SDZ Today News

Law & Politics

Medical

Category: News

Spectrum King LED: The Ins and Outs of Point Source Lighting

June 29, 2019 Published by

With so many lighting options available for indoor gardening, it can get confusing at times. Today, let’s talk about point source lighting. Considering most indoor gardeners come from a high pressure sodium (HPS) lights background, and therefore have used bulbs to light their plants, they’ve been using point source lighting all along.

When LED grow lights first appeared in the marketplace, many growers felt let down by them when they replaced their HPS grow lights because those are a very intense point source lights, while the early LED fixtures were only array-source light fixtures.

So, what is a point source light and why is it important to indoor growers? A point source is a point of intense light emanating out of a central spot. You can use bulb fixtures or LEDs that are built to replace bulbs. HPS are point source lights.

Just like anything else in growing plants indoors, it all depends on what you wish to achieve, the size and quantity of plants, and the dimensions of your grow space. All of that, and your environmental conditions, must be considered. If you have a single-level grow and aren’t looking to save space in your grow room, then point source lights are great. But if you grow vertically in order to save space and maximize square footage, then array source grow lights would be a better choice. Consider the LowPro Series by Spectrum King LED as a solid option. Like their name suggests, these low-profile fixtures can be used in vertical farming spaces in closer proximity to your plants for each level of racking.

Spectrum King LED makes point source LEDs with the promise to replace point source HPS and DE bulbs that use much more power than these LED fixtures. These LEDs also create significantly less heat and can be swapped out most of the time at a 1:1 ratio with bulb fixtures. For example, the CC140 can replace a 315CMH, an SK402 can replace a 600w to 1,000w single-ended HPS with ease, and an SK602 goes toe to toe with any 1000w DE fixture on the market.

If you’ve been using point source lights, then you now have fixtures available to you for a direct swap-out that will save you tons of power and create much less heat. Depending upon the size and location of your grow, electric usage can drop as much as 70% per month when lighting, HVAC, and all other necessary appliances are taken into account. Not a small amount of savings to be had and much less maintenance needed. You don’t need to buy a new bulb often either. Just keep on growing for years without worries.

Choosing to use point source lighting or array source lighting, is a function of the way your indoor garden is set. If your grow is vertical farming on racks, then you’d want array style lighting like the LowPro Veg or LowPro Flower grow lights by Spectrum King LED. If you grow bigger plants “old school”, then you should use a point source light.

The post Spectrum King LED: The Ins and Outs of Point Source Lighting appeared first on High Times.

Upright Citizens Brigade Co-Founder Matt Walsh is Tapped In

June 29, 2019 Published by

Matt Walsh is pumped up. For the first time in 20 years of operating, the Del Close Marathon will be held in Los Angeles. When we connect by phone, Matt is busy preparing for the 55-hour non-stop weekend of long-form improv comedy shows that run June 28th through June 30th at both UCB locations.

Back in Chicago, what first drew you to comedy?

I did performing in high school, a variety show, and I loved the skill of writing, creating and then performing your own material. It was a real drug for me. After college, I fell into improv, which was even more thrilling, and started to take classes. I guess I just liked the ability to create something and make people laugh. It’s endlessly entertaining and there’s so many different ways to do it. It’s always exciting when you discover a new bit or a new line. I’ve always been in the world of sketch and improv, which is more scenic and collaborative stuff. I did stand-up but wasn’t great at it and have always enjoyed the ensemble.

Sort of the energy of feeding off another person and building something.

And their interpretation of a line if it’s a sketch, or you know it could be anything obviously. But in the world of comedy, it’s always their take on it and they’re making it funnier than it probably was on the page or they’re improvising something that catches you by surprise. It’s very exhilarating. And obviously with improv, the audience is sort of on that ride with you and that’s what live theater has that nothing else does: everybody kind of feels that tension and the release of tension.

You studied under Del Close. What impact did he have on both your improv and you as a person?

He treated comedy like a profession. He gave you a reading list and he said “professional satirists should have life experiences.” He gave you a curriculum to pursue comedy and improv and nobody I’d met up to that point had done that. He kind of gave it value. And then he was also an innovator. I’d be in classes with him and he was always trying to find new things that were interesting and relevant to—what I felt like was our generation—because he was from the sixties and was part of the beat movement in the fifties and was sort handing off this art form where the challenge was to make it vital and interesting. Comedy and performance that spoke to the time and to the people who came through the door.

A lot of my early experiments discovering my voice were emulation. I think standups unconsciously emulate the people they see until they find their voice, and I think in improv you’re emulating sort of other moves and choices. So you’re in that development, and then a guy like Del comes by and forces you to make the choice that’s basically your second or third choice. He really hit that hard. “Don’t have it be your first choice, don’t have it be your second choice, have it be your third choice. So really think in surprising ways.” 

In improv, you’re taught to listen and make your partner look better than yourself. Del was pushing you to go beyond just your first thought or second thought, because your third thought might be more interesting. Often times you can get a cheap laugh that sells out the scene or betrays your partner, and it’s a laugh the audience has seen before. It’s sort of a formulaic laugh. Del had great disdain for those choices. He always liked the interesting and the specific and the odd. Hopefully some of that stuff stayed with me so everything I do isn’t run-of-the-mill.

