Friday, August 01, 2025

Uncertainty remains, but more turn to cannabis for chronic health issues

Texas A&M–led research links pain, stress and multiple health diagnoses to increasing cannabis use, raising concerns about health risks.

Texas A&M University

Cannabis use is gaining popularity in the United States, driven by growing legalization, public acceptance and diverse methods of consumption.

More people than ever before support its legal medicinal and recreational use, and more adults — mainly men — are turning to cannabis for relief from physical and mental health symptoms.

Now, health behavior experts from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, along with collaborators from three other universities, have taken a closer look at this dual use among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black men living with chronic health conditions.

“We believe our study is the first to focus exclusively on these associations among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions — groups that experience chronic disease at higher rates and may be increasingly turning to cannabis as an alternative to prescription medication,” said Benjamin Montemayor, who led the study.

As examples, he noted that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men disproportionately experience chronic conditions such as arthritis, cancer, depression and anxiety. In addition, socioeconomic stress, limited access to care, distrust of health care institutions, and cultural norms around masculinity can all make it harder to prevent or manage these conditions.

While some turn to cannabis to cope with these challenges, evidence suggests that heavy use — whether for recreational or medicinal purposes — can lead to issues such as memory problems, rapid heart rate, respiratory issues and even cannabis use disorder.

“Cannabis use disorder not only makes quitting difficult but also can affect financial stability, emotional well-being and physical health,” Montemayor said. “Our findings could help inform policy and intervention and risk reduction efforts for these populations.”

For the study, published in the Journal of Community Health, the team surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,982 non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic men age 40 and older who reported having at least one chronic condition. Participants shared how many days they used cannabis in the past 30 days.

They also reported whether a health care professional had ever diagnosed them with any of 19 chronic health conditions — such as arthritis, cancer, chronic pain and depression or anxiety — conditions that cannabis is often used to relieve.

Researchers also asked about the number of physically and mentally unhealthy days experienced in the past month, the severity of their pain and stress and their overall quality of life.

“We found that pain, stress and a having a higher number of chronic conditions were key factors associated with cannabis use among these men — consistent with previous findings on self-managing symptoms,” Montemayor said.

Of the 1,982 men surveyed, about 58% were non-Hispanic Black and 42 percent were Hispanic, with an average age of just under 57.

Cannabis use was more common among non-Hispanic Black men. Overall, a little more than 21% (422 men) reported using cannabis in the last 30 days. Nearly half of these men reported using it recreationally, and many also reported having multiple chronic health conditions.

The most commonly reported diagnoses were chronic pain (37%), depression or anxiety (32%), arthritis/rheumatic disease (30%) and cancer (14%). The analysis also found that men with more chronic conditions were more likely to use cannabis.

On average, current cannabis users were younger, had lower education levels and reported lower annual household incomes compared to non-users. They also reported a lower quality of life, including more days of poor physical and mental health, higher levels of physical pain and greater stress.

“This could suggest a two-way relationship, which could be determined by a longitudinal study,” Montemayor said. “Individuals with declining health or more chronic conditions may be likely to use cannabis, but cannabis use itself could also contribute to worsening physical and mental health over time.”

The study identified the following tactics for increasing awareness and reducing cannabis-related harm among high-risk populations:

Community-wide interventions, including regulatory strategies and targeted health campaigns
Standardized health warning labels on cannabis products
Alternative approaches to managing pain and stress, such as mindfulness activities
Open communication between patients and medical providers, so that patients have access to evidence-based information and supportive discussions about non-prescription medication options

“Important questions about the safety and effectiveness of cannabis continue to emerge as policies on cannabis and CBD legality remain in flux in some states, more people are diagnosed with chronic conditions and concern about managing multiple prescriptions is growing,” Montemayor said.

Others on the research team were faculty members Ledric Sherman and Matthew Lee Smith, doctoral student Sunghyun Chung and undergraduate student Arham Hassan — all from Texas A&M — along with Ashley Merianos from the University of Cincinnati; Caroline D. Bergeron from the Public Health Agency of Canada; and Wura Jacobs from Indiana University.

