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80% of Gen Z think cannabis should be legal in the UK

By |2024-05-24T03:08:49+01:0024 May 2024|

A report published this week by The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has found that 80% of Generation Z support the legalisation of cannabis in the United Kingdom. The report, titled Society Watch 2024: Understanding the new generation of voters, provides insight into three key policy issues [...]

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One in four UK police officers unaware that medical cannabis is legal

By |2024-05-21T03:08:34+01:0021 May 2024|

A cross-sectional survey of serving police officers has found that over one in four respondents were unaware that cannabis can be prescribed legally in the UK. The survey, conducted between 24 October and 1 November 2022, was designed by a multi-disciplinary team of academic clinicians and [...]

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Cookies branded cannabis coming to UK medical market

By |2024-05-17T03:11:33+01:0017 May 2024|

The high-profile Californian cannabis brand Cookies will soon be available in the UK and Europe, after the company signed a deal to distribute dried flower and extracts with Portugal-based biotech company SOMAÍ. The deal, which will allow SOMAÍ to exclusively cultivate, manufacture, and distribute on behalf [...]

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Cannabis compound could be used as treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

By |2024-05-16T03:03:22+01:0016 May 2024|

Researchers at the Salk Institute, a non-profit research organisation, have found that the cannabinoid CBN (cannabinol) may be able to treat neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. In the study, published in the journal Redox Biology, researchers first used existing data from previous studies [...]

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Patients living with MS report better quality of life after being prescribed cannabis

By |2024-05-10T03:06:45+01:0010 May 2024|

Researchers from the Imperial College Medical Cannabis Research Group have published a study showing that patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) report significant improvements in health-related quality of life after 6 months of treatment with cannabis. Current treatment for MS focuses on slowing down the progression of [...]

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DMT shows positive results in trials for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease

By |2024-05-09T03:04:58+01:009 May 2024|

A study published in the journal BioMed Central has shown how the psychedelic N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) could be used as a medicine to prevent the onset of the neurodegenerative condition Alzheimer’s disease (AD).  According to the NHS, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia [...]

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Rolling papers may be contaminated with unsafe levels of heavy metals

By |2024-05-04T03:09:36+01:004 May 2024|

Researchers concerned with the lack of regulation in the rolling paper industry have published a study in which they analysed 53 rolling paper products available on the US consumer market. The objective of the study, published in the journal ACS Omega was to evaluate if these [...]

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DEA set to reschedule cannabis in the US as bill introduced that could lead to full legalisation

By |2024-05-03T03:04:28+01:003 May 2024|

Eight months after the Biden administration ordered a review into cannabis law, the DEA, the agency that enforces drug law in the United States announced that it would reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. The announcement means that cannabis will no longer be Schedule [...]

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Cannabis consumers are not ‘lazy stoners’ study finds

By |2024-04-28T03:07:24+01:0028 April 2024|

A study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science has found that chronic cannabis users are motivated and exhibit willingness to carry out tasks that require effort, contrary to the stereotype that stoners are lazy. The study queried 260 cannabis consumers five times per [...]

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Fibromyalgia patients are using cannabis to ease their symptoms

By |2024-04-26T03:16:13+01:0026 April 2024|

Researchers from the USA have published a study showing how fibromyalgia patients who deal with symptoms including pain, fatigue, and anxiety are using cannabis. A total of 1336 responses from patients at the specialist Integrative Medicine & Health at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota were analysed as [...]

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Politician makes the first move to decriminalise adult-use cannabis in Jersey

By |2024-04-23T03:04:47+01:0023 April 2024|

Medicinal cannabis is legal in Jersey, and the island is home to a burgeoning cannabis industry. Now a politician on the island is making plans to have the plant’s status for personal use lowered from illegal, to decriminalised. Deputy Tom Coles believes that a softer legal [...]

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#ReleaseMyMeds campaign launched to protect medical cannabis patients’ rights in the UK

By |2024-04-21T03:07:10+01:0021 April 2024|

Drug policy charity Release has launched a campaign to support the rights of patients prescribed medical cannabis in the UK. Despite medical cannabis being legalised in November 2018, many patients continue to report negative interactions with and harassment from the police due to what Release say [...]

