The dirty, dangerous secret of California's legal weed - Los Angeles Times

An investigation by The Times, in conjunction with cannabis industry newsletter WeedWeek, found alarming levels of pesticides in cannabis products available on dispensary shelves across the state, including some of the most popular brands of vapes and pre-rolled weed. Twenty-five of 42 legal cannabis products that The Times and WeedWeek purchased from retail stores and … Continued

Most People Use Marijuana For Pain Management And Prefer ‘Fruity’ Strains, Poll Finds

One in four marijuana consumers use the plant for pain management, and most say they prefer “fruity” tasting strains that they indulge in “anytime,” rather than a set time of day, according to a new poll. The survey from the cannabis company NuggMD asked more than 6,500 marijuana consumers about their preferences and habits around … Continued

Communities Closer To Marijuana Dispensaries Have Lower Opioid Prescription Rates, New Study Finds

Researchers who looked at opioid prescription and mortality rates in Oregon found that nearby access to retail marijuana moderately reduced opioid prescriptions, though they observed no corresponding drop in opioid-related deaths. Specifically, communities located within a mile of state-licensed cannabis outlets had prescription opioid rates that were 1% to 3.9% lower than surrounding areas, according … Continued

Cannabis use after cancer increased over time

A recent study from the Fred Hutch Cancer Center showed that more than 40% of the 1,500 patients reported cannabis use after their cancer diagnosis. Patients in chemotherapy often use anti-nausea drugs, but may supplement with cannabis if these drugs prove ineffective. In addition, cannabis is sometimes used as a way to stimulate appetite in … Continued

CBD Is Effective In Treating Anxiety, Depression And Poor Sleep, Study Finds

New industry-backed research into the potential anti-anxiety effects of cannabidiol found that an oral CBD solution effectively treated mild to moderate anxiety, as well as associated depression and poor sleep quality, with no serious adverse events observed. Use of the CBD solution “showed therapeutic efficacy, excellent safety, and tolerability in treating not only mild to … Continued

Marijuana Terpenes Are ‘As Effective As Morphine’ For Pain Relief And Have Fewer Side Effects, New Study Finds

A new federally funded study into the effects of cannabis terpenes suggests that the compounds could be “potential therapeutics for chronic neuropathic pain,” finding that an injected dose of the compounds produced a “roughly equal” reduction in pain markers when compared to a smaller dose of morphine. Terpenes also appeared to enhance the efficacy of … Continued

Cannabis Use Before Bedtime Does Not Cause Next-Day Impairment Of Cognitive Ability Or Driving Performance, Study Shows

A new study suggests that using marijuana before sleep has minimal if any effect on a range of performance measures the next day, including simulated driving, cognitive and psychomotor function tasks, subjective effects and mood. The results of the study indicated that a single oral dose of 10 mg THC (in combination with 200 mg … Continued

Daily marijuana use outpaces daily drinking in the US, a new study says

For the first time, the number of Americans who use marijuana just about every day has surpassed the number who drink that often, a shift some 40 years in the making as recreational pot use became more mainstream and legal in nearly half of U.S. states. In 2022, an estimated 17.7 million people reported using … Continued

Cannabis compound’s neuroprotective properties revealed — could be key to treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Recent scientific advancements have shown that a lesser-known compound from the cannabis plant, cannabinol (CBN), may hold promise for treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered that not only does CBN protect brain cells from age-related damage, but its chemically modified versions could be even more effective. … Continued

Most Americans Who Have Tried Marijuana Had ‘Positive’ Experiences, Survey Finds

A majority of Americans have tried marijuana—and most say they had a positive experience—according to a new poll. As the federal government moves to reclassify cannabis and more states pursue psychedelics reform, the poll offers fresh insights into how people have personally used the substances and where they stand on changing drug laws. 75% of … Continued