Archaeologists used a new technique to discover that cannabis was integral to daily life in northern China during the late Neolithic period, challenging previous understanding of the plant's ancient role.

Vaping cannabis produces up to 99% fewer harmful chemicals than smoking it, according to a new self-published study paper by vaporiser manufacturer PAX.

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 will help you understand the proper procedures and ensure a trouble-free trip.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has officially moved cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, marking one of the most significant changes to American drug policy in decades.

Survey data from the American state of Minnesota has revealed a drop of more than 50 per cent in cannabis use amongst students since 2013, adding to the growing body of evidence that legalising cannabis for adult use actually protects teens.

Richard Halford’s brilliantly written, authentic and riveting memoir exploring how he spent the sixties making, smuggling and dealing high-quality Moroccan hashish across mainland Spain and the Balearics.

A survey of over 3,500 patients reported an average 85 per cent reduction in the use of other prescription medicines after starting medical cannabis, with large drops in the use of opioids and sleep drugs.

Only 35% of the general public think cannabis possession should remain a criminal offence, while one in three Brits say they have tried cannabis at least once.

A survey of over 3,500 patients reported an average 85 per cent reduction in the use of other prescription medicines after starting medical cannabis, with large drops in the use of opioids and sleep drugs.

Cannabis Europa has announced the full programme for its 2026 London edition, with a number of patient issues featuring across two days of sessions and talks at The Barbican on 26 and 27 May.

"When medical cannabis was legalised, it was done so without care. The tragic case of Oliver Robinson raises questions, but as a pharmacist in this sector, I can tell you the real scandal isn't the clinics: it's the fragmented healthcare infrastructure"

The motion calls for an end to discrimination faced by people who use CBPMs and is the first time a UK political party has adopted medical cannabis patients' rights as official policy.

Across the Netherlands, an experiment is taking place. Coffeeshops in 10 cities are no longer buying their cannabis from illegal growers. Instead, 10 suppliers have been granted licences to produce and sell products to coffeeshops, ending years of legal limbo. 1/3

If you’ve taken magic mushrooms, it’s likely you consumed one of the commonly cultivated P. cubensis strains, like golden teachers. Now, a new kid on the block called P. ochraceocentrata is making waves among mushroom enthusiasts, and for good reason.

For years, the Netherlands embraced a strange compromise: consuming cannabis was tolerated, growing it was criminal. After one year, an experiment to legalise the supply chains is thriving, and some experts say there is no turning back.

The black market has shrunk, police investigations are restricted, youth use remains stable, and the medical cannabis industry has become Europe's largest, according to the second evaluation of German cannabis legalisation.

A family's desperate fight to save their son from memory-erasing seizures becomes an experimental meditation on consciousness. Between retro animation and conspiracies lies a devastating story: parents battling medical bureaucracy while their child slips away.

University of California researchers found that vaping THC cartridges may trigger earlier onset of the debilitating condition, which causes severe nausea and vomiting in heavy cannabis users.

Leading cannabis magazine leafie has announced a partnership with several police forces across England to increase the number of successful roadside cannabis tests. 1/6

A study has found drivers show no impairment the morning after consuming cannabis. The findings challenge current regulations, as participants tested above the UK’s legal THC threshold, but showed no driving performance decline.

Since 2018, medical cannabis can be prescribed for ADHD when current treatments have failed. Read our updated guide to learn more about the science and learn if you can get a cannabis prescription for ADHD in the UK.

A 45-day study tracking over 400 medical cannabis patients in Florida found that the vast majority experienced significant reductions in daily anxiety levels, with cannabis outperforming other treatments, including exercise and prescription medications.

If you spend time in online medical cannabis communities, you may have seen rumours flying around that edible CBMPs were being phased out due to the MHRA. As always, the answer isn't a simple one. Thankfully, our resident pharmacist, Umesh, was able to break down the facts. 1/2

Our breakdown of everything The Lancet got wrong features in the WHAT ARE YOU ON newsletter this week. Well worth a subscribe if you love reading about broader drug culture.

420 is just a few weeks away. As always, we've pulled together the definitive list of events, protests and celebrations taking place across the UK this year.

