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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]