Cannabinoids
Cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice), high-potency concentrates, and unregulated hemp-derived compounds (HHC, Δ-8).
Latest reporting
CDC Finds Cannabis in 1 of Every 5 Overdose Deaths — and Says the Real Story Is What It's Riding With
A new CDC surveillance report on 209,166 overdose deaths found cannabis showing up almost three times more often in dead teenagers than in dead retirees — but the agency's own scientists say cannabis is a passenger, not the driver.
The House Majority Leader Called Cannabis a 'Gateway Drug.' The Federal Data Out the Same Week Told a Different Story.
A new GAO report on cannabis banking landed the same week House Majority Leader Steve Scalise called marijuana a 'gateway drug' — while a NORML read of FBI data shows it's still driving over half of drug arrests in some states.
Congress Just Bought Delta-8 Another 29 Days. Nobody Selling It Thinks That's Enough.
The House just delayed the federal ban on intoxicating hemp products to December 11. Here's what the new hemp definition actually does, and what the newest cannabinoid research says about risk.
Through eight lenses
Science
CB1/CB2 receptor system, THC partial agonist, CBD complex pharmacology, synthetic cannabinoids as full agonists.
Biology
Acute cognitive effects, cardiovascular risk underappreciated, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, dose-response with potency.
Cannabis Didn't Get Safer Than Alcohol — the Evidence Against It Just Got Sharper
Aug 21Cannabis Isn't One Story Anymore. It's a Psychosis Risk, a Drinking Substitute, and a Treatment Gap — All at Once.
Aug 3Cannabis Got Roughly Ten Times Stronger Since the 1990s. Nobody Rewrote the Warning Label to Match.
Jul 24
Psychology
Cannabis Use Disorder is real (~9% lifetime risk among users, higher w/ daily use), psychosis risk in predisposed individuals with high-potency concentrates.
Policy
Federal schedule I, state-by-state patchwork, 2018 Farm Bill loophole birthing Delta-8/HHC/THC-O.
The House Majority Leader Called Cannabis a 'Gateway Drug.' The Federal Data Out the Same Week Told a Different Story.
Sep 10Congress Just Bought Delta-8 Another 29 Days. Nobody Selling It Thinks That's Enough.
Sep 2The Government's Own Lawyers Just Said Cannabis Can't Stay in Schedule I. The Judge Still Hasn't Ruled.
Aug 28
Trends
Potency has tripled since 2000; daily-use rates rising; vaping concentrates among youth.
CDC Finds Cannabis in 1 of Every 5 Overdose Deaths — and Says the Real Story Is What It's Riding With
Sep 15The House Majority Leader Called Cannabis a 'Gateway Drug.' The Federal Data Out the Same Week Told a Different Story.
Sep 10The Government's Own Lawyers Just Said Cannabis Can't Stay in Schedule I. The Judge Still Hasn't Ruled.
Aug 28
Treatment
No FDA-approved meds; CBT, MET, contingency management.
Harm Reduction
Start low/go slow, avoid mixing, be cautious with edibles (delayed onset → redosing), synthetic cannabinoid (K2) toxicity is qualitatively different and severe.
CDC Finds Cannabis in 1 of Every 5 Overdose Deaths — and Says the Real Story Is What It's Riding With
Sep 15Congress Just Bought Delta-8 Another 29 Days. Nobody Selling It Thinks That's Enough.
Sep 2Cannabis Isn't One Story Anymore. It's a Psychosis Risk, a Drinking Substitute, and a Treatment Gap — All at Once.
Aug 3