NEWS: People at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, who use tobacco and cannabis together are nearly three times more likely to develop psychosis, according to a new study.
Researchers found that the higher the frequency of tobacco and cannabis co-use, the higher the risk of developing a psychosis-based disorder became, and researchers found this risk to be present in both the CHR group and the control group.
"We found that cannabis and tobacco co-use was associated with a nearly threefold increased risk of developing psychosis in people who were already at risk. There is evidence to suggest that using tobacco and cannabis together may have synergistic effects on the brain."
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NEWS: More than half of older adults seeking cannabis for health concerns are choosing combination THC-CBD edible products over single-cannabinoid options, according to new research.
Researchers interviewed 169 adults over the age of 60 who were about to purchase cannabis for the first time.
The study identified six primary motivations for trying cannabis: seeking alternatives to pharmaceutical medications, having exhausted other treatment options, experiencing worsening age-related symptoms, influence of evidence or social claims of benefit, interest in recreational use, and substance substitution.
“Overall, they really wanted better quality of life, reducing their pain, getting better sleep, and being able to enjoy time with family and friends a little bit more,” said one of the study authors.
Most people chose combination products containing both THC and CBD because they saw them as a “Goldilocks option” that gives the best of both worlds.
12 participants also expressed an interest in using cannabis for social or recreational use. “I wouldn’t mind getting high,” reported one participant in their 70s. “I mean, I remember that from the old days.”
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NEWS: A comprehensive review of 12 studies involving more than 1,200 fibromyalgia patients has found that cannabis significantly reduced pain levels and improved sleep, anxiety, and depression symptoms.
A Hong Kong-led team of researchers also found that cannabis treatment was well tolerated amongst participants with no serious adverse events and only a small number of minor adverse events such as dizziness, fatigue and dry mouth.
"Both short-term and longer-term follow-ups showed statistically significant pain score reduction," the study authors said.
Full story on leafie.co.uk
NEWS: People with major depressive disorder (MDD) are more than 10 times more likely to have cannabis use disorder (CUD) than the general population, according to a major new study analysing data from over 3 million participants.
The multinational team of researchers said that despite the simultaneous occurrence of substance use and depression being observed by scientists for decades, there was a lack of evidence detailing how frequently it occurred.
The study concluded that rates of CUD are significantly higher in people with MDD than in the general population, with the relationship working in both directions. The researchers also found that the two disorders don't necessarily occur simultaneously.
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leafie's Liam O'Dowd will be hosting a panel at this year's Cannabis Europa in London.
Give Me a Break: The Latest Research on Tolerance will explore the role of tolerance breaks in clinical care, the implications for medical cannabis use, and the latest scientific research driving treatment strategies.
The event takes place at the Barbican Centre, London · 26–27 May 2026.
#CannabisEuropa #CELondon2026
The Government has just barred an entire generation from ever buying cigarettes, but when has telling a teenager they can’t do something ever worked?
While the harms from smoking are undoubted, history has shown that prohibition isn’t the answer. Is the country about to undo decades of successful harm reduction?
We take a look at the policy and its potential pitfalls in our latest article. Read it via the link in our bio.
NEWS: A study has found that a single dose of psilocybin, the main active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can cause measurable changes in brain anatomy and function that last for up to one month.
Within hours of taking psilocybin, participants showed a marked increase in brain entropy – a measure of signal complexity that indicates the brain is processing more information.
Researchers also noted changes in the brain’s physical structure. Specialised scans that measured the diffusion of water along nerve bundles in the brain showed some nerve tracts had become denser and more robust after participants had taken psilocybin.
"If verified in subsequent work, this finding may be viewed as evidence of anatomical 'neuroplasticity' after first-ever psychedelic use in humans," the study said.
All but one participant rated their 25 mg psilocybin experience as the "single most unusual conscious state of their entire lives".
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Cannabis was a core crop in ancient China, ranking alongside rice, millet, barley and soybean as one of the "five grains" fundamental to the development of early agricultural societies, according to new archaeological research.
A study of two late Neolithic sites in Shandong, northern China, found that cannabis was "systematically integrated" into daily life between 4,500 and 3,400 years ago, with evidence of the plant present in more than half of all locations examined.
The findings suggest cannabis served multiple purposes in ancient Chinese society, including as a source of fibre for clothing, seeds for food and oil, and stems for textile production.
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NEWS: Vaping cannabis produces up to 99% fewer harmful chemicals than smoking it, according to a new study by vaporiser manufacturer @pax_official .
The research, which compared toxic compounds in smoke from cannabis joints with vapour from PAX's own dry herb vaporiser devices, found dramatic reductions across 16 harmful substances, including benzene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
Although the study's self-publication by a company with a commercial interest in promoting vaping over smoking may suggest bias, the findings align with previous research showing that exposing cannabis to lower temperatures, such as the temperatures used to heat cannabis in hand-held and desktop vaporiser devices, results in fewer toxic chemicals.
Full story on leafie.co.uk
Each year, tens of thousands of people descend on London's Hyde Park on the 20th of April for 420, all in the name of a single plant.
The date has become synonymous with cannabis. Part protest, part celebration, the day attracts a diverse range of people. Patients, activists, politicians, police and people who just love weed.
This incredible gallery from photographer Freddie Fryer shows there is no such thing as a stereotypical stoner. See more from Freddie's day out shooting the diverse range of people who attended this year's 420: @freddie_fryer
Planning a road trip or a holiday abroad? You may be wondering how to legally and safely take your medical cannabis prescription with you.
Our handy guide, updated with the latest guidance from the @ukcancouncil , will help you understand the proper procedures and ensure a trouble-free trip.
Read it via the link in our bio.
