☕ Trippy

Why are so many Americans getting high? August 28, 2023 [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop]( [Morning Brew]( TOGETHER WITH [AT&T Connected Car]( Good morning. For decades, Central New Jersey residents have languished in the liminal space between the youse guys of South Jersey and the strip-mall bagel joints of North Jersey. But now, the state is finally telling its neglected middle child: “You exist.” Last week, NJ Gov. Phil Murphy literally put Central Jersey on the map by ordering the state’s tourism department to redraw its map to include the region and promote it in all marketing campaigns. Glad you’re finally getting the recognition you deserve, Central Jersey. Round of Sanchezes on me at Hoagie Haven. —Neal Freyman MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE Nasdaq 13,590.65 +30.84% S&P 4,405.71 +15.21% Dow 34,346.90 +3.65% 10-Year 4.252% +37.2 bps Bitcoin $25,993.49 +57.08% Oil $80.07 +4.08% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 2:00am ET. [Here's what these numbers mean.]( - Markets: Investors weren’t fazed by Jerome Powell’s warning in Jackson Hole that he could raise interest rates even more, sending the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to their first weekly gain in three weeks. But all this chatter around higher rates has pushed US bond yields to decade-plus highs, which has typically [been a drag]( on stocks.  HEALTH [Americans love getting high]( [Dave scene where Lil Dicky says ]( Dave/FX via Giphy Experiencing the world without chemically altering your brain is going out of style. The use of cannabis and psychedelic drugs among US adults hit [all-time highs]( last year, according to the annual Monitoring the Future study from the University of Michigan. The milestone—decades in the making—could be fueled by several factors: loosened laws around these substances, changing public perception of hallucinogens, and more Americans self-medicating for mental health issues. Here are the cannabis stats you should write down before you forget them. - 44% of young adults 19–30 and 28% of adults 35–50 reported using marijuana in the prior 12 months, a record high for each age group. - And more than 11% of young adults said they used cannabis on at least 20 of the prior 30 days, double the share from a decade ago. Psychedelic use is also up dramatically. About 8% of young adults said they used mind-altering drugs like MDMA and psilocybin (shrooms) in the prior 12 months, more than double the rate from 2012. Silicon Valley’s drugs of choice Nowhere is the rise of psychedelics more pronounced than in Silicon Valley, where microdosing has become a [cornerstone of corporate culture]( according to the WSJ. Tech elites have swapped out Don Draper’s old fashioned for ketamine, LSD, and magic mushrooms to alleviate anxiety or help them think of a revolutionary business idea. - Elon Musk has taken ketamine, Google co-founder Sergey Brin sometimes does shrooms, and the major VC firm Founders Fund has thrown psychedelics-infused parties, per the WSJ. But getting high on the job isn’t limited to the tech industry: The number of American workers testing positive for marijuana hit a [25-year record]( last year, according to an annual survey from Quest Diagnostics. Big picture: More than two-thirds of states allow medical or recreational use of cannabis, and a [flurry of medical studies]( into psychedelics has shown that, in controlled settings, they can be beneficial for mental illnesses. There’s growing recognition in the scientific community that these drugs have untapped potential to help people, but experts also warn they carry substantial risks that need to be studied more.   TOGETHER WITH AT&T CONNECTED CAR [Tailgate to go]( [AT&T Connected Car]( Burgers and dogs are sizzling on the grill, seating’s all set for viewing perfection, and you’re tuned in to pregame warm-ups from the comfort of your parking lot haven. Best of all, you’re not contending with dodgy stadium Wi-Fi. Instead, you’ve turned your car into your own personal, reliable [Wi-Fi hotspot with AT&T In-car Wi-Fi®](. That’s right: You can use your AT&T In-car Wi-Fi® to [connect up to 10 devices]( while in proximity to your vehicle. Talk about a powerful connection—and quite the lifesaver when Wi-Fi conks out elsewhere. Create your ideal tailgate on the network that covers more roads than any other carrier.