Purpose of review: We present information on cannabis policy, demand, and supply in the Asia-Pacific region. Method: A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles using PubMed, MEDLINE, and reliable sources was conducted. We classified the policy implemented in each country into conducting research, legalization of medical and recreational use, decriminalization, cultivation, and others. Recent findings: In Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand, medical use has been approved, whereas it is limited in South Korea and Singapore and illegal in other countries. Except Australia, none of the Asia-Pacific region countries allows recreational use. China and Japan are expected to approve medical use, whereas Australia and New Zealand work on decriminalization. Most cultivation is allowed and regulated for medical use. Cannabis seizures have changed in accordance with these policies. Although the national surveys of four countries, that is, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Thailand were conducted in different years, the use of cannabis among the general population has increased. Summary: Any change in the legal status of cannabis must be undertaken with caution and fully evaluated at each stage to determine the extent to which these changes are leading to increased numbers of users, oversupply, and health risks including cannabis-related harm.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, viral disease that has emerged as a global health concern in recent years. In the absence of specific antiviral treatment and vaccines, prevention remains the key strategy for dengue control. Therefore, innovative and community-driven approaches are required to improve the vector control practices. This study applied and evaluated the positive deviance (PD) approach on dengue prevention and control in selected slums of Islamabad during June–October 2020. The two most dengue-affected slums, the Faisal colony and France colony, were purposively selected as intervention and control groups, respectively. A total of 112 participants (56 for the intervention and 56 for the control group) participated in the study. The intervention group was exposed for two months to locally identified role model behaviors through weekly interactive sessions, dengue sketch competitions, and role plays. Another two months enabled the community to practice these behaviors without any external support in order to explore the intervention’s sustainability. Three surveys were conducted: before the intervention, after two months, and after four months, to assess any changes in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of participating communities. Results found that the PD intervention had a significant positive impact on dengue knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the intervention group. PD could offer an empowering and efficient community engagement tool for future dengue prevention and control, both in Pakistan and more globally.

An intervention to reduce the average alcohol intake and the number of drinking days in risky drinkers was conducted in a quasi-experimental study in two communities (intervention and control communities) in Lop Buri Province, Thailand. The participants were risky drinkers (with scores ranging from 8 through 19 on the World Health Organization’s Alcohol Use and Disorders Identification Test) ages 19–65 years. In the intervention community, individual participants set their own drinking-reduction goals, and each participant received a Tailored Goal Oriented Community Brief Intervention (TGCBI) administered in four sessions over 2 months. The number of drinking days and the average alcohol intake during the past 30 days were measured before the intervention and at 1, 3, and 6 months after it. Complete data were available from 47 intervention and 50 control participants. Intervention effects at each post-intervention time were assessed with linear mixed models. Baseline sociodemographic characteristics showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p > .05). At baseline, M (SD) days of drinking and average daily alcohol intake were 12.9 days (10.5) and 20.4 g (19.2), respectively. The intervention was associated with a substantial reduction in both measures at each post-intervention time, and magnitudes of reduction increased with increasing time. Modeled intervention-related reductions in drinking days at successive post-intervention times were 5.1 (p = .031), 7.4 (p = .001), and 9.0 days (p < .001). Corresponding reductions in daily alcohol intake were 16.5, 17.4, and 25.0 g (p < .001 at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively, after the intervention). Adjustment for potential confounders and inclusion in the analysis of participants with missing data made little difference in modeled intervention effects. TGCBI was associated with a substantial and significant reduction in drinking days and average alcohol intake through 6 months after the intervention. TGCBI could well prove beneficial for risky drinkers both inside and outside Thailand.

Cannabis sativa L. has been traditionally used for its therapeutic properties, particularly in treating various skin conditions. This study explores the in vitro anti-aging potential of five distinct parts of C. sativa L. (inflorescence, seed, leaf, stem, and root) by analyzing their bioactive compounds and biological activities. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was employed using ethyl acetate as an extracting solvent, followed by chemical characterization via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) analyses. The biological assessment included antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosinase activities, and cytotoxicity evaluations. The inflorescence extract demonstrated the antioxidant activity, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 3,849.01 ± 5.25 µg/mL against DPPH radicals and 31.19 ± 0.96% inhibition of NO radicals at 1.25 mg/mL. Notably, the stem extract exhibited the highest anti-tyrosinase activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 0.01 ± 0.00 mg/mL, and significantly inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) activity with an IC₅₀ value of <0.024 µg/mL. All extracts showed no cytotoxicity on HaCaT cells at a concentration of 10 µg/mL, indicating their potential safety for dermatological applications. The stem extract was abundant in phytosterols, triterpenoids, diterpenoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and phenolic compounds, which likely contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anti-tyrosinase effects. These findings suggest that the stem, traditionally considered as waste, could be a valuable raw material for developing dermatological treatments with strong anti-inflammatory and skin-brightening effects.