The straight dope on weed

President Donald Trump’s recent move to loosen restrictions on marijuana use is potentially at odds with scientific data about the drug’s benefits. According to a surprising meta-review released Nov. 26, medical marijuana may do more harm than good.

A University of California, Los Angeles–led group of experts evaluated over 2,500 scientific articles detailing the effectiveness of cannabis against conditions ranging from Parkinson’s disease to pediatric seizure disorders. Publishing their work in JAMA, the researchers found that FDA-approved cannabis-derived products only remedy a limited number of ailments. These included chemotherapy-induced nausea and HIV/AIDS-related appetite loss.

For the majority of illnesses examined, the researchers reported inconclusive or insufficient evidence of the drug’s effectiveness as a treatment. They found no clear benefit for chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, or PTSD—conditions commonly treated with ­cannabis. In some cases, marijuana use was associated with serious health risks: 29% of medical marijuana users exhibited symptoms of cannabis overuse disorder.

Lead study author Dr. Michael Hsu called for additional, rigorous research to better understand the risks and ­benefits of medical marijuana.

The kids are not alright

U.S. parents are spending more on their children’s behavioral health than ever before. A study published Dec. 15 in JAMA Pediatrics found that behavioral health expenses for children 6 to 17 years old have nearly doubled nationwide since 2011.

Behavioral health includes mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and substance use disorders. Analyzing national healthcare data, a medical team reported that behavioral healthcare costs went from 22% of all pediatric health expenditures in 2011 to 40% in 2022. Out-of-pocket spending increased from $2.1 billion to $2.9 billion within the same time period, and made up over a quarter of all ­pediatric healthcare out-of-pocket spending in 2022.

The study authors attributed rising costs to an uptick in children’s behavioral issues, likely worsened by COVID-19 school closures and social isolation. They also pointed to increased access to care spurring more families to seek treatment.

Baby formula crackdown

The FDA recently sent warning letters to major U.S. retailers for failing to remove recalled baby formula. ByHeart voluntarily recalled its Whole Nutrition infant formula on Nov. 11, after it was linked to an infant botulism outbreak that has hospitalized at least 51 children. The Dec. 12 letters gave Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons 15 days to provide evidence of full compliance with the recall. The FDA reported checking retail stores nationwide more than 4,000 times after the voluntary recall and finding recalled formula in over 175 locations.