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North Carolina Program Allows Farmers To Grow Hemp

Mary Schumacher
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North Carolina Program Allows Farmers To Grow Hemp

Hemp is known for a bevy of usages that range from clothing and paper to plastics, hempcrete and, crucially, CBD hemp oil. CBD oil’s marketplace has surged in recent years, with CBD seeming to be not only useful for a slew of conditions, including severe seizure disorder. In addition, it’s able to be infused into countless products that have their own astronomical range.

North Carolina is one of the states that has approved growing industrialized hemp, with provisions, and it could eventually be a true cash crop for the state, which is losing money on flailing tobacco sales and the low prices of soybeans. Unfortunately, in 1970, hemp was added to the controlled substances list along with the already banned cannabis, making both farmers and legislators nervous in these current times.

The designation may seem extreme for a plant with so many uses and with no harm associated with it whatsoever. To be considered hemp, the psychoactive component THC has to be 0.3 percent or lower, compared to cannabis’ normal 5-30+ percent content. In other words, there’s no way it can even get one high. This fact alone makes its delegation to the harmful substances list ludicrous.

While members of congress fight to free both hemp and cannabis from the bondage of prohibition, North Carolina is moving forward via the state’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. Growing hemp is being conducted by a North Carolina State University experiment that could not only change minds, but bring back a sustainable economy for farmers across the state.

Thus far, more than 325 farmers have gotten licenses to grow hemp; 80 additional licenses have been awarded to hemp processors to turn the hemp flowers into CBD oil. Growing hemp for its flowers is difficult because of the THC percentage limitations, but is also similar to growing a type of local tobacco that’s a little challenging to grow itself, but it can certainly be done and done well.

Despite the current challenges to growing hemp, it is one of the best crops that can be planted to bolster a healthy environment on top of a healthy economy. The root systems run deep into the soil and nourish it, meaning that farmers do not have to rotate crops or even use much in the way of pesticides and chemicals, as the plant is graced with its own defense systems.

With demand for hemp and CBD at an all time high, the right to grow industrial hemp could be a major game changer, not only for North Carolina, but for all states.

4 Chefs And A Bunch Of Cannabis In A Bel Air Mansion

Danielle Guercio
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4 Chefs And A Bunch Of Cannabis In A Bel Air Mansion

Out in the West Coast, Arcane Revelry has been doing what everyone wants to do with weed and food: gather the best and the brightest and imbibe in a social setting. This being the first consumption party I’d ever attended, I was expecting vibe that would make me miss the lack of cool options out East even more, and that was definitely the result.

On Saturday June 23rd, Celebrity chefs Sam Udell , Ry Prichard, Dean Glenford Barker, Sam Mendoza, and Chris Oh gathered to transform a hilltop home in Los Angeles into a weed loving paradise. Partygoers were treated to Ganja Gold dabs, huge kief infused bats, and dish after dish of THC and cbd foods. If you’re into consumption and want to explore consumption with likeminded people, this could be the next big thing, so keep an eye out for future events in other legal cities.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkan2emlOtx/?taken-by=witchoftwobridges

We asked Arcane Revelry founder Crystal Bauer Feldman to share her inspiration, motivation, and goals for the future of her events and cannabis culture.

Arcane Revelry has thrown events to benefit the ACLU, famous chefs and huge brands, and each time there are unique flavors and collaborations on the table. Feldman declared the ACLU benefit her funnest yet, with violins, live art, and cannabis from Oregon. Her events and partnerships seek to normalize and professionalize cannabis consumption, bringing people together from food, alcohol, and cannabis culture.

Photos by Danielle Guercio

About the future, Feldman notes a desire to spread across America, “I have an aggressive plan to spearhead normalization, and ease the tensions of a worried nation with proper education, responsible experiences, and comforting food prepared by their favorite chefs.”

Continuing about the desires to marry the two worlds, Feldman dishes on her dream co-hosts: “I would love to collaborate with my favorite artists and Chefs. My favorite Chef’s are Pasquale Baudair who wild foraged foods that he crafts with gastronomy techniques, and Rene Redzepi from NOMA, who has one Best Restaurant in the World, many times over. I am pretty sure he is in to cannabis, so maybe one day!”

Using visibility and education, Arcane Revelry is bringing cannabis events to your neighborhood eventually. By using a charity aspect to keep social change at heart, this is an excellent way to spend your consumption budget.

