t interested in receiving a caffeine boost. Instead, Cofyshop, a café situated in Paris’ trendy 11th arrondissement, sells its patrons low-grade cannabis. The catch: The shop owner doesn’t expect or advise people to smoke the product.

The store, among the first of its kind in France, comes after a softening of the country’s notoriously stringent drug laws. It’s now legally permissible to sell marijuana that contains less than 0.2 percent THC, the main psychoactive ingredient found in the plant. However, the strains Cofyshop sells are rich in cannabinoids, which contain many of the medicinal benefits found in cannabis.

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Joaquim Lousquy, the owner of Cofyshop, imports the cannabis from Switzerland, but don’t mistake him for a cannabis activist or crusader. He labels the product with “Do Not Smoke” warnings and simply “recognized a good deal” in selling the product, according to The Telegraph.

“There’s no psychotropic effect. It isn’t a medicine or a relaxant,” Lousquy told The Telegraph. “I wouldn’t advise anyone to smoke cannabis. We sell it like any other item, just like a furniture shop sells tables or chairs.”

That message has fallen upon deaf ears. Customers waiting outside Cofyshop and E-Klop, a similar store in a west Paris suburb, have much different intentions.

“I want to find out if the stuff they’re selling gets you stoned. In theory, it has less than 0.2 percent THC, but I’ve heard it contains more CBD [cannabidiol, a legal cannabinoid] and that should have an effect, at least to make you feel relaxed,” one 21-year-old customer told The Telegraph.

Another customer, a 30-year-old fashion worker, told The Local:

I’m a regular cannabis smoker and this is a chance to try what is legally available … I usually buy from a regular dealer illegally because France doesn’t give people a choice. In other countries it’s no problem to smoke weed but in France it’s a taboo.

An interesting note on Cofyshop owner Lousquy: This isn’t his first controversial entrepreneurial venture. Earlier this year he opened XDolls, France’s first sex doll brothel, after new laws made paying for sex illegal.

Not all are pleased with the new “coffee shops” in the Paris streets. One of the shop’s neighbors, a 72-year-old woman named Marlene, complained to Le Parisen, saying, “[It] smells of hashish in the street and it wafts up to our flat.”

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