Where did the idea for the Del Close Marathon come from?

I think it started within a year of his passing. He was the voice for our tv show, and before he passed away he had a living funeral where people came before they pulled the plug or whatever. We sent a camera to his living funeral and he recorded a video where he gave us “marching orders.” His basic thing was “keep spreading the love of improv, keep spreading the love.” [Matt] Besser would know the quote, but that’s what I remember. We had done 24 hour theater festivals in Chicago, so it was in our DNA, and the next year, we decided let’s do a 24-hour improv festival. And it was born.

It became a wonderful festival where people from all over the country came and got slots or applied to be in it, and it was a real coming together of this outsider artform. Improv was sort of beginning to grow right when we got to New York, or we helped it grow, too. It was neat to see the growth of all these college teams coming out or post-college teams, or people from Japan, or Finland. That kind of growth was crazy.

How did  you parlay Upright Citizens Brigade into a successful theater operation in both LA and NY?

The New York one started as a clubhouse. We had all these people we were teaching, we had our own show that we were doing and we wanted a place to keep our props. So we found an old strip club and turned it into a theater. By the time we all lived in Los Angeles, we opened a little theater there, which made sense because we were all living there and wanted to have our Sunday night Asssscat show. And then the other two venues that came after, I think, were just due to the demand. Classes were growing, people wanted grad shows, so we had to open another stage. Success was driven by student interest.

What was your first experience with cannabis?

I guess I was probably in high school. I feel like it was at a gymnastics camp. We were downstate Illinois and somebody had it. And then I really didn’t smoke until after college. I think I tried it then but I wasn’t really somebody who regularly used until post-college. Chicago’s kind of a drinking town, so that was sort of the social thing. In New York I became more of a regular or occasional pot smoker.

Does smoking play a role in your creative process for writing, directing, performing, etc?

It doesn’t work for me for writing, but if you have a mundane thing to rewrite, you can do that a little buzzed on weed. Any sort of capacities where you can’t access your quick brain—whether it’s alcohol or cannabis – it doesn’t do you any service, so you have to keep it light. But I think you could rewrite a little high. A friend of mine told me he writes sober and then he rewrites high.

In terms of my process, I have to be of clear mind. I certainly can’t direct under the influence of anything, that’s just me. I don’t do it when I’m acting. Though I guess at a late night improv show you could be a little toasty.

Is being in an altered state perhaps more conducive to the improv stage because you’re using a different part of your brain?

I think the expectation is lower from the audience because it’s late night and it’s probably rowdy. I think the fact there’s six or seven of you on the stage means that you’re not carrying the burden of everything, you know what I mean? Like a pick-up basketball vibe.

The best thing for me in terms of like the benefit is I’ll get high and take a hike or I’ll get high and go workout. That is part of my process. That I like. If I can get to nature and be a little toasted, it’s nice.

You’re the first person in these interviews to mention the nature element.

Los Angeles is littered with wonderful hikes that are like a twenty minute drive. Burbank’s got a couple or you can get to Malibu. Or you can go out to Pasadena and see a waterfall. That’s one of the things I really love about LA. The hikes. We’ve got kids, so we force them to go up with us sometimes, too. It’s nice.

Do you feel when you’re reconnecting with nature and clearing your mind that you’re filling the well and generating new ideas?

You are replenishing. Definitely. Nature always wins. If you can get to nature, it’s the best. It biologically calms and centers people. Something as stunning as the ocean where you can look out or float in it. It’s pretty amazing.

I think solitude, silence, is very good for the brain. To sort of get away from the city noise and hear silence or birds I think is really good for you. I know a lot of people who get up and do mediation in the morning and that supposedly is amazing. I do it occasionally. Like I’ll do 15 minutes in the morning and find that to be a nice clearing. Just wake up and sit for 15 minutes, monitor your breath. Living in a city—whatever city—you need to find stillness or peace of mind because there’s such an onslaught of stimuli.

The challenge is finding that balance.

You have to build it in. Fortunately, I’ve been a working actor for a while so I can carve out my days for myself sometimes. I guess if you have a nine-to-five job you have to do it at seven in the morning or after work. I know people who sneak out and meditate for 15 minutes in the stairwell of their office building.

Somebody was telling me you have to do it twice, once in the morning and once midday. A sort of centering meditation.

Is the thought one session builds on the other or there’s a balance between the two sessions?

My guess would be, and I’m not a meditation scientist, you’re just taking another dosage of meditation. You take a dose in the morning and then you take a dose of meditation in the afternoon and it should last you the whole day.

You’ve spent the past seven years on “Veep.” Have you ever taken time on set to “duck into that stairwell” and meditate for a minute?

No, I’m not that good. I’m not that dedicated. I really just started mediation in the last year. I never have done it habitually.

But you’re on set for long hours during the day. Even nights sometimes. How do you keep your mind and body awake?

Our job was in Baltimore for four seasons so we had a lot of time at home. A lot of long hours. So we as a cast would play a lot of squash, we would go on field trips to change scenery and get out of the hotel. But the key to any good actor is knowing how to nap. That maintains your immune system. If you can just lay down and check out, that’s amazing. Most good actors know how to take a quick nap.