Photos: Danielle Guercio

Independence Day: 5 Red, White & Blue Marijuana Edibles

Amy Hansen
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Independence Day: 5 Red, White & Blue Marijuana Edibles

If fireworks are the only thing you’re looking forward to this Fourth of July, you’re doing patriotism wrong. “These fireworks would look so much better totally sober,” said no one ever. A little THC and/or CBD gives a whole new meaning to lighting up the sky.

Here are 5 red, white and blue edibles to ensure your FOJ goes off like like an entire pack of bottle rockets ignited simultaneously.

BlueKudu, Cookies & Cream

White chocolate and crunchy cookie bits? Try not to eat the whole bag. Each piece of candy is just 5mg, but the whole enchilada contains 20 doses and 100mg of THC.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgANpAsnTmx

GaGa Edibles, Pomelo Fruit Chew

One of three bright red flavors (licorice and mixed berry are the other two), each chew contains 10mg THC and is available in single and 10 packs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXf_1VwnSwt/

Infused Edibles, Blue Razz Belts

A total throwback to the 80s, these gummy “belts” are available in 150mg CBD, 300mg CBD, 500mg CBD and 1000mg CBD bags. Also available in THC.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFuEC1yhA_H/?tagged=bluerazzbelts

WeBe, Wizzie Stix

The adult version of those addicting, straight sugar Pixy Stix that your parents dreaded letting you eat. Available in red and blue powder, along with several others, each straw contains 50mg THC and 25mg CBD.

Tarukino Inc., Happy Apple Cider

Here’s a a two-fer. Apples are red, but the juice is white(ish). That counts, right? Made with Washington apples, this 12-ounce bottle of carbonated pressed juice is finished with 10mg of cannabis. It’s a great swap for Prosecco or sparkling cider.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkWKIcVg8Sm/?taken-by=happyapplewa

Money Actually Can Buy Happiness And Here’s How Much It Costs

Amy Hansen
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Money Actually Can Buy Happiness And Here’s How Much It Costs

It’s debatable whether or not money can buy happiness. Or at least it used to be. A recent study just proved that it is, indeed, possible. And they even came up with an exact amount of what it would cost. And it’s not that much.

https://giphy.com/gifs/BillionBackRecords-get-your-billion-back-records-hr-block-5fBH6z8aMV1RbA4FaSc

Using a collection of survey responses from over 1.7 million people spanning 164 countries, researchers from Purdue University focused on the amount of income necessary to achieve both emotional well-being and overall life satisfaction.

Globally, we find that satiation occurs at $95,000 for life evaluation and $60,000 to $75,000 for emotional well-being.

According to the research, the numbers shift based on country, since the dollar mount of living comfortably is not the same globally.

The study also revealed that in certain parts of the world, “incomes beyond satiation” are associated with lower life evaluations. That most likely happens when too much money creates stressors surrounding the need for material wealth, social comparisons and overspending.

“At this point they are asking themselves, ‘Overall, how am I doing?’ and ‘How do I compare to other people?’” said Andrew T. Jebb, the study’s lead author. “The small decline puts one’s level of well-being closer to individuals who make slightly lower incomes, perhaps due to the costs that come with the highest incomes. These findings speak to a broader issue of money and happiness across cultures. Money is only a part of what really makes us happy, and we’re learning more about the limits of money.”

W!NK Is Set To Become The Avon Of Cannabis Beauty

Mary Schumacher
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W!NK Is Set To Become The Avon Of Cannabis Beauty

As various sectors of the cannabis industry receive casual valuations of millions and billions over the next several years, people are scrambling to hit just the right entrepreneurial note. W!NK is a by and for women venture since its conception. Now they want to pass that torch to women who are hoping to profit from and spread CBD’s healing properties.

The W!NK women first launched a female designed and inspired microdose vape company. While the first steps were being taken, the brand was already dipping their toes into the cannabis infused market and started crafting all sorts of CBD and THC integrated products.

The company is currently in the process of launching their latest venture, SheW!NKS. Think of it operating like Avon or Mary Kay would, except for one important factor—all of the beauty products, creams and serums are infused with imported European hemp plants. This allows the company to guarantee its products will include 0.3 percent or less of THC while also creating high-quality CBD oils.

“W!NK is all about empowerment,” explained Stacy Verbiest, Founder and CEO of W!NK, in a press release. “I started this business in answer to a friend’s struggle with the effects of her cancer treatments and medications. Like so many others, she wanted a way to manage pain that wasn’t overbearing and was discreet. As women, we carry many loads, from work to home-life, sickness and social outlets. We deserve to execute as many (or as few) of these roles as we want, however we want.”

