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UBC study indicates more Canadians are driving high following cannabis legalization

A study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) published in the New England Journal of Medicine (via Complex) indicates that more Canadians are driving after using cannabis than before it was legalized.

Researchers analyzed blood samples from 4,339 moderately injured drivers treated at four B.C. trauma centres between 2013 and 2020. They detected THC in the blood of twice as many injured drivers following legalization. Specifically, 3.8 percent of drivers had blood THC concentrations above the Canadian legal driving limit of 2 nanograms/ml before legalization. After, that percentage rose to 8.6.

Moreover, the proportion of drivers with higher concentrations of THC (above five nanograms/ml) rose from 1.1 percent to 3.5 percent after legalization.

“It’s concerning that we’re seeing such a dramatic increase,” said Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher, associate professor in UBC’s department of emergency medicine and the primary researcher of the study. “There are serious risks associated with driving after cannabis use. Our findings suggest more is needed to deter this dangerous behaviour in light of legalization.”

Interestingly, the study found that the most significant increase was among drivers over the age of 50. Further, the study didn’t find any substantial changes in drivers testing positive for alcohol, either independently or in combination with THC.

Dr. Brubacher said that he hopes policymakers will use the findings to create public information campaigns and enforcement measures to encourage drivers, especially older ones, not to use cannabis and drive.

According to UBC, blood THC levels typically peak at upwards of 100 nanograms/ml within 15 minutes of smoking cannabis. However, those levels can drop to less than two nanograms/ml within four hours after smoking. When ingesting edible forms of THC, levels can drop similarly after eight hours.

With that in mind, Dr. Brubacher cautioned that THC in the blood doesn’t always indicate a collision was caused by impairment. In a previous study, Dr. Brubacher and his team found little evidence showing THC concentrations below five nanograms/ml increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents, while levels above that do increase the risk.

“Detecting cannabis, especially at low concentrations, doesn’t necessarily mean a driver is impaired. But the risk is real with higher THC levels, which is why it’s so important that we continue to assess and respond to the impact that legalization is having on road safety,” Dr. Brubacher said.

Next, Dr. Brubacher’s team will expand research to fifteen trauma centres across Canada to investigate the prevalence of cannabis, alcohol and other impairing substances in injured drivers. The team hopes to shed more light on the issues of impaired driving and help guide national and provincial traffic policy.

Those interested can read the full study here.

Source: New England Journal of Medicine Via: UBC, Complex

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Mobile Syrup

Best Buy’s latest Top Deals feature smart TVs, drones, dash cams, and more

If you’re looking for a new 4K smart TV to get you through the dreariest part of winter, you can get $800 off Sony’s 65″ OLED Bravia Google TV this week at Best Buy. Check it out, along with the rest of the retailer’s weekly Top Deals, below:

Sony BRAVIA XR A80J 65″ 4K UHD HDR OLED Smart Google TV for $2,499.99 (save $800)

GoPro HERO9 Black 5K Sports Camera Bundle with Floating Hand Grip, Battery, SD Card & Accessories for $429.99 (save $170)

HP Pavilion Desktop PC for $699.99 (save $200)

Canon PIXMA TS3429 Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer for $69.99 (save $60)

Dell 23.6″ FHD 165Hz 4ms GTG Curved VA LED FreeSync Gaming Monitor for $249.99 (save $100)

Samsung Galaxy Buds2 In-Ear Noise Cancelling Truly Wireless Headphones for $199.99 (save $70)

JBL Endurance Peak II In-Ear Sound Isolating Truly Wireless Headphones for $99.99 (save $50)

Thinkware Q800PRO 2K QHD 1440p Dash Cam with Rear Camera & Hardwiring Cable for $399.99 (save $90)

DJI Air 2S Quadcopter Drone with Camera & Controller for $1,249.99 (save $50)

HP 14″ Laptop in Natural Silver for $579.99 (save $120)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 12.4″ Touchscreen Laptop for $499.99 (save $260)

Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Speaker for $199.99 (save $50)

Google Nest Cam Wire-Free Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera – 2 Pack for $369.99 (save $70)

Garmin Lily Sport Edition 34.5mm Smartwatch for $199.99 (save $100)

Insignia Air Fryer – 5L/5.28QT for $79.99 (save $150)

WD Easystore 12TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for $279.99 (save $70)

ProForm Pro C14 Exercise Bike for $1,199.97 (save $800)

NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Folding Treadmill for $2,799.99 (save $200)

Image source: Best Buy

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Koodo offering $60/15GB plan with $5/mo credit, Virgin offering $58/15GB

Both Koodo and Virgin Plus are offering new 15GB plans for a limited time. The new plans come just days after Koodo changed up its plans. On the surface, it looks like Virgin has a better deal, but Koodo’s offering a $5/mo bill credit that makes it the better offer.

