Celebrated in the United States annually from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month pays tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched the nation and society. Recognizing the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens, whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, The LOOP's month-long celebration will shine a spotlight on the people behind the small businesses who participate in its weekend markets. A special weekend of festivities will take place Sept. 29–Oct. 1. Building off The LOOP’s four pillars of engagement, “F.A.M.E.,” and its mission to provide “Infinite Experience for Everyone Under the Sun,” the free, family-friendly Hispanic Heritage Month celebration weekend will showcase Hispanic food, art, music, movies, and entertainment. Attendees of The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park will also be treated to cooking demonstrations, Flamenco dance lessons, and Loteria (Mexican Bingo) for prizes. Each Sunday, from 12–3 p.m., Sept. 17–Oct. 15, The LOOP will feature live performances from various Hispanic musicians and bands. Attendees are invited to relax at one of the tables under the shaded canopies and umbrellas to enjoy the rotation of live music while they shop and stroll The MKT vendors. The MKT is open on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For a preview of the makers and small business vendors who proudly share their passion and Hispanic pride at The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park, visit theloopflb.com/hispanic-heritage-month-2023/. The full Hispanic Heritage Month lineup includes: Performers and times are subject to change More @TheMKT Musical Performances – Sundays from 12 – 3 p.m. Sept. 17 – Flavio Sousa and Flamenco Dancer (Argentina, Flamenco Guitar) Sept. 24 – Greg Diamond (Latin-infused Contemporary Jazz) Oct. 8 – Sugar Music Trio (Venezuela, Pop) Oct. 15 – Mister Conjunto Band (Cuba, Salsa) The G Classic 3v3 Basketball Tourney – Saturday, Sept. 16, 2–8 p.m. The inaugural 24 team charity basketball tournament, named after the late great Gyerard Reid, will take place at Las Olas Oceanside Park and will feature food, drinks, a live DJ and vendors. All proceeds will benefit the Reid family and a charity of their choice. Friday, Sept. 29, 5–10 p.m. 5–10 p.m.: The MKT featuring Mexican Foods and Virgin Mocktails (available for purchase) and complimentary Make-Your-Own Maracas Craft Station 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Pre-Movie Performance: Mariachi Mexicano Mariachi Band 7:15–9 p.m.: Movies by Moonlight Featured Film: Coco, Rated PG Synopsis: Aspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer. Saturday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 9 a.m.–4 p.m.: The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park, authentic Hispanic Food, Art & Makers 9:30 – 11 a.m.: Flamenco dance performance and workshop with Luna Cale Company 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Performance: SonQba Band (Cuba, Son, Salsa, Merengue, Bolero) 12:30–1:30 p.m.: Cooking demonstration with Saucy Lips co-founder, Natalia Dalton Salazar, in partnership with Royal Prestige Cookware 1:30–3 p.m.: Performance: Caseroloops (Venezuela, Caribbean Rock) Sunday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park, authentic Hispanic Food, Art & Makers Complimentary Make-Your-Own Maracas Craft Station (while supplies last) 10–11 a.m.: Complimentary Socaton Fitness Class 11 a.m.–12 p.m.: Cooking demonstration with Fusion Healthy315 chef-owner, Yeni Ramos, in partnership with Royal Prestige Cookware 12–3 p.m.: Performance: Sabor Latino Latin Jazz Band Where: Las Olas Oceanside Park: 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 The most convenient place to park is the Las Olas Beach Parking Garage, where the PayByPhone payment option can be used, and parking can be extended from anywhere using the mobile PayByPhone App. Cost: The LOOP’s events are free and open to the public. How: For more information, click here. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of the LOOP

Megan Mae Miami® recently debuted two luxury swimwear collections at Miami Swim Week® 2023 hosted by Art Hearts Fashion. Contrasting yet complementary, both collections have their own unique details that clearly differentiate them. That said, the dynamic pairing was highly cohesive when showcased simultaneously on the runway. The Liquid Metal collection features cooler tones and glossy, shimmery fabrics that juxtapose harmoniously with the Sandstorm collection’s warmer, neutral colors. While the Liquid Metal collection is undeniably glamorous, it has a certain “liquid elegance” to it. Any of the suits would be a perfect choice for a moonlit poolside soirée. As the swimwear line’s owner and designer, Megan Mae Stevens, puts it, “In Miami, day-time and night-time are two totally different atmospheres and lifestyles. With our upcoming Liquid Metal collection, we used cooler, darker, moodier tones that are perfect for transitioning from sunny days to starry nights.” The collection’s suits come in four chic colors: Sapphire, Alchemy, Midnight, and Graphite. As evidenced on the Miami Swim Week® runway, the diverse collection of cuts and colors cater to all body types and skin tones. In Megan’s words, “We all have different tastes, so we try to keep our line eclectic so everyone can own a perfect Megan Mae Miami® swimsuit.” 2023 marks the third year Megan Mae Miami® participated in Miami Swim Week®, but this year was extra special. The brand is typically known for its vibrant, bright, poppy colors, so these two distinctive collections mark an exciting milestone as the line grows and evolves. In addition to debuting two extraordinary new collections at the event, Megan hit the runway alongside her team of 15 other stunning models. This wasn’t her first time walking in Miami Swim Week®, and it likely won’t be her last. “It’s really cool to have such a young product line and have already attended Miami Swim Week® three times, along with other similar events. It’s a designer’s dream come true,” she reflected. “I’ve also always wanted to walk in Swim Week, and it was so rewarding to combine both goals and be able to say I’ve walked for my own brand.” Megan is known for her tenacious work ethic and humble spirit, so it’s no surprise that she’s earned such a stellar reputation as a multifaceted motivational figure. Her empowering messages cover many topics, such as health, wellness, fitness, and beauty. Megan’s swimwear line is a natural extension of her desire to empower women to express their individuality and keep pushing forward with personal development. Knowing the person behind the brand, the inspirational names of the collection’s suits — Charisma, Playful, Desire, Bold, and Passionate — make total sense. “It's not just about cute suits for me. It’s about accomplishing something meaningful. It’s about adding dimension and depth to my life and the lives of others,” says Megan. Megan Mae Miami® swimwear is beautiful, but that’s not the only reason to support the brand. The swimsuits are sustainable, too. They’re made out of ECONYL®, a textile fiber from Italy that’s made from recycled plastics and fishing nets from oceans all over the world. Besides being the mindful choice, the material is super comfortable and high-quality. Megan’s luxurious suits are sure to make a major splash at pools, beaches, and other Miami hotspots this year and beyond, so keep an eye out for the liquid elegance that defines this bold collection. While you’re at it, think about supporting an amazing Miamian and getting a Megan Mae Miami® bikini or one-piece for yourself! To learn more about Megan and her luxury swimwear line, visit meganmaemiami.com, and be sure to connect on Instagram at @meganmaemiami and @meganmaestevens. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Arun Nevader

