Medical legalization enjoyed 77% support in a statewide poll a few years ago. Will Nebraska voters make it a reality on Nov. 3?

The post Election 2020: Nebraska medical marijuana legalization guide appeared first on Leafly.

Snoop Dogg is beloved all over the world. He’s revolutionized hip-hop and turned how we get high into a transcendental art form that continues to uplift humanity. Now, kicking off on National Wing Day, Snoop is sharing the mastery of yet another one of his passions: Chicken wings.

The Wing Showdown is a digital food competition brought to life by Off The Menu and Uber Eats that’s running between July 29 and August 2, 2020. Snoop is one of the celebrity participants and, in celebration of this delicious holiday, he’s sharing his personal wing recipe with chefs and restaurants in NYC, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Denver, Toronto, and Vancouver. 

The Wing Showdown was inspired by a prior celebrity Off The Menu event called The Burger Showdown, in which celebs grilled an array of exquisite burgers. So, then, how did wings get the call this time instead of, say, pizza? Or dank-ass nachos?

The short answer is that wings are simple enough to pull-off at home. You don’t need a lot of ingredients, time, or kitchen space to make ‘em happen. “I knew there was an appetite for chicken wings, and they are such a versatile food that celebrities love,” said Lawrence Longo, the CEO of Off The Menu, a business that makes secret menus for restaurants, bars, and cafes, that’s responsible for making this event happen. “It was the perfect food item for the next Showdown.”

But, getting Snoop Dogg to participate in your event is basically like trying to convince the Pope to come to your birthday party — unless chicken wings, Snoop’s favorite dish, are involved. “After reading [Snoop’s] cookbook From Crook to Cook, I knew I had to do something cool with him in the food space,” Longo said. “What’s really cool about Snoop’s involvement is that, for every wing sold, Off The Menu is donating a portion of the proceeds to Snoop’s Youth Football league.”

Other celebrities contributing dishes include Shaquille O’Neal, Jessie James Decker, Tyler Cameron, Tyra Banks, Haylie Duff, Anthony Anderson, Zac Posen, Phil Heath, and more. 

Fans will be able to sample each drool-worthy entry by ordering from the participating restaurants listed at TheWingShowdown.com from July 29-Aug 2, 2020. Afterward, those dining can return to the site and vote for their favorite dish. When the results are tallied, funds will be donated to the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) in the name of the celebrity who gets the most votes. The CPE is a research and action organization that reduces the causes of racial disparities in law enforcement and uses evidence-based approaches to create levers for social, cultural, and policy change. 

It’s honestly a winning prospect for all involved. Beyond a fiesta for your taste buds and a chance to support a dynamic charity, each order will also directly benefit local dining spots and related businesses.

“Our digital Showdowns have two main goals,” Longo said. “The first is to drive sales to local restaurants. The second is to give back via charitable partners whose missions align with values we hold close. Just like food brings people together, our mutual support will help fuel the ability to bring communities and police chiefs together for reforms that everyone can get behind. Off the Menu invites you to join us in showing that our wing-loving community stands together against racial injustice.”

What better way to show unity than through celebrating the simplistic bliss of delicious wings? In a lot of ways, chicken wings are like art: The meat is the canvas and the sauce is the paint that gives a dish its distinct essence. “We saw a lot of people creating recipes based on their upbringings,” Longo said. “For example, Jo Koy is doing a Filipino adobo style chicken wing, which looks dope. Tyra Banks is doing a sriracha-maple flavored wing — I’ve tried that one, and it’s incredible.”

But, really, is any contender going to hold a drumstick to Snoop? Just consider how high chicken wings rank among stoner cuisine and the fact Snoop has spent years baking (in every sense) with legendary kitchen queen, Martha Stewart.

“Snoop’s ‘Chip Fried Chicken Wings’ are probably the most creative wings in the event,” Longo said. “It’s the perfect recipe for a chicken wing competition. Snoop uses potato chips in his batter. Everyone is going to absolutely love them!”

Courtesy of Daniel Patterson

Chef Daniel Patterson of Los Angeles-based restaurant Alta is thrilled to be involved with the Wing Showdown. “Snoop asked for Alta to be one of the three restaurants in L.A. making his chicken wings,” Patterson said. “We love the flavor that the potato chips add to the coating. We’re including our favorite new hot sauce, Red Ranch, with each order of wings. It’s killer with all kinds of stoner food!”

One game-changer about this year’s Showdown is that weed is now legal in a number of participating cities.

“I think the legalization of marijuana has given everyone a legal reason to be hungrier, and that makes people want to discover more new food,” Longo said. “Every meal tastes way better when you’re stoned. Chicken wings are the perfect stoner food, so we hope customers will watch the recipe videos online and then order. The event goes on for five days, so you can try a lot of different wings.”

Now that burgers and wings are checked off the list, what stoner dish will be at the center of the next celebrity Showdown? “Tacos, pizza, and sandwiches are all in the works,” Longo said. “We also do an event called Tenderfest, which is half festival, half tender museum. It’s an epic experience!”

