<ul class="summary-list"><li>Three Black men sued American Airlines, alleging racial discrimination on a January flight.</li><li>The men were removed because of a body odor complaint from a white flight attendant.</li></ul>A trio of Black men sued American Airlines on Wednesday, saying they faced racial discrimination on a flight in January.Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24701840-american-airlines-complaint">filed a lawsuit in federal court</a> about their removal from and eventual reinstatement on the plane.The three men, along with five other Black men, were flying from Phoenix to New York. None of them knew each other or were seated together.Just before takeoff, they were individually ordered off the plane because of a complaint about body odor, an American Airlines representative told them, per the lawsuit. Cellphone video from one of the men shows a man telling an American Airlines employee that they were taken off because of their skin color. She responds, "I do not disagree with you."After an hour of waiting, during which American Airlines could not find later flights for the men, they were allowed to reboard.They then had to "endure the stares of the largely white passengers who viewed them as the cause of the substantial delay," the complaint said.The body odor complaint came from a white male flight attendant, the lawsuit said. One of the plaintiffs asked to be seated away from the flight attendant. Staff moved an Asian woman to first class and directed the man to her coach seat.The other two plaintiffs were served by that unnamed flight attendant, who "continued to behave in a rude and discriminatory manner" during the flight.American Airlines told one of the plaintiffs that he could speak with a representative inside the terminal after the flight landed in New York. After he disembarked, there were no employees available.The trio of plaintiffs, represented by New York attorney Lindsay Goldbrum, are seeking a jury trial.American Airlines did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment, sent outside normal working hours. The company did not file an immediate response to the lawsuit.The company told NPR in a statement that it takes discrimination claims very seriously. "Our teams are currently investigating the matter, as the claims do not reflect our core values or our purpose of caring for people."The lawsuit comes amid a series of high-profile incidents for American.Last month, a former judge, who is Black,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-class-american-airlines-passenger-alleges-racial-discrimination-2024-4"> said she was racially discriminated against</a> on a February flight. Seated in first class, she said a flight attendant made her use an economy-section bathroom and she alleged he falsely accused her of hitting him and threatened her with arrest.And last year, two high-profile Black passengers — track star <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shacarri-richardson-removed-american-airlines-flight-after-argument-flight-attendant-2023-1">Sha'Carri Richardson</a> and involving musician <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-passenger-trafficking-own-children-police-flight-attendant-2023-9">David Ryan Harris</a> — were involved in disputes with the carrier.In 2017, the NAACP <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-naacp-warning-black-passengers-2017-10">issued a travel advisory</a>, warning Black passengers of potential discriminatory and unsafe practices at American Airlines. The civil-rights organization lifted the warning the following year.

3 Black men sue American Airlines after being removed from a flight over body odor complaint

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2024 Olympic Games begin in Paris on July 26 and run until August 11.</li><li>Over 10,000 athletes who play 32 different sports will compete at the Summer Olympics.</li></ul>In the words of Taylor Swift, baby, let the Olympic Games begin.The 2024 Olympic Games will begin in Paris, France, on July 26 and run through August 11. This will be the third time the city has hosted the Olympic Games. London is the only other city with three Summer Olympic Games.The city has been preparing to host the Olympics for years, from building new sporting venues to designing a mascot.Paris settled on the Phryges for its mascot. The red Phrygian caps — also known as Phrygian hats — have historically been used to symbolize freedom. The cone-like caps have ancient roots, but were also used by French revolutionaries to show allegiance to the cause. The mascot demonstrates the 2024 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/the-games/the-brand/mascots">Olympics' goal</a> to "drive a revolution through sport."<div type="image" title="The Olympic mascot — a red Phrygian cap — displaying the Paris 2024 logo stands next to the Olympic torch." height="1334" width="2000" msid="111938120" hostid="261" sizebytes="67168"></div>Paris will be taking advantage of much of its existing infrastructure throughout the Olympics, which helped the city win its bid to host this year's games back in 2017.For instance, the opening ceremony will take place on Paris' iconic River Seine, making it the first summer Olympics to open outside a stadium. The opening ceremony will set the tone for the Games, giving competitors and attendees new ways to explore the city.Triathlon competitors will also swim across the River Seine, bike on the iconic Champs-Élysées, and then run through the streets of Paris before ending up at the Pont Alexandre III bridge. Marathon swimming will start and end at the Pont Alexandre III bridge as well. Likewise, marathon runners will take a route from Paris to Versailles and back, honoring the path protesters took during the Women's March on Versailles in 1789.The closing ceremony will be held at the Stade de France, a stadium that can hold over 77,000 guests. Paris' expansive public transportation system will help athletes and sports fans move throughout the city for the duration of the Olympics.Paris has also invested billions in new infrastructure for the Olympic Games. The developments include the Olympics Aquatics Centre and the Adidas Arena, both of which can seat thousands of spectators.<div type="image" title="The empty Adidas Arena in Paris shows three badminton courts set up, surrounded by &quot;Paris 2024&quot; Olympics logos." height="1333" width="2000" msid="111938130" hostid="261" sizebytes="244748"></div><h2 id="7220da6b-cf1e-4ca0-b699-a6bb90e33c22">The athletes and sports at the 2024 Olympics</h2>According to the International Olympic Committee, the 2024 Olympics will feature some 10,500 athletes.All the athletes competing are the best at their sports, and some will be sure to draw attention at the 2024 Olympic Games.Decorated swimmer <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://olympics.com/en/news/kevin-durant-to-katie-ledecky-individual-and-team-records-that-could-be-broken-at-the-olympic-games-paris-2024">Katie Ledecky</a> could secure the record for the most gold medals for an athlete in the women's category if she wins three more medals at the 2024 Games.Likewise, the US men's and women's athletics teams are favorites in the 100 and 200-meter sprints thanks to Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson. Lyles ranks No. 1 in the men's 200m going into the Olympics, while Richardson is first in the women's 100m.Simone Biles' return to the Olympics stage will be one of the most exciting moments of the Games. She's the most decorated gymnast in history but withdrew from multiple events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-simone-biles-getting-the-twisties-was-so-terrifying-and-what-recovery-could-look-like-2021-7">Biles got the "twisties."</a> But she seems more ready than ever for the Olympics.Biles won the all-around title at the US Gymnastics Championships on June 2, and she led the US Olympic Gymnastic Trials later the same month. She'll compete at the 2024 Olympics alongside her teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera.<div type="image" title="Simone Biles wearing a red, white, and blue leotard" height="1667" width="2500" msid="111938125" hostid="261" sizebytes="137894"></div>The 2024 Olympic Games will feature 32 sports in its program, some of which have different disciplines within them, like artistic gymnastics versus rhythmic gymnastics.The 2024 program includes the following sports:<ul><li>Aquatics — Swimming, Marathon Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Artistic Swimming</li><li>Archery</li><li>Athletics</li><li>Badminton</li><li>Basketball — 3x3 and Basketball</li><li>Boxing</li><li>Breaking</li><li>Canoe — Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom</li><li>Cycling — BMX Freestyle, BMX Racing, Road Cycling, and Track Cycling</li><li>Equestrian — Equestrian Eventing, Equestrian Dressage, and Equestrian Jumping</li><li>Fencing</li><li>Football</li><li>Golf</li><li>Gymnastics — Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Trampoline Gymnastics</li><li>Handball</li><li>Hockey</li><li>Judo</li><li>Modern Pentathlon</li><li>Rowing</li><li>Rugby — Rugby Sevens</li><li>Sailing</li><li>Shooting</li><li>Skateboarding</li><li>Sport Climbing</li><li>Surfing</li><li>Table Tennis</li><li>Taekwondo</li><li>Tennis</li><li>Triathlon</li><li>Volleyball — Beach Volleyball and Volleyball</li><li>Weightlifting</li><li>Wrestling — Greco-Roman Wrestling and Freestyle Wrestling</li></ul>The 2024 games will feature new sports like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/breaking-world-championships-olympics-korean-breakers-2023-9">breaking</a> — also known as breakdancing — and kayak cross, which is a new event in the canoe slalom.On the flip side, the 2024 Olympics has dropped some sports from its program; baseball, softball, and karate have all been cut this year. The IOC has not given any official reasons for why these sports were dropped.<h2 id="7457e8dd-f0da-4e3b-add0-7c73ab469c0c">How to watch or attend the 2024 Olympics</h2>You can watch the 2024 Olympics on NBC and Telemundo in the US, and they can also be streamed on Peacock and <a target="_blank" href="http://NBCOlympics.com">NBCOlympics.com,</a> though you'll need a login or cable verification to stream.Many tickets for the Paris Olympics sold out months ago. But the IOC released new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tickets.paris2024.org/en/search/?affiliate=24R">tickets</a> on July 18 for events, including the Opening Ceremonies, ranging in price from €15 to €2700, or about $16 to $2,938 USD.<div type="image" title="A boat full of tourists passes by a series of empty stands along the banks of the Seine in Paris, where the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony will be held." height="1333" width="2000" msid="111938133" hostid="261" sizebytes="263800"></div>If you can snag last-minute tickets, you will still have to find somewhere to stay during your trip to Paris unless you live locally. Most of the hotels in the area are already sold out, but some places have last-minute availability.For instance, Airbnb is a worldwide partner of the 2024 Olympics, and it has a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=8ef5538bf983b7705b84ca82bb7f60e4da1aaafbb3eabb76ed5b3c7f2bb3b7de&amp;postID=66880963cbc59e61ceb7ffa4&amp;postSlug=paris-summer-olympics-2024&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Fe%2Fparis2024stays">landing page</a> set up to specifically help people find lodging for the games. The Paris Olympics also has a list of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/spectator/accomodation">preferred hotel groups</a> on its website as well as recommendations on affordable lodging like hostels.Visitors will also need to plan ahead for traveling within Paris during the games. The price of metro tickets during the Olympics will be higher than normal, but the city is making <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en/tickets-fares/detail/paris2024-pass">Paris 2024 travel cards</a> available that offer unlimited metro access. The passes can provide access for between one and seven days and will be available from July 20 to September 8. A seven-day card costs €70, which is about $76.<h2 id="f6ffc5ec-a6ab-4785-991e-64cb0f489440">Controversies leading up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris</h2>Although the Olympics are an exciting endeavor for Paris, the lead-up to the Games hasn't been stress-free for the city.Parisians have been widely critical of how much money has been invested in the games — the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paris-olympics-costs-tickets-stadiums-2024-7">2024 Olympics will cost France</a> an estimated $8.2 billion.Others have raised concerns about pollution in the notoriously filthy Seine, where several Olympic events are set to occur. Some French activists even threatened to protest by pooping in the Seine.Despite swimming being banned in the Seine since 1923 due to the extensive pollution, athletes for the triathlon and marathon swimming events will be testing the murky waters.The French government invested more than $1.5 billion over roughly a decade to make the Seine clean enough for Olympic competition, but data from the city of Paris showed that levels of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/seine-river-paris-still-too-polluted-olympics-city-officials-2024-6">E. coli and other bacteria in the Seine</a> were too high just weeks ahead of the Olympics. However, E. coli levels dropped as the games approached, and on July 17, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine with other French officials to send the message that clean-up efforts were a success.<div type="image" title="Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swims in the River Seine." height="1333" width="2000" msid="111938136" hostid="261" sizebytes="179344"></div>Paris has also been criticized for not providing athletes with air conditioning in their rooms at the Olympic Village, instead opting for an eco-friendly cooling system.Paris hoped to promote sustainability with their design. But many countries were concerned about the lack of AC, as Paris will be extremely hot during the games. Heat can pose risks to the athletes' health and performance, so some nations are even providing their teams with portable AC units, using more energy than Paris had hoped. Team USA is among them.France has also been scrutinized for barring its athletes from competing in a hijab or any other religious headwear during the Olympic Games. Athletes from other countries can wear hijabs while they compete because they will adhere to International Olympic Committee rules, not French regulations.Both the UN and Amnesty International have condemned France's stance. Amnesty International said hijab bans "undermine efforts to make sports more inclusive and mean that Muslim players and athletes who wear a hijab in France will continue to be discriminated against."To top it off, three aviation unions threatened to strike just before the games were set to begin. The aviation workers demanded bonuses for all airport staff ahead of the busy pre-Olympics travel season. The unions struck a deal with airport management and called off the strike just in time, however.Despite the setbacks, it's finally time for the Olympic Games to start.

