Know Your Herbs

There has been a lot of talk in the U.S. about legalizing recreational cannabis, and about cannabis’ potential to help with health issues. Scientists working in medicine may have a lot to discover about cannabis’ ability to improve health. However, the medical community does know that short-term health consequences of cannabis use include impaired short-term memory, impaired attention, impaired coordination and sleep problems. I study ways to inform public health and policy using data from social media. As part of my research, I monitor Twitter conversation topics […]

If growing cannabis is an art, then the soil is the canvas, paint and even a little bit of the brush. As your “grow medium” (the material that your plants grow in), the balance of nutrients your soil contains shapes how your plants grow, how fast and abundantly they flower and how many buds they yield.  Cannabis plants spring up like a literal weed. But growing weed optimally — in a way that allows it to express its best traits and produce trichome-rich flowers — demands care, […]

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) unveiled his annual budget proposal on Jan. 10, 2020, and it contains several provisions aimed at simplifying and streamlining regulations for the marijuana industry. The biggest proposed change concerns the state’s cannabis licensing system, which Newsom hopes to consolidate into one agency — the Department of Cannabis Control — rather than the three that are currently in charge of approving marijuana businesses. “Establishment of a standalone department with an enforcement arm will centralize and align critical areas to build a successful legal […]