And you have to discipline yourself too. You either have to skip lunch or don’t hang out at lunch and just go to your trailer and have a bite and lay down. If it’s a regular nap, I don’t think it can be longer than 25 minutes. Because then you wake up all weird from almost touching REM sleep. But if you’re not needed on set for like six hours and they’re not sending you home, then take a four hour nap and you’ll come back feeling like a hundred bucks.

Follow @mrmattwalsh and check out https://delclosemarathon.com/ for Del Close Marathon tickets and showtimes

The post Upright Citizens Brigade Co-Founder Matt Walsh is Tapped In appeared first on High Times.

Maine Governor Signs Recreational Marijuana Regulatory Framework Into Effect

June 29, 2019 Published by

Maine residents approved legal recreational marijuana back in 2016, but have been waiting on the government to approve a regulatory framework for the industry. Happily, the end of that wait is now in sight. Governor Janet Mills has signed into effect a law establishing cannabis industry guidelines that is set to take effect in September. That means the state’s first marijuana sales could take place as soon as early 2020. 

“The rule development demonstrates what can be accomplished when state government works with lawmakers, industry stakeholders and the public to accomplish a shared goal,” said Mills. “With this law, we are one step closer to honoring the will of Maine voters.”

The initial regulatory framework is restrictive for out of state cannabis companies hoping to expand into Maine’s new industry. A person who has lived in the state for four years will need to have at least 51 percent ownership for a company to be eligible for a license, a clause that will remain in effect until June 2021. 

That’s actually a more relaxed version of the originally proposed policy, which caused uproar from the state’s largest medical cannabis business Wellness Connection of Maine. 

The law establishes other restrictions on those eligible for a marijuana sales license in the state; those who have lost a marijuana license in any part of the US, and those who have been convicted of a felony related to a drug besides cannabis in the last decade are out of luck.

Jurisdictions will be allowed to opt out of the green rush. In fact, only 15 of Maine’s 455 municipalities have so far expressed interest in stepping up recreational sales systems. The bill’s regulations also stipulate extensive security guidelines for retail location and acceptable marijuana dispensary business hours — from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., open to certain exceptions.

Of course, it would be a misnomer to claim that the governor had single handedly legalized marijuana in the state by signing into effect. That honor would more accurately go to the Maine electorate, who voted by a very slim margin back in 2016 to legalize recreational cannabis. 

But the road to legal weed sales in Maine hit many snags. In 2017, Republican governor Paul LePage vetoed a bill that would have provided for cannabis sales by November of that year. His reasoning? Saving the youth, of course. “Sending a message, especially to our young people, that some drugs that are still illegal under federal law are now sanctioned by the state may have unintended and grave consequences,” LePage wrote in his veto letter. 

At a public hearing in May, the state’s judiciary committee heard arguments on how to deal with past criminal records. Lawmakers had proposed one plan to automatically expunge past non-violent cannabis misdemeanors, and another that would merely seal qualifying criminal records.

Mills’ office will continue to iron out the details of the plan, including a public education campaign and regulations surrounding the cannabis tracking and licensing processes. The regulations are based on a 74-page rulebook developed by the state’s Office of Marijuana Policy, the full text of which is available online.

The post Maine Governor Signs Recreational Marijuana Regulatory Framework Into Effect appeared first on High Times.

House Bill Would Permit Interstate Cannabis Commerce

June 29, 2019 Published by

Two lawmakers from Oregon introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress on Thursday that would allow for the interstate commerce of cannabis between states with legal pot. Under the measure from Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Earl Blumenauer, federal agencies would be prohibited from interfering with cannabis trade between states that have specifically authorized such transfers.

If successful, the bill would allow for the implementation of an Oregon state measure authorizing the export of marijuana to other states with legal cannabis. That bill, which was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Kate Brown earlier this week, is seen as a way to deal with the state’s ongoing glut of legal marijuana.

Protecting States’ Rights

Wyden said in a press release on Thursday that the new federal bill, the State Cannabis Commerce Act, aims to preserve states’ rights while Congress struggles with the broader issue of marijuana legalization at the national level.

“As more and more states legalize cannabis, the gap between state and federal laws will only grow more confusing for both legal businesses and consumers,” Wyden said. “The solution is clear: the federal government needs to end its senseless and out of touch prohibition. As we fight for that ultimate goal, however, Congress can and should immediately act to protect the will of Oregonians and voters in other states from federal interference—and that should include interstate cannabis commerce.”

The introduction of the State Cannabis Commerce Act comes only days after representatives in Congress approved a Blumenauer amendment to an appropriations bill that would protect cannabis businesses complying with state or tribal regulations.

“The federal government is hopelessly out of touch with the American people on cannabis,” Blumenauer said. “Last week, the House agreed and passed my amendments to forbid the federal government from interfering with cannabis programs in the states, D.C. and tribal communities. This week, we are turning to a top priority for Oregonians—allowing for interstate sale of cannabis. It’s past time we protect the states, like Oregon, that have gotten it right.”