Women who decide to take on the endeavor are encouraged to sell at their own pace, full-time or once a month or whatever works for their schedules. They are provided training, wholesale prices and ongoing education on the medical benefits of CBD. As with any entrepreneurial undertaking, much of one’s rate of success rests on attitude and gumption along with genuine product knowledge.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming intelligent, independent and entrepreneurial team members to W!NK,” stated Verbiest. “The CBD market is expected to gross more than $3 billion within the next three years, and I believe we can all help each other prosper within this rapidly expanding industry.”

These female empowerment-bent businesswomen may be onto something big here. CBD is being used from vape pens to gummies to beauty products and everything in between. The demand is high and this could be a great opportunity for women with high-minded social circles and the wont for entrepreneurship.

Angela Ponce Becomes First Trans Woman Crowned Miss Universe Spain; Madonna Ordered To Stop “Harassing” Neighbors

Naughty Gossip
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Angela Ponce Becomes First Trans Woman Crowned Miss Universe Spain; Madonna Ordered To Stop “Harassing” Neighbors

As Pride Month comes to a close, history was made in Spain Friday night as Angela Ponce won the Miss Universe Spain pageant to be her country’s representative at this year’s Miss Universe competition.

She is the first transgender woman to win the crown in her country

The 25-year-old has previously competed in the 2015 Miss World Spain competition representing Cadiz but failed to take home the crown that year.

At the time, she told the Daily Mail she felt like a winner anyway saying, “I have the regional crown on my head and I will keep fighting to make us seen, to make us heard and to demonstrate that I am already a queen with my own crown.”

“Society is not educated for diversity and that is what has made me go public,” she added. “Here I am and I’m not weird, I just have a different story.”

The Miss Universe competition has allowed transgender contestants to compete since 2012.

Madonna ordered to stop harassing neighbors

The New York Daily News reports:

A Manhattan judge has told Madonna to take a bow from her suing her co-op board. The pop star can no longer seek documents from her Central Park West co-op board explaining why they changed the rules to bar her kids from using her posh $7.3 million pad, a state supreme court judge ruled Friday.

Madonna, 59, sued Harperley Hall at 1 W. 64th St. in April 2016 because they changed her lease two years prior, to stop her children from living there unless she was “in residence.”

“Plaintiff does not need those materials anymore to prove a case that, by law, she is no longer allowed to prove,” Lebovits wrote. “To seek the records at this phase is merely harassing fellow residents.”

How Vermont Made History Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Mike Adams
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How Vermont Made History Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Vermont has officially become the ninth state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. The new law took effect over the weekend and gives residents certain rights with respect to the cannabis plant. However, it doesn’t as far as enlisting a taxed and regulated scheme like other legal states. This means there are no retail dispensaries like in Colorado and California, according to a recent report from the Burlington Free Press.

The way Vermont went about legalizing the leaf is important in the grand scheme of cannabis reform. Instead of cannabis advocates pushing an expensive initiative through the ballot measure process, the state legislature took on the issue at the Capitol. Vermont is the first state to legalize in this fashion. Other states have tried and failed to legalize in this manner due to the inability of lawmakers to reach consensus on what exactly legalization should look like. But there is hope that now that one state legislature has found a way that others will follow suit.

Still, the Vermont Legislature did not create a perfect system. The state’s recreational law gives adults 21 and older the freedom to possess up to 1 ounce of weed and grow as many as two mature (four immature) cannabis plants at home for personal use.

There are no provisions built in to allow weed to be sold to adults in a manner similar to beer. Therefore, the only way for residents to get their hands on marijuana is to either grow their own or continue to lean on black market sources. In other words, the new law does nothing to chisel away at the business of illegal street dealing. Any person caught selling marijuana is subject to arrest and prosecution.

All in all, not much is expected to change throughout the state. The only difference is a lot less people will be going to jail for simple possession. There might even be more residents compelled to start growing their own cannabis crops. It remains illegal to smoke weed in cars, on Lake Champlain, beaches, parks or anywhere else in public view. The law basically gives adults permission to conduct cannabis activities behind closed doors.

“I’m not sure that we’re going to see a sea change here,” Governor Phil Scott said ahead of the state’s official launch date for recreational marijuana. “I think a lot of what I was reacting to was what’s happening today so I’m not sure that we’re going to see anything different come Monday than we were seeing yesterday. Well, except for maybe Sunday.”

