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Colombian Minister Advocates Legalizing Cannabis for Economic Growth

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In Colombia, the recreational use of cannabis is currently prohibited, although possession of a minimal amount is allowed, as established by the Constitutional Court. The issue of legalizing cannabis for recreational use was a source of controversy during the administration of Gustavo Petro, even reaching a bill that was rejected in Congress towards the end of the first legislature. However, the issue is still under discussion.

What the ministers say

 

Interior Minister Luis Fernando Velasco addressed the issue in an interview with Yamid Amat for EL TIEMPO, arguing that cannabis “must be legal and contribute to the generation of wealth”.

The minister also highlighted the potential of this market, not only for Colombia but for the whole world. Regarding consumption and regulation, he explained that the legalization of cannabis does not usually lead to an increase in excessive consumption, citing examples from countries that support this assertion. He mentioned that in Portugal, where marijuana and other drugs were legalized some time ago, consumption has decreased thanks to stricter regulation. He also stressed that regulation reduces overdose deaths.

Velasco also pointed out the paradox of being allowed to carry a minimum dose of cannabis, while its purchase remains illegal, which he said benefits the black market due to the lack of regulation. He explained how regulation can reduce the violence associated with the marijuana trade.

The Minister also presented examples of the cannabis market in the United States, particularly in the states of Colorado and California, where the industry is effectively regulated.

The Minister of the Interior expressed his confidence that the legalization of recreational cannabis in Colombia is only a matter of time and reiterated his commitment to this change. He said he hoped that next year a legislative reform could be carried out that would allow the regulation of recreational cannabis, turning this controversy into a source of income for Colombian farmers and using the taxes collected to treat people affected by more dangerous drugs than cannabis.

He added: “(…) of course taxes will be applied. The revenue generated will be used for the treatment of people affected by other more dangerous drugs. I don’t drink a lot of alcohol and I’ve never tried marijuana, but I know that alcohol causes more harm than cannabis”.



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David Downs’ sickest weed genetics picks of 2025

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Sure, it’s the cold winter of our discontent, but take heart— the Earth has begun tracking back toward the sun, and the days grow longer again.

Start dreaming today of a dank pound or two come Thanksgiving, then start sourcing your seeds and clones, sketching a gardening plan, and calendaring your harvest.

I know I am. As Leafly News’ senior editor and co-author of the best-selling book ‘Marijuana Harvest,’ I pop beans, soak up strain trends, as well as judge and report on award-winners.

Now it’s again time to wring out all that knowledge to help you plant some winners. Here are over 50 sick genetics picks in 6 categories that we’d be stoked to garden with you.

Jump to a strain category

Candies

Exotic Genetix Bluezy. (Courtesy Exotic Genetix)
Exotic Genetix Bluezy. (Courtesy Exotic Genetix)

We lead off with the flavor that controls the market coast to coast—dubbed ‘candies’ for their candy sweetness, but also their full-bodied dankness often referred to as ‘gas’. Based around Lemon Cherry Gelato and kin, these indica hybrids sell themselves, and keep the commercial market humming.

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Compound Genetics

Chrome Dome (Lemonheadz x Eye Candy). Compound Genetics adds more flavor to its blingiest buds. “The nose leans towards sweet lemon zest and lemon scented cleaning products with an effervescence akin to sprite.”

Chrome Dome takes its bling from Eye Candy and adds more lemon. (Courtesy Compound Genetics)
Chrome Dome takes its bling from Eye Candy and adds more lemon. (Courtesy Compound Genetics)

Exotic Genetix

Bluezy (Zoap x Blueberry Bang Bang). Washington breeder Exotic Genetix has worked the hot strain Zoap with the hot flavor trend blueberry. Exotic Genetix writes: “One of my absolute favorite looks on a flower! The colas get so dark in places that they begin to take on a crazy blue sheen. … These juicy goodies make you think you are inhaling a complex basket of different fuels, even somewhat reminiscent of very aromatic soaps to the nose.”

Purple City Genetics

G-Runtz (Pre-64 Runtz x Gush Mints). All the hype of Runtz with a much bigger yield, from the Oakland cloning powerhouse.