The protections afforded in the State Cannabis Commerce Act are similar to those in place since 2014 for medical marijuana patients and providers. But the bill also extends that protection to all compliant businesses and consumers, including those in states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana.

Promoting Cannabis Trade

Justin Strekal, the political director of activist group the National Orgainization for the Reform of Mariuan Laws (NORML), said in a statement that cannabis should be treated like other regulated consumer commodities.

“Interstate commerce is good for both patients and consumers, as it will decrease the amount of time it takes for recently enacted medical programs to see products on the shelves and increase the variety of consumer options in both the adult-use and medical marketplaces,” Strekal said.“Just as Americans around the country enjoy Kentucky bourbon, so should they be allowed to enjoy Oregon cannabis.”

Blumenauer and Wyden have also campaigned for their “Path to Marijuana Reform,” a package of bills to legalize cannabis at the federal level. Senate Bill 420 would deschedule, regulate, and tax cannabis while Senate bills 421 and 422 would “shrink the gap between federal and state cannabis laws and keep the federal government out of the way,” according to the lawmakers.

The post House Bill Would Permit Interstate Cannabis Commerce appeared first on High Times.

Lo que los expertos tienen que decir sobre el sistema endocannabinoide

June 29, 2019 Published by

“Durante décadas, los científicos y los médicos de salud mental intentaron descubrir cómo funcionaba el THC en el cerebro y el cuerpo”, explicó el Dr. Paul Song, Director Médico de Calyx Peak Companies a través de un correo electrónico. Un avance significativo se produjo con el descubrimiento del sistema endocannabinoide (ECS) a finales de los 80 y principios de los 90.

Investigaciones adicionales han identificado desde entonces a los endocannabinoides como los cannabinoides producidos dentro de nuestros propios cuerpos. El sistema endocannabinoide regula e interpreta una serie de procesos en el cuerpo, que incluyen la memoria, el dolor, la reproducción, el apetito, la función inmunológica y muchos otros. Los dos endocannabinoides principales que se identificarán hoy en día son la anandamida y el 2-AG, o aracidonoilglicerol.

En un correo electrónico a High Times, Katie Stem, CEO de Peak Extracts, ofreció una breve descripción del sistema endocannabinoide. “El sistema consta de dos tipos principales de receptores: CB1 y CB2. Los endocannabinoides son neurotransmisores basados ​​en lípidos que provocan efectos en todo el sistema nervioso, desde tu cerebro hasta la punta de tus dedos “.

Stem agregó: “Aunque todavía tenemos mucho que aprender, parece que en algunas situaciones, el ECS actúa como un control de volumen para una variedad de procesos y factores, modulando la forma en que nuestro cuerpo interpreta las señales, ya sea dolor, hambre, emoción. , etc. ”

El Dr. Song agregó otro beneficio significativo de la ECS. “Tener esta base biológica de los efectos terapéuticos de los cannabinoides ha proporcionado más credibilidad y justificación para el uso medicinal del cannabis”.

Cómo el THC y el CBD interactúan con el ECS

Esta puede ser la parte donde las personas entienden el sistema endocannabinoide más de lo que podrían haber imaginado. La razón por la cual una persona siente los efectos de un nivel alto cuando consume THC es porque se une a los receptores CB1 y CB2, lo que le da un efecto en todo el cuerpo y la cabeza. Por otro lado, el CBD no tiene el mismo efecto en los receptores, pero sí tiene un efecto al activar otros receptores en el cuerpo.

Stem elaboró el CBD, que considera el más fascinante de los fitocannabinoides que tienen afinidad por el ECS, que también incluye THC, CBN, 11-Hydroxy THC, THC-V. “[CBD] actúa sobre los receptores de serotonina y los miembros de la familia de receptores acoplados a la proteína G, que están completamente separados del ECS. “Hay evidencia de que actúa como un modulador de la forma en que otros cannabinoides actúan en el ECS, por ejemplo, bloqueando la actividad del THC, o modulando los efectos de otros estimulantes del ECS”.

El cannabis está lejos de ser el único factor de influencia en el sistema endocannabinoide. Otros medicamentos interactúan con él, así como una serie de acciones diarias y opciones de estilo de vida que van desde el sueño y la dieta, al ejercicio, el sexo y la terapia de acupuntura. Sin embargo, está lejos de ser una talla única para todo tipo de evaluación.

Stem explicó cómo el sistema endocannabinoide de cada persona es único. Escribió: “Los cannabinoides, u otras cosas que afectan la ECS, tendrán diferentes efectos en diferentes personas según sus fisiologías individuales. Por lo tanto, no existe una “bala mágica”, y las personas experimentarán diversos beneficios del consumo de cannabis en función de su sistema ECS”.

Ian Jenkins, director general de Frelii, un proveedor de secuenciación de ADN y análisis del genoma, escribió cómo alimentar la ECS puede extenderse mucho más allá de los dos cannabinoides más populares. “Aunque la mayor parte de la investigación se basa en el THC y el CDB, casi todos los cannabinoides pueden considerarse nutritivos”.

Amplió su punto: “Son ligandos que se unen a un receptor que crea reacciones fisiológicas nutritivas, aunque ellos mismos no necesariamente” nutren “el sistema. Todo se reduce a la homeostasis y la salud, y no necesariamente a la nutrición o la nutrición en el sentido clásico “.

