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After Son’s Successful CBD Treatment, Mother Launches CBD Product Line

Roxanne Benton, owner of Patriot Botanicals, launched her line of hemp cannabidiol oil (CBD) drops after she was inspired by her son’s positive reaction to CBD, which has helped to control his ADHD and Tourette’s.

Photo courtesy of Patriot Botanicals

A few years ago, her teenage son Bevan was diagnosed with ADHD and Tourette’s Syndrome. Roxanne initially used essential oils to help relieve his symptoms, which inspired her to learn about holistic healing.  She now has a store that sells tools and supplies to people in the aromatherapy industry.

Having used essential oils in her own health and wellness routines for over six years, she eventually met a man named John Taylor, who  informed her about a CBD project he was working on in Kentucky. The project utilized hemp that is grown under a Federal Pilot Program, is flavored with natural CO2 extracts, is pesticide-free and is federally legal throughout the U.S., as per the Farm Bill of 2014.

Naturally, Roxanne trusted her new friend John and decided to launch her own company reselling his product, and named it Patriot Botanicals.

“I named my company Patriot Botanicals because it harkens back to our country’s positive history with hemp,” she said.

“I already had a small audience, and they were thirsty for knowledge about how this misunderstood plant – this natural product – could help so many with widely varied issues. So, I did what I do best – dug into research and started offering my own brand of Patriot Botanicals CBD oil, to my customers.”

Photo courtesy of Patriot Botanicals

CBD is derived from cannabinoids, which is one of a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors in cells that alter neurotransmitter release in the brain. Cannabinoids are the natural compounds found in cannabis and they react to the human body’s endocannabinoid system.

Roxanne hadn’t mentioned to Bevan’s therapist that he was taking CBD until he remarked to her that Bevan was behaving differently.

“I told him about the whole story about my friend, the manufacturer of CBD in Kentucky and how we gave it to Bevan. His therapist said to ‘keep it up!’ ” says Roxanne, who was so thrilled with Bevan’s progress. Bevan is now 15 and thriving. He and his twin sister both play Lacrosse, and Roxanne’s whole family uses CBD on a daily basis.

These days, Roxanne is using her son’s personal experience to help people, especially other moms, realize that CBD is neither a snake oil nor a cure-all. “As I understand it, CBD mainly helps bring our bodies back to homeostasis, so our bodies can work more efficiently,” she said.

Patriot Botanicals has a walk-in shop located at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, however, most customers prefer to order online. PB offers speedy, free, same or next day shipping in the Continental US. CBD from industrial hemp is federally legal to ship to all 50 states (due to the 2014 Farm Bill) as it contains .03 percent THC or less.

Says Roxanne, “There’s less than a Horton Hears A Who speck of THC in our hemp drops. You’d have a greater chance of getting high at a  perfume counter at Macy’s.”

Smuggling A Little Marijuana On An Airplane Is No Big Deal

Anyone who has ever visited a legal marijuana state has, at least, thought about whether it might be possible to sneak the remainder of their cannabis purchase through the heat of airport security in an effort to smuggle it back home. They may have heard from other stoned road dogs that the process of getting weed on an airplane is fairly easy to do, but they just lack the confidence to summon their inner George Jung.

Although flying with marijuana is technically against the laws of the federal government, TSA and police operating in a legal states, like Colorado or California, are not going to flog someone with a cat o’ nine tails for simply “forgetting” that they had a little pot on them. But it is important to understand a few basic rules. First, TSA is not hanging around airports trying to bust people for pot. Even the agency admits that they are not “actively” searching luggage in hopes discovering drugs. These folks are after explosives and weapons – anything that can be used to unleash terror in the skies.

Related: Flying With Legal Weed: Does The TSA Care About Marijuana?

The next detail to remember is never attempt to bring much…and never try to stow it in checked luggage. Carry on only. It can be tempting to try to get as much weed as humanly possible aboard the plane, but this ideology only increases a person’s chances of getting caught. So, keeping the stash at around an eighth of an ounce of bud is a good idea. Small amounts of edibles should also move through security checkpoints undetected. We would, however, suggest avoid bringing THC-infused beverages or other cannabis liquids. These types of items are more likely to set off a red flag.

It is not necessary to use hardcore cartel tactics when trying to get through security with weed. And by this we mean there is absolutely no reason that anyone should have to stuff contraband up his or her bunghole. But it is not a bad idea to get a little creative. Stashing a few buds in a bottle of Ibuprofen or other over the counter medication works. If trying to smuggle edibles, especially gummies or chocolates, just switch out the wrappers before going to the airport – give them the appearance of regular store bought candy. TSA doesn’t have the time to shakedown folks with a sweet tooth.