Related

Leafly Buzz: 12 hot strains to smoke in 2025

Tiki Madman

Jelly Rain (Jealousy x Candy Rain); Party Boy (Zoap x Z Rain). Tiki Madman dominates the sweets game and these crosses of Leafly Strain of the Year 2022 Jealousy, or 2025 Leafly Buzz Strain Zoap will make ‘em go crazy.

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Phinest

Oakland Runtz #25 (Don Merfo LCG#7 x Lemon Cherry Gelato); K-Whip (Pineapple Dolomite x Shady Apples). The Sacramento clone kings at Phinest keep farmers fed with their candy selections this year.

Oakland Runtz #25. (Courtesy Phinest)
Oakland Runtz #25. (Courtesy Phinest)

Cannarado Genetics

Lemon Zawtz (Lemon Tree x Zawtz x Zawtz Bx1). Colorado’s biggest breeder writes “Lemon candy chem best describes this hybrid. Good yields with mouth-staining terps!”

Ethos Genetics

Lemon Cherry Pie R1 (Candy Store #25 x Cherry Pie). Colorado breeder Ethos sells this ‘reversal’ strain that has “sharp lemon upfront. Sweet cherry tones. Muted pine.”

James Loud Genetics

Permanent Midnight (Permanent Marker x Double Lemon Cherry) from this Hayward, CA breeder includes Leafly Strain of the Year 2023.

Related

Spark joy with Super Boof—Leafly Strain of the Year 2024

Crockett Family Farms

Tap into the Trop Cherry wave that helped power Super Boof to Leafly Strain of the Year 2024. Get Crockett’s Blood Cherry (Blood Orange x Trop Cherry) crosses like Cherry Clem (Clementine x Blood Cherry), and Fruity Loopz (Clementine x Blood Cherry).

Happy Dreams

Cherrilicious (Cherry Frosting x Cherry GAS). The masses love cherries and award-winning Happy Dreams contributes to filling that need.

Desserts

Tie Die (Jealousy x Sunset Sherbert). (Courtesy Cookies Seed Bank)
Tie Die (Jealousy x Sunset Sherbert). (Courtesy Cookies Seed Bank)

When we say ‘Desserts’ we mean Girl Scout Cookies-related strains, which continue to dominate year after year. No grow is complete without this powerful dynasty that includes Sherbert, Gelato, Runtz, and Gary Payton. Yes, ‘desserts’ cross over with candies, but they get more doughy, cookie, and cakey.

Karma Genetics

Pink Payton (Gary Payton x Pink Runtz). Gary Payton and Runtz is a combo that cannot miss among dessert fans.

Related

Sniff away, America—Permanent Marker wins Leafly Strain of the Year 2023

Umami Seeds

No Assist (Gary Payton x Zoda). This super-hot Southern California breeder is known for one-and-done strain releases. You’ll never see these back in stock from Umami when they sell out.

Seed Junky

Animal Tree (Lemon Tree x Animal Mints Bx1); Caribbean Breeze (Pineapple Fruz x (Biscotti x Sherb BX))

Cookies Seed Bank

Cookies logo: a white "C" with a curlycue at the top of the letter against a round blue background with a bite taken out of it like a cookie
(Courtesy Cookies)

Tie Die (Jealousy x Sunset Sherbet), Pink Runtz x Hollywood, Lemon Cherry Pop (Gastro Pop 5 X Double Lemon Cherry). You can’t talk about dessert strains without visiting Cookies’ very own seed bank.

Zs

Exemplary Z. Grown indoors in living soil by MOCA Humboldt, CA. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)
Exemplary Z. Grown indoors in living soil by MOCA Humboldt, CA. Hybrid. (David Downs/Leafly)

The Original Z remains tough to beat on the contest circuit, but it’s just the beginning of the tropical candy taffy tastes this year.

Dying Breed Seeds

Rainboz V.S. (Rainbow Rayz x OZ Kush). These magic beans run $500 per pack, hot dayam, but they can boost you into the front of the global flavor chase spawned by the Z strain.

