Author: Stacia Woodcock

The Vietnam Tobacco Association (VTA) has recommended a phased implementation and pilot testing for a proposed ban on all tobacco product displays at retail points. The proposal, drafted by the Ministry of Health, aims to protect public health but raises concerns regarding retail enforceability and illicit trade. The draft law would amend the current Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm, which allows retailers to display one pack or carton per brand. VTA representatives argue that this limited display helps consumers identify legal products. Removing it entirely could make it harder for buyers to distinguish between legal and smuggled…

The National Institutes of Health has released data showing that cannabis use and nicotine vaping among U.S. adults remained at near-record levels in 2025. This shift occurs as traditional cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption continue to fall, redrawing the landscape of adult substance use in America. The findings stem from the latest Monitoring the Future Panel Study, an ongoing University of Michigan study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The project tracks substance-use patterns among approximately 20,000 adults aged 19 to 65. Adult Cannabis Use Reaches Historic Highs Adult cannabis use remained at or near its highest…

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have confirmed that reminders of collective national trauma trigger an immediate, reflexive spike in cravings for tobacco and cannabis. Conducted in collaboration with the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health, the study suggests these sudden urges function as a subconscious shield against existential dread. The research, led by Dr. Vera Skvirsky and Dr. Uri Lifshin, utilizes Terror Management Theory to explain this phenomenon. When confronted with reminders of tragedy, humans instinctively deploy cognitive defenses. For regular substance users, lighting up acts as a rapid defense mechanism designed to temporarily distract the brain…

The federal rescheduling of medical marijuana has thrown a wrench into workplace discrimination laws, leaving employers and workers questioning whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) now protects medical cannabis patients. This legal shift occurs as state-regulated medical marijuana transitions to a Schedule III drug, directly challenging previous court rulings that allowed employers to fire workers for testing positive. Historically, the ADA provided no safety net for medical marijuana users because cannabis was classified alongside heroin as a Schedule I substance. Since federal law excludes active users of illegal drugs from disability protections, employers held a clear legal advantage. However,…

Following the United States' historic decision to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance, public perception of the drug's safety is rapidly shifting. However, Emily Ansell, a professor of biobehavioral health at Penn State, warns that federal recognition of medical utility does not eliminate health risks. Regular, heavy, or high-potency cannabis consumption continues to present documented physical and psychological hazards that consumers must understand. Over the past two decades, cannabis has steadily marched toward broad legalization at both state and federal levels. While these policy shifts have successfully generated tax revenues and decreased cannabis-related arrests,…

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has issued urgent warnings regarding recreational cannabis use, citing severe cardiovascular risks, disrupted blood glucose control, and compromised medication adherence. This critical clinical update, integrated into the 2025 ADA Standards of Care, urges healthcare providers to actively screen and counsel patients amidst rising legalization across the United States. As cannabis consumption becomes mainstream, understanding its physiological and behavioral impacts on metabolic health is paramount for modern diabetes management. Cannabis and Diabetes: Understanding the Biological Link Cannabis contains over a hundred cannabinoids, primarily tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—the psychoactive component—and cannabidiol (CBD). These compounds interact directly with the body's…

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has issued a definitive memo confirming that the federal rescheduling of marijuana will not alter drug testing protocols for the nation's transportation workforce. This clarification, updated on May 15, 2026, follows the Justice Department’s April move to shift cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, a transition that many workers hoped would signal a shift in workplace enforcement. For the approximately 3.5 million commercial drivers, as well as pilots and bus operators, the federal stance remains rigid: "Marijuana use is not compatible with safety-sensitive functions." The USDOT emphasized that while the rescheduling may impact…

Researchers from the University of Utah have found that older adults in Colorado are increasingly utilizing edible cannabis products to manage sleep, pain, and mental health concerns. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study highlights a growing trend of seniors seeking alternative relief after exhausting traditional therapeutic options. The analysis involved 169 interview participants aged 60 and older. According to the findings, these older adults are motivated to try cannabis primarily to avoid pharmaceuticals, address new or increasing health problems, and capitalize on reported health benefits. When selecting cannabis products, participants showed distinct preferences and concerns regarding different cannabinoid profiles: Product…

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially reclassified a specific subset of medical cannabis products to Schedule III, marking a historic but limited shift in federal drug policy. Occurring amid ongoing debates over federal cannabis reform, this targeted carve-out acknowledges the medical value of FDA-approved marijuana drugs while leaving the broader recreational market strictly under Schedule I restrictions. By moving these specific products under the Controlled Substances Act, the federal government is formally recognizing their accepted medical use and relatively lower potential for abuse. However, the broader regulatory framework remains largely untouched, meaning cannabis as a plant is still…

The Netherlands has marked the one-year anniversary of its groundbreaking "wietexperiment," a trial legalizing the entire cannabis supply chain across ten cities. This development occurs amidst a decades-long, contradictory policy of tolerance, directly resulting in a thriving, regulated market that experts believe cannot be undone. Out of the Shadows: Ending the "Back Door" Hypocrisy For 50 years, the Netherlands operated under the Gedoogbeleid—a policy of tolerance. Coffeeshops could legally sell cannabis to consumers, but importing, cultivating, and buying wholesale remained strictly illegal. This forced shop owners to rely on a criminal "back door" supply chain, a system Breda Mayor Paul Depla…