Visit TheWingShowdown.com to watch videos from the celebs involved and to cast your vote (for Snoop, of course!).

This was created in partnership with Uber Eats, Off the Menu, and Alta.

During the COVID-19 crisis, states are opening up online ordering and delivery options so medical patients can get marijuana safely. Check out what your state’s doing.

The post COVID-19 and medical marijuana patients: What you need to know appeared first on Leafly.

During the COVID-19 crisis, states are opening up online ordering and delivery options so medical patients can get marijuana safely. Check out what your state’s doing.

The post COVID-19 and medical marijuana patients: What you need to know appeared first on Leafly.

Federal Policy On Hemp CBD Is Taking Shape: What Needs To Be Addressed?

One feature that could show up in the FDA’s enforcement guidance submitted to the White House is instruction on how to measure THC in hemp products.

The post Federal Policy On Hemp CBD Is Taking Shape: What Needs To Be Addressed? appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

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It’s looking likely that New Jersey will become the 12th US state to legalize adult-use cannabis, according to a new poll conducted by DKC Analytics. 

This November, the state’s general election ballot will include a referendum question asking whether the state constitution should be amended to allow legal cannabis sales and use. The ballot measure would legalize possession and use for adults aged 21 and older and establish a state-run cannabis commission to oversee licensing and regulations for retail sales.

It’s hard to predict how the 2020 election will pan out, but polls are suggesting that the legalization measure will be a solid success. According to a new poll released on Tuesday, 68 percent of respondents say they are in favor of legalization. Support seems to have grown since April, when a separate poll reported that around 60 percent of respondents were in favor of legalization.

In the current poll, nearly 40 percent said they “strongly support” legalization, while 28 percent said they “somewhat support” the ballot measure. Only about a quarter of respondents said they opposed legalization, and around 6 percent said they were uncertain. Like most other cannabis-related polls, Democrats were most likely (78 percent) to support legalization, but majorities of Republicans (57 percent) and independents (63 percent) were still down with legal weed.

“The polling results confirmed our belief that there is overwhelming support for the creation of a regulated, adult-use cannabis marketplace in New Jersey,” said John Fanburg, an attorney at Brach Eichler, the law firm that commissioned the survey, according to Marijuana Moment. “Respondents supported it because it will create tremendous opportunity. It will create vitally needed new businesses, the state will receive significant tax revenues and illegal sales will be dramatically reduced, if not eliminated. Voters see this as a win for everyone.”

The poll also asked respondents to weigh in on exactly how legalization should be implemented. The vast majority of voters were in favor of limiting pot use to private property (71 percent) and expunging the criminal records of former pot offenders (68 percent). Half of the respondents said that the state should allow weed consumption lounges, while 56 percent said that they supported home weed delivery. Voters were divided on the issue of whether to allow individual towns to ban legal pot businesses, however.

Interestingly, although 68 percent of voters said they supported legalization, 57 percent of them said that they did not personally use cannabis. To delve further into the issue, the survey asked voters why they supported or opposed the measure. Nearly 70 percent of supporters said that they believed legalization would help destroy the black market, and 43 percent said they believed pot was safer than alcohol.

Around 57 percent of voters said they believed legal weed would create more jobs, 61 percent said legalization would increase tax revenue and ensure safer weed products, and 60 percent said it would save taxpayer money that is currently being wasted on enforcing cannabis prohibition laws. 

“The strong level of support for correcting this decades-old inequality, especially in the context of recent protests of inherent bias in law enforcement, should be well noted by our legislators who will be tasked with correcting this unfortunate consequence of the failed policy of prohibition,” said Charles Gormally of Brach Eichler to Marijuana Moment.

For those opposed to legalization, 38 percent said they were concerned about impaired driving, 27 percent were afraid of increased youth access, and 24 percent still believe the tired old “gateway drug” myth.

Governor Phil Murphy initially hoped to legalize adult-use immediately after taking office in 2017, but conservative lawmakers shot down his plan, and every adult-use bill introduced in the state Legislature since then has failed. Last December, after the last of these bills was finally tabled, lawmakers decided to let the state’s residents decide the fate of legal weed, and created a referendum to be included on this year’s election ballot.

Image via

It’s looking likely that New Jersey will become the 12th US state to legalize adult-use cannabis, according to a new poll conducted by DKC Analytics. 

This November, the state’s general election ballot will include a referendum question asking whether the state constitution should be amended to allow legal cannabis sales and use. The ballot measure would legalize possession and use for adults aged 21 and older and establish a state-run cannabis commission to oversee licensing and regulations for retail sales.

It’s hard to predict how the 2020 election will pan out, but polls are suggesting that the legalization measure will be a solid success. According to a new poll released on Tuesday, 68 percent of respondents say they are in favor of legalization. Support seems to have grown since April, when a separate poll reported that around 60 percent of respondents were in favor of legalization.

