health and wellness
Cannabis Legalization Drives Innovation, Raises Health Concerns
Cannabis legalization is driving innovation, but much of it focuses on commercial products rather than patient health. New research highlights gaps between market growth and medical evidence.
Lucy Xiaolu Wang, UMass Amherst and Nathan W. Chan, UMass Amherst
Cannabis legalization
Innovation in health care saves lives. But not all health innovations have enough evidence to actually benefit patients.
Barriers to innovation are often higher in illicit or restricted markets, including cannabis, stem cells and cryptocurrencies. Researchers face higher costs, limited access to raw materials and data, and stricter regulations.
Cannabis illustrates a particularly confusing tension between regulatory restrictions on one hand and research and innovation on the other.
While the U.S. federal government still classifies cannabis as having “no accepted medical use,” many states have legalized it for medical or recreational use. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services obtained a cannabis-related patent in 2003 covering potential medical uses of cannabis compounds for protecting the brain from damage or degeneration. The patent was exclusively licensed for commercialization.
Research and innovation on cannabis can take many forms. Clinical trials may study cannabis products as medical treatments, the effects of cannabis on its users, or factors related to abuse and dependence. Meanwhile, cannabis-related patents can be filed for wide-ranging purposes, such as chemical formulations, methods for production or new consumer products like edibles, beverages or vaporizers.
But do these innovations actually benefit consumers and patients?
We are economists studying how institutional changes affect innovation in different markets. Our recently published research found that legalization of recreational cannabis use appears to spur innovation, but primarily in ways that expand commercial opportunities rather than scientific understanding or health benefits for patients.
Cannabis’ evolving legality in the US
Cannabis is a plant that contains chemical compounds called cannabinoids. One such compound, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, produces psychoactive effects, while another compound called cannabidiol, or CBD, is often used to relieve anxiety and pain. However, there has been insufficient evidence on how effective cannabis products are in treating medical conditions, as well as a lack of consistent medical and dosing guidance.
At the federal level in the U.S., cannabis has been classified as a Schedule I drug for over a half-century. This classification indicates that the federal government considers cannabis to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use.
As a Schedule I drug, there are significant restrictions on cannabis research. Researchers who seek to conduct cannabis-related clinical trials must obtain approval from both the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration, a process that can take over a year. They are also limited to using select varieties of cannabis obtained from federally authorized cannabis suppliers, and are generally prohibited from studying products available in state-authorized markets.
There are ongoing pushes to relax these restrictions. Meanwhile, cannabis has been legalized to varying extents in many states. California became the first state to pass a medical cannabis law in 1996, allowing qualified patients to grow, possess and use cannabis for medical purposes. Many states followed suit in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As of June 2025, 40 states allow medical cannabis use.
A number of states also allow recreational or nonmedical cannabis use among adults, which is regulated in similar ways to alcohol. Colorado and Washington enacted the first recreational cannabis laws in 2012, and there are 24 states that permit adults to use cannabis recreationally as of January 2026.
Altogether, the legal landscape for cannabis in the U.S. has varied considerably across states and over time. States with more permissive laws can lower the costs of medical research and product development with cannabis, even if federal drug scheduling continues to restrict access. For instance, one group of Washington State University researchers asked participants to independently purchase and smoke cannabis from a legal dispensary before returning to their lab for study.
State legalization and cannabis innovation
To systematically examine how state legalization affects cannabis-related innovation, we compiled and analyzed datasets tracking cannabis-related clinical trials and patent applications.
We distinguished different types of cannabis-related innovation. Specifically, we categorized cannabis-related clinical trials based on whether they focused on its potential as a treatment, its usage and effects, or its role in drug abuse. Similarly, we categorized cannabis-related patents based on whether they focused on chemical compounds, medical uses, methods or products.
We also assessed public health concerns across three measures: patents explicitly involving THC; patents with a high risk of misuse; and patents targeting consumers directly, such as high-potency formulations, edibles or vaporizers.
Then, we compared changes in cannabis-related innovation over time in states that legalized cannabis earlier with those in states that did so later or not at all. We measured innovation by counting the number of cannabis-related clinical trials and patent filings. We distinguished between medical and recreational legalization to assess how different policies affect innovation.
Overall, we found that when states legalize cannabis for recreational use, cannabis-related patents increase – but mostly in commercial-oriented areas rather than health-focused ones. Patents were concentrated in market-oriented innovations like cultivation equipment and consumer products, rather than in clinical or science-based research. We also found some evidence that these innovations may raise public health concerns.
Legalization did not result in meaningful increases in clinical trials. This suggests that barriers to cannabis-related clinical research – such as limited access to research-grade cannabis, limited funding and stigma around working with a federally controlled substance – remain substantial.