Paris 2024 Olympics: What to know about the athletes and sports at the summer games

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The 2024 Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11 in Paris.</li><li>Hundreds of athletes representing 206 countries will compete in 33 unique sports.</li></ul>Every few years, people worldwide tune in to watch the Olympic Games, the world's biggest sporting competitions.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paris-summer-olympics-2024">2024 Olympics</a> are set to begin on July 26 and will continue through August 11 in Paris, France. Athletes from 206 countries in total will compete.With roots in Ancient Greece, the modern Olympics are held every four years, but there are both the Olympic Games, which take place in the summer, and the Winter Olympic Games. The summer and winter games are set two years apart.Billions of people around the world tune into each Olympic Games. Two billion watched the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and three billion watched the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Viewership for the 2024 games may be even higher than the last few cycles, given the Western time zone.You can <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/how-to-watch-olympics-live-stream-paris-2024">watch the 2024 Olympic Games</a> on NBC and Telemundo, or stream it on Peacock. Tens of thousands also watch the games in person.The cost of tickets varies by event and date, with tickets for the <a target="_blank" href="https://tickets.paris2024.org/obj/media/FR-Paris2024/ticket-prices.pdf">2024 Games</a> ranging from €24 to €980, or about $26 to $1,066 USD. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tickets-paris-2024-olympics-opening-ceremony-sticker-shock-sold-out-2024-1">Olympics opening ceremony tickets</a> cost nearly $3,000 and were almost completely sold out by January 2024.<h2 id="096d5e93-8e9d-45e3-8907-b170a54f332f">The history of the Olympics</h2>The Olympics are rooted in the Ancient Olympic Games, which started as early as 776 BC.The first Olympics were held in Olympia, a town on the Peloponnese peninsula in ancient Greece. The ancient games were created as something of a religious festival meant to honor Zeus, and occurred every four years for over 1,000 years, according to the IOC.The Ancient Olympic games looked markedly different from today's games. For example, competitors had to be naked during competitions, and some athletes died competing in combat sports like boxing.The modern iteration of the games began in 1896 in Athens, Greece, after Pierre de Coubertin created the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/olympics-inc-inside-the-business-of-the-ioc">International Olympic Committee</a> in 1894. The games have expanded over the past century and a half to become the Olympics we know today. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-the-olympics-and-paralympics-are-separate-events-2016-8">The Paralympic Games</a> were later introduced in 1960.<div type="image" title="A black-and-white photograph shows eight male athletes performing on eight sets of parallel bars in front of a large crowd of spectators at the 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece." height="2134" width="3000" msid="111997944" hostid="261" sizebytes="576462"></div>The symbols associated with the games have become iconic over the past century — particularly the Olympic rings. The rings are made up of five interlocking circles in blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The rings also appear on the Olympic flag.The Olympic Charter, which codifies the principals and rules of the Olympics, states that the symbol of the rings "expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games."Many are also familiar with the Olympic torch, run by relay throughout the host country ahead of the games to light a flame at the Opening Ceremonies. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/olympic-torch-runner-invented-is-so-nazi-2016-8">Olympic torch relay was invented by the Nazis</a> as a way to spread German propaganda in 1936 when Berlin hosted the Olympic Games. The relay is also a hat tip to a similar race run in Athens in 80 BC.The 2024 relay started on May 8 in Marseille and will end in Paris.<h2 id="4ac90c0b-57f0-482f-9e14-f951667070fc">What sports are in the Olympics?</h2>Swimming and artistic gymnastics are among the best-known sports at the Olympic Games, but there are dozens that make the program each year.The 2024 Olympics will include 32 sports, with different disciplines within some of them. In contrast, the Winter Olympics feature just 15 sports, many of which are connected to ice or snow.<h3 id="656adc74-880d-4939-8e93-9fead25d29e8">Summer Olympics sports</h3><ul><li>Aquatics — Swimming, Marathon Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, and Artistic Swimming</li><li>Archery</li><li>Athletics</li><li>Badminton</li><li>Basketball — 3x3 and Basketball</li><li>Boxing</li><li>Breaking</li><li>Canoe — Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom</li><li>Cycling — BMX Freestyle, BMX Racing, Road Cycling, and Track Cycling</li><li>Equestrian — Equestrian Eventing, Equestrian Dressage, and Equestrian Jumping</li><li>Fencing</li><li>Football</li><li>Golf</li><li>Gymnastics — Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Trampoline Gymnastics</li><li>Handball</li><li>Hockey</li><li>Judo</li><li>Modern Pentathlon</li><li>Rowing</li><li>Rugby — Rugby Sevens</li><li>Sailing</li><li>Shooting</li><li>Skateboarding</li><li>Sport Climbing</li><li>Surfing</li><li>Table Tennis</li><li>Taekwondo</li><li>Tennis</li><li>Triathlon</li><li>Volleyball — Beach Volleyball and Volleyball</li><li>Weightlifting</li><li>Wrestling — Greco-Roman Wrestling and Freestyle Wrestling</li></ul><h3 id="8fd3c5b8-061c-41be-8809-1b08d3ff6c4f">Winter Olympics sports</h3><ul><li>Alpine Skiing</li><li>Biathlon</li><li>Bobsleigh</li><li>Cross-Country Skiing</li><li>Curling</li><li>Figure Skating</li><li>Freestyle Skiing</li><li>Ice Hockey</li><li>Luge</li><li>Nordic Combined</li><li>Short Track Speed Skating</li><li>Skeleton</li><li>Ski Jumping</li><li>Ski Mountaineering</li><li>Snowboard</li><li>Speed Skating</li></ul><h2 id="09dc4807-b8af-43cc-8423-912ac8e213e6">How do athletes get into the Olympics?</h2>Athletes must typically compete in significant international competitions and earn their Olympic spots. This process can be highly complex and can unfold over periods of months or years leading up to the Olympic Games.The IOC holds qualifying events to which National Olympic Committees send their athletes ahead of the main games, but the structure of those events varies by sport.Olympians also have to comply with the Olympic Charter to be eligible to compete in the Olympics, which prevents them from using performance-enhancing drugs.Many athletes view the Olympics as the ultimate venue for competition. They have turned athletes such as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iconic-female-athletes-women-sports-2019-7">Simone Biles</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shaun-white-cries-final-run-snowboarding-career-beijing-olympics-2022-2">Shaun White,</a> who trained for years to compete, into household names. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-phelps">Michael Phelps</a> remains the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, 23 of which are golds.<div type="image" title="The swimmer Michael Phelps, wearing a red and blue zip-up with a &quot;United States Olympic Team&quot; logo, kisses a gold medal he won at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro." height="2831" width="4247" msid="111997947" hostid="261" sizebytes="634476"></div>The 2024 games in Paris will also feature some of the fastest athletes in the world, from sprinters like Sha'Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles, to swimmers like Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel.Olympic athletes vary in age. There is no official minimum age requirement for the Olympics, though some sports have minimum age requirements. For instance, the minimum age to compete in Olympic gymnastics is 16, while Olympic swimming has no minimum age requirement.The youngest athlete in the 2024 Olympics will be 11-year-old Zheng Haohao, a skateboarder from China. The youngest member of Team USA is 16-year-old gymnast Hezly Rivera, who will be competing alongside Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey.The oldest athlete in the 2024 Olympics will be 59-year-old Steffen Peters, a US equestrian team member.The youngest confirmed athlete in modern Olympic history was 10-year-old Dimitrios Loundras, who competed for Greece on the team parallel bars event in the 1896 games in Athens and won a bronze medal.The oldest athlete in modern Olympic history was 72-year-old Oscar Swahn, a shooter from Sweden who won six medals — including three gold — throughout his Olympic career in the early 20th century.<h2 id="530a94b8-f371-4303-87e4-b23c869e57e4">Where is the next Olympics?</h2>The Olympics change location each year they occur, with the host country investing billions of dollars in the event.The 2024 Summer Olympics will be in Paris, while the 2026 Winter Games will be in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics.The 2032 Games will take place in Brisbane, Australia, while the location of the 2030 Games has not been officially selected yet. However, in July, the IOC will vote on whether the French Alps and Salt Lake City should host the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics, respectively.<div type="image" title="The Eiffel Tower with Olympic rings on it in front of a blue sky." height="683" width="911" msid="111997942" hostid="261" sizebytes="86740"></div>Although hosting the Olympics is an honor, it doesn't appeal to every country, particularly because of how costly they are for the host. For instance, the Japanese public grew enraged when <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-olympics-tokyo-2020-summer-2021-2">cost estimates for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics</a> ballooned past $20 billion amid the pandemic. A Business Insider investigation found that the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/real-cost-of-beijing-games-10-times-chinas-reported-figure-2022-1">2022 Beijing Olympics cost China</a> upwards of $38.5 billion to host.Though the Olympics bring an influx of money to their host countries, the revenue doesn't always outweigh the cost. For instance, the IOC estimated that hosting the games could inject between $7.4 to $12.2 billion into the country's economy, but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paris-olympics-costs-tickets-stadiums-2024-7">the 2024 Olympics has already cost France over $8.2 billion</a>.

The Olympics: A guide to summer and winter games and sports, Olympic history and symbols, and iconic athletes

