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The recent decision by federal agencies to move state-level "medical" marijuana licensed products from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Controlled Substances classification does not make sense. This is especially true when you understand the criteria for each classification: Schedule I: Drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse (ex., heroin). Schedule II: Drugs that have a medical use, but also have a hi

On April 20, 2026, the largest U.S. study to date found that adolescent marijuana use was linked to diminished cognitive development. This study was done by researchers at the University of California, San Diego. It involved over 11,000 participants ages 9 to 10 whose cognitive abilities and substance use were tracked through ages 16 to 17. Here are some notable findings of the study: - Adolescents who used marijuana showed a lack of progress in thinking and memory skill deve

Today's parents have a lot to manage. They are raising their children in a 24/7, nonstop world where addiction is prevalent in many forms; online pornography is just a click away, addictive sports betting among barely legal young adults is skyrocketing, and the proliferation of illicit drug legalization is giving everyone the impression that there are few harms of recreational use. As a mother of four young adults, these are the struggles I dealt with as a parent. In the shor

"High schools are losing the struggle to block pot--even in class." This was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, written by Andrea Petersen. The article highlighted the growing problem students and teachers face as marijuana use has become all too common on school campuses. Despite laws prohibiting drug use for minors in legalized states, marijuana appears to be more readily accessible to students. A principal at a high school in Vermont put it this way: "It's ju

We often think that when a state legalizes marijuana, most of the citizens agree with the decision. Here are some surprising facts you might not know: After Maine legalized the recreational sale of marijuana in 2018, over 90% of municipalities enacted ordinance to prohibit those sales. In 2014, it was estimated that 90% of towns in Colorado prohibited the sale of marijuana after the state legalized. That number shrunk to approximately 75% in 2018. In 2025, it is still estima

Philip Morris International (PMI) recently rolled out their IQOS device, which they are touting as a tool to reduce cigarette smoking. The device’s “heat-not-burn” vapor technology is their way to reduce (not eliminate) harmful chemicals when consuming nicotine products. PMI has made statements on how they are really focused on helping people be “smoke-free” and how they want to make a positive impact on public health. Their advocates are even starting to place Op-eds into ne

As someone who advocates for drug policies aimed at safeguarding public safety and community health, I frequently speak with New Hampshire state legislators about marijuana legalization. The push for legalization typically falls into predictable political camps: some want legalization so New Hampshire's laws mirror those of other liberal states, a handful of others believe the potential tax revenue is too good to pass up, and Libertarians believe government should not stand b