Sydney Lubkin

Yeah, the patchwork of regulations has left a huge opening for underground producers and distributors. NPR has found those products are often grown and processed in really unsanitary conditions with banned pesticides, unhealthy working conditions, and unreliable potency.

That was Paul Armentano, head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

That was Paul Armentano, head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

That was Paul Armentano, head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

So they may be. Right now, legal weed is probably more likely to be free of many contaminants because states are testing them and pulling them off the shelves. And even if they're not, they could. So that's often going to put people on better behavior. In California, there were more than 60 recalls in 2024. That includes flour, pre-rolls, edibles, and vape products.

So they may be. Right now, legal weed is probably more likely to be free of many contaminants because states are testing them and pulling them off the shelves. And even if they're not, they could. So that's often going to put people on better behavior. In California, there were more than 60 recalls in 2024. That includes flour, pre-rolls, edibles, and vape products.

So they may be. Right now, legal weed is probably more likely to be free of many contaminants because states are testing them and pulling them off the shelves. And even if they're not, they could. So that's often going to put people on better behavior. In California, there were more than 60 recalls in 2024. That includes flour, pre-rolls, edibles, and vape products.

And in Maine, which has a newer system, it just issued its first cannabis recall ever in 2024. It was for mold. Researchers are still looking at how effective these consumer protections might be. But for now, if you're getting your cannabis in a store that has regulated products, there's less risk of encountering at least some of the contaminants.

And in Maine, which has a newer system, it just issued its first cannabis recall ever in 2024. It was for mold. Researchers are still looking at how effective these consumer protections might be. But for now, if you're getting your cannabis in a store that has regulated products, there's less risk of encountering at least some of the contaminants.

And in Maine, which has a newer system, it just issued its first cannabis recall ever in 2024. It was for mold. Researchers are still looking at how effective these consumer protections might be. But for now, if you're getting your cannabis in a store that has regulated products, there's less risk of encountering at least some of the contaminants.

ZocDoc, an online scheduling platform, says a lot more patients are booking consultation appointments with their doctors to ask about semaglutide. That's the active ingredient in blockbuster obesity drug Wagovi and type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. ZocDoc says there were 53% more of these appointments in 2024 than in 2023. The company's data showed some insights.

ZocDoc, an online scheduling platform, says a lot more patients are booking consultation appointments with their doctors to ask about semaglutide. That's the active ingredient in blockbuster obesity drug Wagovi and type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic. ZocDoc says there were 53% more of these appointments in 2024 than in 2023. The company's data showed some insights.

For instance, ZocDoc says the day Oprah did a special about Ozempic, it saw a bump in appointments. More weight loss consultations were also virtual compared with most other ZocDoc appointments, which are in person. The report has its limitations, however. ZocDoc doesn't show whether patients were able to get and fill their prescriptions for these drugs. Sydney Lepkin, NPR News.

For instance, ZocDoc says the day Oprah did a special about Ozempic, it saw a bump in appointments. More weight loss consultations were also virtual compared with most other ZocDoc appointments, which are in person. The report has its limitations, however. ZocDoc doesn't show whether patients were able to get and fill their prescriptions for these drugs. Sydney Lepkin, NPR News.

And I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.

And I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.