Quedan todavia múltiples ideas erróneas
 La información que rodea al sistema endocannabinoide continúa desarrollándose y expandiéndose. Como tal, a menudo surgen ideas erróneas. El Dr. Song mencionó varios, entre ellos que el ECS no evolucionó debido al consumo de cannabis. Jenkins estuvo de acuerdo con esta opinión. “Aunque puede haber habido coevolución, la ECS es una parte esencial del cuerpo humano, y tanto los cannabinoides como los terpenos se encuentran en más plantas que solo cannabis … Sin embargo, es probable que tengamos una relación a largo plazo con todos Las plantas que tienen cannabinoides debido al beneficio que tienen en el cuerpo “.

El Dr. Song también señaló que los cannabinoides se pueden encontrar en plantas distintas al cannabis. También reconoció los conceptos erróneos acerca de cómo el CDB y el THC se unen a los receptores del cuerpo. Jenkins discutió un punto similar con respecto a la ubicación de los receptores críticos. “Aunque las concentraciones más altas de CB1 están en el cerebro y CB2 están en el sistema nervioso periférico, ambos receptores CB1 y CB2 se encuentran en todo el cuerpo”.

Últimos desarrollos
 El Dr. Song notó el cambio en el sentimiento en torno al cannabis como un factor principal para entender mejor cómo funciona el sistema en la prevención, el desarrollo y el tratamiento de diversas enfermedades. Agregó que “también se está haciendo un gran trabajo para desarrollar cannabinoides sintéticos altamente específicos para fines farmacéuticos, y se están desarrollando cepas de cannabis altamente personalizadas para proporcionar una respuesta terapéutica aún mayor”.

Stem discutió el aumento en las discusiones sobre el síndrome de deficiencia de ECS, dijo que el síndrome “podría ser la etiología de una variedad de enfermedades graves como la esclerosis múltiple y la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal”. La creencia es que la falta de cannabinoides endógenos puede llevar a que el sistema inmunológico se salga de control. Como una víctima de más de 20 años de la enfermedad de Crohn, los desarrollos la golpearon cerca de casa.

Además de los desarrollos, Stem está en un equipo de investigación que tiene como objetivo estudiar diferentes métodos de consumo y cómo se absorben y metabolizan. Con el tiempo, esperan comenzar a explorar los diferentes perfiles terpénicos de varias cepas y cómo afectan a la ECS en concierto con los fitocannabinoides.

Jenkins reconoció las mejoras en la inteligencia artificial, un espacio con el que su compañía trabaja en estrecha colaboración. Al hablar sobre el alcance más amplio del espacio de ECS, dijo: “Independientemente de si cree o no en la teoría de la evolución conjunta, existe una interacción increíble entre los seres humanos y el cannabis”. Añadió: “Acabamos de comenzar a desbloquear los beneficios. . ”

The post Lo que los expertos tienen que decir sobre el sistema endocannabinoide appeared first on High Times.

HTTV Launches New Cooking Channel: Farm to Table Cannabis by The Hydroponic Chef

June 29, 2019 Published by

High Times TV is proud to launch a new cannabis-infused cooking channel: Farm to Table Cannabis presented by The Hydroponic Chef. You may have caught The Hydroponic Chef on 420 Live a few weeks ago. Now, you can watch his cooking show anytime you want on High Times TV!

A bonus post and recipe from The Hydroponic Chef:

Table-side meal preparation seems to be a thing of the past. Other than your elaborate dining space in upscale neighborhoods serving hand prepared Caesar salad table-side or a rolling service cart accompanied by an under-enthusiastic staff member mixing raw beef, egg, and Worcestershire for steak tartare, these services are not something that you will find at your local eatery.

After witnessing the flaming cheese wheel on travel shows and catching glimpses of friends videos coming home from Europe, these experiences inspired me to do my own cannabis-infused cheese wheel pasta. Procuring a cheese wheel was more challenging than I anticipated. The experience of visiting a cheese store is an experience all in itself.

After getting turned down at my local cheese store and then again at Costco, I found an Italian specialty food store that deals with imported cheeses. This turned out to be the best location when looking for a cheese wheel. Now, don’t expect your local cheese store to have a cheese wheel in stock; you will likely have to order it ahead of time to be picked up.

Traditionally, cheese would not be cut down the middle to create a bowl shape, but with a little persuasion (maybe I kicked the cheesemongers some weed), he cut the wheel horizontally exposing the beautiful 18-month aged cheese that was perfect for melting and grating over pasta. He explained the imported cheese is a big ticket item, but if it was used often and stored properly you can get months’ worth of cheese out of one of the half-wheels.

After lacing the cheesemonger for hooking me up, it was time to seek out the rest of the ingredients. Carbonara is a classic Roman dish consisting of four primary ingredients: guanciale (or pancetta) egg, garlic, and pecorino Romano cheese.

For this recipe, I added a fifth ingredient from my hydroponic garden: gelato cannabis.