Starting with Koodo, the Telus flanker brand recently rolled out a $60/mo 12GB plan to replace its $55/10GB plan after Rogers’ Fido did the same. Now, just two days later, Koodo has changed the $60/12GB plan to a $60/15GB plan.

Koodo’s website specifies that the $60/15GB plan is actually a 10GB plan with a bonus 5GB of data. It’s not immediately clear if the 5GB bonus is temporary or if it drops off the plan at a certain time, but the website does note that the plan is a limited-time offer. Moreover, the $5/mo bill credit is still available and still lasts 24 months, meaning that if you get this plan, you could pay $55/mo for 15GB for two years.

Koodo’s new $60/15GB plan with a $5/mo bill credit.

The plan is available both on Koodo’s BYOP and Tab options and includes unlimited Canada-wide minutes, unlimited text and picture messaging, call display, voicemail, call waiting, and conference calling. You can check it out here.

Virgin Plus, on the other hand, has basically the same plan for $58/mo. The Bell flanker brand did not follow Koodo and Fido in rolling out a $60/12GB plan — instead, it switched its $55/10GB plan to $58/mo and tacked on the 5GB data bonus to bring it up to 15GB total.

Like Koodo, Virgin’s website notes that the $58/15GB plan is a limited-time offer and is really just a 10GB plan with a bonus 5GB. It’s not clear if the 5GB bonus is temporary. Unlike Koodo, Virgin doesn’t offer a bill credit with the plan.

Virgin’s plan also includes unlimited Canada-wide minutes and messaging and is available for BYOP customers and those looking to get a new phone. You can check out Virgin’s plans here.

As of writing, Fido still offers a $60/12GB plan with bill credit and has not joined Virgin and Koodo in offering a 15GB plan instead.

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix admits competition is heating up, could impact company growth

In what many are seeing as a first, Netflix has admitted competition in the streaming platform industry has intensified over the past 24 months as entertainment companies develop their own services.

The streaming giant’s Q4 2021 letter to shareholders notes “added competition may be affecting our marginal growth some.”

Netflix globally added 8.3 million subscribers in the fourth quarter. In comparison, the company saw the addition of 8.5 million subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The diminished figures come despite the release of a number of “big hits” like The Witcher season 2, viewed for a total of 484 million hours, and You, viewed for 468 million hours. The quarter also featured the final chapter of La Casa de Papel, also known as Money Heist. The series has been viewed for 6.7 billion hours over its lifetime. Netflix also had six of its series show up in the top 10 list of most searched TV shows on Google.

Looking to the future, the streaming giant plans to release season 2 of Bridgerton and the original movie The Adam Project during this quarter.

Despite the popular releases, Netflix’s outlook has plummeted, as it expects to only add 2.5 million global subscribers in the first quarter of 2022, a decline from the 4 million subscribers seen in Q1, 2021.

The company admits growth does not match the levels seen before the pandemic began, and believes the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and other economic hardships around the world may be the reason for this.

Netflix also recently raised its prices in the U.S. and Canada for subscribers that want to view HD and 4K content, which likely won’t help its subscriber growth.

Netflix’s Standard plan now costs $16.50 a month in Canada, a $1.50 increase from its previous $15 price tag. This option lets people watch content in high-definition

The Premium plan, which features 4K conent, now costs $21, up from the previous listing price of $19.

Source: Netflix

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Apple posed as Peloton’s only saviour among news the company is pausing equipment production

NEW YORK CITY CIRCA MAY 2020. As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic grows and with gyms closed, Peloton has become popular as an indoor fitness option for exercise especially while sheltering in place

A recent report from CNBC on Peloton’s manufacturing rate helped plummet the company’s stalk by 24 percent in a single day.

The American media outlet reported the exercise bike manufacturer was temporarily halting production of its fitness products because of a drop in consumer demand.

Internal documents revealed Bike productions will be paused in February and March. Production of Bike+ was paused back in December and will stay so until June. The Tread treadmill won’t be manufactured for six weeks beginning in February. Production of Tread+ was previously halted and likely won’t resume this year.

This fueled ongoing rumours. Insider reported the company is planning to lay off 41 percent of its staff in its sales and marketing departments.

Once noted as the darling of exercise equipment, the company is now struggling. CNBC notes the company overestimated how many people would be buying its products after a jump in sales from at-home workouts during the pandemic.

Now many are saying the only way to save the company is if Apple buys it out. Financial advice company The Motley Fool reports Apple has the cash to spare and “wants to be a force in health and wellness.” However, the article also notes a possible acquisition would “benefit Peloton far more than it would Apple,” given Peloton’s smaller “market opportunity.”