Hendrx Nursery

Blue Nerdz (Runtz x Zkittlez). Created by Global Genetics LA—the flavor makes up for the yield on this hype cross. See also: Gelo Belts (Gelonade x Rainbow Belts 3.0). “Has the potential to replace Gelonade for commercial farmers. Potency and yield will dictate. Great clone!”

Archive Seeds

Zsunami. (Courtesy Archive Seed Bank)
Zsunami. (Courtesy Archive Seed Bank)

Zsunami (Zazul #5 x Moonbow 112 F2 #60). Archive Seeds’ Fletch writes, “Just give it a couple years, and you guys will be asking about it like the Rainbow Belts!”

Clearwater Genetics

Blue Nerds crosses; Cherry Chewbanger (Sherbanger 22 x Hi Chew 27) crosses. Clearwater cleared the field of competitors with their Mai Tai line. Don’t sleep on their Blue Nerds or Sherbanger work.

Biovortex

Cherry Lime Dogz. This cross is too long to name. And noted breeder Biovortex has been refining it for 8 years. He describes “a fermented cherry cola fizz with purple pixie stick and gas that smelled and tasted like some magical ambrosia reserved only for the gods.”

Cookies Seed Bank

ZZ4 ((GG4 x Zkittlez) x Medellin).

OGs and Sours

Gas Drop. (Courtesy Ziplock Seeds)
Gas Drop. (Courtesy Ziplock Seeds)

Are you longing for old-school OG Kushes and Sour Diesels? Start hunting for them—there are plenty of options.

Karma Genetics

Sour Fire Tahoe (Fire Tahoe x Karma Sour D bx2); Hayabusa OG (Race Fuel OG x Biker Kush). Karma Genetics has some of the best sours in the world.

Rebel Grown

Double OG Sour F5. Rebel Grown has won a ton of awards with this cross of OG and Sour, now in its fifth generation of selections.

Archive Seeds

Holy Roller (Big Sur Holy Weed x Face Off OG); Duct Tape (GG4 x Dosidos). Gas and sour fans, strap in for Archive’s undeniably elite crosses of Face Off OG, or GG4.

Hendrx Nursery

Tire Fire OG ((OG Kush X Triangle Kush) X San Fernando Valley OG)). Gas lovers rejoice, this one smells like ammonia, butter, chestnut, earth, fuel, garlic, kush, rubber, skunk, woody, asphalt, and burnt rubber. Hendrx writes: “Bred by Russell from ChaScience. Best OG I have seen in 15 years. So consistent. Very easy to hunt. Consistent Gas. Picked a few winners. Heavily narcotic high. This is the youngest new phenotype at HENDRX right now. Has the biggest potential.”

Ziplock Seeds

Gas Drop (Gas Face x Frosted Flakes) “Begins with strong gas notes that hit the palate with a pungent, cleaner-like aroma, followed by sharp diesel and sour undertones. … A crew favorite.”

Massive Creations

Shiloh Massive has some intriguing OG/Sour work this year with 97 Super Sour (818 Headband F4 x 97 Sierra Sour); and Kobayashi (818 Headband F4 x Marion Berry). Part of Shiloh’s new Si Lo Sabes line.

DNA Genetics

Kosher Kush. A classic, storied OG Kush that’s ready to grow.


Hashers

MAC marijuana strain
MAC V2 from L.A. Made. (David Downs/Leafly)

More and more flower goes straight into hash this year all around the world in grows big and small.

Masonic Seeds

Step into the hash game with the market-rattling bangers from Compton, CA’s Masonic Seeds. The Wilson, Banana God, and Ego Clash Bundle are all winners that don’t come cheap.

Capulator

MACV2. Revisit MAC with Capulator’s improved version. A must-add to any collection.

Related

Spring into action with the MAC 1 strain—March’s Leafly HighLight

Biovortex

Banana Halo Halo ((Ice Cream Cake x Banana DOG) x Motor-G-nut). Selected by Yooper Crew for her extremely high hash yields. See also—Papaya Punch x G-Nut; Chemmy G.

Freeborn Selections

Turkey Bag (Animal Cookies x GMO x MeyerLemsky). Smells like turkey! “It sounds weird, but it’s so tasty. And it makes so much hash.”