Hydro Chef Medicated Cheese Wheel Carbonara

Ingredients 
  • 1 pound Bucatini pasta
  • 1/4 cup medicated olive oil
  • 1/2 pound pancetta, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup peas
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • Large Pecorino Cheese Wheel
  • 3 tablespoons Grappa
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Handful chopped flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
Directions
  • Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, about 8 minutes.
  • While pasta is boiling heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add medicated olive oil and pancetta. Crisp the pancetta about 2 minutes. 
  • Add red pepper flakes, peas and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Add wine and stir adding all the flavors from pan together. 
  • In a separate bowl, beat yolks and mix with 1 oz of hot pasta water to temper egg
  • Drain pasta and add directly to the skillet with pancetta and medicated oil then remove from heat 
  • Pour the egg mixture over the pasta and toss well
  • Scrape cheese wheel to get some loosened bits of cheese for pasta. 
  • Pour grappa into a metal sauce pan and flambé with a torch. While alcohol is lit, pour over loosened cheese in cheese wheel. 
  • Let alcohol burn off while cheese melts, then transfer pasta into cheese wheel. Toss rapidly to coat the pasta. Pepper to taste then garnish with parsley and serve topped with more pecorino. #HydroChefApproved 

Hydro Chef Medicated Bellini

Ingredients 
  • 1 teaspoon Chronic Elixir THC or CBD syrup
  • 1 frozen peach slice
  • 4 fluid oz chilled sparkling wine
  • 1 drop of your favorite terpene (optional)
Directions
  • Pour Chronic Elixir into a champagne flute
  • Add frozen peach
  • Slowly pour sparkling wine over peach
  • Drop 1 drip or your favorite terpene over champagne mixture

Cheers!

The post HTTV Launches New Cooking Channel: Farm to Table Cannabis by The Hydroponic Chef appeared first on High Times.

Una nueva investigación indica que el consumo de cannabis puede motivar a uno a hacer ejercicio

June 29, 2019 Published by

¿Será que ya podemos parar con el estigma del “marihuanero” flojo de una vez por todas?

Una nueva investigación de la Universidad de Colorado indica que el cannabis puede aumentar el disfrute de la actividad física y ayudar a motivar a los usuarios a hacer ejercicio. Recientemente se publicó un resumen de la investigación y la revista médica Frontiers in Public Health publicará pronto los resultados completos del estudio.

Los investigadores escribieron que el estudio del consumo de cannabis en el contexto de comportamientos de salud como el ejercicio físico “se está volviendo cada vez más relevante a medida que continúa la legalización del cannabis, una situación que se ha asociado con un mayor inicio de uso entre adultos y una mayor potencia de los productos disponibles en Estados legalizados “.

Para llevar a cabo el estudio, los investigadores reclutaron a 600 usuarios de cannabis para completar una encuesta en línea sobre la relación entre la actividad deportiva y su consumo de cannabis. Más de ocho de cada 10 encuestados fueron reclutados de estados donde el consumo de cannabis es legal. Ellos dijeron que el cannabis puede conducir a una mejor experiencia de ejercicio.

“Los resultados indicaron que la mayoría (81.7%) de los participantes respaldaron el uso de cannabis simultáneamente con el ejercicio, y los que sí tendían a ser más jóvenes y más propensos a ser hombres”, escribieron los autores del estudio.

“Además, los participantes informaron que el consumo de cannabis aumentó la cantidad de ejercicio en el que participaron, y que no solo aumentó el disfrute del entrenamiento sino que mejoró su recuperación después del entrenamiento”, agregaron.

Mejores entrenamientos con cannabis

Los consumidores de cannabis informaron que practicaban más ejercicio aeróbico y anaeróbico y encontraron el mayor beneficio cuando lo consumían inmediatamente antes o después de hacer ejercicio.

“Además, la mayoría de los participantes que recomendaron consumir cannabis poco antes o después del ejercicio informaron que al hacerlo aumenta su disfrute y recuperación después del ejercicio, y aproximadamente la mitad informó que aumenta su motivación para hacer ejercicio”, se lee en el estudio.

Los investigadores señalan que la actividad física es uno de los comportamientos más importantes para una vida saludable, pero que muchos estadounidenses no hacen suficiente ejercicio.

“Los problemas comunes que rodean las bajas tasas de ejercicio incluyen el disfrute inadecuado y la motivación para hacer ejercicio, y la mala recuperación del ejercicio”, según los autores del estudio “, escribieron.

Con datos que ahora muestran que el cannabis puede llevar a una mayor actividad física, tal vez el estereotipo anticuado de que los usuarios de marihuana son perezosos y desmotivados finalmente se puede poner en reposo. Los autores del estudio pidieron más investigación sobre el tema.

“Este estudio representa un paso importante para aclarar el uso de cannabis con ejercicio entre usuarios adultos en estados con mercados legales de cannabis, y proporciona orientación para futuras instrucciones de investigación”, concluye el resumen.

The post Una nueva investigación indica que el consumo de cannabis puede motivar a uno a hacer ejercicio appeared first on High Times.

Texas County Prosecutors Dismiss Hundreds of Marijuana Misdemeanors

June 29, 2019 Published by

Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill that will legalize industrial hemp and CBD products.