Between the record-breaking global heat and extreme downpours, it’s hard to ignore that something unusual is going on with the weather in 2023. People have been quick to blame climate change – and they’re right, to a point: Human-caused global warming does play the biggest role. A recent study determined that the weekslong heat wave in Texas, the U.S. Southwest, and Mexico that started in June 2023 would have been virtually impossible without it. By Hans Reniers/Unsplash However, the extremes this year are sharper than anthropogenic global warming alone would be expected to cause. July was Earth’s hottest month on record by a large margin, with average global temperatures more than half a degree Fahrenheit (a third of a degree Celsius) above the previous record, set in 2019, according to the Europe Union’s earth observation program. Human activities have been increasing temperatures gradually, at an average of about 0.2 F (0.1 C) per decade. Three additional natural factors are also helping drive up global temperatures and fuel disasters this year: El Niño, solar fluctuations and a massive underwater volcanic eruption. Unfortunately, these factors are combining in a way that is exacerbating global warming. Still worse, we can expect unusually high temperatures to continue through at least 2025, which means even more extreme weather in the near future. An illustration by the author shows the typical relative impact on temperature rise driven by human activities compared with natural forces. El Niño/La Niña and solar energy cycles fluctuate. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano’s underwater eruption exacerbated global warming.Michael Wysession, Author provided How El Niño is involved El Niño is a climate phenomenon that occurs every few years when surface water in the tropical Pacific reverses direction and heats up. That warms the atmosphere above, which influences temperatures and weather patterns around the globe. Essentially, the atmosphere borrows heat out of the Pacific, and global temperatures increase slightly. This happened in 2016, the time of the last strong El Niño. Global temperatures increased by about 0.25 F (0.14 C) on average, making 2016 the warmest year on record. A weak El Niño also occurred in 2019-2020, contributing to 2020 becoming the world’s second-warmest year. El Niño’s opposite, La Niña, involves cooler-than-usual Pacific currents flowing westward, absorbing heat out of the atmosphere, which cools the globe. The world just came out of three straight years of La Niña, meaning we’re experiencing an even greater temperature swing. Comparing global temperatures (top chart) with El Niño and La Niña events.NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center Based on increasing Pacific sea surface temperatures in mid-2023, climate modeling now suggests a 90% chance that Earth is headed toward its first strong El Niño since 2016. Combined with the steady human-induced warming, Earth may soon again be breaking its annual temperature records. June 2023 was the hottest in modern record. July saw global records for the hottest days and a large number of regional records, including an incomprehensible heat index of 152 F (67 C) in Iran. Solar fluctuations The Sun may seem to shine at a constant rate, but it is a seething, churning ball of plasma whose radiating energy changes over many different time scales. The Sun is slowly heating up and in half a billion years will boil away Earth’s oceans. On human time scales, however, the Sun’s energy output varies only slightly, about 1 part in 1,000, over a repeating 11-year cycle. The peaks of this cycle are too small for us to notice at a daily level, but they affect Earth’s climate systems. Rapid convection within our Sun generates a strong magnetic field aligned with its spin axis and causes this field to fully flip and reverse every 11 years. This is what causes the 11-year cycle of emitted solar radiation. Sunspot activity is considered a proxy for the Sun’s energy output. The last 11-year solar cycle was unusually weak. The current cycle isn’t yet at its maximum.NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center Earth’s temperature increase during a solar maximum, compared with average solar output, is only about 0.09 F (0.05 C), roughly a third of a large El Niño. The opposite happens during a solar minimum. However, unlike the variable and unpredictable El Niño changes, the 11-year solar cycle is comparatively regular, consistent, and predictable. The last solar cycle hit its minimum in 2020, reducing the effect of the modest 2020 El Niño. The current solar cycle has already surpassed the peak of the relatively weak previous cycle (which was in 2014) and will peak in 2025, with the Sun’s energy output increasing until then. A massive volcanic eruption Volcanic eruptions can also significantly affect global climates. They usually do this by lowering global temperatures when erupted sulfate aerosols shield and block a portion of incoming sunlight – but not always. In an unusual twist, the largest volcanic eruption of the 21st century so far, the 2022 eruption of Tonga’s Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is having a warming and not cooling effect. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano’s eruption was enormous, but underwater. It hurled large amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere.NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens using GOES imagery courtesy of NOAA and NESDIS The eruption released an unusually small amount of cooling sulfate aerosols but an enormous amount of water vapor. The molten magma exploded underwater, vaporizing a huge volume of ocean water that erupted like a geyser high into the atmosphere. Water vapor is a powerful greenhouse gas, and the eruption may end up warming Earth’s surface by about 0.06 F (0.035 C), according to one estimate. Unlike the cooling sulfate aerosols, which are actually tiny droplets of sulfuric acid that fall out of the atmosphere within one to two years, water vapor is a gas that can stay in the atmosphere for many years. The warming impact of the Tonga volcano is expected to last for at least five years. Underlying it all: Global warming All of this comes on top of anthropogenic, or human-caused, global warming. Humans have raised global average temperatures by about 2 F (1.1 C) since 1900 by releasing large volumes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. For example, humans have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 50%, primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles and power plants. The warming from greenhouse gases is actually greater than 2 F (1.1 C), but it has been masked by other human factors that have a cooling effect, such as air pollution. Difference between average annual temperature and 20th-century average in degrees Celsius, through 2020 Chart: The Conversation/CC-BY-NDSource: NOAA Get the data Download image Created with Datawrapper If human impacts were the only factors, each successive year would set a new record as the hottest year ever, but that doesn’t happen. The year 2016 was the warmest so far, in large part because of the last large El Niño. What does this mean for the future? The next couple of years could be very rough. If a strong El Niño develops over the next year, combined with the solar maximum and the effects of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption, Earth’s temperatures would likely soar to uncharted highs. According to climate modeling, this would likely mean even more heat waves, forest fires, flash floods, and other extreme weather events. Both weather and climate forecasts have become very reliable in recent years, benefiting from vast amounts of data from Earth-orbiting satellites and enormous supercomputing power for forecasting the flow and interactions of heat and water among the complex components of the ocean, land, and atmosphere. Unfortunately, climate modeling shows that as temperatures continue to increase, weather events get more extreme. There is now a greater than 50% chance that Earth’s global temperature will reach 2.7 F (1.5 C) above pre-industrial era temperatures by the year 2028, at least temporarily, increasing the risk of triggering climate tipping points with even greater human impacts. Because of the unfortunate timing of several parts of the climate system, it seems the odds are not in our favor. By Michael Wysession Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis Special thanks to The Conversation.

