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Hemp Industry Declares Victory After Settlement With DEA

Terry Hacienda
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Hemp Industry Declares Victory After Settlement With DEA

In the long history of the War on Drugs, there have been a lot of skirmishes that boggle the mind. But one of the silliest, illogical battles finally has come to an end.

The Department of Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), reached a settlement after a nearly two-decade fight over hemp food products. The settlement, reached in late May and announced last week, prevents further illegal actions by the DEA to regulate hemp foods as Schedule I Drug.

At issue was a principle called the “Hemp Food Rules Challenge,” which first made headlines in 2oo4 when the HIA originally scored a victory over the DEA. In that ruling, the HIA, which represents nearly 1,000 hemp businesses, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a DEA rule that would have banned the human consumption of trace amounts of THC found in non-psychoactive industrial hemp. The 2004 ruling found that the DEA did not follow procedures to add non-psychoactive hemp to the list of Schedule I controlled substances. The court also ruled that Congress did not intend for hemp to be prohibited by the Controlled Substance Act.

But despite the court ruling, the DEA continued flouting the law by misguiding federal and state agencies, suggesting that legal hemp seed and oil could not be shipped between states. The DEA went so far as to direct customs agents to seize and destroy hemp oil if it tested positive for THC. This clear violation led the HIA to file a contempt motion in the Ninth Circuit against the DEA for violating the Court’s 2004 injunction that barred the DEA from enforcing its invalidated rule.

The HIA and DEA entered into mediation to resolve the conflict. The DEA was ordered to issue a directive to federal agencies clarifying that the mere presence of cannabinoids does not render material a controlled substance.

“We are grateful to our counsel for successfully negotiating the necessary clarification in this matter,” said HIA President Joy Beckerman. “We will remain the first line of defense to ensure the undisrupted continuance of the hemp industries as we bring new economic opportunities to farmers and entrepreneurs, and also healthy U.S.-made food products to the American marketplace and eventually around the world.”

The 3 Stocks To Watch As Canada Legalizes Cannabis

Mary Schumacher
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The 3 Stocks To Watch As Canada Legalizes Cannabis

Canada is on the brink of legalizing cannabis nationwide after the Canadian Senate recently voted 56-30 in favor of the move. There was a lot of speculation as to how the pot stock market would react. Would it jump? Would it stay the same? Maybe fizzle a little or even tank? Motley Fool reporter Keith Speights accurately predicted a slight fizzle, but why?

For one thing, he pointed to the many amendments to the original bill, including a provision that prohibited the selling of t-shirts and other promotional type “swag,” which can actually make a fairly deep cut into retail store profits.

Mostly the stocks stayed about the same or took little dips, but there are three in particular that are predicted to potentially soar once the legal market is up and moving.

Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQOTH:ACBFF): Right now, Aurora’s acquisition of MedLeaf is in the final stages. Both companies are well known in Canada’s vast medical marijuana landscape and they are both well prepared to take on the legal market the day it opens. Between the two entities there are over 100,000-square-feet of grow space and “Aurora Sky,” Aurora’s biggest growing facility to date, is set to open soon. All in all, Aurora believes that it will be able to grow 570,000 kilos of cannabis yearly by 2019’s end.

Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC): The biggest cannabis producer in Canada, though that could become more competitive after Aurora’s acquisition of MedLeaf, Canopy Growth is beyond set to continue taking off once Bill C-45 is firmly in place. Another advantage for Canopy is that they’re well into the retail world, and they’ve built supply arrangements in five out of Canada’s 10 provinces already. With 2.4 million-square-feet of cannabis grow space and counting, they should have plenty of quality product to offer the marketplace.

Aphria (NASDAQOTH:APHQF): Though not on the massive manufacturing levels of Aurora or Canopy quite yet, Aphria is in the top five Canadian cannabis producers and is in a good position to continue growing with the emerging legal market. Currently the company is building brand awareness for its new adult use products. In May Aphria made a deal with North American spirit and wine distributor Southern Glazer’s, the largest in it’s realm of competition. Plus, Aphria has plenty of room to grow and is expanding that space now, as you read.