Gaps between research and product
As 420 – signifying April 20, a day celebrating cannabis culture – approaches each year, public attention turns toward the legal status of cannabis.
The legal landscape has evolved rapidly over the past few decades, and further changes are in the pipeline. Both the Biden and second Trump administrations have made efforts to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance, which would indicate that it has an accepted medical use and low-to-moderate potential for dependence.
These reevaluations of the legality of cannabis come at a critical time. There has been an explosion of recreational cannabis products in recent years, including increasingly potent strains and a wider variety of ways to use cannabis. Meanwhile, critical research on the health and safety of cannabis use has lagged due to heavy restrictions accompanying Schedule I status.
This gap between medical research and product innovation can have significant public health consequences. The 2019 to 2020 outbreak of lung injuries related to e-cigarette or vape use was linked partly to the use of unregulated or illicit cannabis vaping products. These harms highlight the risks of allowing product innovation for controlled substances to outpace scientific understanding.
Policies that significantly reduce obstacles to clinical research can in turn help close the widening gap between cannabis markets and addressing their public health implications.
Lucy Xiaolu Wang, Assistant Professor of Resource Economics, UMass Amherst and Nathan W. Chan, Professor of Resource Economics, UMass Amherst
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Women's Health
Menopause changes your mouth. Most women have no idea.
Menopause changes your mouth: Many women are familiar with the most talked-about symptoms of menopause – hot flashes, disrupted sleep, brain fog and mood swings. Far fewer know that dry mouth and sensitive teeth belong on that list too.
Menopause changes your mouth. Most women have no idea.
(Sheeka Sanahori) Many women are familiar with the most talked-about symptoms of menopause – hot flashes, disrupted sleep, brain fog and mood swings. Far fewer know that dry mouth and sensitive teeth belong on that list too.
There’s a name for it: menopause mouth. According to survey data from Delta Dental Insurance Company, 83% of women 40 and older in menopause aren’t aware of any of its symptoms.
What menopause mouth feels like
Forty percent say they have noticed an increase in dry mouth. Another 27% have noticed more tooth sensitivity in recent months, and 26% say things taste different than they used to. You tell yourself it’s something else. You’re not drinking enough water; you’ve been brushing too hard. Menopause isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
It adds up. Forty-five percent say oral symptoms associated with menopause, such as tooth pain, dry mouth or gum inflammation, take a toll on their confidence, mood or mental health.
Menopause affects the whole body, mentally and physically. So why is the mouth left out?
Even after learning about this connection, 30% of women say they can’t find information about menopause-related oral health concerns. It isn’t that no one is willing to discuss it.
What makes the conversation hard to start
Three-quarters of dentists say they are comfortable discussing menopause with patients. They just want to know who they’re talking to. Most say they would want more patient history, or to know a patient was in menopause, before raising the subject. Forty-five percent say they would not bring up how menopause affects oral health unless a patient asked.
Dentists also believe that patients are already informed. Ninety-four percent say their patients are at least somewhat aware that menopause can affect oral health. So a patient says nothing about her dry mouth, because it doesn’t seem like a dental problem. The dentist doesn’t bring it up either, assuming someone already has.
Women are asking for the information
Nearly nine in 10 women say it would help to receive specific instructions during dental visits about managing oral health during menopause. And 69% say they would be more likely to book an appointment if a primary care provider or OB-GYN had told them menopause affects oral health.
No matter who brings it up, the conversation is one worth having. Hormonal changes during menopause can increase the risk of tooth loss or tooth decay, gum disease, receding gumline or loss of jawbone density. Discussing new oral symptoms with a dentist can help women identify potential problems and address them early.
How to start the conversation with your dentist
Your dentist probably doesn’t know you’re in menopause. Start there.
Questions worth asking:
- “Could the changes I’m noticing be related to menopause?”
- “I haven’t had a cavity in 30 years, and now I have two. Could that be tied to hormonal changes?”
- “What can I do about dry mouth?”
- “Are there symptoms I should watch for?”
- “Should I adjust my oral care routine?”
Any one of these questions can get the conversation started.
Methodology
Delta Dental Insurance Company commissioned Atomik Research to conduct two online surveys between June 25 and July 2, 2025.
The first surveyed 200 dentists throughout the United States. The margin of error is +/- 7 percentage points with a 95% confidence level.
The second surveyed 1,511 women ages 40 or older throughout the United States. To qualify, participants had to indicate they are in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause. Those who were not sure which stage they were in, or who indicated they were not yet in one of the three stages, were excused from participation. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% confidence level
Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is an independent market research agency.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Delta Dental Insurance Company
health and wellness
Flu Season Arrives Early: Walgreens Launches 2026-2027 Flu Index as Activity Rises Across the U.S.
The 2026-2027 flu season is tracking four weeks ahead of recent years. Explore Walgreens’ new Flu Index, rising activity, and ways to stay protected.
