Cannabis use is associated with reduced brain volumes in a region involved in facial emotion processing, according to a new study in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
“There is a high rate of overlap between regular (at least weekly) cannabis use and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety,” said study author Kristin E. Maple, a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“People with depression and anxiety often have differences in brain structure in regions that process facial emotions. The current study was designed to investigate whether cannabis users (without mood or other psychiatric disorders) have similar differences in brain structure, and whether those abnormalities are related to problems processing facial emotions.”
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PSYCHOLOGY TODAY: Moral Outrage: Why We Attack Each Other
Outrage culture satisfies our urge for social solidarity.
Groups have social incentives to be outraged– expressing anger shows your commitment to the values of your community. And media companies have financial incentives to rile people up– playing on your anger means more clicks and shares.
NPR: A Russian Biologist Wants To Create More Gene-Edited Babies
A Moscow scientist claims he has a safe way of editing genes in human embryos — a method that could protect resulting babies from being infected with HIV. Approval of the experiment seems unlikely.
Business Insider: Now more than ever, you shouldn’t be eating raw cookie dough
The CDC recently saw backlash after warning people not to eat raw cookie dough.
NPR: Pass The Brazier: Early Evidence Of Cannabis Smoking Found On Chinese Artifacts
Humans have been smoking pot to get high since the first millennium B.C. Archaeologists have found early evidence of cannabis use from wooden bowls exhumed from ancient tombs in western China.
VA and Give an Hour raise awareness about mental health through A Week to Change Direction campaign
During the week of June 9-15, 2019, VA will be partnering with Give an Hour for a global mental health outreach effort: A Week to Change Direction. Together, we are advocating for a week of action for and by organizations, corporations, universities, communities and individuals so that all Veterans in need of mental health care receive the support they deserve.
VA’s suicide prevention efforts are guided by the National Strategy to Prevent Veteran Suicide. We are dedicated to providing all Veterans with access to lifesaving resources when they need them, but we cannot do it alone. Through partnerships across communities nationwide, we work to reach all Veterans with the resources and support they need. VA’s partnerships with organizations such as Give an Hour expand the reach of lifesaving resources
MedicineNet: Legalizing Medical Pot Won’t Ease Opioid Crisis: Study
HealthDay News) — Medical marijuana has been a beacon of hope in the opioid epidemic, with states legalizing weed in hopes that its use will cut down on fatal overdoses from painkiller use.
Now, a new study is throwing cold water on that notion.
There’s no association between medical marijuana laws and opioid overdose death rates, researchers report.
In Greece, a rebel organic farm goes against the grain: AL JALEERA
The Antonopoulos brothers are leading a farming revolution in Greece, which has Europe’s highest plant biodiversity.
Facebook bans health and conspiracy site Natural News
Beth Mole
Facebook on Sunday removed the prominent health and conspiracy site Natural News from its platform and banned its incendiary founder from posting content.
Though Facebook did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment on the suspension, Facebook’s move comes just a day after The Daily Beast published a report into the wild, far-right conspiracy theories that have become staples on Natural News.
THN 