3 Things To Know About The Massachusetts Edibles Market

Amy Hansen
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3 Things To Know About The Massachusetts Edibles Market

Almost two years after Massachusetts legalized marijuana, the government announced that weed will be available July 1. However, as Green Rush Daily reports, the date is rather “optimistic” because the Cannabis Control Commission has yet to issue recreational licenses.

But, hey, more time to plan your edibles crawl, right? Here’s what to expect from the state’s burgeoning edibles market once dispensaries open starting July 1, according to Green Rush Daily:

Where To Buy

Medical dispensaries are your best bet, since they have been planning for this day for quite awhile. As Eddie Benjamin, Director of Innovation for New England Treatment Access (NETA , explained to Green Rush Daily, “We have been developing our adult use product line for some time now.”

Dozens of dispensaries have already applied for licenses since June 1, when the Cannabis Control Board started accepting them.

What’s Legal

According to GRD, the CCC has set a limit of 5 mg THC per dose, which is lower than the 10 mg California and Colorado allow. But that doesn’t mean that a bag of edibles can’t contain several doses. Medical marijuana patients can buy edibles at cost, but recreational users have to pay a 20 percent tax, says GRD.

What To Buy 

Homemade treats like Belgian dark chocolate and caramels will be available at NETA in Northhampton and Brookline. Benjamin told Green Rush Daily that they plan to release a Belgian dark chocolate bar, caramels, lozenges and two types of fruit chews for adult use. Says GRD:

All their products are made with marijuana distillate. “For adult use, we are using the distillate, which is incredibly high purity and incredibly high potency,” Benjamin explained.  “We can use a very little amount of what is essentially tasteless oil and bring out the natural flavors of the chocolates or the other ingredients.”

Ermont, an innovative Quincy-based marijuana dispensary, also makes a variety of infused deserts. These range from granola bars to oreo cookie pie to ginger molasses cookies. They also specialize in liquid edibles, in the forms of honey, maple syrup, peanut butter and other spreads.

Ermont also makes a savory THC-infused olive oil, coconut old and tomato sauce. Last year, they offered a limited-edition pizza.

NETA also offers infusions on the savory side, such as grapeseed oil. “We got a lot of requests from our medical patients from folks who wanted a soy free option or a dairy-free option or a gluten-free option,” Benjamin told GRD. NETA’s Elevation Oil comes fully decarboxylated and can be used in dressings or as a tincture.

Florida Governor Race Showcases ‘New Politics Of Cannabis’

Brendan Bures
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Florida Governor Race Showcases ‘New Politics Of Cannabis’

Cannabis has become a key issue in the Florida primaries, particularly on the Democratic side. Perhaps the state’s current disarray with regards to its medical cannabis program might explain the preoccupation amongst voters. But Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates have practically tripped over one another trying to out-endorse recreational cannabis.

Four out of the five candidates participated in a debate last weekend. By all accounts, it was a testy affair, except when the topic of cannabis broached the stage. The candidates were asked how they would make medical marijuana more accessible to patients who have been kept waiting.

“Medical marijuana was approved by the people two years ago by the people,” Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine said. “Today people still can’t get in the state of Florida. Let me tell you the reason. It’s because the Kremlin—oh, I mean Tallahassee—doesn’t want to listen to the people of Florida.”

Perhaps more interesting was watching the candidates try and top one another on their stances on cannabis legalization.

https://twitter.com/MayorLevine/status/1005592739227095042

But that’s not all. Heading into the debate, Levine and the affordable housing investor Chris King reiterated their plans regarding legalization to impress potential voters. What this represents is staggering when it comes to politics and cannabis; typically voters can only choose between candidates who support cannabis legalization and those who do not. Now, voters can actually chose the pro-cannabis candidate who has the best plan, not just the positive one.

https://twitter.com/MayorLevine/status/1005094862281199616

We haven’t mentioned Gwen Graham, who was also participated in the debates. When it comes to cannabis, Graham’s been analogized as the tortoise competing against the hares in this race. She’s fully endorsed decriminalizing marijuana and fully realizing Florida’s medical marijuana program. But she hasn’t endorsed legalizing recreational cannabis like the rest of the pack.

“For me, I believe you accomplish change by incrementally approaching it and having a plan for how do you get there,” Graham told Orlando Weekly last week.