In the current poll, nearly 40 percent said they “strongly support” legalization, while 28 percent said they “somewhat support” the ballot measure. Only about a quarter of respondents said they opposed legalization, and around 6 percent said they were uncertain. Like most other cannabis-related polls, Democrats were most likely (78 percent) to support legalization, but majorities of Republicans (57 percent) and independents (63 percent) were still down with legal weed.

“The polling results confirmed our belief that there is overwhelming support for the creation of a regulated, adult-use cannabis marketplace in New Jersey,” said John Fanburg, an attorney at Brach Eichler, the law firm that commissioned the survey, according to Marijuana Moment. “Respondents supported it because it will create tremendous opportunity. It will create vitally needed new businesses, the state will receive significant tax revenues and illegal sales will be dramatically reduced, if not eliminated. Voters see this as a win for everyone.”

The poll also asked respondents to weigh in on exactly how legalization should be implemented. The vast majority of voters were in favor of limiting pot use to private property (71 percent) and expunging the criminal records of former pot offenders (68 percent). Half of the respondents said that the state should allow weed consumption lounges, while 56 percent said that they supported home weed delivery. Voters were divided on the issue of whether to allow individual towns to ban legal pot businesses, however.

Interestingly, although 68 percent of voters said they supported legalization, 57 percent of them said that they did not personally use cannabis. To delve further into the issue, the survey asked voters why they supported or opposed the measure. Nearly 70 percent of supporters said that they believed legalization would help destroy the black market, and 43 percent said they believed pot was safer than alcohol.

Around 57 percent of voters said they believed legal weed would create more jobs, 61 percent said legalization would increase tax revenue and ensure safer weed products, and 60 percent said it would save taxpayer money that is currently being wasted on enforcing cannabis prohibition laws. 

“The strong level of support for correcting this decades-old inequality, especially in the context of recent protests of inherent bias in law enforcement, should be well noted by our legislators who will be tasked with correcting this unfortunate consequence of the failed policy of prohibition,” said Charles Gormally of Brach Eichler to Marijuana Moment.

For those opposed to legalization, 38 percent said they were concerned about impaired driving, 27 percent were afraid of increased youth access, and 24 percent still believe the tired old “gateway drug” myth.

Governor Phil Murphy initially hoped to legalize adult-use immediately after taking office in 2017, but conservative lawmakers shot down his plan, and every adult-use bill introduced in the state Legislature since then has failed. Last December, after the last of these bills was finally tabled, lawmakers decided to let the state’s residents decide the fate of legal weed, and created a referendum to be included on this year’s election ballot.

This Is The Most Important Factor When It Comes To Relationship Success

While individual characteristics are important, a recent study shows a new way of viewing relationships.

The post This Is The Most Important Factor When It Comes To Relationship Success appeared first on The Fresh Toast.

The House of Representatives is prepared to vote this week on a measure to prohibit the Department of Justice from meddling with any state, territory, or tribal cannabis programs, according to a report. 

If the House votes in favor of the amendment, which is similar to the famous Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, it would give legal marijuana businesses the ability to operate without fear of federal busts. That’s a huge relief, considering cannabis is still technically illegal under federal law.

The proposal in play is an amendment to spending legislation FY2021 that was sponsored by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). This past Tuesday, the House Rules Committee passed the measure for a floor vote, which is reportedly expected to happen before the weekend.

“None of the funds made available by this Act to the Department of Justice may be used… to prevent any [states, territories, or tribes] from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of marijuana,” the amendment states.

This DOJ-blocking move is just the latest weed-related component of the FY2021 legislation expected to face yea-or-nea counts this week.

Previously approved FY2021 amendments include language to prevent universities from being denied federal funds for studying cannabis, as well as a measure that prohibits the Treasury Department from penalizing banks for conducting business with legal cannabis companies.

Unfortunately, the latest version of FY2021 doesn’t include language that would allow Washington DC to legally permit retail sales — let alone a whole adult-use market. DC has a unique “legal cannabis” situation because the region passed recreational and medical weed laws years ago, but the surrounding laws have barred bringing an industry into existence, ultimately keeping it in a liminal space.

Last year, House members from both parties voted 267-165 in favor of legislation to protect legal cannabis states from federal harassment. Those measures got shot down in the Republican-led Senate, however — an example of the governmental trends that pot advocates hope will be reversed in the upcoming November elections.

As MERRY JANE reported earlier this week, plans also appear to be underway for Congress to vote in September on The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act.

Among other proposed advances, the MORE Act aims to federally deschedule cannabis, entirely expunge any existing marijuana conviction records, and attach a five-percent sales tax on weed in order to finance reinvestment in communities and populations most damaged by the War on Drugs.

In the meantime, we can all participate by contacting our government reps to make it clear that the public demands legalization and other reforms. Plus, maybe even above all else, let’s actively vote Trump and his corrosive cronies out of office come the fall.

What Effect Does CBD Oil Have On Cats?

CBD’s anti-inflammatory and stress relieving properties might be a good option for treating anxiety without causing meaningful side effects.

The post What Effect Does CBD Oil Have On Cats? appeared first on The Fresh Toast.