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So far leafie has created 251 blog entries.

London mayor backs report calling for decriminalisation of cannabis

By |2025-05-29T03:01:06+01:0029 May 2025|

An independent commission has recommended moving natural cannabis from the Misuse of Drugs Act to reduce harm and tackle racial disproportionality in policing, following “the most comprehensive international study of cannabis use in recent history.” This story first appeared on leafie, view here Author: Liam O'Dowd

Legalising cannabis can reduce problematic use

By |2025-05-15T03:01:04+01:0015 May 2025|

A first-of-its-kind study comparing outcomes from legal and illegal adult-use cannabis users has shown that legal access can reduce misuse. This story first appeared on leafie, view here Author: Kevin Dinneen

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Cannabis use has less impact on airway health than tobacco

By |2025-05-09T03:03:08+01:009 May 2025|

The study found that some cannabis users had lower levels of harmful biomarkers in their breath than people who abstained from both cannabis and tobacco. This story first appeared on leafie, view here Author: Kevin Dinneen

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New cannabinoid discovered during search for anti-cancer compounds

By |2025-05-07T03:01:47+01:007 May 2025|

South Korean researchers identified a previously unknown cannabinoid called cannabielsoxa alongside several compounds that can inhibit neuroblastoma cancer cell growth. This story first appeared on leafie, view here Author: Liam O'Dowd

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Treatment-resistant epilepsy patients see improvement with medical cannabis, UK study finds

By |2025-05-03T22:20:54+01:003 May 2025|

Patients on the UK Medical Cannabis Registry reported "significantly positive change" to their epilepsy, quality of life, sleep and anxiety levels after six months of treatment. This story first appeared on leafie, view here Author: Kevin Dinneen

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Slovenia sets out plans to legalise medical cannabis

By |2025-05-02T03:03:18+01:002 May 2025|

Politicians also hope to change the law to allow for "limited" adult recreational use by the end of the year. This story first appeared on leafie, view here Author: Kevin Dinneen

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Stop using cannabis as grounds for stop and search, Avon and Somerset Police told

By |2025-04-30T03:07:08+01:0030 April 2025|

Avon and Somerset Police have been instructed to stop using cannabis smell as the sole grounds for stop and search, following recommendations from an independent review body. The force’s Independent Scrutiny of Police Powers Panel determined that the smell of cannabis alone should no longer be [...]

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Smoking remains America’s preferred method of cannabis consumption, study finds

By |2025-04-30T03:07:02+01:0030 April 2025|

A study conducted by the US Government has found that 80% of Americans who use cannabis report combustion as their primary method of consumption. The second most common route of consumption reported was ingesting cannabis via edibles or oils, and nearly half of those surveyed claimed [...]

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Legalising cannabis led to an increase in use but less misuse, study finds

By |2025-04-30T03:06:59+01:0030 April 2025|

A study examining trends in adult cannabis consumption in Canada following legalisation in 2018 has found that although overall frequency of use increased slightly, the number of individuals whose use was designated problematic decreased marginally. Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the research analysed data [...]

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Strong scientific evidence cannabis can help treat cancer, largest ever study shows

By |2025-04-30T03:06:47+01:0030 April 2025|

A groundbreaking meta-analysis study, published in the journal Frontiers in Oncology, has revealed overwhelming scientific support for the use of medical cannabis in cancer treatment. The extensive research, which analysed data from over 10,000 peer-reviewed research papers, found that more than 70% of studies support the [...]

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Cookies launches first medical cannabis in UK

By |2025-04-15T03:02:41+01:0015 April 2025|

People in the UK who are prescribed medical cannabis through a private clinic can now request flower from the global cannabis brand Cookies, according to a press release seen by leafie. The first strain available, Hawaiian Rain, is a high-potency flower containing 31% THC. Priced at [...]

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Policing drug crime may create more serious violence, Home Office report finds

By |2025-04-15T03:02:33+01:0015 April 2025|

A systematic review commissioned by the Home Office has found that the UK’s drug policies may be causing more serious violence than they prevent, according to a new report. The research, conducted by the independent, not-for-profit research organisation RAND, examined the impact of drug-related law enforcement [...]

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Medical cannabis more effective than traditional sleep medications, patients report

By |2025-04-11T03:03:58+01:0011 April 2025|

Nearly three-quarters of medical cannabis patients report that cannabis outperforms conventional prescription sleep medications, according to a major European survey. The study, conducted by Frankfurt-based Bloomwell Group between December 2024 and March 2025, surveyed 1,086 people who have been using cannabis to aid sleep since 2023. [...]

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Medical cannabis linked to long-term benefits in health, study shows

By |2025-04-08T03:04:04+01:008 April 2025|

Patients prescribed medicinal cannabis in Australia showed improvements in their quality of life, fatigue and sleep disturbance over a 12-month period, according to new research published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney, found that patients with [...]

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Prenatal cannabis use does not impact early-years child development, study finds

By |2025-04-04T03:02:33+01:004 April 2025|

A study published in the Maternal and Child Health Journal has found that children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy showed no signs of stunted cognitive development at age two. Researchers examined a cohort of 1,489 mother and child pairs to identify how mothers use cannabis [...]