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Team USA bodysuit is reigniting a conversation about the design of women's athletic outfits.</li><li>Retired runner Lauren Fleshman said if skimpy outfits were efficient, men would also wear them.</li></ul>A skimpy red, white, and blue bodysuit featured next to a much more modest version for men took the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/olympic-medalist-refused-compete-skimpy-outfit-uniforms-put-women-off-2021-10">sport of track and field</a> by storm on Friday.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/team-usa-golf-disgraceful-europe-ryder-cup-results-2023-9">Team USA</a> bodysuit, first showcased by running outlet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5n8cw0rSNH/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">Citius Mag</a> as a piece to be worn during the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/enhanced-games-olympics-steroids-ped-peter-thiel-aron-dsouza-2024-3">Olympics</a>, drew ire and derision from female track and field athletes, sparking a conversation for many athletes about how far the sport has come in creating an equal playing field — and how much farther it still has to go.Following the reveal of the showy unitard, athletes quipped that they would definitely need a thorough wax to wear the women's piece. On the mannequin, at least, the sides of the crotch were on full display. Others wondered if it was even possible to wear the outfit while running, vaulting, or hurdling without risking a major wardrobe malfunction.Some track and field athletes defended the outfit. Olympian long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall said the outfit was "beautiful" in person during a media gathering of Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Tuesday, per the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2024/04/16/nike-womens-track-olympic-uniforms/">Washington Post.</a><div type="image" title="A woman poses on a runway under a spotlight wearing a red white and blue bra and high-cut blue bikini bottoms" height="1814" width="2500" msid="109360773" hostid="261" sizebytes="94512"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nikes-success-story-includes-a-ton-of-lucky-breaks-2023-4">Nike</a>, which designed the suit and displayed it among dozens of other design kits during a Thursday Paris event, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nike-options-skimpy-olympic-outfits-sexism-backlash-2024-4">defended itself</a>, pointing out that the bodysuit was just one uniform iteration out of nearly 50. There were shorts options as well.Jordana Katcher, Nike's vice president for global sports apparel, also told the Post that several women athletes had requested the unitard specifically.Nike did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.Sprinter and hurdler <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/long-distance-relationship-advice-tips-2017-5">Queen Harrison-Claye</a> — who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics — took the more humorous route when she asked for a new company to sponsor the upcoming games."Hi @europeanwax would you like to sponsor Team USA for the upcoming Olympic Games!? Please and thanks," she wrote in an Instagram comment.Harrison-Claye told Business Insider in an interview that the lighthearted approach was just a reflection of how she interpreted the campaign. In her opinion, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hannah-waddingham-photographer-show-leg-olivier-awards-sexism-2024-4">sexism</a> was at play in Nike's decision to display the itty-bitty bodysuit — but says there are two sides to every story.<h2>'Why are we presenting this sexualized outfit as the standard of excellence?'</h2>For Harrison-Claye, the cut of the controversial uniform "didn't make sense from an athletic standpoint, or even aesthetically," — but that didn't mean that Nike should completely scrap the idea of having different options."The beauty of athletics and women is we're not a monolith," Harrison-Claye said. "For some women, they can see that and be like, 'Oh, I will feel so cool, and I'll feel sexy," and they have that right to feel like themselves … and then there will be a lot of female athletes that are like, 'Oh no, this cut is too small.'"<div type="image" title="Queen Harrison-Claye in blue makeup, a blue Team USA jacket, and blue hairclips, holds up a blue medal" height="1667" width="2500" msid="109360774" hostid="261" sizebytes="163902"></div>Other athletes, like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/division-1-female-athletes-plagued-with-eating-disorders-missing-periods-2019-11">Lauren Fleshman</a>, a retired runner and author of "Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World," told The New York Times that she took issue with the fact that the company chose to preview the revealing women's suit alongside the covered-up men's suit — instead of displaying two similar suits."Why are we presenting this sexualized outfit as the standard of excellence?" Fleshman told the outlet. "In part because we think that's what nets us the most financial gain from sponsors or NIL opportunities, most of which are handed out by powerful men or people looking at it through a male gaze."Harrison-Claye shared a similar sentiment."There's always this feeling that our value is in our bodies versus the performing that our bodies do," she said.<h2>A broken record</h2>Women are being spotlighted in sports like never before. Athletes like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/naomi-osaka-mental-health-businesses-social-justice-advocacy-personal-essay-2022-6">Naomi Osaka</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shacarri-richardson-kamila-valieva-olympics-race-doping-2022-2">Sha'Carri Richardson</a> are mega-stars with millions of fans.Most recently, there has been so much hype around women's college basketball stars <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-angel-reese-lsu-womens-college-basketball-star-2023-4">Angel Reese</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/caitlin-clark-prada-outfit-wnba-draft-sports-luxury-sponsorships-2024-4?mrfhud=true">Caitlin Clark.</a>Harrison-Claye agreed that sports have come a long way in fairly representing women, but the inequality is still there — she pointed to the pay discrepancy in track and field as one example.She also pointed out that for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/megan-thee-stallion-testimony-tory-lanez-assault-trial-reveals-misogynoir-2022-12">Black women</a>, the issues are magnified. Black women athletes are often hyper-sexualized or painted as angry or evil. A recent example of this is Reese being called a villain by sports analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/angel-reese-emmanuel-acho-reaction-ncaa_n_66102951e4b087003392d3c3">Emmanuel Acho </a>after the rising basketball star addressed receiving racist and sexist attacks from viewers.Skimpy outfits in women's sports have become a hot-button topic in recent years. More athletes are loudly questioning why their uniforms are so different from men's.Women athletes in sports like gymnastics, volleyball, and track and field are sometimes expected to wear bikini bottoms or short leotards. There isn't a technical reason the difference exists — though some women, like <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/ktnago13/status/1778891893415215241">track and field athlete Katie Moon</a>, who said she wore a body suit similar to the controversial Nike one during a previous Olympics, say that the more revealing outfits work better for her."Women's kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it," Fleshman wrote on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5oYNN5vR2j/?hl=en">Instagram</a>And that's a large part of why women athletes have been pushing back.<div type="image" title="German Olympian Sarah Voss is pictured wearing a full length bodysuit at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championship in April 2021." height="2667" width="4000" msid="109360776" hostid="261" sizebytes="224690"></div>In 2021, the Norwegian women's beach handball team took on a fine of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/norwegian-handball-team-fined-wearing-shorts-instead-bikini-uniform-2021-7">$1,760</a> after refusing to wear bikini bottoms during the European Championships. Their move prompted the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/handball-changing-women-dress-code-after-norway-fined-wearing-shorts-2021-11">International Handball Federation</a> to change its rules and allow women to wear tank tops and bike shorts.That same year, Germany's Olympic gymnastic team decided to show up to the Tokyo Olympics in black bodysuits that went up to their ankles — similar to men's styles. The outfits were not against the rules, but the team said they intentionally chose to wear the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/german-gymnasts-wear-full-bodysuits-olympics-stand-against-sexualization-2021-7">full-length leotards</a> to protest the sexualization of female gymnasts.Harrison-Claye said she wants to help the next generation of women feel confident by being her "authentic self" on the track. She emphasized that women should choose to wear what they want while they play and is in the process of founding a social club to inspire young female athletes."All we can do in this generation is to keep cultivating it for the next one," she said.

Nike's high-cut body suit for Team USA highlights the weird differences between men's and women's Olympic outfits

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The NCAA medical committee wants to stop drug testing student-athletes for marijuana.</li><li>The committee said the NCAA should focus drug testing on performance-enhancing drugs.</li></ul>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/march-madness-final-four-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-experts-picks-2023-3">NCAA</a> medical committee recommended removing marijuana from the list of drugs players are not allowed to take, suggesting that athletes should only be tested for performance-enhancing drugs. The committee said in a <a href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2023/6/16/media-center-csmas-signals-its-support-for-removing-cannabis-from-banned-drug-list-and-drug-testing-protocols.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> that it will "gather input" from member organizations over the summer and it expects there will be "final action" on the issue by this fall.In order for cannabis to be removed from the list of drugs that athletes must adhere to, each of the NCAA's three governing bodies will have to create and adopt legislation to do so, the statement says.The committee said it based it's opinion on the 2022 Summit on Cannabinoids in College Athletics — an event held to learn more about cannabis research and policy — and the consensus opinion that "cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug and that a harm reduction approach to cannabis is best implemented at the school level."The committee's proposed ideas also included shifting focus to testing for drugs that enhance athletic performance and educating students on the <a href="https://www.insider.com/daily-cannabis-users-face-higher-heart-disease-risk-study-finds-2023-2">health risks</a> of "<a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/marijuana-effects">contemporary cannabis</a> and methods of use."The recommendation comes as other professional athletic organizations grapple with the decriminalization of marijuana in the US and reexamine how to approach athletes who use it.In April, the NBA reached a tentative agreement with the NBA Players Association, which included a stipulation that players will not longer be tested for or penalized for using marijuana, <a href="https://theathletic.com/4370686/2023/04/01/new-nba-cba-agreement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic</a> reported. Previously, the NBA's policy for marijuana use forced players to enter a treatment program after the first offense, fined them $25,000 for the second violation, and suspended them for five games after the third violation, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2023/04/03/nba-will-no-longer-penalize-marijuana-use-report-says-heres-how-other-leagues-measure-up/?sh=30d2a80c56d4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forbes</a>.Former NBA veteran Al Harrington <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/allen-iverson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told GQ</a> in 2021 that he thinks 85% of players in the league either smoke marijuana or use "some form of cannabis.""It's a safe and alternative way to deal with shit," Harrington told the outlet. "Yes, we are supermen. We do make a lot of money. But we have a lot of stress and shit on our plate. Constantly. So what is our vice?"Former LSU track standout, Sha'carri Richardson tested positive for THC metabolites — which are found in marijuana — before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Richardson was subsequently not allowed to compete.Richardson said she smoked marijuana to cope with the pressure of being on her sport's biggest stage and the death of her mother who had recently died. When asked if he thought Richardson's suspension was fair, President Joe Biden <a href="https://twitter.com/BoKnowsNews/status/1411415593417326595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1411415593417326595%7Ctwgr%5Eb123e365021c9ee65efe1cab379f3a9c41a0d898%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marijuanamoment.net%2Fbiden-suggests-anti-marijuana-rules-banning-athletes-like-shacarri-richardson-could-change%2F" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told CBS</a> that everyone "knows what the rules were going in.""Whether they should remain the rules is a different issue," Biden said.

NCAA medical committee says college athletes should no longer be penalized for using marijuana

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Angel Reese of the LSU Tigers faced scrutiny after trolling her rival during a recent match.</li><li>Some called her "classless" for trolling her rival during the national championship.</li></ul>LSU Tigers heavyweight Angel Reese calling out unfair criticism of her behavior during the NCAA women's basketball championship final is "a testament to her authenticity" as Black women in sports are often viewed in a different light, an expert told Insider. "It highlighted the ways in which race still is very much a part of the interpretations and narratives for Black women in sport," Dr. Ketra Armstrong, Director of the Center for Race and Ethnicity in Sports at the University of Michigan, told Insider. "We know that trash-talking, particularly in the heat of the moment and expressing your emotions, that's part of the game in general. "Reese was met with rash criticism for <a href="https://www.insider.com/angel-reese-caitlin-clark-you-cant-see-me-ncaa-championship-2023-4">trolling Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark</a> during the championship final on April 2 in Dallas this month, which prompted an avalanche of commentary on social media.During the game, Reese did the John Cena "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU2o4mh_a4k">You Can't See Me</a>" hand gesture against Clark, who notably has <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/status/1642651280211603456" target="_blank" rel="noopener">used it</a> as well, and in contrast, people praised her for her <a href="https://twitter.com/jackbarlow_STS/status/1640417714744307714" target="_blank" rel="noopener">competitiveness.</a> Social media exploded labeling Reese <a href="https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1642651871369220098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"classless"</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SHAQ/status/1642752473025724418" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"a fucking idiot,"</a> among other jabs. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1642650038886170624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>During a press conference early last week, after securing the chip, <a href="https://www.insider.com/meet-angel-reese-lsu-womens-college-basketball-star-2023-4#reese-comes-from-a-family-of-basketball-players-her-parents-both-played-in-college-and-her-younger-brother-julian-currently-plays-for-the-university-of-maryland-3">the Baltimore native</a> rightfully responded to her critics and pushed back against the overwhelming backlash she said she received throughout the season.<div type="image" title="Angel Reese speaks to the press following the 2023 national championship game." height="1667" width="2500" msid="99388504" hostid="261" sizebytes="170092"></div>"I'm too hood, I'm too ghetto. Y'all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y'all don't say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me," Reese said. "That's going to speak up for what they believe in.""This was bigger than me," she continued. "Twitter is going to go on a rage every single time. I'm happy. I feel like I helped grow women's basketball this year."<a href="https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/36069389/iowa-caitlin-clark-says-only-lsu-visit-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In an appearance on Sportscenter</a>, Clark uplifted Reese as a tremendous player and disagreed with the criticism."I don't think Angel should be criticized at all," Clark said. "I'm just one that competes, and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talk in the entire tournament. It's not just me and Angel."The backlash she received is not an isolated occurrence. <h2>'They're held to a different standard'</h2>Reese, like many Black women athletes, has had to overcome an overwhelming amount of criticism compared to their counterparts, Armstrong said. "For too long Black women and women of color in general, but Black women have had to sort of conform to the norm so that they can belong in a space to make other people comfortable with them," Armstrong said. "And I think we're just in an era and an age where this generation of athletes is saying, 'This is who I am and love me or leave me.'"She added, "And I love that [Reese] is taking ownership of who she is and and what her purpose is in her own way."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—MrsBundrige (@MrsBundrige) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1642711988189949954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2023</a></blockquote>Traditional media and social platforms play a role in the perception of Black athletes, Armstrong said. For instance, she noted an incident where late radio host Don Imus used a racist slur against the predominantly Black Rutgers University basketball team, calling them<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/msnbc/imus-called-womens-basketball-team-nappy-headed-hos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"nappy-headed hos"</a> after a <a href="https://www.insider.com/rutgers-stringer-offers-condolences-to-imus-family-2020-1">national champion defeat in 2007.</a>Serena Williams, widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, has also been the <a href="https://www.insider.com/serena-williams-endured-racism-sexism-media-throughout-career-2022-8">subject of racist attacks</a> in the media throughout her groundbreaking career. In one instance, a Romanian television host in 2019 dubbed the tennis star <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/serena-williams-called-monkey-by-romanian-tv-show-host-2019-9?_gl=1*1wi8hrw*_ga*NDkzMDQzNDYwLjE2ODAxMDA3MTY.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY4MTA2Mjg2Ni40Mi4xLjE2ODEwNjQ2OTkuMTAuMC4w">"a monkey"</a> — a long-held racist trope for African Americans. One of sports' rising and most electric athletes, sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson, has spoken out about the public scrutiny she's faced following news that she was suspended from the US Olympic team in 2021 after <a href="https://www.insider.com/shacarri-richardson-tests-positive-marijuana-month-suspension-olympic-team-2021-7">testing positive for marijuana,</a> Insider previously reported.<div type="image" title="Sha'Carri Richardson" height="2957" width="4434" msid="99388505" hostid="261" sizebytes="443500"></div>She later called out <a href="https://www.insider.com/shacarri-richardson-kamila-valieva-Olympics-race-doping-2022-2">a double standard</a> after Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was given the green light to compete in the Bejing Olympics after she tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, which her lawyers argued was a <a href="https://www.insider.com/kamila-valieva-failed-doping-test-mix-up-grandfather-medicine-2022-2">mix-up</a>.The International Olympic Committee opposed Richardson's claim, saying that <a href="https://www.insider.com/ioc-denies-shacarri-richardson-claim-of-double-standards-over-valieva-2022-2">"there isn't a great deal of similarity between the cases."</a>"If you take away the 'Black' in front of the 'woman' and another woman reacts the same way, it's not considered as 'sassy,'...[or] 'aggressive,'" Richardson <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/shacarri-richardson-profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Teen Vogue</a> last year, adding "I'm going to stand in who I am at the end of the day. I'm not going to change that."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1493209274457153536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>"When Black women bring their authentic Blackness to these arenas, to these spaces, they're held to a different standard, and they're expected to conform to a norm that doesn't always celebrate the brashness of Blackness that many of these women are showing up with and proudly conveying in many different ways," Armstrong said."What Angel is experiencing right now is it's not really unique to her. Black women have experienced this in a lot of different ways."After the championship earlier this month, First Lady Jill Biden <a href="https://www.insider.com/jill-biden-iowa-lsu-white-house-national-championship-angel-reese-2023-4">extended an invite</a> to both LSU Tigers and the Iowa Buckeyes to the White House, which she eventually walked back after criticism.Reese opened up about how she felt about FLOTUS' apology, and although she quipped about <a href="https://www.insider.com/lsu-angel-reese-rejects-jill-biden-apology-suggests-meet-obamas-2023-4?inline-endstory-related-recommendations=">visiting the Obamas instead</a>, she announced that <a href="https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/36102830/lsu-star-angel-reese-says-visit-white-house-team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">she will go to Washington, DC with her team to celebrate</a> their win."I think it's a testament to her authenticity and who she is and what makes her unique and her style and her flare is that she has more name, i<a href="https://afrotech.com/angel-reese-nil-deals-ncaa-wnba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mage, and likeness deals than any basketball player, male or female,</a>" Armstrong said about Reese speaking up for herself against critics."Representation matters, that's the bottom line. Angel is showing that representation can take a lot of shade. It can have a lot of flavor, it can have a lot of different styles, and that's okay."