* [Stream, browse, and share from pretty much anywhere](. WORLD [Tour de headlines](#) [Tropical Storm Idalia]NOAA Idalia could hit Florida as a powerful hurricane. The west coast of Florida is warily eying Tropical Storm Idalia, which meteorologists predict will grow into a hurricane and [lash the state’s Gulf Coast]( with dangerous winds and rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Idalia is currently projected to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, but forecasters are concerned it could rapidly intensify due to record-high ocean temperatures. This Atlantic hurricane season has been unusually active, recording 10 storms about a month earlier than typical, per the Hurricane Center. A racist gunman killed three Black people at a dollar store. A white man in his 20s killed two men and a woman at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, FL, in what authorities described as a [racist crime](. The gunman had written manifestos detailing his hatred toward Black people and had drawn swastikas on the two firearms he brought with him into the store. The Jacksonville shooting happened two days before the 60th anniversary (today) of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. Thousands of people traveled to the National Mall to mark the pivotal civil rights event. Bob Barker died. The longtime Price is Right host who kept us company when we were home sick from school [died at 99]( his publicist said. You know about his easygoing demeanor and that [famous Happy Gilmore scene]( but you may not know about his activist side: He had the show only give away American-made cars during the Gulf War in 1991, and as an influential animal rights advocate, banned fur coats as prizes. The Los Angeles PETA office is named the Bob Barker Building. SPORTS [Unwanted soccer kiss sparks Spain’s #MeToo moment]( [Players of Atletico de Madrid and AC MIlan pose with a message in support of Jennifer Hermoso ]( Angel Martinez—AC Milan/AC Milan via Getty Images #SeAcabó, Spanish for “It’s over,” is trending across Spanish social media after a nonconsensual kiss following its women’s World Cup win has [spiraled]( into a broader conversation about women’s equality in the country. The latest: FIFA suspended Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for 90 days after he grabbed forward Jenni Hermoso’s head and kissed her on the lips during the event’s victory ceremony. Rubiales claims Hermoso gave him consent but Hermoso denied that conversation took place and said she was “the victim of an aggression.” A defiant Rubiales refused to resign, prompting the World Cup champions to declare they would not play again until he was removed from his position. Meanwhile, politicians across political lines and the team’s [corporate sponsors]( voiced support for Hermoso and condemned Rubiales’s actions. Big picture: Through the #SeAcabó hashtag, women in Spain are using the controversy to spotlight their mistreatment by men that’s never made public. Spain’s acting equality minister called the kiss a “form of sexual violence that we women suffer on a daily basis and until now has been invisible.” And Spanish player Misa Rodríguez shared a cartoon that depicts a girl asking her grandmother, “Grandma, tell me about how your team won the World Cup.” The grandmother replies, “We didn’t just win the World Cup, little one. We won so much more.”   CALENDAR [The week ahead](#) [US Open Tennis]Al Bello/Getty Images The US Open begins today: Tennis hits the bright lights of NYC for its final major of the year. With Serena Williams and Roger Federer retired, the budding rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic has become the most gripping storyline in the sport. Plus, American Coco Gauff is [playing lights-out](. See you in Queens. A high-stakes US trip to China: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo flew to China over the weekend for a four-day trip. While there, she’ll try to strike the [tricky balance]( between promoting US–China business ties and defending widespread trade restrictions her department has slapped on China in the name of national security. Fun fact: Raimondo started the first venture capital fund in Rhode Island before becoming the state’s governor. Jobs, inflation in focus: Jerome Powell will be poring over fresh inflation data (Thursday) and the August jobs report (Friday) to guide his next interest rate move. And we’re in stoppage time of earnings season, but a few companies, including Salesforce, Lululemon, and Dollar General, still have to report. Everything else… - College football kicks off for real with a full slate of games on Saturday. - September begins on Friday, and Billie Joe Armstrong will go to sleep. - But before that, August’s [second supermoon]( will be visible this week. TOGETHER WITH INDACLOUD [Indacloud]( Get twice the THC. Find your happy place with 50% off the strongest *legal* THC on the internet. [Indacloud]( delivers cannabis products right to your door in under 5 days with totally free shipping. Save 50% with buy one, get one free