Analysis of nearly 3 million hospital records across 13 states between 2008 and 2020 reveals that recreational cannabis laws did not significantly increase cannabis use disorder diagnoses among adolescents.

A 45-day study tracking over 400 medical cannabis patients in Florida found that the vast majority experienced significant reductions in daily anxiety levels, with cannabis outperforming other treatments, including exercise and prescription medications.

A Canadian national study ranking drug harms has placed alcohol far above all other substances, including tobacco, opioids and cannabis, with experts calling for stronger evidence-based policies.

A single dose of psilocybin combined with therapy helped 41% of participants quit smoking for six months, compared to just 10% using nicotine patches, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins University.

“UK cannabis clinics operate as drug dealers for the middle class.” - That's a quote from Professor Robin Murray in a recent article that claims medical cannabis isn't a suitable treatment for mental health... 1/3

Europe's largest wastewater drug study reveals a sharp 16% drop in MDMA traces across the continent, while ketamine use soars and cocaine detections continue a nine-year surge.

"A lack of strong, high-quality evidence isn’t the same as evidence that a treatment is ineffective or harmful." What The Lancet (and the media) got wrong about cannabis and mental health.

Medical cannabis is once again under attack, as headlines scream that the treatment does “more harm than good”. But the study the reports are based on didn’t include a single trial for depression or data from patient outcomes. What else did the reporting miss?

Rumours have been swirling around the patient community that products such as pastilles are being quietly removed as part of a clampdown. In his latest column, leafie's resident pharmacist, Umesh, explains what's really going on with edibles in the UK.

Research showed that the two non-psychoactive cannabinoids assisted the liver by improving blood sugar control and reducing harmful fat buildup.

London’s first publicly accessible drug checking service has launched in Hackney and Camden, offering free, confidential analysis of substances alongside non-judgemental health advice in a bid to reduce drug-related harm.

A survey has suggested that medical cannabis can play a key role in the UK's mental health crisis, with almost all patient respondents reporting improved wellbeing and over two-thirds saying it enables them to work.

Oxford University researchers found no evidence that cannabis use accelerates cognitive decline or increases dementia risk in later life, according to the largest study of its kind.

As conventional treatments fall short for many, recent surveys show that up to a third of menopausal women in some regions are turning to cannabis for symptom relief – but what does the evidence actually say?

Johns Hopkins study finds significant improvements in symptom burden and quality of life lasting up to six months after treatment when combining the psychedelic drug with psychological support.

A new UK-wide service aims to support medical cannabis patients facing discrimination in housing, employment, policing and driving-related matters, as reported incidents continue to rise.

New research challenges the use of biological testing to detect cannabis-related driving impairment, finding that THC concentrations in blood, saliva and breath show weak or non-existent correlations with actual driving performance.

Congratulations to the Green Party for their win in Gorton and Denton. Just a reminder from leafie that a vote for the Greens is a vote for cannabis reform, including the right to grow your own plants at home. 💚

A large-scale study has found that teenagers who use cannabis go on to have more than double the risk of developing serious mental health conditions in early adulthood.

An organisation of former law enforcement officials has criticised the Prime Minister and other Labour ministers for attacking ‘urgently needed’ drug reform.

New research from the University of Montreal reveals that most adults who use cannabis do so safely, suggesting that research and public health initiatives should not solely focus on risk and dependency.

Kanna, or Sceletium tortuosum to use its botanical name, is an indigenous plant medicine that's earned the moniker Nature’s MDMA. Can it offer the same buzz without the dreaded comedown? David Hillier takes a bump for the team to find out.

Medical cannabis flowers are legally prescribed to be used with a vaporisation device, but what happens if a patient chooses to smoke their prescription instead? If medical cannabis is legal, then how can smoking it break the law?

A Boston University School of Public Health study has found that US states which introduced both medical and recreational cannabis laws saw measurable reductions in opioid misuse compared to states which hadn’t.

New research comparing data from Germany and Austria reveals that the legalisation of cannabis has not led to a measurable rise in people driving under the influence of the drug.