Cannabis, according to the United Nations, continues to be “the most widely cultivated, produced, trafficked and consumed drug worldwide.” And yet, when it comes to medical marijuana, there is still uncertainty about its benefits. That’s because scientific trials are difficult when it’s still an illegal drug on the federal level. Thorsten Rudroff of Colorado State University is studying people with multiple sclerosis who are already using medical cannabis to investigate what symptoms the drug can effectively treat. His preliminary results are promising.

Progressives have scored many victories in recent years. But with Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court all soon to be controlled by conservatives, how can progressives protect their wins while making inroads elsewhere? Well, for a start, they should decide what a progressive actually is, argues Boston College’s Sandra Waddock. To do so, they should learn from their conservative rivals, who have been remarkably effective at articulating what they stand for, while progressives resemble a “bucket of crabs.”