Angel Reese calling out unfair criticism is 'a testament to her authenticity' as Black women in sports are often held to 'a different standard': expert

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13154387" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kamila-valieva" source="Orion">Kamila Valieva</keyword>'s lawyers blamed her failed drug test on a mix-up with her grandfather's medicine, an IOC official said.</li><li>Valieva has been the center of a <keyword id="13177969" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="doping-scandal" source="Orion">doping scandal</keyword> after testing positive for a banned drug last year.</li></ul>Lawyers for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva said that the teen athlete failed a doping test prior to the Beijing <keyword id="11896183" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="olympics" source="Orion">Olympics</keyword> because of contamination with her grandfather's medicine, an Olympic official said Tuesday.Part of Valieva's defense was that there had been a mix-up with "a product her grandfather was taking," said Denis Oswald, the International Olympic Committee's chair of the disciplinary commission, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-figure-skating-kamila-valieva-sports-anna-shcherbakova-9539d8d2adcf48c0bc22314bb626312d">Associated Press.</a>The teenage skating sensation <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-skater-kamila-valieva-tested-positive-for-banned-substance-2022-2?_ga=2.153084474.2044079750.1644801031-1321664634.1635227735">tested positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine</a> on December 25. Trimetazidine is typically used to prevent angina attacks but is taken by some athletes to boost their endurance.The 15-year-old's defense was heard during a closed-door hearing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Sunday. The hearing was to determine whether Valieva would be allowed to continue competing at the Winter Games, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/olympics/valievas-b-sample-yet-be-examined-ioc-2022-02-15/">Reuters reported.</a>Her lawyers did not specify how the alleged medicine mix-up happened.Oswald, <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-publishes-three-full-decisions-as-part-of-the-oswald-commission">who previously led a commission</a> investigating doping scandal cases in the Sochi 2014 Olympics, said Valieva's lawyers "presented elements that brought some doubts about her guilt," per The AP.She clinched gold for Russia at the women's team event, but the IOC hasn't decided whether she'll be awarded the medal.Valieva was cleared to skate in the women's individual event. However, the IOC said it <a href="https://www.insider.com/russia-skater-kamila-valieva-not-allowed-medal-again-ioc-2022-2">would not give her any medals</a> even if she secured a top 3 spot. The women's event concludes on Thursday with the free skate.The decision to allow Valieva to continue competing has been condemned by several former Olympians, including figure skaters <a href="https://www.insider.com/tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-condemn-kamila-valieva-compete-decision-2022-2">Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir</a>, who said it was like "a slap in the face to the <keyword id="6450929" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="olympic-games" source="Orion">Olympic Games</keyword>," and <a href="https://www.insider.com/shacarri-richardson-kamila-valieva-Olympics-race-doping-2022-2">sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson</a>, who was kicked off the US Olympic team last summer after testing positive for marijuana. Former US Olympic skater <a href="https://www.insider.com/adam-rippon-doubts-figure-skater-kamila-valieva-knowingly-doped-2022-2">Adam Rippon</a> expressed sympathy for Valieva, saying he doubted the teenager "knowingly doped" ahead of the games. <a href="https://www.insider.com/olympics-2022-mirai-nagasu-empathy-for-kamila-valieva-2022-2">Mirai Nagasu</a>, a retired US Olympic skater, said she "felt a lot of empathy" for the young Valieva but said athletes should be kept accountable.Valieva told Russian state media Channel One on Monday: "These days have been very difficult for me. I'm happy, but I'm tired emotionally," <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/valieva-says-she-is-happy-emotionally-tired-after-cleared-compete-russian-tv-2022-02-15/">per Reuters.</a>

Russian skater Kamila Valieva's lawyers said her positive drug test was caused by a mix-up with her grandfather's medication: IOC

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Researchers are planning a first-of-its-kind study on <keyword id="11910359" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="cannabis" source="Orion">cannabis</keyword> use for elite athletes.</li><li>Funded by the <keyword id="11897660" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nfl" source="Orion">NFL</keyword>, the study will test whether vaping THC/CBD can relieve pain and speed recovery. </li></ul>A new study, funded by the NFL, is exploring whether cannabis could provide pain relief and faster recovery for injured athletes. Anecdotally, marijuana has served as a <a href="https://www.insider.com/10-professional-athletes-who-use-marijuana-2022-1">behind-the-scenes supplement for athletes</a>. Now researchers want to test the benefits of post-game weed vapes for pro football players, and <a href="https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/pain-management/nfl-awards-1-million-to-study-impact-of-cannabis-and-cbd-on-pain-management">the NFL has awarded them with $1 million</a> to do it. Led by doctors from the University of California, San Diego, the study will focus on professional rugby players, which have similar injuries to American football players, and are logistically easier to study, according to the press release.Athletes who experience pain after a game will be randomly assigned one of four treatments administered via vaporizer. One involves <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-thc">THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis linked to the "high."</a> Another is <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-cbd">CBD, an active ingredient in cannabis linked to pain relief but not intoxicating effects</a>. The third treatment is a combination of THC and CBD, and the forth is a placebo.Researchers will then follow up with the athletes on how they experience pain in the subsequent 48 hours. They'll also be assessing athletes' sleep, mood, and other changes to their physical and mental state.The researchers theorize THC or a combination of THC and CBD will lead to better pain relief than CBD alone, which in turn is expected to be better than the placebo. "Much of the knowledge we used for dosing medical cannabis in our pain clinic came from the studies supported by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, which showed there is a therapeutic window of analgesia with low doses of THC reducing pain," Dr. Mark Wallace, co-leader of the study and a pain management specialist at UC San Diego, said in a press release. <h2>Athletes have been more outspoken about cannabis use, but restrictions are still common in elite sports</h2>As cannabis has become increasingly legal and available, both elite athletes and everyday exercisers have become more outspoken about its benefits. Evidence suggests <a href="https://www.insider.com/weed-could-help-motivate-you-to-exercise-athletes-say-2021-9">getting high can boost the feel-good sensations associated with exercise</a>, helping cultivate a strong positive association with training. Its use in competition remains controversial. Cannabis has been banned at the Olympics for two decades, due to <a href="https://www.insider.com/cannabis-ban-sports-olympics-shacarri-richardsonoutdated-effect-on-exercise-complex-2021-7">concerns about safety and performance enhancement some experts say are misguided</a>, leading to high-profile suspensions of athletes like Sha'Carri Richardson. The <a href="https://www.insider.com/nfl-players-can-smoke-marijuana-without-discipline-starting-420-2021-4">NFL relaxed its policy on the drug in April 2021</a>, permitting players to use cannabis during the off season.

The NFL is funneling $1 million into research on whether cannabis can speed post-game recovery

<ul class="summary-list"><li>From <keyword id="12048137" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rihanna" source="Orion">Rihanna</keyword>'s yellow Guo Pei cape, to AOC's "Tax the Rich" gown, designers of color have used the <keyword id="11931630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="met-gala" source="Orion">Met Gala</keyword> as a way to celebrate their cultures and make statements.</li><li>The Met Gala returns to Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute on Monday, May 2nd.</li></ul>From Rihanna's attention-grabbing Guo Pei canary yellow gown, to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's statement dress, celebrities and designers have used the Met Gala red carpet to celebrate their cultures, push the boundaries of <keyword id="11893303" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fashion" source="Orion">fashion</keyword>, and send messages. In the past, designers of color have used their talents and the Met Gala's platform to create conversation-starting garments.The Met Gala returns on Monday, May 2nd, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City.Here are five designers of color who have had showstopping looks appear on the Met Gala red carpet: <div type="image" title="Two women wearing white dresses pose on an off white carpet. One of the dresses has &quot;TAX THE Rich&quot; in large bold red letters on the back" height="3557" width="2554" msid="91271991" hostid="261"></div><h2>Aurora James</h2>The dress US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore to the 2021 Met Gala drew attention for making a political statement. It was an all-white mermaid gown with the words "TAX THE RICH" in bold, red letters.The designer behind the dress was Aurora James, founder of <a href="https://brothervellies.com/">Brother Vellies</a>, a New York-based footwear and accessories company. This wasn't the first time the Canadian-born designer's work was featured at the Met Gala. In 2019, the designer herself <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BxKp3P8pTZ1/">wore a personal, woven design</a>, and in 2018, she attended as Solange's guest. Both <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BigJEJInlfZ/">James and Solange</a> wore custom accessories and shoes from Brother Vellies. <div type="image" title="Two men posing next to one another on an off white carpet." height="3872" width="5808" msid="91271992" hostid="261"></div><h2>Kenneth Nicholson</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kenneth.nicholson/?hl=en">Kenneth Nicholson</a>, a native of Alabama, made his Met Gala debut in 2021 when he designed the suit NASCAR driver Lewis Hamilton wore. He has been a rising star in the fashion world, earning a nomination for the 2021 CFDA American Emerging Designer of the Year award.Nicholson's company is centered around luxury menswear where he draws influences from his southern roots and 1990s fashion.<div type="image" title="La La Anthony attends the &quot;Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between&quot; Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 designed by Thai Nguyen" height="2784" width="3712" msid="91271993" hostid="261"></div><h2>Thai Nguyen</h2>Vietnamese American fashion designer Thai Nguyen of <a href="https://thainguyenatelier.com/">Thai Nguyen Atelier</a>, made his Met Gala debut in 2017 with a dress for LaLa Anthony. She stunned the red carpet with a sheer black gown.Nguyen got his <a href="https://www.abookof.us/arts-culture-society/thai-nguyen">start</a> in fashion at his parents sewing school at the age of 9. He initially made clothing for dolls, but by high school he was creating costumes for the drama club. His garments have been worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Jeannie Mai Jenkins, and Anika Noni Rose.Nguyen is a co-host of the Netflix's show, "Say I Do," where he helps contestants plan their weddings. He also designs wedding dresses.<div type="image" title="A man in a suit and a woman in a red a white dress posing on a off white carpet." height="3000" width="2400" msid="91271994" hostid="261"></div><h2>Edvin Thompson</h2>Jamaican-born designer Edvin Thompson made his debut at the Met Gala in 2021. His brand <a href="https://theophilio.com/">Theophilio</a>, which is based in Brooklyn, designed the red-and-black gown worn by track star, Sha'Carri Richardson. He <a href="https://cfda.com/news/watch-theophilios-edvin-thompson-win-american-emerging-designer-of-the-year">won</a> CFDA's Emerging Designer of the Year award in 2021. Theophilio pays homage to designs native to his home country of Jamaica.Thompson was one of the half a dozen young Black designers Lewis Hamilton brought to the Gala in 2021, in an effort to promote their work. <div type="image" title="A woman standing on the red carpet with a mustard color dress and gold design." height="2632" width="3948" msid="91271995" hostid="261"></div><h2>Guo Pei </h2>Chinese-born designer Guo Pei was the creative force behind Rihanna's trailing yellow cape in 2015. According to Pei in an <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2015/12/03/chinas-queen-of-couture/?sh=5bc5f63173bb">interview</a> with Forbes, Rihanna reached out to the designer after seeing a picture of the dress online. Pei said she did not know much about Rihanna at the time, but the dress went on to become one of the most talked about garments of the night.In 1982, Pei was a part of the first class of students in China's first fashion design major at the Beijing Second Light Industry School. Since then, over the decades, Pei made a name for herself designing extravagant gowns with intricate details for some of the biggest celebrities and politicians.