PLAYA SOL is a Miami-based resort fashion brand founded by designer Diana Gutierrez in 2022. Born in Venezuela, Diana has never forgotten her childhood memories which were formed at the sea surrounded by palm trees. Venezuela, a happy place with an ocean lifestyle famous for its success in beauty pageants ignited Diana’s creativity, deep love for beauty, nature and exploration. Elements from the Miami and New York fashion scene also deeply influenced and shaped her unique vision. At the age of 16, she cut and sewed her first dress using old patterns that were given to her by her fashion teacher. The PLAYA SOL name, which translates into "beach sun", was born by putting together the designer’s idea of the two basic needs of happiness: the beach and the sun. In creating their latest collection Clever Jungle, the brand drew inspiration from the depths of the tropical jungle. Elements of the dark jungle conveyed mystery and high fashion throughout every design. Silk fabrics, custom prints, and highly skilled embroidery techniques have become PLAYA SOL's signature style. The designer’s vision of recreating and mixing high fashion designs with comfort has created one-of-a-kind pieces worthy of a jet set ocean lifestyle. The Clever Jungle collection consists of abstract jungle prints paired with PLAYA SOL signature black metallic and matte swimsuits. In this collection, you will find a variety of sheer sequence embroidered styles with many pieces made of 100% silk fabrics. As of 2023, all their swimwear is 100% made in the USA using the highest quality of sustainable spandex fabrics. Supporting USA-made products is such an important element in keeping manufacturing jobs in our nation. Where PLAYA SOL really stands out is in their creation of one-of-a-kind embellished Kaftans, tunics, skirts and dresses conveying elegance and sultriness. Many of the fabrics are custom dyed to create a variety of ombre colors used in previous collections. Every embellished garment is carefully hand embroidered by artisans using an extensive colorful collection of beads, stones, and sequence. Their Clever Jungle collection now includes a one-of-a-kind collection of beaded and embroidered purses and clutches. PLAYA SOL is for the fierce woman who isn’t afraid to stand out. A woman who has an eye for elegance, quality and likes a little mystery. As you will see, many styles quickly turn into staple go-to pieces due to their versatility to dress up and dress down. You can easily go from yachting to your favorite restaurant wearing all but one bikini and a stunning silk coverup dress. Being able to stand out in a crowd while staying silent is a powerful skill to obtain. At PLAYA SOL, wearing black is always a good idea. Website: www.playasolswim.com Instagram: @playasolswim Fashion Show: Miami Swim Week The Shows Photographer: Thomas Concordia Jewelry: Zoyalty Jewelry By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Thomas Concordia

For Miami Living magazine's latest cover story, we travel to India, Austria, and Hungary. Our journey begins in Mumbai, India, where Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of Dior, showcased Dior's Fall collection in a special collaboration with Chanakya Atelier in India. The collection highlights the power of community and beautifully showcases the intricate Indian craftsmanship, featuring geometric patterns adorned with gold, silver sequins, and strass. Dior's Fall 2023 RTW Next, we take you on a voyage to Austria and Hungary to explore the deep heritage connection between these two countries. Flying from Miami to Austria takes an average of 15 hours, making it a long flight, but every minute is worth it to explore one of Europe's most notable cultural hubs – Vienna. We also travel to Salzburg, Hallstatt, Graz, and conclude our journey in Budapest, Hungary. We hope that our special travel issue inspires you to explore new places and immerse yourself in new scents, sensations, and knowledge. Aside from fashion and travel, the latest issue of Miami Living Magazine encompasses a vast array of captivating content, spanning over 430 pages. Vienna's magnificent al fresco gathering spots HOME & DESIGN Poliform's latest dining collection, Curve, attains complete harmony in a sophisticated and contemporary space designed by Emmanuel Gallina. And for luxurious vintage looks for your home like pillows, framed scarves and other fashion accessories, we bring you Vintage Luxe Up, founded by David Altmam. Poliform's Curve Collection FASHION Our curated fashion section features the ready-to-wear collections of Dior, Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Gucci's Vault collection, and a look at Miami's own men’s fashion brand, Cubavera. Tom Ford's Fall 2023 RTW LIFESTYLE The Gucci House unveils a collection of fine jewelry that explores modern romance and characterizes new symbols of love. For watch lovers, Richard Mille unveils RM72-01, a fusion of tradition and modernity. Gucci's latest jewelry collection REAL ESTATE Explore Miami's luxury homes for sale, including 130 Palm Avenue, 50 South Pointe Drive, and 1300 Monad Terrace. Plus, Max Sharkansky, co-founder and managing partner of Trion Properties, helps Miami investors grow their wealth by navigating the complex multifamily real estate market. 