By Ann Kellett, Texas A&M University School of Public Health

Journal

Journal of Community Health

DOI

10.1007/s10900-025-01500-7

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Correlates of Recreational and Medicinal Cannabis Use Among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Men with Chronic Conditions

5 advances to protect water sources, availability

American Chemical Society

Water is an essential requirement for life on Earth — it supports everything from cellular processes to ecosystems. Five papers published in ACS journals provide new insights to help protect natural water sources and ensure that more people have access to safe drinking water. Reporters can request free access to these papers by emailing newsroom@acs.org.

Reducing salt contamination of tidal rivers. Across the globe, the saltwater portion of tidal rivers — which rise and fall with the ocean tides — has been traveling farther upstream in the last few decades. Researchers publishing in Environmental Science & Technology Letters have identified three reasons: deeper water from rising sea levels or dredging, extreme climate events such as droughts or storm surges, and runoff from road salts or fertilizers. Because increasing salinity can threaten drinking water, agricultural water resources, and water infrastructure, the researchers propose monitoring salt concentrations in rivers to inform management strategies.
Strategies for stormwater capture. Dry wells are underground water reservoirs meant to capture stormwater and replenish groundwater in flood- and drought-prone regions. A study published in ACS ES&T Water evaluates the effect of precipitation and location on dry well performance in Southern California. Results show that a series of dry wells along storm drain outlets maximizes stormwater capture during long-duration, moderate-intensity rainstorms. However, distributing dry wells evenly across an area of land would more effectively reduce street runoff and mitigate flooding.
Monitoring plastic pollution with sea turtles. To better understand the impacts of marine plastic pollution, researchers publishing in Environmental Science & Technology have assessed sea turtle foraging habits. They found that certain types of plastic in the water, rather than the abundance of plastic, increase the chances of ingestion by sea turtles. Sea turtles are more likely to eat sheet-like flexible plastics, and smaller sea turtles are more likely to eat plastics because of their varied diet.
A trumpet flower-shaped fog harvester. Researchers in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces drew inspiration from nature and developed a trumpet flower-shaped fog harvesting system. The system features an exterior water-repellent surface with water-attracting spots that capture droplets from fog. Then a V-shaped channel directs the water into a storage container and may eventually be used for drinking.
Hydrogel beads for water softening. Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, which can clog pipes, damage appliances and reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents. To remove these ions and soften water, researchers publishing in ACS ES&T Water developed reusable hydrogel beads. The beads removed up to 96% of water hardness and exhibited antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. The researchers say that the hydrogel beads offer an effective and safe alternative to ion-exchange resins, which can cause excessive sodium levels.

###

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Is Putin Calling Trump's Bluff on Ukraine Cease-Fire?

By RFE/RL staff - Jul 29, 2025
President Trump's shortened deadline for a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire has been met with silence from the Kremlin and an increase in attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Analysts suggest that Putin is waiting to understand Trump's next actions, as the US president's unpredictability makes it difficult for Moscow to plan its response.

Despite Trump's threats of tariffs, experts believe Russia is unlikely to change its approach to the conflict, especially given its economic ties with China and India.

