By Message Staff A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience has found evidence “suggesting structural brain and cognitive effects” from as few as “one or two instances of cannabis use in adolescence.” The report contextualized the importance of the findings by noting that “almost 35 [percent] of American 10th graders have reported using cannabis” suggesting that a crisis is looming due to the “long term neurocognitive effects” on these youth. The findings are significant as well because of the ready availability of pot in the United States. Ten states plus the District of Columbia have legalized adult recreational marijuana use, and New York and New Jersey are on that path. Also medical marijuana (which spans pot smoking to cannabis edibles and artisan cannabidiol oils) is legal in 33 states and the District of Columbia, including restricted use in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. … [Read more...]

By Message Staff In a survey of 26 countries, Pew Research Center found that people who regularly attend worship services are more likely to be happy as well as civically engaged than those who are not religiously active. This group also was less likely to smoke or drink, however, Pew did not link this tendency to greater health outcomes. Regarding happiness, religiously active people in 19 countries were more likely to be “very happy” than their fellow countrymen. Pew said “the gaps are striking” in a number of these countries, including an 11 percentage point difference in the United States (36 percent of the actively religious described themselves as “very happy,” compared with 25 percent of the inactively religious and 25 percent of the unaffiliated). Pew said their findings were “consistent with prior studies,” adding that actively religious people in the United States are more likely to “vote in national elections” and are “more engaged in community life in the sense that they belong to at least one nonreligious organization.” As for physical health, Pew nuanced that its findings “are more complicated.” Religiously active people are less likely to use alcohol or tobacco, but “they aren’t significantly … [Read more...]