1300 Monad Terrace, Miami Beach MOVE Experience the pinnacle of McLaren’s relentless pursuit of progress with the 750S model shaped by Formula 1 expertise and innovation starting at $324,000. And we welcome the newest addition to Hagerty Garage + Social’s luxury car storage facility in Miami. John Belniak, Managing Director, explains the details of the new location and storage benefits. McLaren’s 750S On water, Golden Yachts introduces Project X, a 288.6ft (88m) luxury yacht designed by British designer Ken Freivokh with contemporary interiors created by Massari Design from Italy. Golden Yachts' Project X PEOPLE Grammy-winning artist Donna Summer, known as the "Queen of Disco" in the 1970s and 1980s, revolutionized popular music and captivated audiences worldwide. Now, her daughter Brooklyn Sudano, an actress and filmmaker, collaborates with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams and HBO to present a heartfelt documentary. In an intimate interview, Brooklyn delves into her mother's musical journey, personal life, and much more. Donna Summer For book lovers, accomplished entrepreneur and author, Richard Kirshenbaum, brings us North Bay Road, a part murder mystery, part forbidden love story, centering on a woman whose life takes a sharp turn when a mysterious socialite leaves her a surprise inheritance in Miami. A must read! Richard Kirshenbaum Miami-based multidisciplinary artist and educator, Morel Doucet, explores climate gentrification, migration, and displacement within Black diaspora communities using ceramics, illustrations, and prints. His creative works delve into social narratives that delve into the contemporary reshaping of the 'black experience'. Art by Morel Doucet We take you inside the art studio of artist and philanthropist Vasily Klyukin who creates architectural works, large-scale abstract sculptures, and kinetic art made of polycarbonate, plywood, glass, steel, brass, and acrylic paint. Vasily donates many of his works to be sold at charity auctions like UNICEF, the World Wildlife Fund, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and more. Art by Vasily Klyukin South Florida based Katia Rudnick, founder & CEO of Katia Designs, brings us a beautifully designed line of spiritual jewelry that focuses on uplifting messages and natural elements, inspiring wearers to connect with and embody their dreams and highest selves. Katia Rudnick TRAVEL Miami Living takes you on a captivating journey through Austria and Hungary, starting in Vienna, Salzburg, Lake Hallstatt, Graz, and with a final stop in Hungary to experience Budapest. We explore Austria and Hungary’s rich history and culture make them a must-visit on your travel bucket list. Mirabell Garden in Salzburg, Austria For something closer to home, experience Little Palm Island Resort & Spa just under a 3 hour drive from Miami. The 4.5 mile private island has a white sand beach, luxury accommodations and most important of all, pure tranquility. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa Miami Beach Visitor Convention Authority (MBVCA) new destination tour app named EXP Miami Beach Tours (EXPMiamiBeach.Tours), offers a selection of curated itineraries that allow travelers to self-guide their Miami experiences. Plus enjoy perks like a chance to win VIP tickets to select events. UPCOMING EVENTS Under the baton of Artistic Director Gabe Salazar, the 170+ singing members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida will bring two magical concerts of Disney music for Pride month on Saturday, June 24 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 25 at 3 p.m. at the Parker in Fort Lauderdale. The XXVIII International Ballet Festival of Miami, led by Artistic Director Eriberto Jiménez is happening from July 22 to August 13. The festival showcases over 70 artists from renowned world-class ballet companies, plus art exhibitions, book presentations, and dance films. The XXVIII International Ballet Festival of Miami The Ultimate Wellness event will take place on August 26th, 2023, at FAENA Forum in Miami. This educational all-day event delves into the mechanics of potential biological age reversal, longevity, and more. The biohacking Congress in Miami happens on October 20-22, 2023. Learn how to build a solid health and longevity foundation through scientific knowledge and optimization strategies from 30 biohacking experts and health optimization. There will be transformative performances including music, breathing exercises, and meditation. A LOOK BACK Take a look back at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix event held at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach, celebrating legendary locales and the Mercedes- AMG Petronas Formula One Team; all made possible by Marriott Bonvoy and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC. Tommy Mallet and Evren Ozka, Co-Founders of British sneaker brand Mallet London, visited Miami on their very first trip to the U.S. since launching the brand stateside in 2021 to celebrate this long-awaited occasion. Tommy Mallet (right) SHOPPING From luxury boutiques to one-of- a-kind treasures, you’ll discover something for everyone on your shopping list in The Palm Beaches. Head out to the Palm Beaches for international designers on world-renowned Worth Avenue and vintage finds on Antique Row and much more. Shopping in Palm Beach FOOD For a memorable culinary experience, dine at Memories restaurant located at Catalonia Costa Mujeres Hotel in Punta Sam in Cancun, Mexico. Led by Chef John De Sola, savour a menu that includes the flavors of contemporary cuisine while paying homage to his own Catalan roots. Chef John De Sola Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann at the Faena in Miami, offers exquisite Argentine parrillada including a wide variety of dishes and a captivating dining experience. Join Truluck’s as their skilled mixologists prepare special Summer cocktails like The Backward Glance, Sea Plane, Rum Fashioned, Smoke in the Garden, and Summer Romance. Plus there is an extensive wine selection for your enjoyment. BODY CARE In our latest installment of Body Care, Miami Living brings you Delavie Sciences’ AeoniaTM Line offering skincare innovation co-founded by Harvard Medical School longevity geneticist Dr. David Sinclair and Delavie's President Dr. Kyle Landry, leveraging technology researched by astronauts. Delavie Sciences’ AeoniaTM Line We also bring you Glowup!, a skincare brand led by Emily Trampetti, a licensed esthetician and skin coach who has recently relocated to Florida. With a mission to bring better skincare to all, Glowup! is dedicated to enhancing your skincare experience. Emily Trampetti As always, thank you for taking the time to read Miami Living! From the entire ML team!

