New Mexico weed lovers were treated to some very special cannabis celebrity appearances earlier this month when Cheech and Chong went on a promotional tour of dispensaries in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
The comedy duo made appearances at local PurLife dispensaries to promote their new “Cheech and Chong’s Cannabis Company” marijuana brand. PureLife will reportedly be carrying flower grown locally that features the pair’s likenesses.
Cheech and Chong became cannabis icons due to their unique brand of marijuana-themed comedy. The team became popular in the ’70s and produced a number of comedy albums and films—all of which featured cannabis as a central thematic element.
A Cheech and Chong appearance scheduled in Las Cruces was canceled at the last minute due to “unforeseen challenges,” but the company said the event will be rescheduled in the near future.
Dr. Oz Claims Pot Hinders “Mojo”
Television personality Mehmet Oz told a reporter that cannabis can decrease motivation and hinder users’ “mojo.” He also claimed that the drug will cause users to stay at home and that legalization of marijuana would lead to more drugged driving.
Oz was running as a Republican candidate in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race and was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. He has become a household name over the last two decades as host of The Dr. Oz Show television series and has been lauded for his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He has been criticized repeatedly for promoting pseudoscientific beliefs and endorsing over-the-counter supplements that have not been proven to work.
During a recent interview on Newsmax, Oz claimed that legalizing cannabis in Pennsylvania would be detrimental to the state. “There are not enough Pennsylvanians to work in Pennsylvania,” he said. “So giving them pot so they stay home is not—I don’t think—a good move.”
The doctor went on to voice concerns over cannabis use disorder. “I don’t want young people to think they have to smoke a joint to get out of their house in the morning,” said Oz. “We need to get Pennsylvanians back at work, gotta give them their mojo, and I don’t want marijuana to be a hindrance to that.”
Oz failed to produce any evidence to support the claims he made about cannabis.
FDA Warns of Copycat Food THC Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently warned parents that some legal cannabis manufacturers are creating edible THC products that resemble popular food brands and may confuse children and lead to accidental ingestion.
The FDA recently posted a warning about the copycat products. “Some edible products are designed to mimic the appearance of well-known branded foods by using similar brand names, logos, or pictures on their packaging. These copycats are easily mistaken for popular, well-recognized foods that appeal to children.”