Governments

Results from the first year of a small basic income trial in California show those receiving monthly unconditional payments report increased rates of employment and improved mental health. Full results of the 24 month trial will be released next year.

A broad reform bill has been proposed in California that would see the possession and use of a number of psychedelic drugs decriminalized. The bill proposes to expunge all psychedelic-related criminal convictions and allow “social sharing” of the drugs.

New US President Joe Biden has committed to replace the entire 650,000-strong federal fleet with American-made electric vehicles, kicking off what could be a seismic transformation in the US automotive industry. But will it even be possible?

A progressive wave of drug reforms have been passed by US voters, including four states legalizing recreational marijuana, one state decriminalizing natural psychedelics, and Oregon decriminalizing all drugs and legalizing psilocybin psychotherapy.

The state of Oregon will officially vote on legalizing psilocybin psychotherapy in the upcoming November election. The initiative focuses solely on licensed and regulated psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in clinical environments.

With legal recreational cannabis use spreading across North America there is a debate over what the minimum age for consumption should be. A new study from Canadian researchers suggests 19 is the optimal age to set for recreational use of the drug.

Reversing prior advice, the CDC now recommends everyone wear cloth face masks in public settings such as pharmacies and grocery stores. The CDC says this advice is designed to reduce COVID-19 transmission from those who are unaware they have it.

A study tracking the potency of cannabis products found most medical marijuana is stronger than it needs to be for pain relief. The research suggests high THC levels are unnecessary for medical uses and can increase the risk of negative side effects.

Billions of people are currently confined to their homes, many are asking how long will this lockdown last, and what happens when we re-emerge? New models are suggesting this wave of social distancing is just the first phase of a war that may last until 2022.

A new report, from the world’s leading epidemic modeling group at Imperial College London, is suggesting intensive active suppression may be the best intervention to reduce mortality and healthcare demand as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread.

Digital rights advocacy group Access Now has released its annual report revealing that governments around world are increasingly shutting down the internet, often to stifle dissent particularly during times of protest or elections.

Microsoft has detected a network of cyberattacks originating from a North Korean hacking group dubbed Thallium. It is the fourth nation-state group Microsoft has identified deploying malicious cyberactivity, following Russia, China and Iran.