Related: Rainy Weather Cocktails

But its not a person’s smuggling technique that puts them at risk of getting caught – it’s how nervous they act while waiting to go through security. Again, TSA is there to catch potential threats. If a person is dripping with sweat and acting like a stuttering lunatic, chances are their luggage is going to get searched. Just stay calm. TSA’s policy is to refer all marijuana cases to local law enforcement. In a legal state, this means nothing is going to happen. The cops will just confiscate the weed and cut the passenger loose. But if smuggling weed in an area of prohibition, like Indiana, jail is a distinct possibility.

Most Americans Want Legal Marijuana, But States Can’t Agree On How To Do It

On 4/20, many across the US gathered to celebrate their love and appreciation for marijuana.

Polls show that 64 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. But, despite the majority support, there’s no clear consensus on how it should be regulated. As a researcher who has studied the impact of drugs in the US and Mexico, it’s been captivating to watch states adapt as they attempt to regulate this illicit and stigmatized substance.

Many states permit medical marijuana, but there’s a wide variety of approaches. Today, 29 states currently permit medical marijuana and have an established system for regulating it.

Another 17 states have limited medical programs. These programs provide access to products with low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high levels of cannabidiol (CBD), with the goal of eliminating the “high” and maximizing medical benefits. Beyond that, the conditions doctors and patients can treat with cannabis vary from state to state.

Minnesota, New York and West Virginia don’t permit marijuana smoking as part of their medical programs. West Virginia, however, allows patients to vaporize marijuana plant matter, while Minnesota only permits consumption of marijuana in liquid extract form.

Colorado, where I am based, has a much more expansive medical program. Patients can access an array of products, from extracts to strains of raw plant material. While New York caps the amount of THC that a product dose may contain, Colorado and other states have no such limit on their medical marijuana products.

Meanwhile, recreational marijuana use has been approved for adults 21 and over by nine states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia.

However, once again, states haven’t implemented their policies uniformly. Vermont, for example, does not currently have a system for commercial sale and distribution, and only allows individuals to cultivate two plants. Colorado, on the other hand, has developed a robust commercial system, allows individuals to grow up to six plants, and limits the amount of marijuana products an individual can possess.

Most states have struggled with how to navigate the public consumption of cannabis, which remains illegal. As states continue to debate and implement marijuana policies, the American public will begin to recognize what works (and what doesn’t).

The ConversationWhile these policy inconsistencies may raise concerns for some constituents, these state experiments are a valuable way to figure out how this substance works and how it affects society.

Santiago Guerra is an assistant professor of Southwest Studies, Colorado College. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The FBI Can’t Hire Hackers Because They All Use Marijuana

The FBI’s weed policy could be hurting our cyber security during a time when that’s simply unacceptable.

Being a tech whiz and smoking cannabis go hand-in-hand. Watch an episode of “Silicon Valley” if not convinced. Hence, this anti-pot administration is having trouble getting good hackers to even apply to the FBI. And as current affairs demonstrate, we need hackers’ talents now more than ever.

Hacking is a skill that’s in high demand, especially in this age of digital privacy. It’s a skill that can get you in the door of many top tier companies, willing to overlook some harmless cannabis use if fingers are fast enough, but not so at the FBI.

marijuana laptop
Photo by Jose Luque / EyeEm/Getty Images

The FBI has a three year waiting period for weed imbibers. And if another different illegal substance has been used, such as cocaine or ecstacy, the waiting period turns into 10 years. This policy isn’t hurting hackers, unless it was their lifelong dream to join, but it could be hurting our cyber security during a time when that’s simply unacceptable.

With stories flying across the TV at lightning speed about Russian interference in our election and with all the digital wartime tools that are themselves at least somewhat vulnerable to hacking from another country or even from within, now is not the time to discriminate against pot smokers.

There was a window of time back in 2014 when now fired FBI Director James Comey said, “He should go ahead and apply,” regarding a hacker who had been shying away because of cannabis use, as reported by The Atlantic. But who knows if any of God’s own stoners made it in or if bureaucracy got in the way.

3 Reasons Why You Should Smoke Marijuana With Your Friends Online
Photo by Christina Morillo via Pexels

It’s the three year law that really keeps potential hackers at bay. It’s not as if one can clean up and apply. Any hacker would have to have been free of cannabis use for a full three years before they could get behind the screens of any FBI computers. So if you’re reading this and you’re a hacker, sorry, but you’re likely not getting a job at the FBI.