Peloton CEO John Foley has denied that production was slowing production and information reported on by the media was “incomplete and out of context.”

“Rumors that we are halting all production of bikes and Treads are false,” Foley wrote in a letter of response.

However, he did acknowledge layoffs may soon be on the horizon.

“We now need to evaluate our [organizational] structure and size of our team, with the utmost care and compassion. And we are still in the process of considering all options as part of our efforts to make our business more flexible,” he wrote.

Image credit: ShutterStock

Sources: CNBC, Insider, The Motley Fool

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Mobile Syrup

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is coming to Nintendo Switch Online in February

Following the recent release of Banjo-Kazooie, Nintendo has confirmed that the 12th game to hit its Switch Online ‘Expansion Pack’ tier will be The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.

So far, all we know is that the game is coming to the subscription service in February. Nintendo will likely reveal a more specific release date in the coming weeks.

Set in the world of Termina, Link’s second N64 adventure has the titular Hylian saving the world from the moon. The game focuses on a three-day cycle and has the player donning different masks to transform into a Deku, a Goran and a Zora.

Hopefully, Nintendo is able to iron out the emulation issues several switch titles — including Ocarina of Time — currently experience. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time suffers from delayed button presses and strange graphical anomalies.

I’ve never been entirely sure where I stand on Majora’s Mask. On the one hand, it’s one of the most unique Zelda titles in the series, but it also lacks the exploration-focus I really like about the franchise.

If you’ve followed my work (and incessant tweeting) over the years, I’ve stated at times that Majora’s Mask is my least favourite Zelda title, but then later, called it an “underappreciated classic” when I reviewed the 3DS remake back in 2015.

I’m excited to dive back into Majora’s Mask to see how it holds up today — and more importantly, if my opinion on the game has yet again shifted.

Nintendo’s ‘Expansion Pack‘ online tier costs $63.99 for a 12-month individual membership (one account) or $99.99 for a 12-month Family Membership (up to eight accounts).

Image credit: Nintendo 

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Mobile Syrup

A decision on Huawei’s future in Canada might be coming soon: Here’s how we got here

Smart phone with the logo of Huawei and 5G. The 5g are new communication technologies that Huawei incorporates. United States, California, Friday, January 17, 2020,

The federal government holds the fate of Huawei’s 5G future in Canada in its hands.

For months, the government has said that an announcement regarding whether the Chinese telecom company will be able to provide infrastructure for Canada’s 5G network is coming. However, there is no clear indication as to when it will actually deliver a decision.

There are concerns the company is tied to the Chinese government, and questions have been raised about potential privacy impacts if Huawei is allowed to provide equipment related to Canada’s 5G infrastructure.

The existence of the supposed ties isn’t the only issue. All of Canada’s allies in the Five Eyes, an intelligence-sharing alliance, have banned or restricted the use of Huawei equipment on their 5G networks. If Canada decides to allow Huawei in its 5G network, it’ll likely face backlash from the alliance.

Canada and Huawei were already on rocky terms given the 2018 arrest of Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States.

Two Canadian businessmen in China were arrested soon after. While the Chinese government has long denied the arrests were in retaliation to actions taken against Wanzhou, they stated the outcome for the Canadians wouldn’t be good if Wanzhou were to be extradited to the U.S.

All of this transpired while Canadian telecom companies hung in limbo, unsure whether or not they’d be allowed to use Huawei equipment, including what they had already installed.

Bell and Telus have used Huawei equipment in their networks and previously asked the federal government to pay for that equipment if it bans Huawei and forces them to replace it. Both carriers have announced partnerships with Ericsson and Nokia for 5G — Rogers has had a 5G partnership with Ericsson since 2018.

Huawei’s recent history with Canada is problematic, and it may play a role in the government’s final verdict. Here’s everything you need to know about the factors that might influence the decision:

December 1st, 2018: Wanzhou is arrested in Vancouver at the request of the U.S. on allegations she violated trade sanctions in Iran.

December 10th, 2018: Two Canadians are detained in China in alleged retaliation to Wanzhou’s arrest.

March 1st, 2019: The federal government proceeds with its case against Wanzhou.

June 24th, 2019: Wanzhou’s lawyers say stopping extradition proceedings will be in Canada’s national interests.

January 20th, 2020: Wanzhou’s extradition hearing begins.

January 21st, 2020: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dismisses the idea of a prisoner exchange.

February 10th, 2020: Canada’s top military officials want the government to ban Huawei from the 5G network, saying it could threaten national security.

March 6th, 2020: Canada’s former Innovation Minister, Navdeep Bains, says the government won’t be influenced by other jurisdictions when deciding on Huawei’s fate.