Five designers of color who have dominated the Met Gala red carpet

<ul class="summary-list"><li>When Sha'Carri Richardson was banned from the Olympics for marijuana use, people were rightly furious.</li><li>But we must realize that the use of all <keyword id="14721" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Drugs">drugs</keyword>, not just marijuana, must be destigmatized.</li><li>The line between drugs and medications is so blurry that it is no longer helpful.</li><li>P.E. Moskowitz is an author, runs Mental Hellth, a newsletter about capitalism and psychology, and is a contributing <keyword id="6356002" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="opinion">opinion</keyword> writer for Insider.</li><li>This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author. </li></ul>Earlier this month, when USA Track and Field handed down a one-month suspension to rising track star Sha'Carri Richardson for testing positive for marijuana, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shacarri-richardson-olympics-ban-marijuana-wada-sprinter-tokyo-games-2021-7">world was outraged</a>. Why should the immensely talented athlete be banned for using a drug to cope with the stresses of her life that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/19/11-charts-that-show-marijuana-has-truly-gone-mainstream/">tens of millions of Americans regularly consume</a>; a drug that's<a href="https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/a21719186/all-states-that-legalized-weed-in-us/"> legal in 18 states and counting</a>?The ban was derided by everyone from sports fans to medical experts. "My reaction to that is, 'what, what, and what?'" Peter Grinspoon, a Harvard Medical School instructor <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/03/marijuana/mindless-tragic-draconian-unfair-cannabis-experts-slam-suspension-shacarri-richardson/">told the Boston Globe</a>.The decision, according to Grinspoon and others, didn't make sense mostly because there are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/sports/olympics/marijuana-sports-performance-enhancing.html">no studies that suggest marijuana is a performance-enhancing drug</a> - indicating the decision stemmed from a retrograde attitude within sports when it comes to marijuana.Marijuana has been gaining mainstream support as a medicine for years now, so it seems like an obvious drug to allow at the Olympics. But our cultural shift in how we talk about substances should go further. Americans should be destigmatizing every drug - not just at the Olympics, but everywhere.Marijuana is a good example of the false distinction between "medicine" and "drug" that persists in the United States. For decades, despite many people benefitting from its use, the government considered <keyword id="14728" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="cannabis">cannabis</keyword> an illegal drug. Now, as marijuana gains more mainstream acceptance, <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/16/americans-overwhelmingly-say-marijuana-should-be-legal-for-recreational-or-medical-use/">Americans more and more see it as a medicine</a>, on par with legal medications like SSRIs - safe, effective, and not in need of policing. But as weed's leap from illicit substance to medicine shows, the line between a drug and a societally sanctioned medicine is blurry. And the more research that comes out showing other illegal drugs - MDMA, LSD, ketamine - can have beneficial effects, the blurrier the line becomes. By maintaining an arbitrary separation between legal medicine and illegal drugs, we stigmatize the legitimate needs of drug users and the beneficial uses of many drugs, and we potentially ignore that substances deemed "medications" can be harmful in the same way that illegal drugs can be. <h2>The difference between drugs and <keyword id="18168" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="medication">medication</keyword> is largely social</h2>It makes sense that at the Olympics, where unfair performance enhancement is a concern, the line between medication and illicit substances be very well defined. But even within the current rules, we can see this untenable hypocrisy. Stimulants are banned for athletes, but if you have ADHD, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/simone-biles-adhd-meds-common-drugs-banned-olympics/story?id=42081189">you are allowed to use Adderall</a> and other ADHD medications while you compete - a distinction that makes no sense as the medications would give athletes with ADHD the same advantages physically, such as increased stamina, as they would athletes without ADHD.Even looking beyond the realm of sports, Adderall provides a good case study for society's untenable distinction between medication and drug. The stimulant, which is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, is chemically <a href="https://www.cmaj.ca/content/178/13/1679">nearly identical to methamphetamine</a> - aka meth - the illegal drug that's so feared by Americans that <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice/reports/2018/06/27/452819/ending-war-drugs-numbers/">the government spends billions</a> of dollars as part of its never-ending War on Drugs to <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/us-cracks-down-on-mexico-new-generation-cartel/">prevent people from making</a> and ingesting it. That's not to say that the drugs are exactly the same - the small chemical difference in meth helps it <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2631950/">produce a more intense high</a>, and thus it has a higher potential for abuse than Adderall. But Dr. Carl Hart, a neuroscientist at Columbia University, <a href="https://www.insider.com/columbia-professor-carl-hart-legalize-drugs-heroin-for-grown-ups-2021-2">has done research</a> suggesting that medications for ADHD and meth affect people in much the same way: In a study he performed and outlined in his book "<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/534657/drug-use-for-grown-ups-by-dr-carl-l-hart/9781101981641">Drug Use for Grown-Ups</a>," participants often couldn't tell the difference between being given meth and dextroamphetamine - one of the stimulants in Adderall. According to Hart, the main difference between the drugs is how they're administered - meth is usually smoked, snorted, or injected and at higher dosages. The same, largely superficial, differences exist between many drugs - heroin is nearly the same as morphine and oxycodone, and all produce similar effects. But doctors were able to overprescribe opioids, leading to addiction and tens of thousands of deaths, precisely because the drugs were viewed as safe and <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/154560/opioid-crisis-corporate-greed">given the legal stamp of approval</a>. The difference between whether a drug has positive or negative outcomes for someone - whether that drug is legal Adderall or illegal heroin - has less to do with the chemical makeup of the drugs, and more to do with the society and structures we've built around them. Morphine and ADHD medications are highly regulated; they're distributed in uncontaminated doses that are taken the same way each day; they're de-stigmatized - which means you can comfortably ask your doctor about the effects they have on you - and they're readily available, which means you don't have to do anything risky or illegal to use them. Every drug, legal or not, has inherent dangers, but the risks of illegal drugs are greatly exacerbated by the stigma - legal, social, medical - attached to them.Even the earliest legal distinctions between what was acceptable and prescribed versus outlawed largely grew out of social - not medical - preferences. The first federal criminalization of drugs in the United States, 1914's Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, came about not because the government found a sudden problem with opiates, but because Americans <a href="https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/42004195/MCCAFFREY-DOCUMENT-2019.pdf?sequence=1">were scared that Chinese immigrants were corrupting white innocence by introducing them to opium</a>. The same racist motivations <a href="https://law.stanford.edu/2014/12/19/the-drug-war-at-100/">lie behind the stigma around cocaine</a>. <h2>A dangerous, false dichotomy</h2>Today, the drugs we've stigmatized and made illegal still have plenty of beneficial uses. Marijuana is now used to treat a host of issues - chronic pain, PTSD, depression. And we're starting to see the light with other drugs - <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/ketamine-and-treatment-resistant-depression-5024849">ketamine</a>, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01336-3">MDMA</a> (which is an amphetamine <a href="https://174082-685741-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/3000-MDMA-and-methamphetamine.png">similar to meth</a>, but for whatever reason is less stigmatized), <a href="https://maps.org/other-psychedelic-research/211-psilocybin-research/psilocybin-studies-in-progress/1268-johns_hopkins_study_of_psilocybin_in_cancer_patients">shrooms</a>, and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6985449/">LSD</a> are all being studied for medicinal use, and seem to be on a path to decriminalization, or at least limited legal use. But even the drugs deemed most dangerous and taboo still have their medicinal uses. Research suggests <a href="https://www.bbrfoundation.org/content/opioids-very-low-doses-may-provide-new-way-treat-resistant-depression">opioids might treat depression</a> in people who've tried SSRIs and other interventions without much help. The same <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181580/">goes for amphetamines</a>. But we don't need to medicalize illegal drugs to justify their use. People use drugs, whether SSRIs or heroin, for the same reason: to feel better, to reduce stress, to cope with the realities of late-capitalist life. Needing a diagnosis such as depression or ADHD might help you feel more legitimate for taking drugs on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean the use is any different, at least morally, than someone taking drugs that have been unfairly stigmatized by the US government.By creating subclasses of drugs, we not only push drug users to the <a href="https://www.cato.org/commentary/how-drug-prohibition-created-fentanyl-crisis">margins of society</a> - where they're more likely to die of overdoses, receive contaminated drugs, and be <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/drug-prohibition-fuels-violent-crime-on-americas-streets/530895/">forced into a carceral</a> cycle that's often impossible to escape - we also unfairly give "medications" a pass, considering them safer and less problematic than their illegal counterparts.We can see this most clearly in the opioid epidemic, which was started in<a href="https://www.marketplace.org/2017/12/13/opioid/"> large part because doctors believed prescribing oxycodone</a> and other opioids was safe, simply because they were medications - i.e., produced by big drug companies, given the stamp of approval by the FDA, legal. But even with less "dangerous" drugs, their stamp of legal approval allows these drugs to get off scot-free: After decades of increasing antidepressant prescriptions, evidence now suggests <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/04/08/the-challenge-of-going-off-psychiatric-drugs">SSRIs can be nearly impossible to withdraw from</a>, and that withdrawals are often similar to that of other, illegal drugs.This doesn't mean we should glorify the use of illegal drugs, or stigmatize the use of legal ones. Instead, we should view all drugs, whether legal or illegal, as drugs, with all that entails - possible benefits and possible risks. And we should create systems around these drugs that minimize these risks. Just as you can go to a doctor if you're having a problem with your SSRI, you should be able to go to a <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> professional if you're using heroin, without fear of stigma. Just as the government ensures prescription drugs are free of contaminants, governments should provide testing supplies to users of illicit drugs to make sure they're safe. And, most critically, users of illicit drugs should not be sent to prison simply for using drugs - it makes no sense for Adderall to be legal and meth to be illegal. The law is totally arbitrary.While it might seem unrealistic to ask governments to suddenly treat all drugs the same, and provide drug users with support, we can see progress already being made toward this end. In Vancouver, Canada, groups are <a href="https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/vancouver-news/free-heroin-cocaine-and-meth-handed-out-outside-of-the-vancouver-police-department-3956140">starting to hand out</a> free, tested, uncontaminated heroin, cocaine, and meth to users. Vancouver also allows chronic heroin users to get prescription heroin, and <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/12/6/18124497/prescription-heroin-safe-injection-sites-rand-research">evidence shows it's very effective</a> at preventing overdoses.When scandals like the banning of Sha'Carri Richardson happen, it can be tempting to frame the problem as a draconian attitude toward marijuana specifically. But we shouldn't try to make weed respectable while leaving this much larger problem undiscussed. All drugs can be medications. All medications are drugs. The line between them must be abolished - it's literally a matter of life and death.