With marijuana legalized in eight states and the District of Columbia and medical marijuana legal in 30 states plus D.C., you’d think some of these arcane techniques would fall by the wayside, but no. And, it seems, especially not in the FBI. Nothing, not a puff for three years? Good luck, FBI, and good luck to us all.

You’re Welcome: Here’s How To Make A Fruit Fly Orgasm

Fruit flies like to have sex and, in some ways, they’re very similar to us. How do we know this? Because scientists studied their mating rituals, and noticed different responses when flies were able to ejaculate and when they weren’t. Flies have a lot of personality.

According to the New Yorker, a study from Israel demonstrates that pleasure in sex is important for evolution, and is present on many different species, including fruit flies, which are a pretty basic organism.

The experiment they conducted was pretty complex. For starters, scientists basically robocopped several fruit flies so they could achieve their goal, which was to control the production of the flies’ corozonin (the protein responsible for ejaculation). Scientists prompted the production of this protein by activating a red light, which triggered the flies’ sexual behavior.

After the flies were trained, they were put with a control group of normal flies in an enclosure that had a side that was lit up red. After a few seconds, the engineered flies were all hanging around the red light district, jerking off, surprising no one.

The scientists then tried different things, like associating the flies’ aroused state with a color and monitoring their alcohol intake. From these results, scientists gathered that flies always prefer the color that reminds them of sex, and that they also drink more alcohol if they’re celibate.

Turning to alcohol when there’s no sex is something that flies have in common with a lot of mammals, who look for other types of rewards when sexual pleasure is denied. This is surely the strangest and most torturous experiment ever conducted on flies.

Congress Presses VA To Begin Researching Medical Marijuana

A bipartisan bill introduced this week would effectively erase the Department of Veterans Affairs’ excuse for not researching the benefits of cannabis for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other related ailments. The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 would eliminate the federal foot-dragging preventing vets from the medicine they need.

The bill has received the backing of the top Republican and Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee: Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn, and Chairman Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn. Other influential lawmakers have voiced their support.

“While we know cannabis can have life-saving effects on veterans suffering from chronic pain or PTSD, there has been a severe lack of research studying the full effect of medicinal cannabis on these veterans,” said Waltz. “That is why I am so proud to introduce this legislation. Simply put, there is no department or organization better suited to conduct this critically important research than VA, and there will never be a better time to act.”

Waltz also took a shot at the VA for its tendency to over-prescribe opioids. “In fact, 22 percent of veterans report using cannabis as a safer and more effective alternative to opioids and drug cocktails currently prescribed by VA for medical conditions such as PTSD or chronic pain; unfortunately, we are all too familiar with the dangerous and often deadly side effects associated with opioids.”

This is welcome news for our retired military personnel. According to the Military Times:

For months, Walz and veterans advocates have been pushing Veterans Affairs officials to more aggressively explore research into marijuana’s possible benefits for patients with a host of ailments, as a possible alternative to addictive opioids.

But department leaders have insisted that federal law restricts their ability to conduct most medical marijuana testing, and have refused those requests for expansion.

This legislation kills that Catch-22 argument. The bill specifically addresses hurdles identified by the VA in a previous letter, with two main goals; (1) “Clarifying that research into medicinal cannabis is well within the authority of VA.” and (2) “Requiring VA to report to Congress on how it intends to exercise that authority.”

“As a physician, I am keenly aware of the need to look for opioid alternatives to treat patients’ chronic pain,” said Rep. Roe. “Since serving as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’ve heard from many veterans, both with physical and invisible wounds, who believe medical cannabis could benefit them. This is why I support the department researching cannabis just like any other drug to see if this alternative therapy would truly benefit patients.”

Bill co-sponsor, Rep Lou Correa said, “I am honored to join Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz, and Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester in finally taking action to help veterans in need of medical cannabis … with the opioid crisis raging across American, it is imperative to the health and safety of our veterans that we find alternative treatments for chronic pain and service-related injuries.”

Federal Cannabis Prohibition: Is The End Finally Near?

The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States caught many pundits and prognosticators off guard. President Trump’s victory also instilled a level of uncertainty in America’s burgeoning state-legal cannabis industry. During the presidential campaign, Trump routinely professed his adherence to states’ rights when it comes to cannabis legalization (at least for medical cannabis activities). Once elected, however, President Trump appointed known cannabis prohibitionist Jeff Sessions to be his choice as U.S. Attorney General for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and cannabis operators went from feeling uncertain to outright fear.