Now, some county prosecutors are grappling with the fallout with the new law—namely, what to do with more than 200 pot-related offenses.

The district attorney’s office in Tarrant County, Texas has dismissed 235 marijuana misdemeanors that have been filed since June 10, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

Those misdemeanors now require lab tests. But there’s one massive dilemma: under the new law, most labs in the state are unable to differentiate between marijuana, hemp and hemp-related products. The new law in Texas, signed by Abott on June 10 and went into effect immediately, allows farmers in the state to cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, while also clarifying which CBD products are legal.

The signing of the law came on the heels of Congress’ passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in December, which removed a huge obstacle for states by making hemp legal on the federal level. But both the federal law and the new state law in Texas complicated longstanding legal definitions of what constituted marijuana and hemp. Under the new laws, the concentration of THC would be the chief factor distinguishing the two.

In testimony before the Houston Forensic Science Board earlier this month, James Miller, a seized drug analyst, said the new laws — which define hemp as containing less than .3% THC and marijuana as anything above that threshold — “caught a lot of us by surprise.”

In order to conduct the necessary testing, Miller said, laws will require additional equipment.

As such, Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that a “lab report in our estimation is now a requirement of the crime because it’s the only way you can tell legal from illegal.” Most of the dismissed cases, according to Wilson, were for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. 

Those tests “could be quite expensive because it’s rare,” Wilson said, adding that her office is close to finding a viable lab.

“We think we found two,” Wilson said. “I’ll be communicating with our police agencies about what those labs are so that they can get that needed lab result and refile the case.”

The bill to legalize industrial hemp drew bipartisan support in the Texas state legislature, with both Democrats and Republicans alike applauding what they said could be a boon for local farmers.

Sid Miller, the state’s agriculture commissioner, said that “Texas will be a leader in hemp production.”

“This will be another tool for farmers that are looking to diversify their farming operations,” Miller said.

More than 40 states have laws allowing for industrial hemp.

The post Texas County Prosecutors Dismiss Hundreds of Marijuana Misdemeanors appeared first on High Times.

Farrah Abraham, From ‘Teen Mom’ Star, To NYT Best Seller, To Cannabis Entrepreneur

June 29, 2019 Published by

Those over the age of 20 might remember MTV’s shows, 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, and its very memorable cast member Farrah Abraham.

Since her high-profile part in these shows came to an end, though, Farrah has been doing all kinds of things, from acting, to releasing albums, to writing books – one of which even landed on The New York Times Best Seller List.

As a mom-preneur, Farrah is always looking for fun, interesting new ventures to get into. The latest one: weed.

A few weeks ago, Farrah announced she was teaming up with California cannabis delivery company SpeedWeed to launch a new line called Culture. The line will include a variety of products both with CBD and THC, including pre-rolls, pet tinctures, and erotic CBD massage oils.

Picking The Right Partner

During an exclusive chat with High Times, Farrah explained Culture was kind of a natural fit for her lifestyle, an idea that just spurred from how she transits life. “I don’t have to be a hippie in the weeds of marijuana fields to know that, mindfully, I can utilize CBD and THC… I am on the go, I have pressures, my career is not easy, my lifestyle is not easy, and, as a parent, I want to bring something that’s just natural.

“I’m not trying to push anything on anyone, I just want them to mindfully think about how it can help relieve stress or whatever they hear that it can help them with. I wanted it to be a common, commercialized, and accessible product.”

Farrah chose SpeedWeed due to an alignment in values and their support of women in cannabis – the company’s COO is female.

By Women, For Women…

While unisex, Farrah’s new brand has a strong female mark.

She brought up her recent experience at South by Southwest, where she attended numerous panels on cannabis, hemp and CBD. She said many execs and attendees noted this in an industry still dominated by males. But, she says, people want this to change, and are increasingly putting their money where their mouths are.

“If money is given to the right person, with a business sense, and the right team behind her, then I feel like this will be a monumental year and a big growth year for cannabis, and for Culture.

“I feel we need more business-minded females to help guide us and luckily with my background I hope to do this properly.”

Courtesy of Culture CBD

…Or Maybe For Everyone

When we asked Farrah about her target demographic, assuming it was young women, the answer surprised us.

“My dad, who is a baby boomer and a veteran, has heavily inspired me to be open to starting a company for CBD and THC, because he utilizes all of the products when it comes to CBD and THC,” she disclosed. “I just hear so much when flying in and out of Austin, Texas that they want more of the culture, they want more of the products, and it’s huge in the veteran community. I want to work more on that with my father. I see what it helps him with and I also see where it helps other veterans.

“If it wasn’t for that, which came through my father, I probably wouldn’t of ever thought of starting Culture.”

She acknowledged, however, that her following is skewed young and female. “I have around 70 percent of women watching my social platforms over the five million that I have and I know that I speak for women mostly. I do have a large following of male supporters and buyers of my products, and they’re all using CBD and THC in one form or another. Whether it’s tinctures or gummies or pre-rolls, I know that it speaks to them.”

Even For Moms!

We then asked Farrah about consuming cannabis as a mom, and how she felt that was perceived socially.