Stop treating prescription meds and illegal drugs differently

Welcome to <keyword id="9884466" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="insider-cannabis">Insider Cannabis</keyword>, our weekly <keyword id="621414" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Newsletter">newsletter</keyword> where we're bringing you an inside look at the deals, trends, and personalities driving the multibillion-dollar global <keyword id="14728" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="cannabis">cannabis</keyword> boom.<a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/cultivated">Sign up here to get it in your inbox every week</a>.Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett initiated coverage of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-us-cannabis-stocks-to-buy-wall-street-jefferies-analyst-2021-7">seven US cannabis companies this week</a> in a 278-page note. Jefferies expects cannabis to become legal federally by 2026 and projects that the US market will expand from about $17.2 billion last year to $64 billion in 2030.But until cannabis is federally legal, we're keeping track of every state with an adult-use or medical program <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1">here in our interactive map. </a>The latest additions include Virginia, New Mexico, and Connecticut, where recreational laws officially <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1">came into effect this summer</a>. And in case you missed it: on Wednesday, two giants in the psychedelics space - Rick Doblin of MAPS and Christian Angermayer of Atai - debated whether psychedelic decriminalization or legalization was good or bad for the medical developments in the space. We <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/atai-founder-christian-angermayer-legalization-risk-backlash-psychedelics-2021-7">summarized their main argument</a> for you, and you can also watch the full panel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXJ0N3kmNjY">here</a>.What else?It's rainy here in New York as Tropical Storm Elsa makes its way up the East Coast. So for those of you in the area, be sure to stay dry out there. My canna buddy Jeremy is off this week, enjoying the sun and celebrating his birthday! He'll be back next week.Let's get to it.- Yeji (<a href="https://twitter.com/jesse_yeji?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">@jesse_yeji</a>)If you like what you read, share this newsletter with your colleagues, friends, boss, spouse, strangers on the internet, or whomever else would like a weekly dose of cannabis news. Here's what we wrote about this week:<h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/atai-founder-christian-angermayer-legalization-risk-backlash-psychedelics-2021-7">The founder of the biggest psychedelics company says legalizing magic mushrooms risks creating a backlash that could undermine the industry</a></h3>Atai founder Christian Angermayer said he personally supports decriminalization, but added that he believes legalization could "push back" the industry's progress. Rick Doblin of MAPS pushed back - saying that both decriminalization and legalization would work to destigmatize the compounds.<h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-us-cannabis-stocks-to-buy-wall-street-jefferies-analyst-2021-7">A top Wall Street analyst shares 5 cannabis stocks to buy now for a chance to double your money as the exploding industry offers a 'generational wealth opportunity'</a></h3>Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett is bullish on US cannabis stocks. Bennett initiated coverage of seven companies, and gave all of them a buy rating in a note dated Wednesday. He said Cresco is his top pick. <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/legal-marijuana-states-2018-1">Marijuana legalization is sweeping the US. See every state where cannabis is legal.</a></h3>Cannabis for adult-use is officially legal in 19 states in the US now after recreational laws took effect in Virginia, New Mexico, and Connecticut this summer. Our interactive map gives you the run-down of what's going on in each state. <h2>Executive moves</h2><ul><li>Psychedelics company Delix Therapeutics <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delix-therapeutics-expands-executive-leadership-team-301325292.html">announced</a> that it has appointed former NIDA therapeutics division head Dr. Kurt Rasmussen as its chief scientific officer. </li></ul><h2>Deals, launches, and IPOs</h2><ul><li>Eaze <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210708005603/en/Eaze-Launches-First-Shoppable-Cannabis-Delivery-App-for-Apple">announced</a> on Thursday that it had launched its cannabis delivery app on the Apple App Store. Apple said recently that it would no longer ban cannabis apps as long as they were geo-restricted to areas where it was legal. Read more at <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/apple-now-allows-marijuana-businesses-on-its-app-store-while-google-maintains-ban/">Marijuana Moment.</a></li><li>Psychedelics media company Microdose <a href="https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/89533/Microdose-Psychedelic-Insights-Closes-Oversubscribed-Financing-Round">said</a> it closed a "seven figure round" of funding from investors like Origin Therapeutics, Negev Capital and The Conscious Fund.</li><li>Cannabis tech company Fyllo and media analytics company Comscore <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fyllo-launches-infused-comscore-audiences-301326421.html">announced</a> a partnership that would target mainstream marketers looking to reach cannabis and CBD consumers.</li></ul><h2>Chart of the week</h2>Though equity is often touted as a key reason for legalization, not all states are creating equitable cannabis programs, according to the <a href="https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/leafly-seeds-of-change-2021-report-rates-states-on-marijuana-equity">Leafly Seeds of Change Report</a>, which looked at factors like expungement, quality data, and equity investing. Colorado, the oldest legal cannabis market in the US, ranks first with a score of 95. The full report can be found <a href="https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/leafly-seeds-of-change-2021-report-rates-states-on-marijuana-equity">here.</a><h2><div type="image" title="A bar chart about the states that have most equitable cannabis markets" height="916" width="1240" msid="84272820" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2>What we're reading</h2><a href="https://cannabiswire.com/2021/07/07/governor-support-pushes-cannabis-legalization-bills-over-finish-line-in-2021/">Governor Support Pushes Cannabis Legalization Bills Over Finish Line in 2021</a> (Cannabis Wire) <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/white-house-and-u-s-anti-doping-agency-criticize-marijuana-ban-after-richardson-suspension/">White House And U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Criticize Marijuana Ban After Richardson Suspension</a> (<keyword id="40905" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Marijuana">Marijuana</keyword> Moment)<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shacarri-richardson-olympics-ban-marijuana-wada-sprinter-tokyo-games-2021-7">Opinion: Sha'Carri Richardson's Olympics ban for marijuana is dumb, archaic, and immoral</a> (Insider)

Cannabis stocks to buy now

Welcome back to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">10 Things in Politics</a>. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/10-things-in-politics">Sign up here to receive this newsletter</a>. Send tips to <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a> or tweet me at <a href="https://twitter.com/BrentGriffiths">@BrentGriffiths</a>.Here's what we're talking about:<ul><li>The MAGA diaspora: These are <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-white-house-administration-maga-alumni-network-database-2021-7">the 327 most important lobbyists, authors, and consultants in Trump's post-White House influence network</a></li><li>3:30 a.m. retail shifts, delivering takeout all weekend: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-hill-congress-second-jobs-postmates-jcrew-doordash-budget-salary-2021-6?fbclid=IwAR3-FFn7gteJXuEIgPo0WqtoodqBRhteTTQUs_A9JTecZhv3FOHEOLD9RMA">How Capitol Hill workers resort to 2nd jobs to survive on low congressional pay</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/tropical-storm-elsa-live-updates-2021-7">The latest on Tropical Storm Elsa as it nears landfall in Florida</a></li></ul>One thing to watch for: President Joe Biden travels to Crystal Lake, Illinois, to talk up his American Families Plan.<hr />THE MAGA DIASPORA: Donald Trump's hold on the GOP can be seen in the halls of Congress. No, this isn't just about the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/07/us/elections/electoral-college-biden-objectors.html">147 lawmakers</a> who challenged his 2020 election defeat. The real result of the former president's hostile takeover of the Republican Party is evident behind closed doors, where many of his former loyalists now reside.My colleagues' new four-part series <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-alumni-white-house-alumni-network-database-project-2021-7">shows how Trump's power has seeped into the nation's capital,</a> home to the "swamp" and the "deep state" he so detested.Here's where some of the 327 most prominent White House alumni ended up:<ul><li>Look through <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-white-house-administration-maga-alumni-network-database-2021-7">the searchable database here</a>.</li></ul>At least 99 have establishment ties: Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, the former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and former Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia have ties to official Washington.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-white-house-administration-maga-alumni-network-database-2021-7"><div type="image" title="A screenshot of Insider's Trump alums database" height="1228" width="1724" msid="84202000" hostid="261"></div></a><ul><li>Not everyone is so conspicuous: At least 85 people are laying low or in positions that are too difficult to track.</li></ul>At least 42 are still serving in the federal government: Trump's former doctor Ronny Jackson is now a congressman, while Bill Hagerty, a Trump-era ambassador to Japan, brought at least 13 other administration staffers to join him after he was elected to represent Tennessee in the Senate.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-alumni-working-in-congress-republicans-capitol-hill-2021-7"><div type="image" title="This is a screenshot of the Trump database" height="1172" width="1448" msid="84202004" hostid="261"></div></a>This second chance is unlike the reception many George W. Bush alums encountered: "It was never my intention to work on Capitol Hill unless it was someone who believed in 'America First,'" said one former White House staffer, who <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-alumni-working-in-congress-republicans-capitol-hill-2021-7">told my colleagues she later took interviews only with Trump-supporting members of Congress</a>.<ul><li>Trump aides who resigned amid scandal have found new homes: Ximena Barreto resigned from the administration after the publication of her past social-media posts that contained anti-Muslim comments and conspiracy theories about Democrats. She now works for GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.</li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-alumni-working-in-congress-republicans-capitol-hill-2021-7">Read how more Trump alums are expected to flock to Capitol Hill if the GOP retakes the majority next year.</a><hr /><div type="image" title="New York City mayoral candidate Eric Adams points his right finger in the air outside of his Brooklyn campaign office in Prospect Lefferts Gardens." height="1488" width="2500" msid="84202006" hostid="261"></div>2. Eric Adams is on track to be the next mayor of New York City: After multiple rounds of ranked-choice voting, numerous outlets on Tuesday projected Adams would win the Democratic nomination over former New York City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. He currently holds an 8,400-vote lead, which could prompt other contenders to contest the results. Should his lead hold, Adams is expected to cruise to a general-election victory in a city heavily dominated by Democrats. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-mayoral-primaries-live-results-vote-counts-2021-6">Here's why results in the primary contest have taken weeks to emerge</a>.<ul><li>Adams would be just the second Black mayor in the city's history: A former police captain and state lawmaker now serving as the Brooklyn borough president, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/nyregion/eric-adams-wins.html">Adams cast himself as a blue-collar candidate with a focus on stopping crime</a>, The New York Times reports.</li></ul><hr />3. Elsa was downgraded to a tropical storm again: As of early Wednesday, Elsa was expected to make landfall over the northern Florida Gulf Coast later in the morning. Rescuers in Surfside planned to keep searching for survivors of the condo collapse as long as the weather permitted. States of emergency are in effect for parts of both Florida and Georgia. <a href="https://www.insider.com/tropical-storm-elsa-live-updates-2021-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">See the latest updates here</a>.<hr /><div type="image" title="Capitol Hill staffers standing in front of an ornate fireplace listen as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks" height="2846" width="5692" msid="84202012" hostid="261"></div>4. Capitol Hill workers are taking second jobs to supplement meager salaries: Some staffers and interns go for gig-economy roles like Postmates, Uber, and DoorDash, while others work as baristas and bartenders. Some staffers said they even faced repercussions for trying to find additional income so they could afford to work their day job on the Hill. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-hill-congress-second-jobs-postmates-jcrew-doordash-budget-salary-2021-6?fbclid=IwAR3-FFn7gteJXuEIgPo0WqtoodqBRhteTTQUs_A9JTecZhv3FOHEOLD9RMA">More on the 3:30 a.m. shifts and weekends of food deliveries here</a>.<ul><li>Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's office told prospective fellows they "aren't working for Elizabeth Warren": Sinema's staff wanted to make sure that those applying for a Teach for America fellowship knew <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kyrsten-sinema-not-elizabeth-warren-fellows-told-centrist-moderate-2021-7">the Arizona Democrat was "very moderate, very centrist."</a></li></ul><hr />5. There's unlikely to be a fourth stimulus check anytime soon: No lawmaker in Congress has pitched a plan so far, and congressional Democrats are squarely focused on approving Biden's infrastructure plans this summer. Such a proposal could also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fourth-stimulus-check-not-likely-soon-biden-stimulus-direct-payment-2021-7">crash into resistance among most Republicans and some Democrats in Congress</a>.<hr />6. Pentagon cancels $10 billion Microsoft contract: The Defense Department's reversal ends a yearslong legal battle. Amazon repeatedly argued that Trump's malice for the company affected its losing bid. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jedi-aws-microsoft-play-nice-to-win-new-pentagon-contract-2021-7">Analysts say Microsoft and Amazon will now have to play nice, as a future deal could benefit both tech giants</a>.<hr />7. The missed warnings that led to the Capitol riot: What came as a surprise to those on the front line was in fact anything but: Analysts had been tracking the mass movement of Trump supporters to Washington and reading plans for a military-style operation. Though the warnings never reached the right place, the US Capitol Police was watching too. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-riot-most-detailed-account-yet-2021-7">Here's what else we've learned in the six months after the insurrection</a>.<hr />8. A new book says Trump gave Pence 10 minutes to talk before turning on the TV: Trump's weekly lunches with his vice president at the White House followed a familiar routine, according to a forthcoming book by the journalist Michael Wolff. An excerpt of the book says Mike Pence used the gatherings as a chance "to tell the president exactly how hard he was working for him." But Trump apparently would quickly flip on the TV and vent about his latest frustrations. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pence-2020-election-insurrection-capitol-2021-7">Trump was also said to trash Pence behind his back</a>.<hr />9. Sha'Carri Richardson won't be on the US Olympic team: Richardson will be left off the US sprint-relay team at the Tokyo Olympics. Richardson was handed a one-month suspension by USA Track &amp; Field for marijuana use, which forced her to forgo her spot in the 100-meter individual race. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-2020-tokyo-olympics-olympic-games-sports-333eeecfef7b25b123c73ce0236cea20">Richardson had been expected to contend for a gold medal</a>.<hr /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-secret-clear-coca-cola-for-soviet-gen-georgy-zhukov-2021-7"><div type="image" title="Dwight Eisenhower talks into Georgy Zhukov's ear while a third general, Bernard Montgomery, looks on. All three are holding glasses before a toast." height="1000" width="2000" msid="84202017" hostid="261"></div></a>10. Trying to share a Coke across the Iron Curtain: A Soviet general's taste for a classic soft drink ran into the reality of worsening relations between East and West after World War II. So the Truman administration undertook a covert effort to quench the thirst of a big fan. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-secret-clear-coca-cola-for-soviet-gen-georgy-zhukov-2021-7">Read all about the secret Coca-Cola order</a>.<hr />Today's trivia question: Today marks the anniversary of construction starting on the Hoover Dam. In which year did the dam officially gain its name? Email your guess and a suggested question to me at <a href="mailto:bgriffiths@insider.com">bgriffiths@insider.com</a>.<ul><li>Friday's answer: Future President John Adams was sure <a href="https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2014/07/02/john-adams-vision-of-july-4-was-july-2/">we would celebrate July 2 as our Independence Day</a>. But Adams himself conceded our reverence for July 4. In fact, both he and Thomas Jefferson <a href="https://www.history.com/news/july-4-two-presidents-died-same-day-coincidence">died on the 50th anniversary of America's independence,</a> July 4, 1826.</li></ul>