Last Updated on November 6, 2026 by Daily News Staff
2026-2027 Flu Season: New tracking data suggests influenza activity is running approximately four weeks ahead of recent seasons, with increases reported across western states and Florida.
2026-2027 Flu Season Starts Early as Walgreens Launches New Flu Index
STM Daily News | Health & Wellness
October 30, 2026
Flu season may be getting an early start this year, and a new online tracking tool from Walgreens is giving Americans a closer look at respiratory illness activity in their communities.
On October 21, Walgreens announced the launch of its 2026-2027 Flu Index, an interactive tool that monitors influenza, COVID-19, and other acute respiratory illnesses across the United States.
According to the company’s initial findings, national flu activity is tracking approximately four weeks ahead of recent flu seasons, with increasing activity reported across several western states and Florida.
The early trends serve as a reminder that influenza doesn’t necessarily wait until winter to begin spreading.
Flu Activity Is Increasing Earlier Than Expected
Walgreens reports that its early-season data indicates influenza activity is already increasing in multiple parts of the country.
The company’s findings include:
- Earlier flu activity: National flu activity is tracking approximately four weeks ahead of recent seasons.
- Regional increases: Several western states and Florida are experiencing rising activity.
- More antiviral prescriptions: Walgreens reports dispensing more flu antiviral medications than during the same period in 2025.
- Growing demand for cold and flu products: Sales of cold and flu medications, at-home respiratory illness tests, cough drops, and tea have increased by double-digit percentages compared with last year.
Although these indicators suggest respiratory illness activity is increasing, they do not necessarily mean the current flu season will be more severe than previous seasons.
Increased purchases of cold medications and testing products can reflect changes in consumer behavior as well as illness trends.
The findings come from Walgreens’ pharmacy and retail data and should be considered alongside public health surveillance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What Is the Walgreens Flu Index?
The Walgreens Flu Index is an interactive online platform designed to help consumers understand where respiratory illnesses are circulating and how activity is changing over time.
The tool combines several types of information, including:
- Flu and COVID-19 testing data from Walgreens locations
- Prescription antiviral medication trends
- Over-the-counter cold and flu product purchases
- Geographic patterns in respiratory illness activity
Using these indicators, Walgreens calculates an activity score ranging from 0 to 10.
A score of zero represents the lowest level of activity, while a score of ten represents the highest.
The index provides weekly information for states and territories, along with more than 1,500 counties where sufficient Walgreens data is available.
The map is updated every Monday, allowing users to compare current activity with previous weeks and the prior flu season.
Importantly, Walgreens emphasizes that the index measures relative illness activity, not disease severity. A higher score does not necessarily indicate more hospitalizations, more serious infections, or a greater risk of complications.
The index also does not represent a complete count of influenza cases nationwide.
Explore the interactive map:
https://www.walgreens.com/seasonal/respiratory-illness-index
Why Local Flu Activity Matters
Influenza does not spread evenly across the country.
Some communities may experience increasing cases weeks before others, making local information useful for families, schools, healthcare providers, and individuals who may be at higher risk of complications.
“Flu activity can vary significantly from one community to another, and knowing what’s happening locally can make a real difference,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens’ chief pharmacy and enterprise external affairs officer.
Gates added that the index is intended to help people make informed decisions about prevention, including vaccination before influenza becomes more widespread in their communities.
For residents of states such as Arizona, California, Nevada, and other western states, the reported regional increases make monitoring local respiratory illness trends particularly relevant.
However, the company’s announcement does not establish that every western county is experiencing elevated flu activity. Readers should consult the latest local data for a more accurate picture.
Why Getting a Flu Shot Still Matters
Annual influenza vaccination remains an important tool for reducing the risk of flu illness and serious complications.
Because influenza viruses change over time, flu vaccines are reviewed and updated each season to target strains expected to circulate.
The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for most people ages six months and older, with rare exceptions.
Vaccination is especially important for people who face a greater risk of serious complications, including:
- Adults ages 65 and older
- Young children, particularly those younger than five
- Pregnant individuals
- People with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
- People with weakened immune systems
For adults 65 and older, the CDC preferentially recommends certain enhanced influenza vaccines, including higher-dose, recombinant, or adjuvanted options, when available.
Walgreens says its pharmacies offer standard-dose and higher-dose vaccines, along with a new mRNA influenza vaccine at select locations.
Vaccine selection should follow current CDC recommendations, individual eligibility, and guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
It generally takes about two weeks after vaccination for the body to develop protective antibodies.
Even if influenza is already circulating locally, vaccination can still provide benefits throughout the season.
Practical Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Sick
Vaccination is an important preventive measure, but it is not the only step people can take to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Public health guidance also encourages several everyday precautions.