The new law is a start. Cannabis advocates will soon begin pressuring lawmakers to introduce legislation aimed at establishing a full-blown cannabis market. There is hope that lawmakers will see just how much tax revenue the state stands to lose under the current setup and move to deliver more legitimacy to the system by opening it up to commercial growers and sellers. After all, this is the only way to put a dent in black market activity.

Science Shows How Dogs Understand Language

Sam Jones
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Science Shows How Dogs Understand Language

Who’s a good boy? What kind of question is that? Don’t be patronizing. The question’s rhetorical, and they know it.

Scientists rolled some very good doggos into an MRI machine and watched their brain activity as trainers spoke to them.

“Dogs care about both words and intonation,” the researchers explain in a video about their study. Their brains use the left hemisphere to process word meaning, and the right to suss out intonation. When dogs are praised, it activates their reward centers — but only if both intonation and word meaning are praising.

But don’t expect your dog, who’s probably somewhere schnozzle-deep in a litter box or another dog’s butthole right now, to display the same kind of comprehension these intensively-trained dogs do. You’ll still be able to sadistically trick your pupper into going happily to the vet with a perky, “Let’s go for a car ride!” Do it enough times, however, and she might start to learn that those noises in that tone don’t always go together.

“‘Understanding’ is a tricky word,” one of the study authors Adam Miklosi told Scientific American. “Studies using brain imaging technology cannot firmly say that the activation of a specific brain area indicates ‘understanding.’ For sure, dogs in this study reacted to the meaningful words, that is, to those words that their owners often use when they want to attract the dog’s attention or provide a positive feedback for the dog. So in this sense our dogs recognized these words as familiar and probably meaning something good.”

So they’re not ready to have a fulfilling conversation with you about the subtle bouquet of blackcurrant and pear in your neighbor’s pug’s butt, but when you ask, “Who’s mama’s clever handsome furbaby!?” they get the gist.

How Marijuana Mac & Cheese Helped Ease A Senior’s Alzheimer’s

T. Norton
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How Marijuana Mac & Cheese Helped Ease A Senior’s Alzheimer’s

My name is T. Norton. I’m a 31-year old, 17-year career chef. Recently my stepfather has fallen ill with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and I have been able to work on some infused recipes, since he cant really handle cannabis in any other form.

I have been in kitchens over half of my life and have also been a regular user of medical marijuana and an advocate for its uses.

About a year ago when my stepfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s stage 3, the doctors immediately put him on numerous pills — some of which were even experimental. In a very short amount of time, the medication seemed to be doing more damage than good, and then came the diagnoses of Parkinson’s. With that second diagnoses came even more experimental pills.

There was a day when my step dad was feeling nauseous and had a headache for days in a row.  I made the suggestion to my mother that we should try some weed brownies.  After seeing how my stepdad was feeling, we were both ready to try anything.

I made an infused oil and a batch of brownies for him.  After eating a good dose, he was up and out of bed within two hours for the first time in days.  From there, I dove head first into the MMJ movement. I even flew out to California with a friend of mine for two months just to learn more about whats really happening in this industry.

After coming back to the East coast, I have been amazingly motivated to put all my culinary knowledge to more than just making food.  I want to make medicated food for people that need it.  The picture that I’m including is of me, my mother, and my Step-dad in the middle.  This picture was taken about two weeks before the diagnoses was presented to us.

Everyone loves Macaroni and Cheese. It’s one of those comfort foods that has the ability to warm your soul. It’s also a great vessel for infusing some cannabis and personalizing just the way you want it. The following is a recipe for a delicious baked macaroni and cheese infused with a coconut based cannabis oil. I have also included a very simple way of making a potent oil, which can then be used on any recipe you would like. This mac-and-cheese is delicious as is, but leaves you the freedom to add your own favorites to the mix like bacon, Jalapenos, caramelized onions – whatever your favorites are!

Baked Mac-n-Cheesein’

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups Dry elbow pasta
  • 8 cups Wwater
  • 1/3 cup Cannabis oil*
  • 1/3 cup AP flour
  • 1 qt Milk
  • 10 oz Shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or mild)
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1 Tbs Black Pepper
  • Stock pot
  • large Casserole dish
  • med-large Sauce pot
  • Rubber spatula
  • Strainer
  • Whisk

*Cannabis Coconut Oil

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of Coconut oil
  • 6-7 grams (about a quarter ounce) Cannabis flower
  • Water
  • Mason jar with lid
  • Stock pot
  • Cheese cloth

Place the coconut oil and the cannabis oil into the mason jar and secure the lid. Put the jar into the stock pot and fill with water up to the bottom of the lid on the jar. Turn on heat and let water come to a boil. Let the jar simmer in the water for two hours (one major benefit of this method is that you can set it and forget it. The cannabis and oil will be safe from over cooking in the jar.) CAREFULLY remove jar from the water. Once cooled enough to take the lid off, remove the lid and strain contents through the cheese cloth. Discard the cooked cannabis flowers and put the oil in a safe container (the mason jar is a great start).

