New research from Oregon State University, published in PLOS One, confirms what many experienced cannabis users have suspected—the cannabis industry's obsession with terpene profiles as predictors of aroma and effects is built on shaky foundations. After recruiting a 21-judge panel to systematically assess 91 samples of unburnt marijuana flower using 25 standardized descriptors, researchers discovered that terpene content is a poor predictor of cannabis's actual scent profile.
This article explores what happens when America's most destructive legal drug faces competition from a demonstrably safer alternative. What are alcohol's true costs? How does cannabis compare? And what would 10%, 25%, or even 50% reduction in alcohol consumption mean for public health, crime, and economics? The Oregon study provides the foundation for understanding what might be the most significant public health development of the 21st century: the voluntary substitution of cannabis for alcohol at a population scale
Colombian President Gustavo Petro did something remarkable last week: he publicly told Donald Trump to legalize marijuana and end the War on Drugs. Not as an academic exercise or a progressive policy proposal, but as an urgent plea from a leader whose country has borne the brunt of American drug policy for over half a century.
According to researchers from Colorado State University, the study participants reported less alcohol cravings and drank less booze following pot consumption. The study, whose results were published in the medical journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, involved offering alcoholic drinks every 15 minutes within a 1-hour session to participants. In sessions when they were allowed to partake weed before the session, they noticed that the subjects experienced a reduced intake of alcoholic beverages by 25%.
Cannabis allergies are real, increasingly recognized by allergists, and more common than most people realize. A recent Canadian study found that 40% of adult cannabis users in a clinical setting reported symptoms compatible with cannabis allergy upon exposure. Let that sink in—nearly half of people exposed to cannabis may experience some form of allergic reaction.
Something remarkable happened in America between 2021 and 2023, and most people didn't even notice. Cannabis surpassed cigarettes as the substance of choice for adult Americans. According to comprehensive research from SUNY and the University of Kentucky analyzing National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, cannabis-only use jumped from 7.2% to 10.6% of adults during that period, while cigarette-only use declined from 10.8% to 8.8%.
Renew your medical marijuana card quickly and safely. Learn step-by-step tips, legal guidelines, and online options for a hassle-free process in Virginia.
Let’s stop worrying about cannabis dependence and instead worry about stigma, misinformation, and the lingering of prohibition-era myths. The truth is that weed is not the problem, it can be the solution.
Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed "anti-war" president who campaigned on ending endless conflicts, has found himself a new war to fight. In January 2025, he signed Executive Order 14157, formally designating eight Latin American cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations—the same legal classification used for ISIS and Al-Qaeda. By September, he'd escalated from designation to execution, launching a campaign of missile strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea that has, by the administration's own count, killed at least 43 people across 10 separate attacks.
Older adults approach cannabis with a level of caution and preparation that younger users often skip entirely. They ask about drug interactions, dosing protocols, and long-term effects. They want to understand what they're putting in their bodies and why. This isn't recreational experimentation—it's informed exploration of a substance that might genuinely improve their quality of life.