She said she knows moms want cannabis products that are discrete and childproof. Many of them also seek for organic stuff. “ Those are things that speak to me and were super important in creating the brand of Culture. I need to always be consistent with that, because it’s how I buy and that is my lifestyle choice.”

But, despite being an overt cannabis activist, Farrah is also discreet about her cannabis use around her family, friends and daughter. “I take that very seriously. My daughter doesn’t even know. Again, I’m all about child-safe products and I’m all about being discreet.”

All About Discretion

Down these lines, Culture’s erotic massage oil also looks discreet, just like a tincture that you would have in your medical cabinet.

“I want parents to feel comfortable to have their culture CBD product around and not feel like they need to hide it like they do with their sex toys. You can be the best parent, you can be relaxed, you can focus on your career, and you can definitely implement CBD and THC into your lifestyle and still feel in control, be successful, and balance your family time. I show that to the utmost and I’m very successful.

“I have a lot of female owned firms and companies who are reaching out to me. They want me to be a part of their platforms because they are criticized or they feel like life is critical about their parenting. Whether you’re a mom or a dad, no matter if you’re a single parent, you still have that time while your kids are asleep to have a quick pre-roll. No one even sees me and I’ve been doing this for years – it helps me stay positive, be more productive, and feel relaxed.” 

Sex And Weed, What Else?

Finally, we went into the lubricant in detail. Farrah is certainly not shy when it comes to sex topics: she’s even written books about it.

Farrah owns her sexuality. Period. End of discussion.

Her new erotic massage oil combines the properties of coconut oil with those of cannabis oil.

There are two versions of it. One is sold through dispensaries, and contains THC. The other one can be sold anywhere, as it only contains hemp-derived CBD.

“It’s got the CBD healing factor from the perspective of an anti-inflammatory. If you have an issue with tightness or irritation, the lubrication helps to make it more enjoyable for you,” Farrah explained, assuring the stuff can even be applied to genitalia. 

By means of conclusion, Farrah added, “as someone who has an international license in erotic novelty sex toys for about five years and winning awards for my erotic novel toys, I felt that … they (couples) want the best for their intimate time. If I didn’t deliver something for a pleasurable time with a significant other, I feel like I would be doing an injustice to my supportive customer base.

“I didn’t want to come out with a regular lubrication and I don’t use a regular lubricant. I use a CDB-coconut oil and I make sure it’s the highest quality…I don’t want to talk about people’s issues with orgasms, but I want to give them the tools, I want to make sure that they’re comfortable, like I have with everything I’ve done.”

The post Farrah Abraham, From ‘Teen Mom’ Star, To NYT Best Seller, To Cannabis Entrepreneur appeared first on High Times.

Bid For Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative Launched in Idaho

June 29, 2019 Published by

Cannabis activists in Idaho have launched a bid to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana in the state and will soon be collecting signatures to put a voter initiative on the ballot for the 2020 election. The legalization initiative was filed with the Idaho Secretary of State on Tuesday by members of the Idaho Cannabis Coalition. Once the initiative has been reviewed by the Secretary of State, activists will have until the end of April to gather the more than 55,000 signatures necessary for the initiative to qualify for the 2020 ballot.

If the initiative is successful, patients with a qualifying serious medical condition would be allowed to possess up to four ounces of cannabis for medicinal use. It would also establish a system to regulate the production and sale of medical marijuana and protect medicinal cannabis users from discrimination in employment, housing, and education.

“It’s a pretty carefully thought-out regulatory system both for patients and providers,” said James Piotrowski, an attorney representing the initiative effort.

Patients Campaign for MMJ

John Belville of the Idaho Cannabis Coalition has a chronic condition known as peripheral neuropathy that causes severe pain. His doctors prescribed strong narcotics that were not only ineffective but harmful to his health. Belville learned that medical marijuana could bring him relief while he was visiting neighboring Oregon, where cannabis is legal.

“I took this little eye dropper and put it under my tongue and waited about 15 minutes and the pain went away,” Belville said about his initial experience with cannabis oil. “Now, I don’t know what anyone thinks about anything else but I’ll tell you right now this stuff works.”

Cannabis activist Serra Frank of the Group Legalize Idaho said that it is time to catch up with surrounding states, most of which have already legalized cannabis in some form.

“The Idaho Cannabis Coalition’s long-awaited petition provides real hope to the sick and disabled citizens of Idaho,” Frank told High Times in an email. “We have watched anxiously from our little Island of Prohibition, as the rest of the country changes their laws to catch up to common sense.”

Frank, who left Idaho for Oregon so she could use medical marijuana legally, will be able to return home if the initiative succeeds.

“We’ve been waiting for so long to have a chance to use this natural medicine without risking persecution, prosecution, incarceration, and the destruction of our families,” she said. “We finally see a light in the darkness – a chance to be able to access our medicine like normal patients, and buy it from a regulated store, instead of in the parking lot from a black market dealer.”

Piotrowski dismissed suggestions that the initiative was a step to legalizing cannabis for adult use.

“We are absolutely not trying to push something that’s going to be a wink and a nod for recreational use,” he said. “This is truly a medical-use law that we’re proposing, that would focus on patients who need or can use the drug for medical purposes.”

The post Bid For Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative Launched in Idaho appeared first on High Times.