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Swiss recreational cannabis trial shows positive mental health results

By |2025-04-01T03:02:21+01:001 April 2025|

An ongoing adult-use cannabis trial in Switzerland named Weed-Care has published an update showing positive health outcomes, such as improvements in mental health and a decrease in addiction problems.   The trial, being conducted in Basel northwest Switzerland, has been gathering data on the “for-pleasure” use of [...]

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Wellbeing effects of psilocybin vary by race, study finds

By |2025-03-29T03:00:41+00:0029 March 2025|

A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has shown that the mental health benefits of psilocybin, the main psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, may vary significantly depending on a person’s race. Researchers recruited almost 3,000 people in the US who planned to [...]

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Teens undeterred by alcohol’s negative effects, UK study finds

By |2025-03-27T03:02:02+00:0027 March 2025|

A four-year study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, has found that teenagers are not put off by the negative effects of alcohol. Researchers followed over 12,700 students aged 12 to 15 from 105 schools across Northern Ireland and Scotland to assess how early [...]

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Hypermobility symptoms improved after taking cannabis, study finds

By |2025-03-26T03:01:26+00:0026 March 2025|

Patients who are living with hypermobility disorders report significant improvements in pain management, sleep quality, and anxiety levels after using cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs), according to new research published in the journal ACR Open Rheumatology. Researchers from Imperial College London and the Curaleaf Clinic analysed data [...]

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Party drug consumption up in England, wastewater study finds

By |2025-03-20T03:03:56+00:0020 March 2025|

New analysis of wastewater samples has shown significant increases in the number of people consuming party drugs, a Home Office report has shown. The study, which analysed wastewater from treatment plants covering 25% of England’s population, found that Ketamine use in England has surged by 85% [...]

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Violent crime fell 20% after cannabis decriminalisation, study finds

By |2025-03-19T03:04:05+00:0019 March 2025|

A study has shown that the decriminalisation of cannabis in the US city of Atlanta led to a significant decrease in violent crime, contradicting initial fears from critics of the policy. Data showed that violent crime rates fell by nearly 20 per cent after the city [...]

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Majority of UK doctors would prescribe cannabis for pain if NHS allowed it, survey finds

By |2025-03-11T03:01:15+00:0011 March 2025|

A survey has revealed that 84% of UK doctors would be willing to prescribe medical cannabis to manage chronic pain if it were part of the NHS toolkit. The research, commissioned by medical cannabis clinic Alternaleaf, comes as experts warn that the number of chronic pain [...]

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Spannabis Barcelona set to end in 2025, event announces

By |2025-03-07T03:03:35+00:007 March 2025|

Europe’s largest cannabis trade show and fair, Spannabis, has announced that its March 2025 event will be the last to be hosted in Barcelona. The event, which attracts tens of thousands of people from around the world, has been held in the Spanish city of Barcelona [...]

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Legalising cannabis could generate £1.5 billion for UK economy, new study finds

By |2025-03-05T03:03:56+00:005 March 2025|

Analysis released by Transform Drug Policy Foundation has shown that that legalising and regulating cannabis for adult non-medical use in the UK could generate up to £1.5 billion in annual net benefits to the Treasury. The report, titled High Returns: The Economic Benefits of UK Cannabis [...]

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No changes in driving skills after vaporising medical cannabis, study finds

By |2025-03-05T03:03:49+00:005 March 2025|

According to the results of a study published recently in the Journal of Safety Research, taking prescribed cannabis before the start of a journey does not affect the ability of patients to drive safely. In the study, funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, Australian researchers [...]

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Charity launches to support UK cannabis patients

By |2025-03-05T03:03:44+00:005 March 2025|

A Manchester-based charity called CannCare has announced it will provide support to medical cannabis patients in the UK facing discrimination after a rise in reported issues. The charity, which opened its doors on 1 March, offers assistance to patients using cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) [...]

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Cannabis medicines improve quality of life for cancer patients, study finds

By |2025-02-27T03:00:41+00:0027 February 2025|

Cancer patients using cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) experience significant improvements in pain management, sleep quality, and anxiety levels, according to new research published in the Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy. The six-month observational study, which analysed data from 168 cancer patients prescribed cannabis oil [...]

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Cannabis helps mothers be more positive parents, study finds

By |2025-02-25T03:01:22+00:0025 February 2025|

Having access to medical cannabis helps mothers be more present parents, increases their patience with their children, and enables them to better manage their own health needs, according to the results of a study funded by the New Zealand government. The study, published in the journal [...]

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Switzerland puts forward plans to legalise cannabis

By |2025-02-18T03:04:17+00:0018 February 2025|

A parliamentary committee in Switzerland has put forward plans that would legalise the possession and use of cannabis. The proposal would allow the sale of cannabis products to Swiss citizens over 18 years of age and for a maximum of three plants to be grown at [...]

