Worrying cannabis addiction research 🌿 

Many assume weed isn’t addictive, but recent research says otherwise.

Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) is on the rise, with legalization driving unintended consequences, including premature death.

What the new research says:

• CUD cases have surged – A 42.7% increase was observed in states with legalized medical cannabis. Hospitalizations due to cannabis poisoning nearly doubled.

• Higher risk of death – A 2025 study found individuals with CUD had nearly 3x the risk of dying within 5 years compared to the general population.

• Psychosis & schizophrenia links – Post-legalization, CUD-related hospitalizations rose by 270%, and schizophrenia cases tied to cannabis use jumped from 7% to 16%.

• Teen mental health concerns – Young cannabis users are 2-4x more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, depression, and suicidality.

With THC potency skyrocketing, the consequences are stacking up. 

The idea of “safe” cannabis use has been oversold, while researchers worldwide warn of long-term risks to brain development and mental health. 

As addiction rates climb, it’s time to rethink how we protect young and vulnerable populations from cannabis harm.

Read the full report here 👈

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Smiling = built-in stress buffer 😁 

Turns out, smiling isn’t just for joy, it might actually help your body cope with pain. 

A new study in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who spontaneously smiled during a painful task had lower heart rates and felt emotionally better afterward.

Researchers tested this using the cold pressor task, where participants dunked their hand in icy water. Those who smiled naturally (not forced) had heart rates 7–8 beats per minute lower than non-smilers, even before the pain began.

While smiling didn’t erase the pain, longer smiles boosted emotional recovery. So if you ever find yourself awkwardly grinning in discomfort, your body might just be using a built-in stress buffer.

Read the full report here 👈

New insights into the mystery of left-handedness 🖐️ 

About 10% of people are left-handed, but why?

Despite a century of research, scientists are still unraveling the mystery (kind of like a lefty trying to write in a spiral notebook).

• A recent study points to tubulins, proteins crucial for brain development, as a key factor.

• These tiny cellular architects help build neural pathways and guide axons, shaping brain asymmetry before birth.

• They also play a role in cilia function, the microscopic movers that determine left-right body symmetry.

In other words, the same forces deciding which side your heart ends up on might also be picking your dominant hand.

Genetics still play a role, as left-handedness runs in families, but researchers now believe brain development holds the real answer.

So if you’re a lefty, you can blame your ‘tubulins’ for the smudged writing.

Read the full report here 👈 

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See you in the next one,

Dan from Cognitive Crumbs