today using code [DOUBLEBREW](. GRAB BAG [Key performance indicators](#) [Bottles of French wine]Philippe Lopez/AFP via Getty Images Stat: France is about to spend about $216 million destroying [nearly 80 million gallons]( of surplus wine, enough liquid to fill more than 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools, the Washington Post reported. The problem is that higher production costs and shrinking demand for vin have made it impossible for French wineries to sell their spiked grape juice for a profit, even if it does have tantalizing hints of oak and leather. The average French citizen drinks about 40 liters of wine per year, compared to 136 liters in 1926. Quote: “I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own, and I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation. That sh*t’s gotta stop.” Oliver Anthony, the previously unknown singer who rose to fame with his anti-elite anthem “Rich Men North of Richmond,” said he was [aggravated]( by Republicans claiming him as one of their own. He also called it “funny” that his song was played at the GOP’s first presidential debate last week because the song “is written about the people on that stage.” Anthony previously said he sits “pretty dead center down the aisle” politically and thinks both parties have flaws. Read: How social science explains why tribalism took over our politics. ([Wall Street Journal]( NEWS [What else is brewing](#) - [Three US Marines]( were killed in a plane crash during a training exercise off the coast of Australia. - [Zillow]( is dangling a 1% down payment loan to homebuyers feeling squeezed by the affordability crisis. - [SpaceX]( launched its 11th crewed mission. This one took four astronauts to the International Space Station. - [Simone Biles]( won her eighth US Championship in gymnastics yesterday, an entire decade after her first title. RECS [Monday to-do list image] Look: A showcase of [unusual and interesting manuals](. Life tips: The [best advice]( from every profession. Guess: [Find the mystery animal]( before your 20 questions are up. Remember: The [DeathList 2023]( (a little morbid but intriguing). Excel hacks: On September 13, we are partnering with Miss Excel to bring you a free, live one-hour Excel class. Learn all the hidden Excel hacks you can use daily, from pivot tables to data cleaning. [Register today](. Intensify intimacy: Presenting [MysteryVibe’s Crescendo 2]( a doctor-recommended, FDA-registered vibrator. Clinically proven to improve arousal and alleviate dryness, it bends to your needs and brings home awards. [Here’s 25% off—you’re welcome]( *A message from our sponsor. GAMES [The puzzle section](#) Turntable: Today’s puzzle is X-tra challenging because every word must contain the letter “x.” [Play it here](. Fruit trivia Here’s a simple question: What is the most popular fresh fruit in the US? SHARE THE BREW [Share Morning Brew]( with your friends, acquire free Brew swag, and then acquire more friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag. We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=a905682a]( FROM THE CREW [Learn how to build the best teams]( [ ]( This is your last chance to sign up for Building High-Performance Teams, our leadership course that kicks off today. Learn how to get your team on the same page and set everyone up for success. [Register now](. ANSWER Bananas. And they’re incredibly popular around the world, too, with 100 billion of them consumed each year. This [Lit Hub article]( is a great deep-dive into the bananas world of bananas. Word of the Day Today’s Word of the Day is: liminal (right at the top!), meaning “barely perceptible or capable of eliciting a response.” Thanks to Jay from Reno, NV, who suggested it. [Submit another Word of the Day here](. ✢ A Note From AT&T Connected Car Requires eligible car and wireless service plan. Additional restrictions apply. *Based on independent third-party data. Written by [Neal Freyman]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. Take The Brew to work - Marketers: [Marketing Brew]( - Corporate: [CFO Brew](  [HR Brew]( - Tech: [IT Brew](  [Tech Brew]( - Retailers: [Retail Brew]( - Healthcare: [Healthcare Brew]( Get smarter in just 5 minutes - Money & Career: [Money Scoop](  [Money With Katie](  [Raise]( Business education without the BS - Programs in [Business Essentials]( [Analytics]( and [Leadership]( Interested in podcasts? - Check out ours [here]( [ADVERTISE]( // [CAREERS]( // [SHOP]( // [FAQ]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here](. Please Note: We've recently updated our Privacy Policy. View our privacy policy [here](. Copyright © 2023 Morning Brew. All rights reserved. 22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011