It now appears that those fears may have been unfounded. After his confirmation, Sessions didn’t immediately seek to enforce federal laws against marijuana operators (to the pleasant surprise of many in the cannabis industry). The honeymoon lasted until January 4, 2018. Just four days into adult-use cannabis sales being legal in the state of California, Sessions formally rescinded the Cole Memo and the cannabis industry was once again thrown into turmoil. The rescission of the Cole Memo, when added with the Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to register pesticides on cannabis crops and the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) threatened crackdown on medical cannabis claims, painted an ominous picture for the cannabis industry throughout the United States (although some of us were more optimistic).

It’s been over four months since Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo and although he’s rattled his saber on some occasions, the dreaded crackdown has not occurred. For that, we may have Russia to thank. Sessions’ self-recusal from the DOJ’s investigation into Russian government meddling in the presidential election has made him persona non grata in the Trump administration — thereby placing his priorities at the very bottom of President’s Trump list.

Rather than a return to federal enforcement actions, we’ve begun to see quite a few positive developments as of late. Last week, President Trump told U.S. Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) that he was committed to supporting a legislative solution to the tension between state’s that regulate cannabis activities and federal law (which we covered here). This could be a very important development, and let’s hope that this is one issue in which the President doesn’t change his mind.

Besides the commitment that the President made to Senator Gardner, there have been a number of other developments that have given cannabis businesses a reason to be optimistic:

  • The FDA just released a report that a CBD based drug has shown to have a positive effect on those that suffer from seizures and epilepsy. This is a big blow to the federal government’s position that the cannabis plant has no medical value.
  • U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently introduced a bill in the Senate that would authorize hemp as an agricultural product. Any progress in the federal legalization of hemp will eventually also benefit marijuana legalization.
  • Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) sent a letter to the DOJ and the Drug Enforcement Agency, calling on them to increase the pace of medical research in cannabis. There have been approximately twenty-five applications submitted to the DEA to produce federally approved research-grade marijuana but none of them have been approved.
  • U.S. Representative  Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) recently issued a statement that he plans on introducing a stand-alone bill that will respect a state’s right to regulate cannabis and would make the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment permanent.

Taken as a whole, these are all encouraging developments– especially considering their bipartisan support. However, this is not the time to rest on our precarious laurels. The November mid-term elections will be on us before we know it and it will be up to all of us to elect officials that are against the government’s draconian war on cannabis. We can’t leave this up to Russia to decide for us, after all.

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

Yas Queen! The ‘Broad City’ Mobile Game Is Here

You’re probably a little sad that Comedy Central recently announced the upcoming season of “Broad City” will feature the final episodes of the show. Don’t worry, us too. But luckily Comedy Central is giving fans a new way to experience the adventures of Abbi and Ilana to hold us over.

In a partnership with Built Games, “Broad City” will get the mobile video game treatment. Available for download immediately, the game is called Broad City: High Score and features Warioware-like minigames that recreate some of the wacky adventures of Abbi and Ilana.

“Broad City has an extremely loyal and passionate fan base, and we developed Broad City: High Score mobile game to allow fans across the globe to fully immerse themselves in the Broad City world,” Ben Hurst, Comedy Central’s Senior VP of mobile and emerging platforms, said in a statement.

Via the release:

Players of Broad City: High Score will make their way through rounds of mini-games to achieve higher scores, social status and lots of lolz. The mini-games will vary in speed and difficulty each time they are played. A session lasts until a player has failed to complete 3 mini-games during the time allowed.

Mini-games include: Smoke Rings, where players must tap and release at the right time to help Abbi take a toke; Bronson Smash, in which players must tap quickly to destroy a grocery display with Bingo Bronson; Fix the Hoodie, where players must color in Ilana’s stomach to match her crop top to make it work-appropriate; and many more.

Consider us in. The game is now available for free download the App Store and Google Play Store. You can learn more about Broad City: High Score here.

How To Control The Marijuana Munchies

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The part of marijuana that stimulates the appetite has saved the lives of countless people struggling to maintain proper nutrition throughout chemotherapy, but the marijuana munchies, as we know it, is perhaps one of the cruelest jokes in life for the health conscious cannabis enthusiast.

It doesn’t matter how regimented or disciplined a person might be, toss some a few hits of pot into the mix and all of the will power to eat like a responsible human gets snuffed out by a gluttonous little devil with a fiending addiction to junk food. Unfortunately, this means a hefty increase in caloric intake, which can put some people at risk for packing on those unwanted pounds.

The munchies are not all that problematic for the younger generations. Those who can still eat fast food at every meal and never gain a pound may even be reading this, thinking, “What are they talking about…the munchies is the best part of getting high.” But for those people over 35, the ones whose metabolisms are beginning to slow down, this side effect of maintaining a cannabis lifestyle is one of the most frustrating. Although controlling the munchies is no easy task, there are a few things a person can do to ensure this ravenous hunger does not wreak havoc on their waistline.