Design Miami/ is delighted to announce the gallery list for its inaugural Paris edition. Running October 18 - 22, 2023, with Preview Day on October 17, 2023, the new fair will be held at L’hôtel de Maisons, an 18th century mansion situated in Paris’s cultural district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, home to many of the world’s leading collectible design galleries. As the sister fair to Art Basel, Design Miami/ will present its first Paris edition to coincide with Paris+ par Art Basel, bringing rare and exceptional contemporary and historic collectible design to the established, international cultural capital. Jen Roberts, CEO, Design Miami/, says: “Paris is an international epicenter for great design, and our team is delighted to be activating in the city alongside Paris+ par Art Basel. We look forward to platforming both Parisian galleries, who are welcoming us to their home city, as well as international galleries, who will bring diverse perspectives to Paris at a moment when the city will be alive with creative energy”. Grela Orihuela, Senior VP of Fairs, Design Miami/, says: “We are thrilled that many of the world’s leading collectible design galleries will be exhibiting at our first ever Design Miami/ Paris fair. We look forward to seeing their presentations of historic and contemporary collectible design in dialogue with the L’hôtel de Maisons, and know that the exceptional works will be a perfect fit for this iconic venue”. GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS/ The inaugural Paris fair will showcase a robust program including an international lineup of galleries presenting rare and iconic historic and contemporary design Friedman Benda (New York) will present a selection of works celebrating acclaimed European designers and introducing key voices from the United States. This ensemble of forward-thinking design will provide a capsule of the gallery’s mission to identify and advance key narratives that intersect contemporary design, craft, architecture, visual art, and cutting-edge technological research. Highlights include works by Raphael Navot, Faye Toogood, Samuel Ross, Daniel Arsham, Ron Arad, Carmen D’Apollonio, Misha Kahn, Joris Laarman, Ettore Sottsass, and - shown for the first time to the European public - the seminal Italian designer and architect Andrea Branzi. Taking a focus on exceptional European design, Galerie Eric Phillippe (Paris) will display a selection of noteworthy Swedish, Finnish and French 20th century design pieces. Among the Swedish works on show will be an extremely rare table in gouged Swedish Scots pine with a Kolmård marble top designed by Axel Einar Hjorth. French designers on show include Jean Besnard, Jacques Adnet and Jacques Lenoble, and the presentation will be illuminated by lights by Finnish designer Paavo Tynell. Also focusing on exquisite 20th-century craftsmanship, Moderne Gallery (Philadelphia) will take focus on rare and important furniture and lighting by George Nakashima made between 1936 and 1990. Meanwhile, Galleria Rossella Colombari (Milan) will offer audiences a rediscovery of some of the great Italian architects of the post-war period. Key pieces set to go on show include a unique dining room and a pair of armchairs designed by Fausto Bontempi in the 1960s for Casa Magini (Brescia, Italy). Galerie SCENE OUVERTE (Paris) will offer a presentation of marble, ceramics and tapestry pieces curated in striking contemporary contrast to the opulence and refined elegance of the historic L’hôtel de Maisons, offering a seamless dialogue between past and present. Works by Anna Pesonen, William Coggin, Abel Carcamo, Saraï Delfendahl, Vincent Dubourg, Julien Cedolin, Hervé Langlais, KRJST Studio and Léa Mestres will demonstrate how beautiful design transcends time and bridges generations. Also bridging the gap between past and present, Demisch Danant (New York) will showcase a curated collection of significant and rare mid-century French design - including historical works by Joseph-André Motte, Antoine Philippon and Jacqueline Lecoq - thoughtfully placed in context alongside archival images and documents, and accompanied by contemporary pieces by prolific designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, whose works demonstrate the strong lineage of French design into the 21st century. Another gallery responding to the magnificent interior architecture of L’hôtel de Maisons is Ketabi Bourdet Design (Paris). Taking a focus on black aesthetics, metal, and geometric lines in the recreation of a smoking room, the gallery will showcase how postmodern furniture can coexist with classic architecture and rich decor, exploring a bourgeois and radical side of the 1980s with a selection of minimal designs by Philippe Starck, Paolo Pallucco& Mireille Rivier, Ronald Cecil Sportes, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Rei Kawakubo, Christian Duc and Garouste & Bonetti. GALLERY LIST/ Please see below a list of confirmed galleries for Design Miami/ Paris: Demisch Danant Friedman Benda Galerie Chastel-Maréchal Galerie Downtown François Laffanour Galerie Eric Philippe Galerie Jacques Lacoste Galerie kreo Galerie Meubles et Lumieres Galerie Mitterrand Galerie Patrick Seguin Galerie SCENE OUVERTE Galleria Rossella Colombari Gokelaere & Robinson Hostler Burrows Jousse Entreprise Karry Berreby Ketabi Bourdet Design Lebreton Moderne Gallery Pierre Marie Giraud R & Company Salon 94 Design Sarah Myerscough Gallery Thomas FRITSCH - ARTRIUM Address/ 51 Rue de l’Université 75007 Paris, France Schedule of Events/ Preview Day/ By Invitation Only/ Tuesday, October 17/ Show Days/ Wednesday, October 18 - Sunday, October 22/ By ML Staff. Images Courtesy Of Design Miami

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a grant of $120,000 to further its youth and community outreach initiatives in Broward County, Florida. The grant, provided by The Community Foundation of Broward, will enable FGO to expand its programs and reach a larger audience of young people and community members. Support has been provided by the following Funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: The Knight Foundation Fund Frederick W. Jaqua Fund The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund FGO has a long-standing commitment to fostering a love for opera and the performing arts among youth and diverse communities. With this generous award, FGO will expand the number of schools it serves in Broward County by providing more access to live performances. It will also expand on its SongFest series (now in its seventh year) and engage with underserved areas in Broward County. "We are honored to receive this significant grant, which will allow us to make a greater impact on the lives of young people and the community in Broward County," said Susan T. Danis, General Director and CEO at FGO. "Through our expanded outreach efforts, we aim to inspire a new generation of opera enthusiasts and create meaningful connections with diverse audiences." The grant will support a range of initiatives, including in-school programming, workshops, community events, and performances tailored to engage and educate youth. FGO will collaborate with local schools, community organizations, and artists to create enriching experiences that promote artistic expression and cultural appreciation. One example is the ongoing Opening Night and Dress Rehearsal performances to which Broward-area students are invited. “It was a real pleasure to bring my middle-school chorus students to FGO’s performance of The Barber of Seville,” said Dr. Anthony Zoeller, a teacher at Forest Glen Middle School. “As a teacher at a Title One public school, I was happy for my students to have the opportunity to hear world-class singers and a terrific orchestra in a spectacular venue. I went through the supporting materials with them beforehand to familiarize them with the story, and they dressed up for the long trip down from northern Broward County. Because of travel time, we had to leave the opera a little early, and the students did not want to go. We’ll definitely be back again in the future.” "We believe that access to the arts is essential for the development and well-being of young people,” added Per-Olof Lööf, FGO Board Chair. “The FGO Board is extremely grateful for this generous award from the Community Foundation of Broward." Mr. Lööf is a Fort Lauderdale resident. For more information about the Community Foundation of Broward, please visit www.cfbroward.org. Students and teachers enjoy a dress rehearsal of The Barber of Seville at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Photo by Eric Joannes. By ML Staff. Images Courtesy Of Armour Dance Theatre