US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was shortening the deadline for Russia to agree to a cease-fire in Ukraine from 50 days to “10-12 days” has been met with near-silence from the Kremlin and a fresh wave of deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities, suggesting that Moscow may be ready to call his bluff.
Trump made the comments on July 28, during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland.
He was referring to an ultimatum he gave earlier this month for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire or face “very severe tariffs.” At the time, Trump also suggested tariff hikes for countries that purchase Russian energy exports.
Putin's spokesman Dmitri Peskov gave a terse response on July 29, saying the Kremlin had "taken note" of Trump's comments without elaborating. He added that he would not comment on another Trump remark that he was "no longer interested" in talks with Putin.
The Kremlin's taciturn response speaks volumes, according to political analyst Boris Pastukhov.
“Putin is waiting,” he told RFE/RL’s Current Time. “To know what to say next, he needs to understand exactly how Trump plans to behave.”
Trump has a track record of shifting deadlines, particularly when it comes to tariffs.
On this occasion, he said he was shortening the timeframe because “when you deal with someone long enough, you know what they’re going to do — or not do.”
By contrast, it’s not only unclear whether Trump will again shift the deadline. It’s also not certain what measures he would impose if he decided to act.
Tariffs on Russian goods would have little impact, since Russia exports so little to the United States anyway. It’s a storm the Kremlin could weather.
Secondary sanctions would significantly raise the stakes – not only in Trump’s dealings with Putin, but also in his relations with countries like China and India, which have been helping finance Russia's war on Ukraine through the purchasing of Russian oil.
Pastukhov said Putin was now deliberately keeping his cards close to his chest and waiting for Trump to play his.
“Trump isn’t just unpredictable to ordinary people -- he’s unpredictable to the Kremlin as well. They don’t know what to expect from him, so they’re keeping their next move in reserve," he said.
Amid the Kremlin’s silence, Russian media and lesser officials have been repeating phrases of stock defiance.
Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper said Trump’s approach might be good for dealing with “regional conflicts” but could not be applied to Russia or China.
Likewise, former president Dmitri Medvedev, who is currently deputy head of the country’s Security Council, wrote that “Russia is not Israel or Iran” and warned Trump against “playing the ultimatum game with Russia.”
When Trump said that he was shortening the deadline, he noted that he was “very disappointed” with Putin, words he also used when he announced his original ultimatum.
At the time, analysts also said that they did not expect Putin to change tack as a result of Trump’s threats.
“China and India are the top two recipients of Russian energy exports, and the expectation that they will pressure Putin to end his war in the next 50 days seems naïve,” Michael McFaul, a political science professor at Stanford University and the US ambassador to Russia in 2012-14, wrote in Time Magazine.
“To me, it’s clear that Putin does not want any cease-fire, at least not until he gains control over all the regions that are defined as Russian in his version of the constitution,” Dmitry Gudkov, a former opposition lawmaker in the Russian parliament, told Current Time on July 16.
Indeed, Trump’s latest comments were followed by another night of air attacks on targets in Ukraine that included a hospital in Kamyanske and a prison in the Zaporizhzhya region where at least 17 people were killed.
Russian media on July 28 continued to emphasize that Russia would keep pushing on the battlefield.
Amid Kremlin silence, both Russia’s actions and its public discourse have been unchanged by the new ultimatum.
By RFE/RL

The Coal Conundrum: Balancing Growth and Climate Goals

By Robert Rapier - Jul 29, 2025

Global coal consumption and production both reached new record highs in 2024,
driven significantly by demand from the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China and India.
While coal use is declining in many OECD nations, this reduction is insufficient to offset the rapid growth in non-OECD countries, widening the global energy divide.
The persistence of coal is attributed to its affordability, reliability, and existing infrastructure, posing a significant challenge for reconciling global energy needs with climate targets.

Despite years of climate summits and net-zero targets, global coal consumption and production both hit record highs in 2024. According to the newly released 2025 Statistical Review of World Energy, global coal demand reached an all-time high of 165.1 exajoules (EJ), a powerful reminder of how deeply the world still relies on this carbon-intensive fuel.

The Asia-Pacific Powerhouse

At the heart of coal’s resilience is Asia. China alone accounted for a staggering 56% of global coal consumption last year, burning through 92.2 EJ. That’s an increase of nearly 17% since 2017, despite repeated predictions that China had already passed “peak coal.” The reality is that coal remains the backbone of China’s electricity system, industrial activity, and energy security strategy.