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Cannabis legalisation reduces youth consumption, large study finds

By |2024-04-17T03:05:29+01:0017 April 2024|

A report published by the American Medical Association (AMA) has revealed that the legalisation of adult-use cannabis and the opening of dispensaries and retail stores does not lead to an increase in youth cannabis use. In fact, cannabis reforms were linked to more young individuals reporting [...]

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Medicinal cannabis industry to become a “significant” part of Jersey economy

By |2024-04-10T03:09:51+01:0010 April 2024|

Deputy Kirsten Morel has stated that the medicinal cannabis industry in the island nation of Jersey has now started to yield positive results, although as the industry began its journey there were many hurdles to navigate such as high start-up costs, strict regulatory minefields both domestic [...]

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Detection of THC in drivers is not associated with impairment, study finds

By |2024-04-09T03:13:08+01:009 April 2024|

A literature review published this month in the Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists found the detection of THC or its metabolites in the blood, breath, urine, or saliva of a driver is not an indicator of driving impairment. Scientists affiliated with the University [...]

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Canadian cannabis consumers now more likely to buy from the legal market, survey finds

By |2024-04-03T03:09:21+01:003 April 2024|

Researchers from the Canadian Government’s Office of Cannabis Science and Surveillance examined patterns in cannabis use during the period 2018, when those aged over 18 were allowed to purchase and use cannabis legally for medical and non-medical purposes, to 2022 Using responses from a national online [...]

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Migraine sufferers swap conventional drugs for cannabis, study finds

By |2024-03-29T03:03:23+00:0029 March 2024|

Data published in the journal Neurology Clinical Practice shows cannabis to be an effective treatment for those who live with migraines, with many opting to use cannabis to treat their symptoms.   Researchers affiliated with Yale School of Medicine, Ayer Neuroscience Institute, and others selected a cohort [...]

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Citrus terpene d-limonene can reduce anxiety felt by people who use cannabis

By |2024-03-28T03:01:03+00:0028 March 2024|

Scientists working with the John Hopkins University have published a study showing how a terpene called d-limonene found abundantly in cannabis, and in many citrus fruits, affects the experience of users when it is vapourised together with the well-known psychoactive cannabinoid THC.  Researchers working on the [...]

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Cannabis legalisation does not lead to increased teen use, study finds

By |2024-03-23T03:00:21+00:0023 March 2024|

Research funded by the US government has found no link between the legalisation of cannabis and consumption amongst adolescents. The study compared middle-school student cannabis use rates in Nevada and New Mexico, analyzing data from 2017 and 2019 state-run surveys. Notably, adult-use cannabis sales were legal [...]

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Natural mushroom extracts more effective than synthesised psilocybin, study finds

By |2024-03-20T03:06:05+00:0020 March 2024|

A study conducted by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center BrainLabs Center for Psychedelic Research has found that extracts from naturally grown psychedelic mushrooms may be more therapeutically effective than synthesised psilocybin. The study, led by Bernard Lerer [...]

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Eight in 10 Brits with pain issues struggle with everyday life, study finds

By |2024-03-16T03:03:45+00:0016 March 2024|

A study of 2,000 adults has found eight in 10 people with regular pain issues such as back pain, arthritis, and fibromyalgia are struggling with day-to-day living. The study, produced by medical cannabis provider Curaleaf Clinic found that 40 per cent of people living with regular [...]

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Moderate cannabis use does not cause problems with psychological health, study finds

By |2024-03-13T03:07:58+00:0013 March 2024|

A study involving adult twins has found little evidence that ‘moderate’ cannabis causes negative effects on mental health. The study, published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, analysed a sample of 4,078 American adult twins over 30 years to investigate the effects of lifetime cannabis [...]

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Cannabis legalisation leads to a reduction in beer sales, data shows

By |2024-03-07T03:10:57+00:007 March 2024|

A study of data published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence has found that cannabis legalisation in Canada has led to a reduction in retail sales of beer. Researchers examined alcohol retail data in Canada from 2012 to 2020 to understand the changes in the [...]

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Cannabis use linked to greater chance of avoiding early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

By |2024-03-05T03:23:15+00:005 March 2024|

People who consume cannabis may have a lower chance of experiencing subjective cognitive decline compared to people who do not, according to a study published in the journal Current Alzheimer Research. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is a condition categorised by the self-reported experience of worsening or [...]