As the “Barbie” movie’s worldwide box office passes the billion-dollar mark, and some conservative pundits push back against its popularity with negative hot takes, the phrase “toxic femininity” is back in the news. Some conservative commentators have labeled roles in the recent ‘Barbie’ movie as examples of ‘toxic feminity.’ Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP On National Public Radio’s “It’s Been a Minute,” panelists discussing “Barbie” speculated about whether toxic femininity exists as the opposite of toxic masculinity. Conservative pundits have been less tentative. A Salon story reporting on conservative coverage of the film noted that the right wing has blasted “Barbie” with charges of toxic femininity. On Fox News, conservative panelist Douglas Murray associated the movie – which he admitted to not having seen – with toxic femininity. The phrase toxic femininity has become popular with conservatives in recent years. However, it lacks a consistent definition and is often invoked by people with competing and even opposing views about women, men, and gender. As a scholar of gender and communication, I study how language shapes people’s understanding of themselves, others, and society. Examining how toxic femininity means different things to different people reveals important insights about gender, power, and how language affects our well-being. Toxic masculinity First, it’s important to consider the role the predecessor of toxic femininity – “toxic masculinity” – has played in U.S. culture. Clinical psychologists, academics, and feminist advocates have used the phrase to describe a pernicious form of manhood that has produced widespread harm. Sociologist Michael Flood explains that “the phrase emphasizes the worst aspects of stereotypically masculine attributes,” including “violence, dominance, emotional illiteracy, sexual entitlement, and hostility to femininity.” The term first appeared in the 1980s but recently has gained prominence in public discussion, cited as a contributing factor to mass shootings, the exploitative behavior exposed by the #MeToo movement, and Donald Trump’s persona and political popularity. Toxic masculinity is seen to be one of the contributing factors behind the exploitation exposed in the #MeToo movement.AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,file Not all academics agree that using a gendered label to describe structural oppression is helpful. Cultural studies scholar Carol Harrington warns that labeling the outgrowths of patriarchy and misogyny as toxic masculinity shifts responsibility from harmful social systems to the behavior of “‘backward’ and ‘mentally unwell’ men,” making sexism an individual, rather than societal, problem. Nevertheless, when critics talk about toxic masculinity they are invoking a term that has had a mostly consistent meaning for 30 years. The same cannot be said for toxic femininity. The many faces of toxic femininity Toxic femininity is a relatively new phrase that emerged in response to conversations about toxic masculinity. But people who use the term often have very different motivations for doing so – from altruistic concern about the harms of sexism to indignation over men’s ostensibly dwindling power in society. Given these diverse motivations, people often employ the phrase to mean wildly different things. Psychologists such as Meaghan Rice see toxic femininity as the inverse of toxic masculinity – a constellation of characteristics like meekness, emotionalism, passivity, and self-sacrifice. Writing for “Psychology Today,” psychologist Ritch C. Savin-Williams describes toxic femininity as “internalized misogyny” that encourages women to ignore their “mental or physical needs to sustain those around them.” In other words, toxic femininity is what many people think of as “stereotypical femininity” and is a product of patriarchal gender norms. In this formulation, toxic masculinity and toxic femininity are both fueled by sexism, and each erodes human thriving. A different perspective regards toxic femininity not as a stereotypical notion of gendered weakness but as an inappropriate demonstration of female strength, cunning or privilege. Psychologists Shoba Sreenivasan and Linda E. Weinberger ascribe the trait to professional women who are “hostile to nurturance and cooperation, opting instead for aggression and backstabbing to get ahead.” Similarly, organizational psychologist Nancy Doyle links “toxic femininity at work” to the infamous “Karen” meme, which refers to white women who use their gender and whiteness to manipulate or dominate others. This version presents toxic femininity as a woman’s version of the domineering individualism that drives toxic masculinity. The conservative pundits arrayed against both “Barbie” and feminism, more broadly, are promoting a third definition of toxic femininity. Cultural studies scholar Hannah McCann explains that many men’s rights activists deploy the term as a rebuff of assertions about toxic masculinity, arguing that men are victimized by “toxic” women – not the other way around. Conservative pundits like Matt Walsh and author Jeff Minick invoke toxic femininity to oppose feminism writ large. Right-wing commentator Candace Owens tweeted, “Terms like ‘toxic masculinity’, were created by toxic females.” Carrie Gress, author of “The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Femininity,” takes this perspective to the extreme, asserting that the pro-choice radical feminism of the 1960s ushered in a cultural and spiritual transformation that “led to the toxic femininity that has destroyed the lives of countless men, women, and children.” The right-wing iteration of toxic femininity attempts to neutralize the argument that patriarchy systematically disadvantages women and others who fail to fit traditional gender norms. Toxic femininity is regarded as equally dangerous to men – or even more – as toxic masculinity is to women. Beyond a toxic gender binary In her examination of popular discussions of toxic masculinity and femininity, McCann argues that what makes gender ideology toxic is rigidity – adherence to an inflexible gender binary. Gender norms are scripts that direct people to behave in ways that are consistent with one group’s ideas about what it means to be a woman or a man. Of course, these scripts leave many people feeling uncomfortably constrained – not only the men and women who buck tradition but also nonbinary, transgender, and other people whose existence demonstrates that a gender binary is too simplistic to account for the fullness of human experience. In the end, the movie “Barbie” recognizes the toxicities of both the matriarchal and patriarchal versions of Barbieland. Director Greta Gerwig’s happy ending requires Margot Robbie’s stereotypical Barbie to leave Barbieland for the real world, where she can forge a unique, less toxic, identity. Words by Karrin Vasby Anderson Professor of Communication Studies, Colorado State University. Special thanks to The Conversation.

