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Could cannabis prevent COVID? To the authors of a new study, it sure looks like it. But put away the pipe — it appears the compounds that may be most helpful in preventing COVID degrade at high temps A groundbreaking new study published this week identified what could be an unexpected tool in the world's fight against COVID-19: cannabis. Yes, you read that right. According to a peer-reviewed paper published this week in the Journal of Natural Products, titled "Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants," at least three compounds naturally occurring in the cannabis plant were shown in lab tests to be effective at stopping coronavirus molecules from entering human cells. The mechanism effectively mimics the activity of antibodies, with the cannabis compounds attaching themselves to the virus' spike protein, one of the authors told Salon. The study concludes: With widespread use of cannabinoids, resistant variants could still arise, but the combination of vaccination and CBDA/CBGA treatment should create a more challenging environment with which SARS-CoV-2 must contend, reducing the likelihood of escape. In case any of that is confusing, the authors also included in the paper a handy illustration of the phenomenon: The findings have gone viral, so to speak, trending on Twitter and inspiring much speculation online under the hashtag "#WeedPreventsCOVID." But don't reach for that joint just yet — the compounds, CBD-A, CBG-A, and THC-A, are non-psychoactive and degrade at high temperatures, which makes smoking or baking less-than-ideal ways to consume them. Pills or gummies are better, not to mention concentrates that have been designed to maximize the content of these specific substances. Beyond that, the entire premise must undergo a series of clinical trials before researchers will say for sure whether it works in real life the way it does in the controlled conditions of a lab. Still, Dr. Richard van Breemen, one of the study's authors and a professor of medicinal chemistry at Oregon State University, says the results are "incredibly promising." "This is by far the biggest response to a study that I've encountered in my career," Dr. Van Breemen told Salon. "A number of hemp dietary supplements containing these compounds are available over-the-counter all over the country," he added, meaning if the findings were carried over into successful clinical trials, the preventative treatment would immediately be accessible by millions of Americans. Could cannabis prevent COVID? To the authors of a new study, it sure looks like it | Salon.com

Unhinged Candace Owens Pushes Vaccine Conspiracy About Bob Saget’s Death Far-right troll Candace Owens baselessly suggested on Tuesday that beloved comedian Bob Saget may have suddenly died last week because he was vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that she has “a right to ask the question.” Saget, best known for his lead role on Full House, was found dead last week in an Orlando hotel room. Local authorities have said they “found no signs of foul play or drug use in this case,” and that the 65-year-old actor appeared to have died in his sleep. As of now, the cause of death is still unknown, and results from a final autopsy could take three months. Nevertheless, as one of conservative media’s loudest anti-vaxxers, Owens decided to use Saget’s tragic death to yet again peddle conspiracy theories about the coronavirus vaccines, which have been proven to be overwhelmingly safe and effective. During the Tuesday night broadcast of her self-titled online talk show, in a segment first flagged by Media Matters, Owens rhetorically asked whether she was a “conspiracy theorist” or “Nostradamus” when it came to denouncing vaccines as dangerous and ineffective. (Candace is produced and published by The Daily Wire, the Ben Shapiro-centric outlet founded by Ben Shapiro.) “The answer is neither,” she exclaimed. “I’m just not on Big Pharma’s payroll and I refuse to peddle in their lies. And so to that end, today, I’m going to point out another truth and it will likely be deemed a conspiracy theory until it’s not.” From there she immediately tied Saget’s death to the fact that he was vaccinated and had received his booster shot. “There are too many healthy individuals, like Bob Saget, who we know have received their vaccinations, who are dropping dead, suddenly and unexpectedly with no further explanation,” Owens proclaimed. “Healthy athletes, young students in their physical prime—the majority of them males—dropping dead suddenly and unexpectedly in the middle of games from heart issues. What we know for a fact is that these people are being mandated to take the vaccine.” Candace Owens Pushes Unhinged Vax Conspiracy About Bob Saget’s Death (thedailybeast.com)

When Collaros was with other teams, he took an ungodly pounding which nearly ended his career. With the Bombers, he rarely got his jersey soiled. He and his wife have to consider whether he wants to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair or being unable to life his head without hurting. He ought to talk to Matty Dunigan about that.

It is far easier to destroy than build.

FIFY

Kongbo wasn't wowing anyone in the CFL, so, Denver's fix for their pass rush may have to wait.

Santa Lucia or nothing.

What we are seeing in the appointment of the current Minister of Health is an analogous to what the federal PCs following the debacles of the Mulroney era when they saw themselves losing in a landslide. They appointed a female PM hoping that anyone who dared criticize the party and her, by extension could be labeled as anti-feminist. Ms. Gordon is taking bullets for the team but also seems very ill-fitted for her post, so the provincial PCs can intimate that anyone criticizing the Department of Health's fatalistic and ineffective responses is anti-feminist and perhaps even racist.

I may be wrong, but I think the federal government can ask for an expedited hearing by the SCOTUS under some conditions.

She would not appreciate you pointing that out to her. She is preaching to the choir. And such a virulent critic of organized religion that his family suppressed much of his writings until well after he died, fearing that he would be attacked and possibly killed. Sound familiar?

I have also been privileged to be part of seeing people pulling themselves up out of addiction, poverty and despair. That far outweighed seeing some fail and even die.