“The state of Florida has not fully implemented medical marijuana,” she continued. “I mean we need to get that fully implemented, and hav[e] people across the state of Florida having the opportunity to take advantage of medical marijuana.”

The Florida primaries will be held Aug. 28, but it’s already clear how marijuana has shaped the campaign trail. As Tom Angell of Marijuana Moment pointed out, we’re potentially witnessing “the new politics of cannabis.”

Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Announce First Royal Tour

Maria Loreto
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Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Announce First Royal Tour

The royal couple, who recently returned from their honeymoon, will be touring Australia and New Zealand in the fall as their first official tour begins and they start to represent the royal family in other countries.

Kensington Palace announced their itinerary for the following months this past Sunday:

According to People Magazine, the trip to Australia wasn’t a surprise since people expected the couple to be in Sidney for the opening of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, which are held every year in different countries. These games celebrate veterans who have been wounded in battle, and were formed by Prince Harry in 2014. This year’s event will take place during the week of October 20-27, coinciding with the royal tour.

The royal couple will also visit other countries that are part of the Commonwealth, since both have key roles in the organization. Harry was just appointed as head of the Youth Forum and Meghan is thought to be involved in the organization’s championing of women.

Johnny Knoxville Explains The Time Blood Shot Out His What

Brendan Bures
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Johnny Knoxville Explains The Time Blood Shot Out His What

Every teenage boy in America should pay a monthly stipend to Johnny Knoxville for the level of physical torture and pain he’s endured. All in the name of our laughter and entertainment. And while Knoxville and his Jackass posse hasn’t shied away from telling us where it hurts, and how bad it hurts, we’ve never known the totality of suffering one man can stand.

Knoxville has been open to helping us understand a little more now. Johnny Knoxville broke down the injuries he’s overcome throughout his career and while you might be prepared for how gruesome things get in Knoxville’s world, you have no idea how weird things can get.

“I thought I was peeing myself,” Knoxville explains, after he fell off a motorbike mid-jump and the bike’s handles landed square on his pelvis. “Every time my heart would beat, blood would shoot out the end of my penis.”

RELATED: insane Scoutmaster Eats 23 Ghost Peppers, Immediately Regrets It

Give Knoxville credit. He does not shy away from any stunt, no matter how stupid. From first testing self-defense weapons when he briefly wrote for magazine to his most recent movie Action Point, where his eye popped out of its socket. Just try not to look away.

A Dozen Governors Urge Congress To Pass Marijuana STATES Act

Terry Hacienda
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A Dozen Governors Urge Congress To Pass Marijuana STATES Act

Just days after Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) unveiled the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Entrusting States (STATES) Act, the governors of a dozen states have come out endorsing the legislation. The STATES Act would allow individual states the ability to enact and regulate cannabis laws free from federal overreach.

The 12 governors signed a letter addressed to the top leaders in both chambers in Congress urging for the passage of the draft legislation. According to the letter, first published by Tom Angell’s Marijuana Majority:

Our states have acted with deliberation and care to implement programs through thoughtful and comprehensive legislation and regulations. Our citizens have spoken, we are responding. We ask that Congress recognize and respect our states’ efforts by supporting and passing the STATES Act.

The bipartisan group of governors included:

  • Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (Independent)
  • California Gov. Jerry Brown (D)
  • Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D)
  • Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R)
  • Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R)
  • Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R)
  • New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D)
  • New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D)
  • North Dakota Gov. Doug Burghum (R)
  • Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D)
  • Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D)
  • Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D)

The STATES Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that essentially would exempt states from the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act.

“As of today, 46 states permit the use of some form of medical marijuana and 8 states have made it legal for adult-use. These programs reflect the will of the people as expressed through ballot initiatives and legislative action,” the governors wrote.

In January, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made headlines and angered many state lawmakers when he rescinded Obama-era policies designed to protect states with cannabis laws on the books. Sessions’ move “complicated the marketplace for businesses that states now deem legal,” the governors’ letter reads. “This return to one-size-fits-all federal prohibition is incongruent with reality, undermines the 46 carefully-crafted regulatory structures and impedes states’ ability to be effective laboratories of democracy.”

Cannabis advocates cheered the governors’ position. “The STATES Act is the most significant piece of marijuana-related legislation ever introduced in Congress,” Don Murphy, director of federal policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Marijuana Moment. “These governors understand the difficulty of implementing medical and non-medical programs with the heavy boot of the federal government on their necks.”