10 Things in Politics: Trump alums are the new GOP establishment

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12989845" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lia-thomas" source="Orion">Lia Thomas</keyword> made history as the first transgender woman to win an NCAA national title.</li><li>Her win has sparked a debate about the role of testosterone levels in women's <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> and who gets to dictate those policies.</li></ul>On March 17, Lia Thomas made history as the first transgender woman to win an NCAA national title in any sport.Her win reignited a debate that has loomed over women's sports over the past decade: what is the role of testosterone in determining whether a player is qualified to compete? What defines a woman and who gets to create that definition?Thomas has undergone intense scrutiny and accusations that she has an unfair advantage over her competitors because she spent a large portion of her life biologically male. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lord-coe-future-of-women-s-sport-is-very-fragile-h79qkhrw3">reportedly</a> defended the organization's testosterone regulations, saying that the future of female sports is "fragile." African female athletes, including <keyword id="11893858" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="caster-semenya" source="Orion">Caster Semenya</keyword>, have faced the same accusations for years.<div type="image" title="Lia Thomas." height="1666" width="2222" msid="90505271" hostid="261"></div>After her reign as one of the top athletes in the world, winning gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, middle-distance runner Caster Semenya was barred from competing in any future games.In 2018, World Athletics — the international governing body responsible for the rules and regulations of sports such as <keyword id="11918848" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="track-and-field" source="Orion">track and field</keyword> — created a "protected" women's category, which disqualified Semenya from competing.The rule also impacted 45 other female athletes across three events, many of whom were from African countries."It's disgusting what is happening," Nana Brantuo, a Black Studies Scholar at the University of Maryland, told Insider. Former World Athletics Council member Steve Cornelius told Insider he did not believe this rule would exist if the athletes affected were European women. "If these athletes were blonde and Scandinavian, or Russian and they looked like supermodels, would we be having this debate? We're having this debate because they don't like the appearance of these athletes," Cornelius said.The "protected" women's category was created to exclude athletes who are considered DSD, which refers to differences in sexual development. After learning about the new policy, Cornelius stepped down from World Athletics in 2018. He isn't the only one questioning the legitimacy of the category. Brantuo called the "protected" category one of the most explicit forms of anti-Blackness she has ever seen, and said it speaks to the dehumanization and discrimination Black women athletes such as Simone Biles and Serena Williams face internationally.<div type="image" title="Caster Semenya" height="1000" width="1333" msid="90505272" hostid="261"></div><h2>Semenya continues to fight.</h2><a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/press-release/questions-answers-iaaf-female-eligibility-reg?type=press-release&amp;type=press-release&amp;type=press-release&amp;type=press-release&amp;urlslug=questions-answers-iaaf-female-eligibility-reg&amp;urlslug=questions-answers-iaaf-female-eligibility-reg&amp;urlslug=questions-answers-iaaf-female-eligibility-reg&amp;urlslug=questions-answers-iaaf-female-eligibility-reg&amp;urlslug=questions-answers-iaaf-female-eligibility-reg&amp;type=press-release">According</a> to World Athletics, a DSD athlete is a legally female or intersex athlete that has either an XY chromosome, testes, circulating testosterone in the male-specified range of7.7 to 29.4 nmol/L rather than the lower female-specified range of 0.06 to 1.68 nmol/L, or they are androgen sensitive. Over the past few years, Semenya has become the most prominent face of the DSD gender athlete category, but the rule has impacted other <a href="https://www.insider.com/intersex-olympic-athletes-barred-from-competing-in-preferred-olympic-event-2021-7">talented</a> African female <a href="https://www.insider.com/two-namibian-sprinters-banned-from-olympics-400-meter-event-at-olympics-2021-7">athletes</a>, as well. Semenya said she tried using the recommended hormonal drugs to reduce her natural testosterone levels in order to compete, but the medication made her "constantly <a href="https://www.insider.com/intersex-olympic-athletes-barred-from-competing-in-preferred-olympic-event-2021-7">sick</a>."In a press release, she wrote, "No other woman should be forced to go through this in order to have the same right that all women have — to do what we love and run the way we were born." The belief that testosterone is an athletic miracle potion is not supported by science, Katrina Karkazis, a cultural anthropologist at the University of Amherst and author of "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?asin=0674725328&amp;platform=browser&amp;postSource=bi%7C61044df8f1315a0ea4738d19&amp;postTag=biauto-40514-20&amp;sc=false&amp;type=AMAZON-AFFILIATE-LINK&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fdp%2F0674725328%3Ftag%3Dbiauto-40514-20&amp;sessionid=1638541075796sjl09zya&amp;tag=bisafetynet2-20">Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-olympics-uses-testosterone-to-treat-trans-athletes-like-cheaters-2021-7">told</a> Insider earlier this year. "I don't see why you'd subject someone to medical treatment for non-medical reasons just because you don't like the fact that she fits into a category that you've created," Cornelius said.<h2>Anti-Blackness goes beyond one Black athlete's success.</h2>Supporters of the protected category have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/sports/track-gender-rules.html">argued</a> the criteria is necessary because there are scientific and hormonal differences between male and females. They say the rules have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/sports/track-gender-rules.html">nothing</a> to do with anti-Blackness. However, doctors have stated that testosterone doesn't impact an athlete's performance. In 2021, <a href="https://www.insider.com/caster-semenya-olympic-ban-based-on-misleading-report-authorities-say-2021-8">The Telegraph</a> reported that the evidence gathered by two World Athletics scientists that claimed to show increases in performance from females with high testosterone levels was found to be misleading. "To be explicit, there is no confirmatory evidence for causality in the observed relationships reported," Stephane Bermon, the current director of World Athletics' health and science department, said after the findings were made public. "We acknowledge that our 2017 study was exploratory."<div type="image" title="Sha'Carri Richardson celebrates winning the Women's 100 Meter final on day 2 of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track &amp; Field Team Trials" height="2661" width="3992" msid="90505273" hostid="261"></div>Black athletes are <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/02/brianna-mcneal-doping-ban-tokyo-olympics/">over-tested</a>, villainized, and dehumanized routinely, Brantuo said, so even if they are able to compete, they are still dealing with other forms of systemic anti-Blackness. In February, 15-year-old Russian phenom Kamila Valieva <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-skater-kamila-valieva-tested-positive-for-banned-substance-2022-2">failed her drug test</a> at the Winter <keyword id="11896183" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="olympics" source="Orion">Olympics</keyword> in Beijing but was still able to compete, drawing criticism. Just seven months earlier, prior to the Tokyo Summer Games, American track star <a href="https://www.insider.com/shacarri-richardson-kamila-valieva-Olympics-race-doping-2022-2">Sha'Carri Richardson</a> failed a drug test and Nigerian sprinter <a href="https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/32353421/nigerian-sprinter-blessing-okagbare-facing-3-charges-doping-case">Blessing Okagbare</a> failed a doping test. Both Black athletes were not allowed to compete in the Olympic games. Brantuo said the banning of Semenya, Richardson, and Okagbare is tightly linked to the villainization Black female athletes face internationally. Whether it's Serena Williams facing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/serena-williams-responds-to-accusations-she-was-born-a-man-2018-5">internet conspiracies</a> that she was born a man, or Simone Biles receiving lower <a href="https://www.vox.com/22575301/simone-biles-olympics-scoring-explained-gymnastics-yurchenko-double-pike">scores</a> after performing moves that few other female gymnasts have been able to successfully execute, Black female athletes have fought countless forms of misogyny and racism worldwide."The idea that us saying that [these policies] only impacts one group of specific people makes it any less anti-Black is very wrong," Brantuo said.<h2>A former member of World Athletics said the organization still has a "colonial view."</h2>Over the last few years, Semenya has taken the fight against World Athletic's head on. Her lawsuits were tried at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court. So far, they've been unsuccessful. A representative at World Athletics told Insider in an email that they stand by the "protected" women's category because their criteria has been dictated by medical experts. They referenced the challenging of the rule during Semenya's legal battle in 2019 with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Its executive summary reads: "A necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of achieving the legitimate objective of ensuring fair competition in female athletics in certain events and protecting the "protected class" of female athletes in those events."However, Cornelius said World Athletics has tried to "regulate" women's competition since 2010. The first athlete to challenge the criteria was Indian runner <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/sports/sprinter-dutee-chand-fights-ban-over-her-testosterone-level.html">Dutee Chand</a>. She has hyperandrogenism — a condition that places her natural testosterone levels outside the specified female range — and, in 2014, won her lawsuit in court. As a South African, Cornelius' decision to step down from the World Athletics' body in 2018 was a matter of fairness, he tells Insider. As a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal, he said he couldn't enforce the "protected" women's category criteria on Semenya or any other woman because he said the World Athletics suffers from the vestiges of colonialism. World Athletics was born during the height of global colonialism in 1912. Moreover, most people who <a href="https://www.worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/structure/council">decided</a> the protected criteria a few years ago were white European men. "That colonial view is still there,'' Cornelius said. "It's still pretty much Europe dictating to the world in most sports. They tolerate the US and others simply because of the power they have in sport. You can't really ignore the US or Australia."<div type="image" title="Namibia's Christine Mboma celebrates silver medal at Tokyo 2020." height="1263" width="1684" msid="90505274" hostid="261"></div><h2>Black female athletes from African nations will continue to be targets, advocates say.</h2><a href="https://time.com/5942286/caster-semenya-women-sports-european-court-human-rights/#:~:text=South%20African%20athlete%20Caster%20Semenya,two%2Dtime%20Olympic%20champion%20challenges">Semenya</a> and Athletic South Africa, the sports international governing body for South Africa, escalated the matter to the European Court of Justice.As for now, the "protected" women's category only applies to three events — the 800m, 400m, and 1500m — because the World Athletic body stated that's when the higher testosterone levels create the largest advantage. However, people on both sides of the debate suspect that with Namibia's Christine Mboma's second-place finish in the women's 200m at the 2020 Olympics, the "protected" criteria will spread to other women's events. Because of Mboma's high testosterone count, she is not able to compete in the 800m, 400m, and 1500m events."For African women, there is a particular pathologizing that is just ages old that we know to be based in othering Black women," Brantuo said. "It's undeniable whether from Ghana, Jamaica or South Africa there are different circumstances that many of these athletes face and are subjected to throughout international sporting events that just don't match up to their white peers."