Wash your hands regularly. Use soap and water, particularly after touching shared surfaces or being in public places. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help when soap and water are unavailable.
Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your elbow to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets.
Improve indoor air quality. Opening windows when practical, improving ventilation, and using appropriate air filtration can help reduce exposure to airborne respiratory viruses.
Avoid close contact when sick. Staying home when experiencing respiratory illness symptoms can help protect coworkers, classmates, friends, and family members.
Consider wearing a well-fitting mask. Masks can provide an additional layer of protection, particularly in crowded indoor spaces or around people at higher risk.
Pay attention to symptoms. Fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, muscle aches, and congestion can occur with influenza and other respiratory infections.
Because flu and COVID-19 can produce similar symptoms, testing may help determine the cause of an illness.
People at higher risk of complications should contact a healthcare professional promptly if flu symptoms develop. Prescription antiviral medications work best when started early, ideally within the first two days of symptoms, although treatment can still benefit some patients later.
Walgreens Expands Vaccination Access for the 2026–2027 Season
Alongside the launch of its Flu Index, Walgreens announced several efforts to make seasonal vaccinations more convenient.
The company says it is increasing pharmacy staffing, expanding appointment availability, and allowing customers to schedule vaccinations further in advance.
Customers can arrange appointments through several methods:
- Online: https://www.walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine
- Mobile: Walgreens app
- Text: Send “Flu” to 66879
- Telephone: 1-800-WALGREENS
- Walk-in: Participating Walgreens pharmacies, subject to availability
Walgreens also announced promotional Walgreens Cash rewards for eligible myWalgreens members receiving vaccinations.
Under the limited-time promotion, qualifying members may earn $15 in Walgreens Cash rewards on eligible purchases, along with an additional 10% back on qualifying purchases for a limited period.
Restrictions, exclusions, geographic limitations, and promotional deadlines apply. Customers should review the official terms before participating.
What About COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Illnesses?
Although influenza is the primary focus of the seasonal announcement, the Walgreens Flu Index also tracks COVID-19 and broader acute respiratory illness trends.
This distinction matters because several respiratory viruses can circulate simultaneously during the fall and winter months.
Influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and common cold viruses can produce overlapping symptoms, but their potential complications and recommended treatments differ.
Vaccination eligibility and recommendations also vary by disease, age, and individual health circumstances.
Readers should consult current CDC guidance and their healthcare providers when considering flu, COVID-19, or RSV vaccination.
The Bottom Line: Flu Season May Be Early, but Prevention Still Matters
The launch of the 2026–2027 Walgreens Flu Index offers another resource for Americans who want to monitor respiratory illness activity in their communities.
While Walgreens’ early findings suggest influenza activity is increasing sooner than in recent years, it is still too early to determine how severe the overall season will become.
The most important message for consumers is to prepare before respiratory illnesses become widespread.
Staying current with recommended vaccinations, practicing good hygiene, monitoring local illness trends, and seeking medical attention when appropriate can help reduce the risk of serious illness.
With flu activity already rising in some regions, now is a good time for families to review their seasonal health plans.
Related Links for Further Information
Walgreens Resources
- Walgreens Respiratory Illness Index — Interactive map showing respiratory illness activity across the United States.
- Walgreens Vaccination Scheduling — Schedule a flu vaccination or explore available vaccines.
Public Health Resources
- CDC Seasonal Influenza Information — Information about influenza symptoms, prevention, vaccination, and treatment.
- CDC FluView Surveillance — National influenza surveillance and weekly activity reports.
- CDC: Flu and People 65 Years and Older — Guidance for older adults and influenza vaccination.
- CDC Respiratory Illnesses — Prevention information for flu, COVID-19, and RSV.
Source: Walgreen Co., press release, October 21, 2026, Walgreens Launches 2026–2027 Flu Index as Activity Tracks Four Weeks Ahead of Recent Seasons.
Editor’s Note: This article summarizes information from Walgreens’ October 21, 2026, announcement. The reported early-season trends reflect the company’s findings at that time and are not a substitute for current CDC surveillance or medical advice. Readers should consult healthcare professionals about individual vaccination and treatment decisions.
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Health and Life Insurance
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Give Your Plan a Check-up
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Medicare Open Enrollment runs now through Dec. 7. Use this time to make sure your plan still fits your needs with these four steps.
Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: Give Your Plan a Check-up
(Feature Impact) Medicare Open Enrollment runs now through Dec. 7. Use this time to make sure your plan still fits your needs. Medicare.gov is your official source for Open Enrollment. Compare every Medicare health and drug plan available in your area. You can easily compare Medicare plan costs, side-by-side, by simply entering the prescription drugs you take. If you prefer to talk with someone, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7, to review your options and get your questions answered.
Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
SOURCE:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