Bodhi Seeds

Mule Fuel x 88G13HP. Stanky Mule Fuel and 1988 G-13 Hash Plant should yield some dank hashers.

3rd Coast Genetics

Investigate Michigan breeder’s hot ‘Black Truffle’ line with Solar Garlic (GMO x Black truffle); Rainbow in the Dark (Cadillac Rainbowz x Black Truffle); and Black Tar (Grease Monkey x Black Truffle).

Sativas

massive chunky nug in light and dark shades of green with dull orange hairs sitting in, and filling, the black lid of a jar
Blue Dream (David Downs/Leafly)

Lastly, we leave room for old-school strains that don’t yield a lot and take forever to finish. Sativas are perfect for home gardening where there’s no pressure of finishing early to make a payday.

Equilibrium Genetics

Panama Haze (Panama Red x Tom Hill Haze). A pine and floral 12-weeker that’ll warp you back to Woodstock. Panama Red is a sativa heirloom collected in Panama in the 1970s. Tom Hill Haze is a stable haze line bred in Mendocino by Tom Hill from Haze sourced in Amsterdam from Positronics Seeds in 1996.

Hendrx Nursery

XJ-13. Help bring back this big Jack variety, and put some pep in your step with XJ-13 from Northern California’s Henrdx Nursery.

Rebel Grown

Blue Dream. Grow a classic strain from a legendary breeder. Obviously not a pure sativa, but put in here with the hazes. DNA Genetics also has a Blue Dream.

TerpHogz

TerphogZ Geneticz seeds come in various elite flavors, for deliver in California. (Courtesy TerpHogz)
TerphogZ Geneticz seeds come in various elite flavors, for deliver in California. (Courtesy TerpHogz)

Red Skrrt-Banger (Skrrrt-Berry Zuava x Red Kachina 2.0). “Powerful gas, creamy citrus, and exotic funk.” This 60-40 sativa offers the latest from The Original Z crew.


And that’s my sickest genetics picks of 2025 for your weed garden, featuring over 50 flavors in 6 categories. Still, I’ve just scratched the surface, so let us know in the comments what you’re stoked to grow.



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The Future King of Cannabis will be THC-Infused Beverages

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cannabis beverages are the future

As someone who’s been dancing with Mary Jane for over two decades, I’ve watched the cannabis industry evolve from simple flower into an endless array of innovative products. I’ve tried just about every form of cannabis imaginable – from traditional joints to high-tech dabs, from basic brownies to sophisticated gummies, and everything in between.

For most old-school stoners like myself, smoking flower still reigns supreme. Sure, concentrates have carved out their niche, and edibles have certainly found their place in the cannabis kingdom. But there’s one product category that remains tantalizingly out of reach, one holy grail that could revolutionize not just cannabis consumption, but potentially reshape the entire recreational substance industry.

I’m talking about cannabis beverages. Now, before you rush to tell me they already exist – trust me, I know. But what’s currently on the market isn’t even close to what it needs to be. The first company to crack this code – to create the perfect cannabis drink that rivals the ease and social experience of cracking open a beer – stands to make billions.

This isn’t just speculation. Recent market research suggests we’re on the cusp of a beverage revolution, and cannabis is perfectly positioned to lead the charge. Let’s explore why the future king of cannabis isn’t a product that you smoke, dab, or eat – it’s one you’ll drink.

The numbers don’t lie, and they’re telling us something extraordinary. According to a recent study published in the British Food Journal, roughly 53-56% of beer drinkers are open to trying cannabis-infused beverages. Let that sink in for a moment. We’re not talking about a small niche market here – we’re talking about potentially converting half of the beer-drinking population into cannabis beverage consumers.

To put this in perspective, the U.S. beer market generates approximately $100 billion annually. If even a quarter of those open to trying cannabis beverages became regular consumers, we’re looking at a potential market worth tens of billions of dollars. This isn’t just a business opportunity; it’s an industry-defining moment waiting to happen.

