Anyone who has ever partaken in a little cannabis use – and even most people who haven’t – are well aware of the infamous “munchies”. It is a phenomenon around which many comedic movie scenes, jokes, and stoner stories are set – but what actually are the munchies? What does weed do to our bodies that makes almost every kind of food utterly irresistible? The munchies may be a pop culture reference that everyone today is sure to understand, but the first record of this phenomenon, in fact, is believed to date from over a thousand years ago. That’s right, it seems the Rajanirghanta, an Ancient Hi ..read more

Lisa Weinstein has experienced three childbirths, two of which she describes as orgasmic.  “It was a very sensual, sexual experience for me,” said Lisa about the birth of her second child.  “I just felt deeply connected to the baby and a deep connection with myself. I had no fear. I had no shame. I had no guilt.” Lisa had multiple orgasms throughout the birth, which she said were “much deeper” than clitoral orgasms. “I could feel the baby coming down through the cervix, through the pelvis, through the canal and there was so much pleasure there,” said the 50-year-old, who later became ..read more

The American DJ and music producer Diplo claims to have taken LSD before and during the recent Los Angeles Marathon, which he completed in a respectful 3 hours and 55 minutes.  After the race, Diplo used Instagram to announce that he ran the race on acid, although the original reel has since been removed by the platform for apparently “violating community standards”.  The since edited post on Instagram After mentioning how he was underprepared for the 26.2 miles distance, the music star went on to say, “I did what any normal person would do and took LSD”. A video was also posted to h ..read more

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 two decades.   In the study, conducted by scientists at Indiana University, 15 CBD derivatives were tested in different concentrations to find if they could reverse the effects of a fentanyl overdose. Researchers found several to be effective in reducing fentanyl from binding with receptors, even at ‘incredi ..read more

Despite over four years of legalisation, topics around medical cannabis remain shrouded in doubt and even stigma in the UK. Having often come through extremely difficult circumstances just to access their medicines, many patients are still uncertain about their rights – and the uncertainties don’t end with the patient. In a country where a significant proportion of the population – including almost a third of police officers – remain unaware of the legality of medical cannabis, fear of judgement and even prosecution is still rife.  At leafie, we hear many stories from patients who have be ..read more

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 Health Research Board found that nearly 21% of the population had taken cannabis at least once in their lifetime, and 2.9% of the population, around 113,000 had used it within the past month. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Ms Bacik called for the sale of cannabis to be permitted and licensed by the state. Giving ..read more

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 Sunday. “I think anyone who has the opportunity to walk through our parks in our major cities will have seen these little silver canisters, which are examples of people not only spoiling public spaces but taking a drug which can have a psychological and neurological effect and one that contributes to antisocial behaviour o ..read more

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 to menstrual cramps to use as an anaesthetic. And this type of use has far from died out. In fact, pain is the most reported reason for medical cannabis use, globally and, with accessibility slowly expanding, many people with different types of pain may now be considering how cannabis could help them – including people with back pai ..read more

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 products have been developed to an increasingly impressive spec, leading to many cannabis users – both recreational and medicinal – to turn away from their regular method of consumption. And it’s easy to see why.  Dry herb vaporisers offer many benefits over the more traditional modes of administration. But as these products are still ..read more

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 and narcotics, and explored their purposes across generations and continents. Still, few mushrooms have had as far-reaching influence as the gorgeous, red-and-white spotted Amanita muscaria, whose striking appearance has permeated both human consciousness and modern pop culture. What is it? Amanita m ..read more