Meal Planning Is Key

RELATED: How Does Marijuana Affect Different Parts Of Your Brain

It is wise to just accept the inevitable. If you smoke pot, you’re going to get the munchies and want to rip the kitchen apart to satisfy that appetite. But if there is no food at home, it is easy to rely on pizza delivery or some other convenient, high calorie way to appease that need for sustenance. It is for this reason that it is necessary to make a daily meal plan. Knowing that you have, on hand, all the makings for a super delicious (and healthy) dinner is the easiest way to prevent from getting to know every food delivery driver in town on a first name basis. Also keeping healthier snacks – lots of fruit — in the house is a rock star move. Otherwise, an ice cream run will always be tempting.

Shop Smart

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In order to make a successful meal plan, it is first necessary to visit the grocery and shop like an adult. This means not walking into the store high and expecting to make good choices. Stoned shopping really only equates to kitchen cabinets full of chips and a freezer full of pizza rolls. Eating this kind of trash is doomsday for anyone trying to keep his or her diet in check. So be sure to spend a lot of time in the produce aisle, stocking up on a variety of fruits and vegetables that can be easily accessed at home at a moments notice. Not a whole lot of damage can be done to someone’s girlish figure by consuming mass quantities of oranges, apples and mangos.

Know Your Weaknesses

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RELATED: The Essential THC Dosing Guide For Marijuana Beginners

Eating healthy is all well and good, but sometimes it is fun to get the munchies and eat an entire pepperoni pizza. We understand this. It is important for us to know out food weaknesses and do our best to prepare for those cravings to surface. No amount of fruit in the kitchen is going to satisfy someone if their brain is truly in the mood for a greasy pizza. So finding ways to enjoy those kinds of things without leaning on fast food or delivery is an important step to not letting the munchies take total control. Instead of using bread and crust, try using Portobello mushrooms and green peppers as a foundation for pizza and Philly cheese steaks. This allows a person to get the flavor of all those sinful foods that they enjoy without completely blowing their diet.

‘Henry’s Original’ Partners With ‘One Tree Planted’ For Earth Day

Henry’s Original, a Mendocino-based cannabis company has partnered with non-profit tree organization, One Tree Planted, in honor of Earth Day on April 22. All profits from products featuring the Manzanita strain sold during the month of April will be donated to help replant sugar pines in Lake Tahoe. For every dollar donated, one tree is planted, maintained and looked after to ensure it will grow and become part of a thriving forest.

Henry’s Original is reputed as a premium, California-grown cannabis company. Taking pride in its northern Californian roots, Henry’s Original continually gives back to its community. After learning about the fires that burned through northern California, including Lake Tahoe, Jenna Meister, co-owner of Henry’s Original, decided it was time to give back to one of the state’s most important fresh water aquifers.

“Henry’s Original is more than a cannabis company, it’s a community of cultivators, growers and environmental advocates who are always looking to give back,” said Meister. “With Earth Day approaching, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work with another organization that is just as passionate about the land we live and work in.”

One Tree Planted is based in Vermont and plants trees throughout North and South America, Asia and Africa. The organization works with reforestation programs to help areas affected by

natural disasters. Matt Hill, creator of One Tree Planted, was excited for the opportunity to work with Henry’s Original, thanks to its ties with the region.

“When Henry’s Original approached us with the opportunity to work with them, we felt the timing couldn’t be more perfect,” said Hill. “We really admire the work that they do and are honored to be a part of their initiative of helping the environment and community.”

Photo courtesy of One Tree Planted

Replanting sugar pines is imperative to the health and preservation of Lake Tahoe. Nearly a quarter of Lake Tahoe was once comprised of sugar pines but due to white pine blister rust and forest fires, sugar pines currently account for merely 5 percent of forest composition in Lake Tahoe. Replanting sugar pines throughout the region is crucial for maintaining native biodiversity, contributes to watershed health, decreases fire risk and provides wildlife habitat and scenic and recreational benefits.

About Henry’s Original:

Henry’s Original is a California cannabis company based in Mendocino County. Known for its artisanal heirloom cannabis, Henry’s Original cannabis is grown under the strictest of standards and is Clean Green Certified. Handcrafted in small batches, Henry’s Original is lab tested for quality and potency.

About One Tree Planted:

One Tree Planted is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity based in Shelburne, Vermont, that helps with global reforestation efforts. They work with reforestation partners around the world to help plant trees in North America, Latin America, Asia and Africa. For every dollar donated, one tree is planted. www.onetreeplanted.org

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