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Dancing the best exercise for treating depression, study says

By |2024-03-02T03:00:29+00:002 March 2024|

A meta-analysis of over 200 studies has compared the effects of exercise on depression, and found that dancing produced the best outcomes. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, analysed the results of 218 unique studies to identify which kind of exercise best treats major [...]

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Legalisation is not linked to an increase in cannabis-related psychosis

By |2024-02-28T03:13:25+00:0028 February 2024|

A study of data from pre and post-cannabis legalisation in Canada has found no increase in admissions to hospitals for cannabis-related episodes of psychosis. The relationship between cannabis use and episodes of psychosis is a contentious issue that is often raised by opponents of legalisation. Results [...]

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Germany legalises personal possession of cannabis

By |2024-02-24T03:05:52+00:0024 February 2024|

The German parliament has voted in favour of legalising cannabis for personal use following a historic vote in the Bundestag today. Under the new legislation, which will come into force on April 1st 2024, cannabis will be removed from the official list of illegal substances that [...]

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App launches feature to connect medical cannabis patients directly with doctors

By |2024-02-22T05:54:34+00:0022 February 2024|

A patient-facing app designed to offer an alternative to the cannabis clinic model prevalent in the UK has launched a new feature that can connect patients directly to doctors, according to a press release sent to leafie. Script Assist is a licensed online platform available via Apple [...]

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Cannabis medicines “significantly improve sleep quality” insomnia study finds

By |2024-02-15T03:00:23+00:0015 February 2024|

Data derived from medical cannabis patients being treated for insomnia show that cannabis could be an effective treatment for the disorder that affects the sleep of approximately 10% of people living in the UK. The study, published in the journal Brain and Behavior, assessed clinical outcomes [...]

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Psychedelic use may improve sexual function, study finds

By |2024-02-13T03:06:33+00:0013 February 2024|

The consumption of psychedelics such as magic mushrooms and LSD may help to improve sexual function months after use according to a study published in the medical journal Nature. To understand the relationship between psychedelic use and sex, researchers from the Centre for Psychedelic Research at [...]

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Cannabis extract effective at killing skin cancer cells, study finds

By |2024-02-10T03:00:17+00:0010 February 2024|

A study conducted by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and RMIT has found that a cannabis extract, called PHEC-66, can cause cell death in melanoma tumors. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer which in 85% of cases is caused by overexposure to the sun. According to [...]

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Thai government says it is set to ban recreational cannabis use

By |2024-02-07T03:03:19+00:007 February 2024|

The Thai government has announced it will ban the recreational use of cannabis through a new version of the cannabis and hemp control bill Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Tuesday. Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022 under the Bhumjaithai party, leading to a wave of [...]

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Simulator data shows no link between driving performance and THC blood levels in over 60s

By |2024-01-31T03:03:20+00:0031 January 2024|

A study involving the use of a driving simulator to assess the ability of those aged over 60 to drive after using cannabis has shown no direct link between driving performance and THC blood levels. Researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada published the results [...]

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LSD microdosing shows antidepressant effects in double-blind study

By |2024-01-27T03:00:48+00:0027 January 2024|

Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) may have potential antidepressant effects in individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of depression. The study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology involved 39 volunteers aged 18 to 35 who were recruited from the [...]

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Almost half of cancer survivors in the US report using cannabis at least once during treatment

By |2024-01-24T03:02:55+00:0024 January 2024|

A survey of cancer survivors from across the USA has shown that nearly half reported using cannabis at some point in their lifetimes and that the most popular form of delivery is via smoking joints. The survey, which was published in the journal Cancers included 1886 [...]

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Cannabis improves Major Depressive Disorder symptoms, study finds

By |2024-01-19T03:08:33+00:0019 January 2024|

Treatment with medical cannabis is associated with reduced levels of depression in patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, according to a study published in the journal Pharmacopsychiatry. The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen and medical cannabis provider Algea Care in Germany [...]

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No link between lifetime cannabis use and mental health issues, study finds

By |2024-01-17T03:00:58+00:0017 January 2024|

The consistent consumption of cannabis over three decades doesn’t appear to significantly heighten the risk of mental health issues or significantly impair cognitive function, according to the results of a longitudinal study published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Scientists affiliated with the University [...]

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Czech Republic dials back proposals for cannabis reform

By |2024-01-12T03:07:16+00:0012 January 2024|

The Czech Republic will no longer press ahead with a fully regulated legal cannabis market, according to a draft bill on cannabis reform presented by the country’s coalition government on Wednesday. The Pirate Party, which has been pushing for the complete legalisation of cannabis in the [...]

