Welcome to your Friday edition of The Exercise Doc!

Happy Friday, friends!

I’m really glad you’re here. If your Holidays felt long, busy, or just a little too full, take a breath—this newsletter is your excuse to slow down for a few minutes and do something good for your health (and maybe your mood too). ☕️

This week, we’re tackling two topics that spark a lot of questions and even more opinions.

First up is the truth about cannabis. It seems like every week there’s a headline saying cannabis is either a miracle cure or the worst thing ever. As usual, the real answer lives somewhere in the middle. We’ll talk about what the science actually says, what benefits might be real, what risks people often forget about, and who should be extra cautious. No hype. No scare tactics. Just facts you can use.

Next, we settle a classic gym debate: what’s better—free weights, machines, resistance bands, or just your own body weight? If you’ve ever stood in a gym wondering where to start (or if the machine you’re using is judging you), this one’s for you. We’ll break down the pros and cons of each option and help you figure out what works best for you, not the fittest person on Instagram.

You’ll also find this week’s Tidbits, where I share a few quick, interesting health nuggets you can read in under a minute. Think of them as the “fun facts” of healthy living—short, useful, and easy to remember.

As always, this newsletter isn’t a one-way street. I’d love to hear from you. What health topics are you curious about right now? Something confusing? Something you’ve heard conflicting advice on? Hit reply and let me know. There’s a very good chance your question becomes a future article.

Thanks for spending part of your Friday with me. If you enjoy the newsletter, feel free to share it with a friend—good health advice is even better when passed around.

Have a great weekend,

Doc Mike

Cannabis may help a few medical problems, like certain childhood seizures, chemotherapy nausea, and appetite loss from HIV/AIDS. But a large medical review found weak or mixed evidence for many popular uses like insomnia and short-term pain, and it highlighted real risks like addiction, mental health problems, and heart concerns.

If you’ve ever walked into a gym or looked at home exercise equipment, you may have wondered which type of strength training is best. Should you use dumbbells and barbells? Weight machines? Elastic exercise bands? Or does it even matter?