The Craig Zinn Automotive Group (CZAG) proudly served as the Official Automotive Corporate Sponsor for the 2023 JCC Maccabi Games® & Access. David Posnack Jewish Community Center (DPJCC) hosted over 1,800 Jewish teen athletes, ages 12-16, representing communities from across the world, who came together August 6 –11, 2023, to experience the magic of Maccabi—the historic week celebrated the joy of sport and the power of inclusion through camaraderie and competition. Among the highlights of this unique, Olympic-style Jewish experience will be sports competitions, opening and closing ceremonies; community service; social and cultural events; and opportunities to create Jewish connections, friendships, and memories to last a lifetime. The JCC Association has proudly added Maccabi Access, providing athletes ages 12-18 with intellectual and developmental disabilities a meaningful and inclusive Maccabi experience. The program was a three-day experience held from August 6–8 in conjunction with the 2023 JCC Maccabi Games®. CZAG owner Craig Zinn and his children Zachary Zinn and Brittany Zinn were honored to serve as torchbearers for the games’ opening ceremony on August 6 at the FLA Live Arena in Fort Lauderdale. CZAG’s values are deeply aligned with the mission of the DPJCC, ensuring that their partnership will continue to touch countless lives and make a lasting impact on the South Florida communities. To learn more about the Craig Zinn Automotive Group, please visit czgroup.com, or to learn more about the David Posnack JCC, please visit dpjcc.org. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Craig Zinn Automotive Group

Returning again for another year of thrills and chills, the Headless Horseman Halloween gallops into Gulfstream Park Village on Saturday, October 28. Located on the border of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, Gulfstream Park Village will be transformed into a delightfully eerie Halloween destination that will scare and delight guests of all ages. Taking place from 6:30-9:30 p.m., the Headless Horseman Halloween is open to the public and FREE to attend. In gearing up for the event, Gulfstream Park Village is excited to announce the Spirit Halloween pop up store, set to open August 18 at 600 Silks Run. A destination for Halloween costumes, accessories and decorations, shoppers can start planning their perfect Halloween persona now with an unbeatable selection of classic and contemporary costumes. Guests should arrive early to enjoy all the festivities – if they dare! At 7 p.m. the storied Headless Horseman embarks on a journey to find his missing head with a canter into the Village. Beware as he enters a spooky fog-filled entrance at the Gulfstream Park Walking Ring before haunting guests throughout the evening. Thrills lurk everywhere! From 6:30-8 p.m., Gulfstream Park Village will feature spooktacular themed candy stations throughout the Village, a safe alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating. With approximately 2,000 pounds of candy, each station also features music, lights, and live strolling performers. The ‘Carn-Evil Performers’ will spook and delight near each candy station, with themes including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Creepy Carn-Evil Circus, Zombies, Mummies, Vampires, and scary creatures from Stranger Things. Beginning at 8 p.m. in the Gulfstream Park Walking Ring is the highly anticipated Evil Costume Contest with up to $1,000 in cash up for grabs. Guests can also enjoy a selection of food trucks including Cuban Guys, The Brothers Kitchen Grill and La Nostra Pizza, and bars with refreshments for purchase as well as music, a laser light show, performers and Miami’s own Chris Cruz as the Emcee/DJ. “As South Florida’s top Halloween experience, the Headless Horseman Halloween offers guests of all ages a thrilling way to enjoy the spookiest night of the year,” said Alex Schreer, Director of Experiential Marketing for Gulfstream Park Village. “We are excited to again present this one-of-a-kind event and welcome the community to a safe night of fun.” Families are encouraged to dress in costume as they stroll through Gulfstream Park Village to collect candy and sweets, watch performances, and take photos. Guests tagging their photos with #GulfstreamVillage and posting them on Instagram can enter a contest for a chance to win a Gulfstream Village Gift Card. For more information, please visit: https://gulfstreampark.com/event/entertainment/sleepy-hollow-halloween/ By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Gulfstream Park Village.

El-Ad National Properties, an Elad Group company, is pleased to announce the addition of a professional-level golf and sports simulator to the list of many wellness amenities at ALINA Residences, an award-winning, world-class residential destination in the heart of downtown Boca Raton, Florida. ALINA Residences encompasses three buildings: ALINA 200, completed in March 2021; and ALINA 210 and 220, scheduled for delivery in late 2024. The golf and sports simulator complements ALINA Residences’ many recreational and wellness amenities, including a personalized spa thermal circuit, two rooftop lap pools, state-of-the-art fitness centers, bocce ball court, his and hers spa facilities, outdoor yoga spaces, and more than three acres of private outdoor amenity space. The golf and sports simulator, situated in a studio with several glass walls within the two-story fitness center at ALINA 220, will be available to all ALINA residents. The PGA Tour-licensed simulator, presented by Full Swing, will provide residents with the ability to tune up their game and “practice” on some of the most iconic courses in the world, including TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Beach. Full Swing has been in business for over 30 years and is trusted by the best in the game. Features will include: · New courses, captured in flawless detail with the highest quality graphics, every month · Accuracy and speed of infrared tracking technology with blue light LEDs, to help produce the fastest and most accurate indoor ball-tracking technology in sports. The experience begins with real measurements of golf club and ball data at impact from an overhead ION3 camera, as it records HD video of the clubhead through impact for post-swing analysis with 13 points of data. · With over 13 sports experiences, non-golf enthusiasts can enjoy other simulated sports including Basketball Shootout, Football QB Challenge, Baseball Home Run Derby, hockey, lacrosse, soccer and more. All ALINA residents will also have the ability create their own personalized thermal circuit at ALINA 220, moving through the beginning experience shower, to the sauna, then on to the cool down phase, steam room, and final shower, at their own pace and pleasure. The ALINA 220 spa includes multi-function sauna modes with multiple sauna choices that customize the temperature and humidity levels; as well as the new Cold Mist, Caribbean Rain and Atlantic Ocean shower programs, each varying in length, water temperature, ambient lights and sound. The spa will feature periodic bursts of aroma in the steam room experience, as well as shared co-ed relaxation spaces. “At ALINA Residences, we are focused on offering a selection of high-end wellness amenities for our residents to enjoy, and stay active and engaged,” said Noam Ziv, CEO of El-Ad National Properties. “By complementing our current amenities with the new golf and sports simulator, we are pleased to bring recreation and relaxation options to appeal to various interests.” ALINA Residences is located at 200 SE Mizner Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL 33432. Tucked between the manicured green fairways of The Boca Raton and Southeast Mizner Boulevard, ALINA Residences is within walking distance to downtown Boca Raton’s restaurants, art galleries, salons, and boutiques; as well just a few minutes from the city’s iconic beaches and pristine parks. Construction preview tours are now being scheduled for select units in ALINA 210 and ALINA 220, with preference offered to new purchasers. With more than three decades of high-end development experience in New York City, Los Angeles and Toronto, Elad Group entered the South Florida market several years ago through El-Ad National Properties. By expeditiously seizing opportunities, El-Ad National Properties has earned a sterling reputation as an agile, entrepreneurial company with high expectations and solid values, a philosophy shared by all employees. El-Ad National Properties is leaving its footprint on South Florida with ALINA Residences Boca Raton as its first new development from the ground up project. For more information, please visit www.alinabocaraton.com. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Alina Residences