India, too, has doubled down on coal. Consumption there climbed to 21.8 EJ, up nearly 45% from a decade earlier. A combination of rising electricity demand, a lack of natural gas infrastructure, and favorable government policies continues to drive growth.

The broader Asia-Pacific region tells a similar story. Nations like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh are rapidly expanding coal use as they build out electricity grids and industrial capacity. For these countries, coal remains cheap, reliable, and—in many cases—domestically abundant. While wealthier nations are pushing renewables, many developing economies simply can’t afford the transition at the same pace.

Decline Elsewhere—But Not Enough

Coal use continues to fall across much of the OECD. Europe, for example, saw consumption drop to 10 EJ in 2024, continuing a steady downward trend even amid energy security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There were some short-lived spikes in places like Germany and Poland, but the overall direction remains lower.

In the U.S., coal use came in at 9.9 EJ—well below historical highs but showing a small post-COVID rebound. America’s power sector has largely shifted to natural gas and renewables, and the long-term trajectory remains downward.

Yet these declines aren’t enough to offset growth in the developing world. Non-OECD countries now account for about 71% of global coal consumption, up from 63% just a decade ago. The energy divide is widening, and it has significant implications for both climate policy and resource security.

Production Keeps Pace—For Now

Coal production also surged in 2024, hitting a new global record of 182 EJ. China again leads the way, producing more than half the world’s coal—94 EJ in total. India continued its rapid expansion, more than doubling its output since 2006. Indonesia, too, has nearly quadrupled production over that period, largely to meet export demand from Asia.

In contrast, the U.S. and Russia hold massive coal reserves but have adopted more cautious production strategies. The U.S. produced 23 EJ in 2024, about 12% of the global total. Russia has plateaued around 9.2 EJ, in part due to sanctions and shifting market dynamics.

Non-OECD countries now supply over 60% of global coal output, up from 45% in 2006. This underscores a broader trend: the coal economy is increasingly centered in the Global South, where energy demand is still growing rapidly and alternative infrastructure is limited.

A Word on Reserves

An important context is that the world still has plenty of coal. The U.S. has the largest proven reserves, with a reserves-to-production (R/P) ratio exceeding 500 years. Russia, Australia, and India also boast deep reserves, although China’s are being depleted far more quickly—its R/P ratio is just 37 years.

Still, not all reserves are created equally. Countries like Germany and Poland have large deposits of lignite, which is less energy-dense and more polluting than higher-grade coals. Meanwhile, nations like Indonesia and Australia hold coal that is more export-friendly, giving them an edge in global markets.

The Infrastructure Trap

Part of what keeps coal in play is infrastructure inertia. Across Asia, decades of investment in coal plants, rail networks, and ports have created a system that’s hard to unwind. Coal provides steady baseload power in a way that intermittent renewables currently can’t—especially in places where battery storage and LNG terminals are lacking.

Governments are responding to surging demand with a mix of pragmatism and contradiction. China and India are investing heavily in renewables, but they’re also approving new coal projects to avoid blackouts. Subsidies and favorable mining policies persist, even as leaders make high-profile climate pledges.

Final Thoughts

Global coal use isn’t going away any time soon. To the contrary, global coal consumption still growing. The world’s wealthiest nations are moving away from it, but the momentum in Asia and the Global South is more than enough to offset those declines. For better or worse, coal remains a pillar of global energy—driven by affordability, energy security, and infrastructure lock-in.

The challenge for policymakers is to reconcile this reality with climate goals. Until the world finds scalable, affordable alternatives for baseload power in emerging economies, coal will continue to thrive. And that makes bridging the gap between ambition and reality more important—and more difficult—than ever.

By Robert Rapier

The Permian’s Dirty Secret Is Bubbling Over

By Irina Slav - Jul 29, 2025

Wastewater disposal in the Permian Basin is straining geological limits.
Texas regulators are restricting new injection wells due to rising reservoir pressure, seismic activity, and potential damage to oil reserves and freshwater resources.
Legal disputes are emerging among drillers, with Stateline Operating suing Devon Energy and Aris Water Solutions for $180 million.

