This statement may be on the brink of incrimination, but the person responsible for this idea is GENIUS! Effective January 28th, 2008, the state of California officially approved the use of vending machines for medicinal marijuana distribution. That's right - those with a prescription will be able to retrieve the bud of their choice from an AVM (Anytime Vending Machine), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week under the supervision and/or protection of round-the-clock security guards. The first two dispensaries out of Los Angeles were activated today and are said to be fully operational. Damn, technology sure has come a long way! Anyway, here's how the process works: Customers must first bring in their prescription for approval. They will then be fingerprinted and photographed, to ensure their identity is matched at the AVM. After which, they will receive a pre-paid credit card equipped with their profile data. Upon selection, they can choose a dosage of either 3.5 or 7 grams, and one of five strains of their favorite Mary Jane, including OG Cush and Grandaddy Purple (LMAO!). Once complete, the marijuana is then dispensed in capsule form, in vacuum-sealed packages. Customers are limited to just one ounce per week, which I guess is more than enough for "medicinal purposes," lol. On another note, can you imagine one of these machines in the hood? What? Free weed??? All hell would break loose! But more importantly, does insurance cover this? Inquiring minds NEED to know...
Here's some footage compliments of CBS News & Daily Motion...
I might need to take a trip... My cataracts are acting up!
via cbsnews.com & thrillist.com
Ok... now everybody go buy a Mac. LOL
Texas rapper Chad "Pimp C" Butler, a member of the chart-topping duo UGK (Underground Kingz), died in a Los Angeles hotel room on Tuesday, officials said. He was 33. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said detectives were investigating the death of a "male black adult" at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. The Web site TMZ.com, which broke the news, quoted an official with the Coroner's department as saying that Butler appeared to have died of natural causes. An autopsy will be performed, the official added.
UGK's Jive Records label issued a statement mourning "the unexpected loss" of the rapper, who was on the brink of major stardom.
"He will be remembered for his talent and profound influence as a pioneer in bringing southern rap to the forefront," Jive president and CEO Barry Weiss said.
UGK, in which Butler performed with Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, topped the U.S. pop album charts in August with "Underground Kingz," its first entry on the survey in five years. Pimp C spent much of that time in prison, serving nearly four years for aggravated assault. He was paroled in 2005.
Butler's manager, Rick Martin, who identified the body, said his client had mended his ways after his prison stretch, and was "set to soar" with multiple new business plans, including a solo recording deal, a satellite radio show, and a national endorsement deal for a brand of cologne. Butler, who was born in Port Arthur, Texas, formed UGK with Freeman when they were in high school. They signed with Jive in 1992 and released eight albums for the label. Butler is survived by his wife, Chinara, and three children.
Condolences to the entire Butler family and all of the friends and fans of Pimp C and UGK. May he rest in peace.
via yahoo.com
Kanye West recently released an official statement regarding his mom, who passed away due to complications from cosmetic surgery procedures this past Saturday. Again, our hearts go out to him and his family during these trying times.
"Kanye West, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and kind words that have come in from across the country since the death of his mother, Dr. Donda West.
After working in higher education for 31 years, Dr. Donda West and Kanye West co-founded the Kanye West Foundation with the mission of helping to combat the severe dropout problem in high schools across the country. The first and signature initiative of the Kanye West Foundation is Loop Dreams. Designed to capitalize on students’ existing interest in hip-hop, Loop Dreams challenges students to learn more about what’s behind hip-hop culture in order to help them develop skills, express themselves creatively and be empowered.
Instead of flowers, Kanye West and his family request that donations be made in Dr. West’s name to Kanye West Foundation/Loop Dreams Teacher Training Institute at 8560 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069."
via kanyewestfoundation.org
A spokesman for Kanye West reported that the rapper's mother, Dr. Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles.
Donda West served as chief executive of West Brands LLC, the parent company of her son's business enterprises, according to a biography on the Web site of the Kanye West Foundation, which she chaired.
She was the former chairwoman of Chicago State University's English department and recently published the book "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star."
A cause of death has not been released.
On behalf of all of us here at Tingysworld, our deepest condolences go out to Kanye and his entire family. May she rest in peace...
via The International Herald Tribune