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Bring the water to a boil in the stock pot. Once water is at a rolling boil add the elbow macaroni. Stir and cook for 5 min, pour through strainer, put the cooked noodles into the casserole dish and set aside. Heat the cannabis oil in the sauce pan on low-medium, once the oil seems to loosen put the flour in. Use the rubber spatula to press the lumps out of the mixture until you have reached the consistency of wet sand. Then turn your burner up to med-high heat. (You just made a roux!) Slowly add the milk to your roux whisking constantly. Bring to a boil and cut the heat down to med-low. Continue whisking for 8-10 min. The sauce will begin to thicken. Once it is able to coat a clean spoon without running off the tip, begin to add 6 oz of cheese (Like 3/4 of the cheese), reserving the other 4 to top before baking. Turn off heat.

Once the cheese has melted pour the sauce over the macaroni and mix well. Sprinkle the rest of your cheese on the top and place in the oven for 20-25 min. or until the cheese on top is a golden brown and bubbling.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 min before eating. Serves 4-5 adults.

Marijuana Legislative Roundup: Weeks Of June 18 & June 25

Alec Engber
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Marijuana Legislative Roundup: Weeks Of June 18 & June 25

The past two weeks saw a number of significant legislative developments at both the state and national levels. A bill to increase banking access for marijuana businesses died in the Senate, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced his long-awaited cannabis reform bill. Maine, Massachusetts and Oklahoma also made strides in their reform efforts. Find out more in our weekly Marijuana Legislative Roundup.

National

On Thursday, June 21, the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee voted 21-10 to reject an amendment to provide access to banking for state-legal marijuana businesses. The legislation is designed to shield banks from federal regulatory penalties and criminal prosecution for providing financial services to licensed marijuana businesses operating in compliance with state law. While access to financial services has improved somewhat in recent years, many banks remain unwilling to serve cannabis businesses for fear of running afoul of federal regulators, forcing many legal producers, distributors, and retailers to operate exclusively in cash and leaving them vulnerable to robbery. The move follows the defeat of companion legislation in the House Appropriations Committee the prior week.

New York Senator Charles Schumer introduced a bill Wednesday that would effectively legalize marijuana at the federal level and provide small loans for some marijuana businesses. The Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act would remove cannabis from scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act, while dedicating an unspecified amount of income tax revenue derived from marijuana businesses to small loans to marijuana businesses owned by women and minorities. The bill faces little chance of coming to a vote in the Republican-controlled Senate before the November midterm elections.

Oklahoma

On Tuesday, Oklahoma voters approved a ballot measure to legalize medical marijuana. The law will create one of the least-restrictive medical cannabis programs in the country; it contains no restriction on the number of marijuana business licenses and physicians will be allowed to prescribe cannabis for any ailment. Governor Mary Fallon announced that she will call a special session of the Legislature – which has the power to modify laws passed by ballot referendum – to construct a regulatory system. As a result, the final law could be quite different from the one passed by voters, as happened with recreational cannabis in Maine and Massachusetts.

Maine

On Friday, June 22, an amendment was introduced in the Maine legislature that would allow municipalities to exercise more control over medical marijuana businesses within their jurisdiction, attempting to reign in the dozens of “caregiver shops” that have sprung up around the state to circumvent the limit of eight medical cannabis dispensaries allowed under state law. The measure comes as Maine seeks to overhaul its medical marijuana laws to align more closely with the new recreational legal framework.

Massachusetts

On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission outlined a preliminary proposal for the creation of a “social equity” program to provide training and resources for communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the so-called “War on Drugs” to participate in the state’s new legal marijuana industry. The program will provide eligible individuals and businesses with job training for management and employees, assistance in creating a business plan and raising funds, and instruction in industry best practices, accounting, sales forecasting, and tax and legal compliance. To be eligible, a person must have been convicted of a drug offense or had a spouse or parent with such a conviction, or they must have lived in a community with a disproportionately high number of arrests for five of the prior 10 years. The state is also granting priority marijuana business licensing to applicants that meet similar criteria. The program, which voters approved as a component of the legalization ballot referendum, will be the first of its kind to be implemented on a statewide basis in the nation.

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