The Permian Basin produces over 5 million barrels of oil daily. With that, the Permian also produces a lot of wastewater, which has started to turn into a problem. Some drillers are even suing others for ruining their reserves.

Back in May, the Texas Railroad Commission sent out notices to companies applying for licenses for wastewater disposal wells in the basin, stating that there were ground pressure issues caused by wastewater disposal. The number of new ones was to be restricted.

This is one problem that does not have a straightforward solution, at least not a cheap one. For years, drillers in the Permian disposed of their wastewater by injecting it deep into the ground. However, this deep wastewater injection triggered increased seismic activity, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS noted in its report that only a small minority of all wastewater disposal wells in the U.S. shale patch can cause quakes that are noticeable, but, per the Texas Railroad Commission, it’s not only quakes.

When the link between deep wastewater disposal wells and seismic activity was reported by the USGS, drillers began to dispose of their wastewater in shallower wells. That was five years ago. Drilling activity over these five years, however, has grown so much that the ground can’t handle the increased volumes of wastewater—so it has started causing problems.

Wastewater disposal, the Railroad Commission wrote in the letters, “has resulted in widespread increases in reservoir pressure that may not be in the public interest and may harm mineral and freshwater resources in Texas.” The RRC added that “Drilling hazards, hydrocarbon production losses, uncontrolled flows, ground surface deformation, and seismic activity have been observed,” as cited by Bloomberg.

According to one company, wastewater disposal wells can indeed harm production—and reserves. A company called Stateline Operating is suing Devon Energy and water disposal company Aris Water Solutions, saying wastewater from Devon’s operations had ruined Stateline’s reserves, according to a Bloomberg report that cited a filing made in April this year. There is also an El Paso court ruling from April that denies a petition for appeal from Devon Energy and Aris Water Solutions. Per Bloomberg, the lawsuit was originally filed in 2023.

According to Stateline Operating, the disposal of wastewater in close proximity to its producing assets by Devon and Aris had caused “permanent damage to Stateline’s wells and production, and irrevocably lost oil and gas in place.” The company is seeking $180 million in damages. “Aris strongly disputes that any of the water disposed in its wells has somehow damaged Stateline Operating’s production,” an attorney for one of the defendants said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

Bloomberg’s report presents the problem as potentially turning drillers on each other because one company’s wastewater may be ruining another company’s oil assets. Yet there is a more direct and immediate problem: costs. If deep wastewater wells are not an option and now shallow wells are not an option either, then it’s either recycling or less drilling. Recycling adds to costs. Less drilling means less oil sales. The Railroad Commission has already instituted limits on water pressure levels at disposal wells because of “the physical limitations of the disposal reservoirs.”

The amount of wastewater used in the Permian has expanded sevenfold over the last 15 years, according to Enverus data. The expansion reflected the sharp increase in drilling activity that turned the Permian into the biggest single oil-producing region in the United States. Yet, it seems, few paid attention to the disposal aspect of this boom. Now, more will have to as regulators step in to restrict activity as a result of its fast expansion.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

Namibia’s Offshore Oil Dreams Are Taking Shape

By Alex Kimani - Jul 29, 2025

Galp is in advanced talks to sell part of its 80% stake in the massive Mopane oil discovery, which could hold over 10 billion barrels.
TotalEnergies is progressing on the Venus project with a final investment decision expected in 2026 and production by 2029.
Despite geological challenges, Namibia could reach 300,000–400,000 bpd by the mid-2030s, potentially transforming its economy and energy profile.

Portugal’s Galp Energia has begun receiving offers for its massive Mopane oil discovery off Namibia’s coast, signaling that one of Africa’s most promising new hydrocarbon frontiers could be edging closer to commercial production. The company told investors earlier this month it’s in advanced talks with potential buyers and expects to announce a sale later this year. Galp controls an 80% stake in Mopane and, according to Bloomberg, is preparing for a development that could involve two floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units, each pumping around 120,000 barrels a day.