Currently 25 states and the District of Columbia have medical cannabis programs. On Nov. 8, Arkansas, Florida and North Dakota will vote on medical cannabis ballot initiatives, while Montana will vote on repealing limitations in its existing law. We have no political position on cannabis legalization. We study the cannabis plant, also known as marijuana, and its related chemical compounds. Despite claims that cannabis or its extracts relieve all sorts of maladies, the research has been sparse and the results mixed. At the moment, we just don’t know enough about cannabis or its elements to judge how effective it is as a medicine. What does the available research suggest about medical cannabis, and why do we know so little about it? The jury is still out on marijuana’s medical benefits.Thomas Hawk/Flickr, CC BY-NC What are researchers studying? While some researchers are investigating smoked or vaporized cannabis most are looking at specific cannabis compounds, called cannabinoids. From a research standpoint, cannabis is considered a “dirty” drug because it contains hundreds of compounds with poorly understood effects. That’s why researchers tend to focus on just one cannabinoid at a time. Only two plant-based cannabinoids, THC and cannabidiol, have been studied extensively, but there could be others with medical benefits that we don’t know about yet. THC is the main active component of cannabis. It activates cannabinoid receptors in the brain, causing the “high” associated with cannabis, as well as in the liver, and other parts of the body. The only FDA-approved cannabinoids that doctors can legally prescribe are both lab produced drugs similar to THC. They are prescribed to increase appetite and prevent wasting caused by cancer or AIDS. Cannabidiol (also called CBD), on the other hand, doesn’t interact with cannabinoid receptors. It doesn’t cause a high. Seventeen states have passed laws allowing access to CBD for people with certain medical conditions. Our bodies also produce cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. Researchers are creating new drugs that alter their function, to better understand how cannabinoid receptors work. The goal of these studies is to discover treatments that can use the body’s own cannabinoids to treat conditions such as chronic pain and epilepsy, instead of using cannabis itself. Cannabis is promoted as a treatment for many medical conditions. We’ll take a look at two, chronic pain and epilepsy, to illustrate what we actually know about its medical benefits. Is it a chronic pain treatment? Research suggests that some people with chronic pain self-medicate with cannabis. However, there is limited human research on whether cannabis or cannabinoids effectively reduce chronic pain. Research in people suggest that certain conditions, such as chronic pain caused by nerve injury, may respond to smoked or vaporized cannabis, as well as an FDA-approved THC drug. But, most of these studies rely on subjective self-reported pain ratings, a significant limitation. Only a few controlled clinical trials have been run, so we can’t yet conclude whether cannabis is an effective pain treatment. An alternative research approach focuses on drug combination therapies, where an experimental cannabinoid drug is combined with an existing drug. For instance, a recent study in mice combined a low dose of a THC-like drug with an aspirin-like drug. The combination blocked nerve-related pain better than either drug alone. In theory, the advantage to combination drug therapies is that less of each drug is needed, and side effects are reduced. In addition, some people may respond better to one drug ingredient than the other, so the drug combination may work for more people. Similar studies have not yet been run in people. Well-designed epilepsy studies are badly needed Despite some sensational news stories and widespread speculation on the internet, the use of cannabis to reduce epileptic seizures is supported more by research in rodents than in people. In people the evidence is much less clear. There are many anecdotes and surveys about the positive effects of cannabis flowers or extracts for treating epilepsy. But these aren’t the same thing as well-controlled clinical trials, which can tell us which types of seizure, if any, respond positively to cannabinoids and give us stronger predictions about how most people respond. While CBD has gained interest as a potential treatment for seizures in people, the physiological link between the two is unknown. As with chronic pain, the few clinical studies have been done included very few patients. Studies of larger groups of people can tell us whether only some patients respond positively to CBD. We also need to know more about the cannabinoid receptors in the brain and body, what systems they regulate, and how they could be influenced by CBD. For instance, CBD may interact with anti-epileptic drugs in ways we are still learning about. It may also have different effects in a developing brain than in an adult brain. Caution is particularly urged when seeking to medicate children with CBD or cannabis products. A jar of medical marijuana.David McNew/Reuters Cannabis research is hard Well-designed studies are the most effective way for us to understand what medical benefits cannabis may have. But research on cannabis or cannabinoids is particularly difficult. Cannabis and its related compounds, THC and CBD, are on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which is for drugs with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse” and includes Ecstasy and heroin. In order to study cannabis, a researcher must first request permission at the state and federal level. This is followed by a lengthy federal review process involving inspections to ensure high security and detailed record-keeping. In our labs, even the very small amounts of cannabinoids we need to conduct research in mice are highly scrutinized. This regulatory burden discourages many researchers. Designing studies can also be a challenge. Many are based on users’ memories of their symptoms and how much cannabis they use. Bias is a limitation of any study that includes self-reports. Furthermore, laboratory-based studies usually include only moderate to heavy users, who are likely to have formed some tolerance to marijuana’s effects and may not reflect the general population. These studies are also limited by using whole cannabis, which contains many cannabinoids, most of which are poorly understood. Placebo trials can be a challenge because the euphoria associated with cannabis makes it easy to identify, especially at high THC doses. People know when they are high. Another type of bias, called expectancy bias, is a particular issue with cannabis research. This is the idea that we tend to experience what we expect, based on our previous knowledge. For example, people report feeling more alert after drinking what they are told is regular coffee, even if it is actually decaffeinated. Similarly, research participants may report pain relief after ingesting cannabis, because they believe that cannabis relieves pain. The best way to overcome expectancy effects is with a balanced placebo design, in which participants are told that they are taking a placebo or varying cannabis dose, regardless of what they actually receive. Studies should also include objective, biological measures, such as blood levels of THC or CBD, or physiological and sensory measures routinely used in other areas of biomedical research. At the moment, few do this, prioritizing self-reported measures instead. Cannabis isn’t without risks Abuse potential is a concern with any drug that affects the brain, and cannabinoids are no exception. Cannabis is somewhat similar to tobacco, in that some people have great difficulty quitting. And like tobacco, cannabis is a natural product that has been selectively bred to have strong effects on the brain and is not without risk. Although many cannabis users are able to stop using the drug without problem, 2-6 percent of users have difficulty quitting. Repeated use, despite the desire to decrease or stop using, is known as cannabis use disorder. As more states more states pass medical cannabis or recreational cannabis laws, the number of people with some degree of cannabis use disorder is also likely to increase. It is too soon to say for certain that the potential benefits of cannabis outweigh the risks. But with restrictions to cannabis (and cannabidiol) loosening at the state level, research is badly needed to get the facts in order. By Steven KinseyAssistant Professor of Psychology, West Virginia University and Divya RameshResearch Associate, University of Connecticut. Special thanks to The Conversation. Donate today. Top image by Girl with red hat/Unsplash