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Researchers to test psychedelic as treatment for postnatal depression

By |2025-02-12T03:04:45+00:0012 February 2025|

Researchers from Cleveland Clinic have announced plans for a drug trial that will study if a novel psychedelic drug can help treat postnatal depression. The drug, called RE104, is almost identical in makeup to psilocybin, with the main difference being the length of time patients experience [...]

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Cases of schizophrenia linked to cannabis use disorder have tripled, Canadian study finds

By |2025-02-06T03:03:50+00:006 February 2025|

A large-scale study of hospital admissions in Ontario, Canada has shown that there are higher incidences of schizophrenia in patients with cannabis use disorder (CUD) when compared to the rest of the population.  Researchers based in Ontario and Berlin studied data from hospital admissions between 2006 [...]

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Cannabis oil ‘significantly improves’ life of man diagnosed with Parkinson’s 22 years ago

By |2025-02-04T03:03:37+00:004 February 2025|

Researchers from Brazil have published a detailed study showing significant improvements in a patient living with late-stage Parkinsons Disease after just 63 days of treatment with cannabis oil. The patient, a 77 year old man, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 22 years ago. Due to the [...]

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Cannabinoids may be more effective than opioids for pain, Yale University study finds

By |2025-01-31T03:00:15+00:0031 January 2025|

Scientists from Yale University have published a study that demonstrates how a part of the brain that plays a significant role in the sensation of pain can be suppressed by non-psychoactive parts of the cannabis plant.  Cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN) are non-psychoactive cannabinoids [...]

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55% of Brits support cannabis reform, latest YouGov poll shows

By |2025-01-30T03:03:50+00:0030 January 2025|

A recent YouGov poll, asking the British public their views on cannabis reform compared to those held by politicians, has shown that a majority of both groups support some sort of cannabis reform. The survey, conducted between 8th and 9th January 2025, asked members of the [...]

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People who use cannabis found to exercise more than those who don’t

By |2025-01-29T03:00:42+00:0029 January 2025|

Researchers have published a study which shows a correlation between cannabis use and an increase in the amount of daily exercise a person carries out. Uptakes in people’s cigarette and alcohol use were also linked to cannabis use. The data was taken from a nationwide survey [...]

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Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht released from prison after Trump pardon

By |2025-01-23T10:14:18+00:0023 January 2025|

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the darknet marketplace Silk Road, has been granted a presidential pardon by Donald Trump on the first day of his second term as President of the United States.  Ulbricht, who was sentenced to a whole life sentence in 2015, was released [...]

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UK university to trial DMT as treatment for alcohol use disorder

By |2025-01-22T03:08:03+00:0022 January 2025|

A team of researchers from University College London (UCL) have begun a clinical trial exploring the potential of DMT to treat alcohol use disorder. The study aims to enhance treatment options for individuals seeking to reduce or eliminate their alcohol consumption, and “to better understand how [...]

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Cannabis to be used as late-stage dementia treatment in ‘first of its kind’ study

By |2025-01-21T03:04:09+00:0021 January 2025|

Scientists from the University of Kentucky (UK) are set to embark on a ground-breaking study which will explore the benefits of administering cannabis-based medicines to patients living with late-stage dementia. Care providers are restricted by the small number of treatment options available for controlling the symptoms [...]

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Doubt cast on ‘gateway drug’ theory after large study of adolescent brains

By |2025-01-15T03:01:42+00:0015 January 2025|

A study has found that the structural difference in the brains of people who use drugs may be present before experimentation with substances, casting doubt on the contested gateway theory that soft drug experimentation leads to harder drug use. Scientists studied the brains of nearly 10,000 [...]

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One cigarette can reduce life expectancy by 20 minutes, research shows

By |2025-01-11T03:00:28+00:0011 January 2025|

Smoking a single cigarette can take around 20 minutes off a person’s life, according to research commissioned by the Department of Health. In a report, published in the journal Addiction, researchers at University College London found that the average loss of life per cigarette smoked was [...]

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CBD can reduce cravings for alcohol, study finds

By |2025-01-08T03:07:53+00:008 January 2025|

A single 800mg dose of orally administered CBD can significantly reduce a subject’s cravings for alcohol, according to the results of a new study. Researchers from the Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine at the University of Heidelberg in Germany analysed how CBD impacts alcohol [...]

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Opioid deaths decline “immediately” following legalisation of cannabis, research shows

By |2025-01-07T03:00:47+00:007 January 2025|

A new study has revealed that deaths caused by opioid overdose in the USA go down directly after the legalisation of recreational cannabis. The study also showed that states which changed their cannabis legislation earlier experienced an even greater decrease in deaths than others that did [...]

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Cannabis improves the lives of people with IBD, UK study finds

By |2025-01-04T03:03:21+00:004 January 2025|

Data taken from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry has shown a positive association between cannabis and improved health-related quality of life for people who have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is an umbrella term for conditions that affect the stomach. Symptoms can range [...]

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Teen cannabis use lowest since legalisation began, US study finds

By |2024-12-19T09:52:34+00:0019 December 2024|

Data from a federally funded survey has found that cannabis use amongst teens in the USA is at its lowest since the first states began to legalise adult access to the drug in 2012. The annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey, which is supported by the [...]

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