That’s a meaningful step forward for a country that only started grabbing oil industry headlines in 2022. Located in Namibia’s Orange Basin, the Mopane field sits in an increasingly crowded zone that has drawn aggressive exploration by Shell, TotalEnergies, Chevron, and others. Galp’s early data suggests Mopane could hold at least 10 billion barrels of oil—one of the largest deepwater discoveries in recent African history.

Meanwhile, TotalEnergies is moving forward with its Venus discovery, one of Namibia’s other marquee projects. The French major plans to make a final investment decision in early 2026, with first oil targeted by 2029. The project will include a single FPSO capable of producing around 150,000 barrels a day. Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne told reporters the project is technically challenging but commercially viable, citing expected breakeven costs of just $20 per barrel, even in ultra-deep waters 3,000 meters below the surface.

The rush to develop offshore Namibia is partly driven by a global oil industry increasingly hungry for low-cost, scalable reserves. As onshore fields mature and geopolitical risks rise in traditional production zones, frontier deepwater finds like Mopane and Venus are receiving fresh attention. Namibia’s pro-investment stance, favorable fiscal regime, and political stability have helped its rise as a credible energy prospect.

But technical and geological hurdles are starting to show. Namibia’s subsurface is less favorable than Guyana’s, with lower permeability rocks and a higher gas-to-oil ratio that complicates flow rates and requires costly gas re-injection. In January, Shell took a $400 million write-down on its Jonker-1 well in the Orange Basin, saying the find was unlikely to be commercialized. Chevron also came up dry in its Kapana 1-X well within Block 2813B, though the company said geological data collected was valuable for future targeting.

Total has also relinquished several offshore blocks, including 5/6/7, while retaining deepwater acreage it considers more prospective. These setbacks have caused investors to recalibrate expectations for the basin. “I think the hype was too high, right, so we need to lower our expectations,” Namibia’s central bank Governor Johannes !Gawaxab told Bloomberg.

Despite the challenges, momentum is building behind a handful of anchor projects. Shell’s Graff and Jonker discoveries, Galp’s Mopane, and TotalEnergies’ Venus could collectively turn Namibia into a mid-tier oil producer by the mid-2030s. Industry analysts now forecast peak output between 300,000 and 400,000 barrels per day, which is less than Guyana’s explosive trajectory but still a significant step up for a country that produced zero oil just three years ago.

Infrastructure will be key. Namibia lacks the deepwater pipelines, refineries, and port capacity of more established producers. Most operators are planning offshore FPSOs to sidestep onshore limitations, but those units will require financing, fabrication, and export solutions. Galp has not disclosed potential offtake partners, but industry watchers expect interest from Asian and European refiners looking to diversify away from Russian and Middle Eastern crude.

Financing is also top of mind. While majors like TotalEnergies and Shell can self-fund early-stage development, smaller players like Galp often rely on joint ventures, asset sales, or sovereign wealth funds to shoulder multibillion-dollar capex. Namibia’s government has so far avoided demands for high state participation but is eyeing new royalty and tax revenues to boost domestic spending. According to Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner, the country could earn over $5 billion annually at peak production levels if key projects come online.

The broader hope is that oil development can deliver long-term economic transformation. Namibia has one of the highest unemployment rates in Africa and relies heavily on mining, tourism, and agriculture. Energy officials have stressed the need to avoid a resource curse and are reportedly working with development banks and Norwegian advisers to design revenue-sharing mechanisms and sovereign investment vehicles.

If Galp succeeds in closing a sale and Total moves ahead on schedule, Namibia could see its first barrels by 2027, barely five years after its deepwater potential became widely recognized. That’s an aggressive timeline, but one that energy investors are watching closely. In an era of tightening supply and rising geopolitical risk, Namibia’s deepwater riches could offer rare breathing room for a stretched global oil market.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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