But here’s the catch – and it’s a big one. When someone cracks open a beer, they generally know what to expect. Whether it’s a light beer at 4% alcohol or a craft brew at 7%, drinkers understand their limits. Through years of social drinking, people have learned their “sweet spot” – maybe it’s two beers for a pleasant buzz, or three for a livelier evening. The standardization of alcohol content has created a predictable, manageable drinking experience.

Cannabis beverages, however, are still stuck in the Wild West phase. Sure, you might see “10mg THC” printed on the can, but that same dose can floor one person while barely affecting another. The inconsistency isn’t just about individual tolerance – it’s about the fundamental challenge of creating a standardized cannabis drinking experience. Absorption rates vary wildly, onset times are unpredictable, and the overall effects can be all over the map.

This inconsistency is the Achilles’ heel of the current cannabis beverage market. Until someone figures out how to create a product that delivers a consistent, predictable experience – something as reliable as cracking open a Bud Light or a Corona – cannabis beverages will remain a novelty rather than the industry titan they could become.

Major players have already dipped their toes into the cannabis beverage pool. Companies like Pabst Blue Ribbon have launched cannabis-infused seltzers, while Lagunitas offers their Hi-Fi Hops drinks. Even beverage giant Constellation Brands (the folks behind Corona) invested billions in Canopy Growth, signaling big alcohol’s serious interest in the space. Yet, despite these heavy hitters throwing their hats in the ring, we still haven’t seen the breakthrough product that could truly revolutionize the market.

The fundamental challenge lies in creating a standardized drinking experience. Currently, most cannabis beverages rely on traditional THC infusion methods, which leads to unpredictable absorption rates and that dreaded “wait and see” game that’s familiar to anyone who’s eaten an edible. Some companies are experimenting with nano-emulsification technology to make THC molecules more water-soluble, potentially leading to faster onset times and more consistent effects. But we’re not quite there yet.

Here’s where things get really tricky: when cannabis is processed through the liver (as it is with traditional edibles and current beverages), it gets converted into 11-Hydroxy-THC, which packs roughly four times the punch of regular THC. This is why you might feel fine after one cannabis beverage, then suddenly find yourself on Mars after the second one kicks in. Unlike alcohol, where you can generally gauge your level of intoxication as you drink, cannabis beverages can stack up in unexpected ways, leading to the dreaded “green out.”

What the industry needs is some sort of revolutionary chemistry – perhaps a form of THC that bypasses liver processing, or a formulation that caps the conversion to 11-Hydroxy-THC. Maybe it’s about developing a cannabis beverage that provides a short-lived buzz, similar to alcohol’s relatively predictable duration. Or perhaps it’s about creating a self-limiting effect that prevents overconsumption.

The solutions might seem elusive, but the potential reward is staggering. The first company to crack this code – to create a cannabis beverage that allows people to drink socially without fear of unexpected intensity or duration – will essentially be sitting on a gold mine. We’re talking about potentially billions in revenue, not to mention the distinction of creating an entirely new category of social consumption.

The challenge is complex, but the market is ready. With over half of beer drinkers expressing interest in cannabis beverages, the demand is clearly there. Now it’s just a matter of who will solve the chemistry puzzle first. As someone who’s watched this industry evolve for decades, I can tell you – that breakthrough is coming. And when it does, it will fundamentally change not just how we consume cannabis, but potentially how we socialize altogether.

 

THC-INFUSED BEVERAGES ARE HERE, READ ON…

THC BEVERAGES AT BARS

SORRY, NO BOOZE SERVED – MIAMI FESTIVAL ONLY SERVES THC DRINKS!



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What You Need to Know about the Viral Medical Study Claiming Cannabis Causes Memory Loss

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viral cannabis study

What You Should Really Know About The Viral Study Claiming Cannabis Causes Memory Loss

 

Over the past week, we’ve been seeing the same viral news appear on almost every internet news or media outlet.


It’s news surrounding the results of a controversial study, claiming that cannabis use can cause memory loss, especially when consumption patterns are on the heavy side. Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus conducted what is considered to be the biggest study of its kind, specifically analyzing the impact of both lifetime and recent cannabis use on the cognitive function of over 1,000 individuals whose ages ranged from 22 to 36.