Why you can't discuss Lia Thomas without talking about Caster Semenya

Welcome to <keyword id="9884466" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="insider-cannabis">Insider Cannabis</keyword>, our weekly <keyword id="621414" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Newsletter">newsletter</keyword> where we're bringing you an inside look at the deals, trends, and personalities driving the multibillion-dollar global <keyword id="14728" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="cannabis">cannabis</keyword> boom.<a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/cultivated">Sign up here to get it in your inbox every week</a>.Clarence Thomas, one of the most conservative justices on the Supreme Court, <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/062821zor_6j37.pdf">wrote a statement</a> that raised some eyebrows across the cannabis world this week.After the court declined to hear a challenge to 280E - the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cannabis-more-audits-280e-treasury-inspector-general-irs-2020-10">Reagan-era IRS rule that forbids cannabis companies from deducting regular business expenses</a> - Thomas said that the federal government's prohibition on <keyword id="40905" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Marijuana">marijuana</keyword> "may no longer be necessary," given the number of states that have legalized it for both medical and recreational use. He called the federal government's enforcement of marijuana prohibition more "episodic than coherent."It's fair to say Thomas is probably not going to become a legalization advocate - rather, he's a conservative judge pushing back against high tax burdens on small businesses and federal overreach in this specific case.If you're interested, you can read our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cannabis-more-audits-280e-treasury-inspector-general-irs-2020-10">deep dive into the consequences of 280E for cannabis companies here</a>.What else?In last week's newsletter, I <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/insider-cannabis-newsletter-june-25-2021-6">wrote about how we see the continued conflict between state and federal cannabis laws</a> play out every day here in the US.Another point: 21-year-old star runner Sha'Carri Richardson <a href="https://www.insider.com/shacarri-richardson-could-miss-olympics-after-cannabis-positive-test-2021-7">was suspended</a> after testing positive for marijuana. She likely won't be able to run in the 100-meter dash at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, where she was a medal favorite. In an interview with the Today Show, Savannah Guthrie <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1410944523778277377">pointed out</a> that Richardson was in Oregon when she tested positive - a state where marijuana has been legal for almost six years.It's also worth noting that THC can show up in tests up to a month after consumption. Plus, there isn't any evidence that marijuana is performance-enhancing.If you missed it: I went on the High Rise podcast with Cy Scott of Headset and Emily Paxhia of Poseidon Asset Management to discuss our reporting for the Insider newsroom-wide "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-inequity-how-inequity-persists-in-american-daily-life-2021-6">Cost of Inequity</a>" project - I'd encourage you all to read through some of the great reporting our colleagues did as well. <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/424Ek8lifVrkEyWAE7osVv?si=8NxiGzggQr6Kt-TEmIsbpQ&amp;dl_branch=1ch=1">You can listen to that here</a>.I'll be off next week, but you'll be in good hands with Yeji.- Jeremy Berke (<a href="https://twitter.com/jfberke">@jfberke</a>) If you like what you read, share this newsletter with your colleagues, friends, boss, spouse, strangers on the internet, or whomever else would like a weekly dose of cannabis news. Here's what we wrote about this week:<h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cannabis-industry-diversity-executives-are-white-male-insider-inequity-analysis-shows-2021-6">Top executives at the 14 largest cannabis companies are overwhelmingly white men, an Insider analysis shows</a></h3>Insider asked the largest cannabis companies in the world who makes up their C-suite. White men make up 70% of top execs, we found. Black execs make up 7% of the cannabis C-suite. This story is part of a larger newsroom-wide project: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cost-of-inequity-how-inequity-persists-in-american-daily-life-2021-6">The Cost of Inequity.</a> <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cbd-startup-kadenwood-50-million-series-b-exclusive-2021-6">A hot CBD startup just raised a fresh $50 million - and the CEO said the company is eyeing an IPO as early as next year</a></h3>CBD startup Kadenwood just closed a $50 million Series B, giving the two-year-old company a valuation of over $350 million. The round was led by The Craftory, a venture-capital fund that invests in growth-stage consumer startups, and Arcadian Capital Management, a venture fund focused on cannabis. <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ayr-marijuana-stock-to-buy-wall-street-viridian-analyst-2021-7">A top Wall Street analyst lays out 4 reasons why under-the-radar cannabis stock Ayr could pop 49%</a></h3>Viridian Capital Advisors analyst Jonathan DeCourcey says Ayr Wellness is his top cannabis stock pick and said the company's stock is discounted considering its track record.<h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marijuana-cannabis-distributor-nabis-raises-23-million-series-b-california-2021-6">Former engineers from Microsoft and Facebook just raised $23 million to dominate a crucial but overlooked piece of the biggest US cannabis market</a></h3>Nabis, one of the largest distributors in California's cannabis industry, just closed a $23 million Series B round. We got an exclusive interview with the company's CEO Vince Ning who said he's focused on doubling the company's footprint in California.<div type="image" title="Aurora Cannabis" height="1055" width="2000" msid="84073046" hostid="261"></div><h2>Executive moves</h2><ul><li>Cannabis distribution company HERBL <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/herbl-announces-retirement-of-chief-operating-officer-art-smuck-appoints-robert-turner-as-incoming-coo-301322213.html">announced</a> on Wednesday that COO Art Smuck is retiring. Former Whole Foods exec Robert Turner will take over.</li><li>Jushi Holdings <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/30/2256090/0/en/Jushi-Holdings-Inc-Announces-Management-and-Board-Changes.html">said</a> on Wednesday that former AB InBev exec Leonardo Garcia-Berg will join the company as COO, while Erich Mauff is stepping down from his roles as co-president and board member</li><li>Cannabis law expert Rachel Gilette is joining Holland &amp; Hart <a href="https://www.hollandhart.com/holland-hart-launches-cannabis-practice-with-arrival-of-rachel-gillette?">to launch the firm's cannabis practice</a>. </li></ul><h2>Deals, launches, and IPOs</h2><ul><li>California cannabis company Glass House started trading on the NEO Exchange on July 5. It went public through a combination with Mercer Park, a SPAC.</li><li>Cannabis company Clever Leaves said on <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/28/2253885/0/en/Clever-Leaves-Launches-Project-Change-Lives-Pledging-25M-Worth-of-Medical-Cannabis-to-U-S-Researchers.html">Monday</a> that it had launched "Project Change Lives," a research initiative that will pledge $25 million of medical cannabis to US researchers.</li><li>Trulieve said on <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trulieve-completes-acquisition-of-marijuana-retail-license-for-dispensary-location-in-worcester-massachusetts-301323110.html">Wednesday</a> that it had completed its $13.5 million cash and stock acquisition of a cannabis store in Massachusetts.</li><li>Hemp and CBD company Vertical Wellness <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210630005323/en/%C2%A0Vertical-Wellness-Announces-Merger-with-CanaFarma-Hemp-Products-Corp.">is going public on the CSE</a> via a merger with CannaFarma Corp.</li><li>Tilray is <a href="https://www.tilray.com/tilraynews-master/2021/6/30/tilray-introduces-its-first-cross-brand-product-collaboration-and-launches-canadian-craft-cannabis-brand-broken-coast-in-the-us">launching Broken Coast BC Lager in the US</a>, through SweetWater Brewing Company. It's a way to get their Broken Coast cannabis brand in front of consumers in the US before they're able to sell actual cannabis.</li><li>And in other Tilray news, the company <a href="https://www.tilray.com/tilraynews-master/2021/6/29/tilray-asks-stockholders-to-support-key-initiatives-to-drive-strategic-growth-and-strengthen-stockholder-rights">said in a proxy statement</a> that it is seeking to increase the number of shares to pursue M&amp;A opportunities. </li><li>Cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/29/2254591/0/en/Leading-Cannabis-Law-Firm-Vicente-Sederberg-Launches-ESG-Practice-Aims-to-Help-Marijuana-and-Hemp-Industries-Lead-on-Sustainability-Social-Responsibility-and-Diversity.html">is launching an ESG practice</a>. </li></ul><h2>Policy moves</h2><ul><li>Marijuana legalization took effect in Virginia and Connecticut on Thursday, while medical marijuana laws went into effect in South Dakota. </li><li>Mexico's Supreme Court <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/29/americas/mexico-cannabis-decriminalization-intl/index.html">struck down cannabis prohibition</a> on Tuesday in an 8-3 ruling, decriminalizing the use of recreational cannabis in the country. </li><li>Apple will now <a href="https://www.marijuanamoment.net/apple-now-allows-marijuana-businesses-on-its-app-store-while-google-maintains-ban/">allow marijuana delivery services on the app store</a>, though only in jurisdictions where marijuana is legal. </li></ul><h2>Research and data</h2><ul><li>The Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School announced on <a href="https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/resources/article/petrie-flom-center-launches-POPLAR">Wednesday</a> that it had launched a new research Initiative on psychedelics. The program, called POPLAR, is funded by the Saisei Foundation and long-time psychedelics proponent <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/4avneq/harvard-lawyers-will-study-the-legal-questions-around-psychedelic-treatment">Tim Ferriss</a> among others. </li></ul><h2>Chart of the week</h2>Ontario's cannabis market has seen steady growth throughout 2020, thanks to the increase in dispensaries, according to market-research firm Brightfield Group. The province more than tripled its store numbers.<h2><div type="image" title="cannabis weekly newsletter chart about Canada dispensary locations" height="840" width="1240" msid="84073047" hostid="261"></div></h2><h2>What we're reading</h2><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/27/republicans-weed-496390">Republicans are watching their states back weed - and they're not sold</a> (POLITICO)<a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americas-pot-labs-have-a-thc-problem/">America's Pot Labs Have A THC Problem</a> (FiveThirtyEight)<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2021/06/28/gotham-green-partners-has-multiple-stakes-but-doe.html?ana=TRUEANTHEMTWT_BO&amp;csrc=6398&amp;taid=60d9c7e0b9a1150001df206f&amp;utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&amp;utm_medium=trueAnthem&amp;utm_source=twitterp;utm_source=twitter">Regulators say cannabis investor's multiple stakes doesn't violate cap</a> (Boston Business Journal)<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/30/opinions/its-time-to-legalize-marijuana-rick-steves/index.html">Rick Steves: Pot is now used by Mom and Dad. And Grandma's rubbing it on her elbows</a> (CNN)<a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/06/28/democrats-republicans-split-marijuana-business">Republicans And Democrats Are Divided Over Marijuana. Businesses Are Caught In The Middle</a> (WBUR)<a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5gdzy/can-lsd-treat-food-allergies-we-dont-know-but-its-already-been-patented">Can LSD Treat Food Allergies? We Don't Know, But It's Already Been Patented</a> (VICE)

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