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 in the UK. Symptoms of Azheimer’s range from minor memory problems such as forgetting about recent conversations or names to confusion, disorientation and problems with speech and language. In the UK, Alzheimer’s affects an estimated 1 in 14 people over the age of 65.    In the stu ..read more

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 products were potentially causing a risk to the health of consumers.  A team of scientists from Lake Superior State University in Michigan found a significant amount of the 53 tested products to contain potentially hazardous levels of copper, lead, chromium, vanadium and other elements.  “Arsenic, cadmium, mercu ..read more

In April 2024, the German government finally introduced its long-awaited – and amended – cannabis reform legislation. As of the 1st of April this year, adults in Germany have been permitted to carry up to 25g of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three plants, per household, at home. The legalisation of cannabis possession and cultivation is part of wider reforms which include partial decriminalisation of cannabis use and the introduction of legal cannabis social clubs. In a country typically recognised for its vast beer popularity, the relaxation of cannabis laws was welcomed by many; however ..read more

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 I, a category that contains drugs such as heroin and PCP which are deemed to have no medical use and high potential to cause harm, it will be Schedule III. Schedule III includes drugs such as codeine and ketamine. Drugs that fall into this category are only accessible on prescription by a healthcare professional ..read more

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 day over a period of seven days. Using a method known as experience sampling, participants were asked to report their experiences and behaviours at random times throughout the day. This method provides a snapshot of daily life and reduces the bias often found in retrospective reporting. Participants ..read more

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 part of the study. The average age of respondents was 48, and most were female.  Just under half (49.5%) of the respondents said they were using cannabis to help them with their fibromyalgia. The most common reason for doing so was to deal with pain, nearly all patients who responded (9 ..read more

For many of us living in the UK, Europe, or even Australia, mixing cannabis with tobacco is a normal, uninteresting occurrence. Polls have indicated that a vast majority of cannabis users in European countries opt to combine these two drugs, apparently completely unaware that stoners in North America find the habit strange and even outright stupid. Take, for example, the now infamous interview with globally recognised cannabis connoisseurs Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen on the Howard Stern show, circa 2019. In it, Rogen asks Snoop Dogg, “Do you find yourself getting in arguments with a lot of Europ ..read more

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 approach to the use of cannabis will have a positive impact on the individual and society in general. “There is a lot of evidence that now shows that if people are given space, time, and support, eventually they’ll stop using substances,” he said. If the law is changed and Jersey follows the example of countries such as Spa ..read more

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 is a lack of legal understanding.  The campaign follows an article published in the Guardian which highlighted 24 individuals who had experienced negative police interactions related to the use of their prescribed medication, including being arrested and handcuffed. The paper concluded that ..read more

As the medical cannabis industry in the UK evolves, so do the companies that support it. Releaf is one of the latest clinics to open its doors to patients. We sat down with Managing Director, Tim Kirby, whose proven track record of building and scaling businesses in complex industries will serve Releaf well in achieving its mission: to transform access to medical cannabis in the UK through technology and compassionate healthcare. With innovative ideas, extensive experience, and impeccable focus on the patient, Tim Kirby explains how Releaf’s MedTech platform simplifies and streamlines access t ..read more