 

For the purposes of the study, heavy users were defined as the young adults who consumed weed over a thousand times in their lifetime. On the other hand, moderate users were defined as those who used 10 to 999 times, whole nonusers were those who consumed nonusers. They used MRI tests to assess neural activity among participants, and they were all given a variety of cognitive tasks to complete; the tasks tested different functions in the brain including memory, motor skills, language, emotion, and reward.

Additionally, the investigators used brain imaging technology to measure working memory, which refers to the brain’s short-term storage of information. Humans use working memory in everyday problem solving, reasoning, and other activities.

 

They found that there was a statistically significant impact on the working memory tasks given to participants, which meant that it was not likely due to coincidence. The dramatic impact was observed among the lifetime and recent cannabis consumers, though it was less significant when compared to other tasks.

 

“We applied the highest standards to our research, setting rigorous thresholds for statistical significance across all seven cognitive function tests. To minimize the risk of false positives, we employed false discovery rate (FDR) correction. While some of the other tasks indicated potential cognitive impairment, only the working memory task showed a statistically significant impact,” explains Joshua Gowin, PhD, the paper’s first author and an assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.  Specifically, the researchers discovered that the parts of the brain that are responsible for decision making, emotional processing, attention, and memory showed reduced activity among heavy cannabis users.


The Role of Abstaining

 

While this might come as a shock, it’s important to note that Gowin explains their findings suggest users can abstain from smoking cannabis before engaging in cognitive tasks, since this can help performance.


“People need to be aware of their relationship with cannabis since abstaining cold turkey could disrupt their cognition as well. For example, heavy users may need to be more cautious,” Gowin explains.

 

The effects of abstaining can depend on several factors, such as an individual’s history of cannabis use, the task at hand, and various biochemical individual differences. Adding to what Gowin said, there are certainly several potential benefits that users can expect when abstaining from weed, especially when they expect to do a mentally-burdensome task. These include an improvement in cognitive function, better concentration and focus, and sharper clarity as well as alertness.

 

But Can Cannabis Actually Improve Cognitive Function?

 

Studies have proven time and again that cannabis affects everyone differently. So while weed use can make some people sharper and more focused with cognitive tasks, it may not have the same effect for others – or even the majority of a population, as seen in this study.

 

There are also other studies proving that cannabis actually improves cognitive function in others, or doesn’t affect it at all. For example, Dr Staci Gruber’s Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program of the McLean Hospital discovered through longitudinal observational studies that medical marijuana patients showed improved performances in cognitive tasks that required them to use executive functioning.

“Rather than getting worse, they’re actually getting better,” explained Gruber. Gruber and her team are focused on analyzing the impact of cannabis and its impact on cognition, function, quality of life, and brain structure. According to her, this can be attributed to patients who can think more clearly since since their symptoms have been alleviated due to medical marijuana use. However, earlier cannabis use, or regular consumption before the age of 16, is still never recommended because this has been found to severely affect cognitive development and performance later on.

 

Another study, whose findings were presented at the 2018 annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting, found that animal subjects with Alzheimer’s disease, who were treated with THC, showed significant improvemnets in memory and even lost less brain cells compared to those that weren’t. This could be revolutionary if a breakthrough memory or Alzheimer’s medicine could be developed, which included THC.

 

 

Conclusion


In short, the viral study claiming that marijuana can affect your memory should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s just one of many studies backing up the fact that weed will always affect people differently, given that there are already several other studies backing up the use of cannabis to improve cognition – even among medical marijuana users who suffer from physical ailments.

 

Cannabis certainly does offer neuroprotective benefits for the brain, and it can aid with other cognitive functions including creativity, sleep, reduction in anxiety, and much more. We must still remember that even with studies proving this, cannabis use during adolescence should be prohibited and keep in mind that individual variability will always play a role in the outcome. 

 

MARIJUANA USE AND MEMORY FUNCTION, READ ON…

MARIJUANA AND BABY BOOMERS FOR MEMORY

WHY ARE BABY BOOMERS RUSHING TO CANNABIS TO IMPROVE THEIR MEMORY?



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