The Czech Republic has put forward a draft bill for a regulated cannabis market that would allow individuals to buy up to 5 grams of cannabis per day for recreational purposes. Under the plans, people who wish to use cannabis recreationally would need to register in [...]

Formal plans for Germany’s hotly anticipated cannabis legalisation have been announced today by Minister of Health Dr Karl Lauterbach and Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir. In a press conference held on April 12, Lauterbach announced that following discussions with the EU the German [...]

Scientists have found direct evidence that our ancestors were using hallucinogenic substances in the Bronze Age. It is the earliest direct evidence of humans consuming mind-altering drugs discovered in Europe.  Previous research from other parts of the world has shown evidence of direct drug use in [...]

The German health minister Karl Lauterbach has announced that the bill for the country’s cannabis legalisation will be released “immediately after Easter”, according to media reports. The draft law was originally expected to be released at the end of March 2023, with initial proposals expected to [...]

Professional basketball players in America’s NBA will no longer be subject to any further tests for cannabis use, and cannabis will be dropped completely from the NBA’s anti-drug testing programme, according to a report in The Athletic. The news was part of a package negotiated by [...]

Scientists in the USA are testing cannabis for its effectiveness in preventing fatal overdoses from fentanyl and other opioids. In 2021, US Government figures showed that over 80,000 people died from opioid overdose, adding to a total of over half a million deaths in the previous [...]

Ivana Bacik, the leader of the Labour party has shown her support for implementing a ‘rational’ approach to drugs and drug laws in Ireland.  There are many people in Ireland who have previously consumed or currently consume cannabis. A report released in June 2022 by the [...]

The Levelling up secretary, Michael Gove, today announced that the government will ignore advice from its own drug advisory council and press ahead with a ban on laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide. Gove announced the plans on the BBC political programme Sophy Ridge on [...]

It’s no secret that cannabis has been medicinally for the management of pain for thousands of years. A number of ancient texts and records, originating from around the world, all describe the use of the plant as a treatment for various types of pain, from headaches [...]

There are a huge number of ways to consume cannabis, from bongs and edibles to good old-fashioned joints. But while smoking may remain the most popular way of getting high, a new kid on the block is threatening to shake things up. In recent years, vaporiser [...]

Mushrooms are great. There are over 50,000 species, and more are being discovered constantly. Living somewhere in the dark and mysterious world between plants and animals, fungi have captured human curiosity for thousands of years. Our ancestors have cooked them, eaten them, used them as medicines [...]

CBD Guru is a UK based CBD brand that has been producing quality products since its launch in 2018. We recently caught up with the founder, Neil Mumby, to learn how a friend’s illness took him on a personal journey to create a range of CBD [...]

The cannabis world is packed full of widely shared beliefs and strange myths – many of which the origin has now faded into obscurity. Take, for example, the persistent rumour that George Washington was a fully-fledged stoner, getting high on his own supply from his hemp [...]

By now, most people who are even a little bit familiar with cannabis (and many who aren’t) know about THC. They know what it is, what it does, and that it is a controlled substance in most countries around the world. But let’s briefly break it [...]

The German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has said he is confident that the country’s plans to legalise cannabis for adult use could move ahead, after receiving “very good feedback” from the European Commission. EU approval for Germany’s cannabis bill is one of the few remaining stumbling [...]

The acclaimed scientist, Raphael Mechoulam, often referred to as the father of cannabis research, died on the 9th of March 2023, at the age of 92.  Born in Hungary on the 5th of November 1930 Raphael emigrated to Israel in 1949 with his Jewish parents. Three [...]

Many cannabis users, whether they partake in a weekly indulgence with friends, have a nightly ritual, or consume regularly for medicinal purposes, may find themselves at some time or another – for whatever reason – looking to cut back (or completely kick) their cannabis use. This [...]

For many of us, the thought of cannabis will likely conjure up a very distinctive and recognisable scent – that pungent aroma has become a tell-tale sign of nearby cannabis use that is almost unmistakable. And yet, the more seasoned consumer may be able to differentiate [...]

The UK’s drug advisory panel, the ACMD, has rejected calls to ban the sale and possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use, despite repeated calls from the Conservative government. Nitrous oxide is the most used recreational drug by 16 to 24-year-olds after cannabis. The drug is [...]

The world is currently witnessing a huge loss of species, some have dubbed it the ‘sixth mass extinction’ due to the speed at which we are seeing fauna and flora, that had previously survived for millennia, being assigned to the history books.  Scientists don’t know how [...]

Over the last two decades or so, medical cannabis has become increasingly accessible in many countries around the world – including here in the UK. In fact, in 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs officially reclassified cannabis to recognise its therapeutic potential. With this liberalisation, [...]

Mandrake. Perhaps you know it by some of its other names: Satan’s apple, Devil’s testicle, Circe’s plant. Or perhaps you thought it was just some fictional plant straight out of Harry Potter or some type of witches’ brew. You wouldn’t be too wrong about the last [...]