Facebook Launches A Hub For Gaming Content

Maria Loreto
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Facebook Launches A Hub For Gaming Content

Facebook loves an opportunity to tackle a subject that’s popular, be that by buying a competing app or by creating a space of their own. Now, they’ve decided to create a gaming hub where users can find all sorts of gaming content, including videos, and streams. The hub is called fb.gg, and it allows you to stream videos of your own gameplay, or to follow and view at the content of other streamers.

The gaming hub has different categories, recommending users you should follow and the sites’ most popular streams, including those of Fortnite, Free Fire, and League of Legends, which are some of the most popular video games around. Once you follow a streamer, they’ll appear on the sidebar of your display and you’ll get a notification every time they upload up content.

Images courtesy of Facebook

The hub is very similar to Twitch, featuring a level up system called Facebook Stars where streamers’ work is rewarded with in-game tipping. After undergoing a verification process, which includes having over 100 followers and uploading at least four hours of streaming within the last 14 days, video creators can make money from the platform.

Mashable reports that fb.gg has already signed with prominent streamers such as MelonieMac, Darkness429 (really?), MissesMae, and others, and it’s unknown whether it’ll have an effect on other streaming sites such as Twitch and Mixer.

The creation of this space could be what Facebook’s been needing to recapture some of the interest they’ve lost of teens. According to the latest statistics, only 51 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 use Facebook, preferring to spend their time on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.

Study: Vitamin Supplements Provide No Health Benefits

Maria Loreto
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Study: Vitamin Supplements Provide No Health Benefits

A study by the University of Toronto claims that the most consumed vitamin and mineral supplements don’t make a difference to your health, providing no benefits or damage. You’re basically just wasting your time and money when taking them.

This study, published on the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reviewed existing data that spanned several years, from January 2012 until October 2017, and discovered that the most consumed vitamin and mineral supplements (calcium, vitamin D and vitamin C) provided no prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes or premature death.

Science Daily reports that lead author Dr. David Jenkins was very surprised by finding so few positive effects from the world’s leading supplements. “Our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm — but there is no apparent advantage either.”

These discoveries support the idea that, if you’re a person who has no deficiencies, nothing can replace a healthy diet of less processed foods filled with vegetables, nuts, proteins, and fruits. Researchers also capitalize on how important it is to stay informed, and to be aware of what’s inside of those pills. “People should be conscious of the supplements they’re taking and ensure they’re applicable to the specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies they have been advised of by their healthcare provider,” Dr. Jenkins said.

The only positive result the study found was related to folic acid, which could potentially help reduce the risk of strokes and heart disease.

Canadian Military Can’t Ban Troops From Smoking Weed

Terry Hacienda
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Canadian Military Can’t Ban Troops From Smoking Weed

As Canada inches closer to nationwide legalization of adult use of recreational cannabis, the nation’s military will be compelled to change its policy regarding marijuana consumption. And it looks like good news for troops.

The Canadian military will be unable to impose a complete ban on cannabis consumption. Instead, the military restrictions would be similar to how the nation’s military force handles alcohol.

The new policy “allows us to respect the law,” Lt.-Gen. Chuck Lamarre, chief of military personnel, said in an interview with CBC. “But at the same time, I think Canadians are expecting our operational readiness and our ability to do our business must never be compromised.”

Lamarre does not foresee a jump in cannabis consumption among members of the Armed Forces when it becomes legal. “I don’t anticipate a whole whack of sparking up,” Lamarre told CBC with a chuckle. “There’s no total ban at this point,” he said. “We can’t do that. If the law says it’s no longer criminal to have it in your possession, it’s not a criminal act. You just can’t ban it outright.”

Under the Lamarre plan, branch commanders — for the army, navy, air force and special forces — has been asked to designate certain jobs which will be subject to restrictions. But the restrictions on personnel must be “very specific.”

The military’s former judge advocate general, Blaise Cathcart, has argued that banning marijuana in the military would be an onerous task once the federal government legalizes it.

Since 2007, the Canadian military conducted random blind drug tests for its troops. According to these tests, cannabis consistently has been the illegal drug of choice.

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