Welcome to the Drug Issue of The Highlight

Drugs are a perennial American preoccupation, from the war on illicit ones to our massive pharmaceutical industry. This month, Vox reporters looked into the pressing drug questions of the moment: What happens when weed replaces alcohol? Given high costs and various medication shortages, how much do expiration dates matter? What is pink cocaine? We even have an interview with a biohacking anarchist about DIY medicine, for The Highlight podcast.

There’s plenty of non-drug stuff for you to enjoy too: pieces on how to reconcile after a family estrangement and how to rewild your own backyard, recommendations from Vox’s book critic, and an exploration of why nostalgia won’t get us out of the loneliness epidemic.

Land of the free, home of the blazed.

By Marin Cogan

It’s not cocaine, but it can be just about anything else — except a good idea.

By Celia Ford

That Tylenol’s shelf life is longer than you think.

By Keren Landman, MD

DMT, “the nuclear bomb of the psychedelic family,” explained.

By Oshan Jarow

Pricey, legal weed is great news — for the black market.

By Lavanya Ramanathan

Medicine shouldn’t be so hard to access — so the Four Thieves Vinegar Collective is helping people make their own.

By Jorge Just

There are practical, everyday ways to get out of your head and into community.

By Allie Volpe

One wildflower at a time.

By Cat Willett

Split-ticket voting, the Senate, down-ballot issues, and more.

By Eric Levitz and Christian Paz

Reconnecting with someone you’ve cut ties with isn’t easy — but it can be done.

By Fortesa Latifi

In November’s month’s edition of Ask a Book Critic, novels to scratch the surrealist itch, lesbian necromancers in space, and more.

By Constance Grady