June 2nd, 2020: Telecom giants Telus and Bell announce they’ll be working with Ericsson and Nokia to build their 5G networks, ditching previous desires to work with Huawei among ongoing tension.

June 21st, 2020: Bains says China is applying pressure on Canada to allow Huawei to be part of the 5G rollout.

June 30th, 2020: Huawei is labelled as a national security threat in the U.S.

July 19th, 2020: Former Foreign Affairs Minister Fançois-Philipe Champagne said Canada’s delay in deciding on Huawei has no connection to the detained Canadians.

September 14th, 2020: Federal government would be unlikely to pay carriers to tear down installed Huawei equipment if a ban is approved. Removal will cost an estimated $1 billion.

September 17th, 2020: Huawei drafts a “no-spying” pledge to convince Canada their equipment doesn’t create a security threat.

November 18th, 2020: Parliament passes a Conservative motion asking governing Liberals to decide on their Huawei 5G security review.

June 26th, 2021: A report from Public Safety Canada states an increase in cyber attacks on Huawei devices after Wanzhou’s arrest.

September 24th, 2021: Wanzhou pleads not guilty to charges and reaches an agreement with the U.S. justice department. A B.C. court drops her extradition charges, and she leaves the country.

September 24th, 2021: The two detained Canadians are released hours after Wanzhou’s situation is resolved.

November 26th, 2021: Bell and Telus ask the government to consider compensating them to remove Huawei equipment, pending their decision on the company’s faith. Both networks installed equipment to be used for networks in previous generations.

December 2nd, 2021: Reports indicate Canadian companies spent an estimated $700 million installing Huawei equipment from previous generations as telecom companies again ask the feds for financial assistance if the equipment needs to be removed.

Image credit: ShutterStock

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Elon Musk’s Neuralink brain implants moving towards testing on humans

Neuralink, one of Elon Musk’s more outlandish companies, aims to implant a chip into the human brain to unlock sci-fi-like abilities and to help combat brain chemistry-based issues like depression.

So far, we’ve seen the company implant its chip into rats and monkeys, but a new job posting for a ‘clinical trial director’ suggests that the company is looking to step up its testing.

The job is situated in Fremont, California, and the posting says that this hire will lead and direct the team responsible for fielding regulatory interaction and developing a clinical trial procedure for the company.

The full job application can be found here. It features pretty hefty wording like “Understanding of Class III implantable neuromodulation devices,” likely keeping regular people out of the running for the role.

Hiring this director is the first step towards actual human trials with Neuralink tech. However, it will likely be several years before we see one of these chips implanted in an actual human brain.

Beyond this job, Neuralink also has roles listed for animal care, brain specialists and engineering jobs related to the device.

Source: Neuralink Via: Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

Bell updates plan suite with $80/mo 20GB ‘unlimited’ option

Well, that didn’t take long. Just a couple of days after MobileSyrup published a story detailing the various plans offered by Canada’s ‘Big Three’ wireless carriers, Bell has updated its plans.

The Montreal-based national carrier added an $80/mo 20GB unlimited plan to its website, moving in line with offers from Rogers and Telus.

As with its other ‘unlimited’ plans, the new $80/20GB option gives users 20GB of data at regular network speed. When users go beyond that allotment, Bell throttles speeds to a maximum of up to 512Kbps. Customers can keep using data at reduced speeds with no overage cost.

Bell plans as of January 21, 2022

Bell plans as of January 21, 2022

Beyond that, all of Bell’s unlimited plans include Canada-wide calling, text, picture and video messaging, call display, call waiting, conference calling, and 5G access for 5G-capable devices.

Aside from the addition of an $80/20GB plan, Bell hasn’t changed its other plans:

  • $90/40GB
  • $100/50GB with Canada-U.S.
  • $175/100GB

Finally, these plans generally match what Rogers and Telus offer (excluding a few small differences). You can check out Bell’s plans here. Note that prices may differ depending on your province.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 series now rumoured to launch February 9

Today, Samsung made a post about its upcoming Unpacked event but didn’t actually say a date. Rumours previously indicated that the event would take place on February 8th. But a new post from the reliable tipster says Ice Universe suggests the S22 series will launch one day later.

Ice Universe reportedly made a post on the China-based microblogging site Weibo indicating that the Galaxy S22 will launch on February 9th, alongside the Galaxy Tab S8.

However, Digital Daily announced that the phone will launch on February 8th, with the phone coming out on February 24th.

Rumours indicate that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and work with an S Pen. The other models will lack the S Pen, sport an S21-like design, a trio of cameras, and the aforementioned Snapdragon 8 Fen 1 chipset.

Samsung will likely unveil the official launch date for the Galaxy S22 series sooner than later.

Source: Weibo, Android Police