In an important judgement that could have significant implications for the future of the country’s cannabis laws, Italy’s highest court of appeal, the Supreme Court of Cassation, has ruled that growing cannabis for personal use is not a crime. After hearing an appeal from a man [...]

On the 1st of November 2018, the UK government moved cannabis from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. While this might sound like a small change, this rescheduling actually allowed the medical prescription of cannabis-based products in the UK for [...]

Launched in 2019, leafie is an online magazine focusing on the changing world of cannabis and psychedelics. We mix educational, topical and entertainment-focused content to meet the growing demand for information on these substances, as they shed their stigma and become tools for improved living.  We [...]

Scientists have produced evidence that goes against the grain of conventional cannabis wisdom – adding a 650mg dose of CBD to a brownie containing 20mg of the psychoactive cannabinoid THC increases the effects of THC on the user, including the unwanted effects. It is widely believed [...]

Researchers at the University of New Mexico have found that the terpene levels in cannabis lead to greater symptom relief in patients. The study, published earlier this month in The Journal of Cannabis Research, found that “relief was greatest after consumption of plant variants with slightly [...]

The government’s planned reclassifying of cannabis finally took place in January 2004 after parliamentary and press pushback delayed the change. So in March 2005, ‘The Chillin’ Rooms’ opened its doors for the first time and within 6 weeks it had amassed 400 regular members. Unfortunately, it wasn’t [...]

A global study is to be launched which aims to investigate if a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, cannabidiol (CBD), can be used in the treatment of psychosis. The first-of-its-kind study, being led by scientists from Oxford University, will not only investigate CBD as a [...]

If you like to keep up with the daily gossip in the world of cannabis, you’ll no doubt be aware that HBI International, the company behind RAW rolling papers, as well as Juicy Jays, Elements, Pay-Pay, and Skunk, has recently hit headlines following the verdict of [...]

Scientists from The University of Queensland have reported that an active compound in the edible Lion’s Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus, can enhance nerve growth and boost memory. Lion’s Mane has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to support the immune system and improve digestive health. [...]

Cannabis has consistently been one of the most commonly used drugs in the world for decades – third only to the more socially acceptable alcohol and tobacco. The popularity of cannabis has managed to maintain itself – and even rise – in many countries around the [...]

A team of German researchers has found that the use of cannabis-based medicinal products is associated with significant decreases in the use of pain and prescription drugs among patients suffering from chronic pain, according to data published in the German science journal Schmerz. Researchers analysed a [...]

Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most effective things we can do for our mood, productivity, and even our health. Sleep gives our bodies and brains the chance to recover, restore, and recharge – not to mention being essential for maintaining healthy brain [...]

A popular brand of disposable e-cigarettes has been taken off supermarket shelves after they were found to contain more than the legal limit of nicotine. In an investigation by the Daily Mail, multiple £5.99 vapes, bought at a Tesco store in Derbyshire, were sent for testing [...]

Edibles have become one of the most popular methods for consuming the world’s favourite recreational drug – cannabis. While many people have been making their own cannabis recipes for decades and perhaps even millennia, the gradual easing of cannabis prohibition has opened up many markets to [...]

Scientists have published a study showing a reduction in the size of lung cancer tumours in mice after the administration of cannabis in the form of a CBD inhaler. Researchers involved in the study report that the tumours reduced in size due to the CBD preventing [...]

On November 1st, 2018, the law in the UK officially changed to allow the prescription of cannabis-based medical products – known more commonly as medical cannabis. The reclassification of cannabis from schedule I to schedule II of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 meant that doctors [...]

The NHS has announced that from Tuesday 1st February 2023 it will begin prescribing cannabis-based medicine to patients in England with a rare genetic condition named tuberous sclerosis complex, (TSC). Changes to the guidelines have been allowed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, [...]

In our last piece on exploring ancient psychedelics, we travelled back in time to visit the ancient Egyptians, who used the blue lotus as a sleep aid, aphrodisiac, and more. This time, we won’t be going back quite as far. Instead, we’ll be exploring the lesser-known [...]

Nearly 1,800 drivers facing a conviction for drug driving could have the results of their test withdrawn from evidence, due to a serious error at a testing lab used by the police.  Problems with samples tested by Synlab Laboratory Services between April 2019 and December 2020 [...]

Countless rumours have been circulated regarding the potential effects of cannabis for as long as humans have consumed the plant. From perceived medicinal benefits to health risks, we’ve heard it all. In many cases, there is little evidence to support these claims – whether they are [...]

Ministers are reportedly preparing to ban the sale and possession of laughing gas in England and Wales in an attempt to clamp down on antisocial behaviour.  The plan would likely place laughing gas, otherwise known as nitrous oxide, in the same drug classification as cannabis, resulting [...]

We humans are fascinated by dreams. Think about it: how many times has someone struck up a conversation with you – whether a family member around the breakfast table or a colleague in the office – seemingly itching to tell you about their “weird” dream? Even [...]

Results produced by a study that analysed data from 600,000 Spanish residents who regularly consumed cannabis indicate that long-term cannabis use does not contribute to the deterioration of health. Using indicators that were specifically designed to give an accurate picture of health, researchers analysed survey responses [...]