Marjorie Taylor Greene suggests using 'Second Amendment rights' against Democrats Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Tuesday suggested using "Second Amendment rights" to fight Democrats while defending her proposal for a "national divorce" akin to the Southern states' secession of the 1860s. "Ultimately the truth is it's our Second Amendment rights, our right to bear arms, that protects Americans and give us the ability to defend ourselves from a tyrannical government," Greene said in a podcast interview with former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka, while discussing Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams' calls for stricter gun regulations. "And I hate to use this language but Democrats, they're exactly — they're doing exactly what our founders talked about when they gave us the precious rights that we have." Greene, who has repeatedly proposed a "national divorce" between red and blue states, quickly defended her comment. "No one wants violence and I say all the time I am not a violent person," she told Gorka. "I hope to never see a civil war in this country and that's why you hear me toss around 'national divorce.' The federal government has grown so big and the Democrats are willing to use the power of the federal government, that it really violates people's rights." Marjorie Taylor Greene suggests using 'Second Amendment rights' against Democrats - Alternet.org

A mandatory part of being accredited was an extensive pharmacology course with a pass mark of 90%, so what you cite and more was a part of it. THC/CBD do have their places but are not without a degree of risk. When my late wife was in her last days suffering from intractable pain from the cancer, I advocated for her to be paced on Cesamet and it worked better than the Opiods.

I believe it was Sam Clemens who said that no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of Americans.

My credentials for my statements are: almost 30 years as an addictions counsellor and community prevention worker, a Master's degree in a related field, a certificate in Addictions Counselling from the U of M and my accreditation as a Substance Abuse Professional qualified to make legally binding assessments of military and safety-sensitive positioned people. I have other credentials as well, but this should make the point.

Mike Lindell says he has 'enough evidence' to put '300 million' Americans in jail for election fraud MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell argued this week that "300 million" Americans belong in jail for election fraud. Lindell's remarks on Real America's Voice were first reported by Right Wing Watch. "Everything you're going to see over these next seven months to get rid of the [voting] machines," he said. "You're going to see the Supreme Court case coming out. All these great things, everybody." Lindell insisted that he has the "pieces of the puzzle" to prove the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. "And you talk about evidence," Lindell added. "We have enough evidence to put everybody in prison for life, 300 and some million people. We have that all the way back to November and December." Despite his claim, Lindell did not reveal evidence that could put all Americans in jail. Mike Lindell says he has 'enough evidence' to put '300 million' Americans in jail for election fraud - Alternet.org

QAnon cultists wonder if John Lennon and Tupac will appear with JFK at Trump’s Arizona rally: report Supporters of the QAnon cult are converging on Arizona ahead of Donald Trump's scheduled Saturday campaign rally, according to a new report. "Former President Donald Trump will hold his first rally of 2022 in Arizona on Saturday and it’s set to be packed with QAnon folks, both on stage and in the crowd," Vice reported Wednesday. Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, who is running for Secretary of State, will address the audience as a "special guest speaker." Vice reported Finchem has "repeatedly shared QAnon conspiracies on social media and on QAnon-friendly podcasts and media platforms, and last year he headlined a major QAnon conference in Las Vegas. Joining Finchem on stage will be uber conspiracy theorist and pillow salesman Mike Lindell, who is so deeply enmeshed with the QAnon community at this point that it’s hard to separate his personal conspiracy theories about stolen elections from those spread by QAnon." Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake is also scheduled to speak. Lake was photographed dining with Ron Watkins, who many believe is the mysterious "Q" behind the conspiracy theory. Watkins is running for Congress and his father, 8kun owner Jim Watkins, posted a video showing his excitement for the rally. Also expected to attend is Michael Protzman, who has spent months in Dallas awaiting the return of John F. Kennedy and his son, JFK, Jr. "Protzman announced on one of his many live audio chats that his group is traveling to the Arizona rally, and he made vague predictions about what might happen on the day, including yet another possible appearance by JFK," Vice reported. "In an audio chat on Tuesday, with over 1,000 people listening, Protzman once again claimed that President Joe Biden was never inaugurated and hasn’t been living and working in the White House but rather is actually part of a movie being filmed on a set in Culver City, California." Expectations are high for some QAnon cultists. QAnon cultists wonder if John Lennon and Tupac will appear with JFK at Trump’s Arizona rally: report - Alternet.org

Rand and his abettors are profiting handsomely by supplying some apparent credibility to anti-vaxxers who are desperate and will pay for any kind of validation.

I would find this more credible if it was not from a source that was independent and replicated.

Conservative Activist Dies of COVID Complications After Attending Anti-Vax ‘Symposium’ A well-known conservative activist in Arlington, Texas, who peddled COVID-19 vaccine misinformation has died of complications caused by the virus—just a few weeks after attending a “symposium” against the shots. Kelly Canon had celebrated her vaccine exemption a few weeks before she fell ill with the virus and wound up on a ventilator. The Arlington Republican Party confirmed the passing of Kelly Canon on Facebook. “Another tragedy and loss for our Republican family. Our dear friend Kelly Canon lost her battle with pneumonia today. Kelly will be forever in our hearts as a loyal and beloved friend and Patriot. Gone way too soon We will keep her family in our prayers,” the Arlington Republican Club said in a statement. Friends and colleagues of the Republican figure flooded social media with tributes on Tuesday, lamenting what they said was her death “from COVID-related pneumonia.” Conservative Activist Kelly Canon Dies of COVID Complications After Attending Anti-Vaccine ‘Symposium’ (thedailybeast.com)

Certain ridings keep electing and re-electing the same sort of person. The more things change, the more they remain the same.