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THC and CBD can help people enjoy exercise, but they do not act as performance enhancers

By |2024-01-09T03:06:27+00:009 January 2024|

Using cannabis before a run increased the enjoyment experienced by runners, but did not help them perform to higher standards, a study published in the journal Sports Medicine has found. Scientists from the University of Colorado studied 42 runners who were all current cannabis users, assessing [...]

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Almost half of young adults are ditching alcohol for low and no drinks, YouGov survey finds

By |2024-01-06T03:10:12+00:006 January 2024|

A YouGov survey has revealed that 44% of UK adults between the ages of 18 to 24 occasionally or regularly order low or non-alcoholic drinks over alcoholic beverages. The study, carried out in conjunction with industry body Portman Group, found that 44% of 18 to 24 [...]

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Medical cannabis improves quality of life, UK study finds

By |2023-12-14T03:04:02+00:0014 December 2023|

Scientists wishing to assess changes in the quality of life of patients currently being prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in the UK have published their findings that show positive outcomes in all of the assessed areas; sleep, anxiety and general quality of life. Patients’ self-reported outcomes [...]

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Cannabis could be used to make pesticides for crops according to ‘exciting new research’

By |2023-12-06T03:03:10+00:006 December 2023|

Cannabis has been one of the most studied subjects in recent times with much of the focus placed on its medicinal and recreational properties. However, in what has been described as ‘exciting new research’, cannabis is now being investigated for its potential use in pesticides. Working [...]

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MP calls on the EU to help his country become a hub for psychedelic research, as huge PTSD crisis looms

By |2023-12-05T03:06:36+00:005 December 2023|

At a meeting in the European Parliament last week a Ukrainian MP urged MEPs to help establish his country as the centre of European psychedelic research, in part to provide psychedelic treatment for the estimated 25 million people at risk of chronic mental health disorders such [...]

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THC and CBD found in 17th-century bone samples suggests pre-modern Italians may have loved weed

By |2023-12-02T03:04:13+00:002 December 2023|

Research published this month in The Journal of Archaeological Science by a team of scientists shows that people who lived in Milan during the 17th century used cannabis for medicinal, and, possibly, recreational purposes. A teenage boy and a woman in her 50s who were buried [...]

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Recreational cannabis closer in Germany with ‘softer rules’ for legalisation in 2024

By |2023-11-29T03:09:06+00:0029 November 2023|

The final draft of Germany’s cannabis legalisation bill was agreed upon yesterday after negotiations took place between members of the coalition government, paving the way for Germans to be allowed to use cannabis for recreational purposes in the Spring of 2024. Amendments to the bill were [...]

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Teen cannabis use in US remains near record lows despite further legalisation

By |2023-11-21T03:02:46+00:0021 November 2023|

Teenagers in America are reporting levels of cannabis use close to the lowest on record according to data gathered from the 2022 Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. There are 24 states in America that now have fully [...]

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South Africa passes bill to legalise cannabis possession and home grows

By |2023-11-18T03:02:56+00:0018 November 2023|

The South African National Assembly has passed The Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill, five years after it was first introduced. The bill, which can only be made into a law once signed by the President, will permit adults to use and cultivate cannabis at their home, [...]

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Roadmap for the legalisation of psychedelics set out by drug policy group Transform

By |2023-11-17T03:07:37+00:0017 November 2023|

Guidelines for the regulation of psychedelic drugs have been detailed in a new book published by UK-based drug reform charity Transform. Their proposals lay out a plan for the regulation of what they call the ‘non-medical’ or the recreational use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, [...]

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House prices rise significantly faster in US states with legal weed

By |2023-11-15T03:04:48+00:0015 November 2023|

American homeowners in states where recreational cannabis is legal have seen the price of their houses increase by an average of 41% compared to homes in states where it is not legal, according to a report. Analysis of house prices from 2014 to 2023 by Real [...]

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Magic mushrooms could help people recover from childhood trauma, study results show

By |2023-11-09T03:02:42+00:009 November 2023|

Psilocybin one of the key psychedelic compounds in magic mushrooms, has been the subject of another scientific trial to investigate its potential use as a medicine to improve mental health outcomes. In the study, published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, authors from different universities in [...]

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