Research practice
Methodology
Every report includes its own methodology and limitations block, and every measurement traces to a named source. The principles below govern the publication as a whole.
Sources, by hierarchy
Reports begin with primary legal texts, regulator publications and public-health bodies wherever those sources can answer the question. Peer-reviewed research follows for health outcomes and scientific interpretation. Established monitoring organisations and clearly identified first-party materials are used only for the narrower claims they can support. Source type and provenance remain visible so different forms of evidence are not treated as interchangeable.
Direct measurement
Where the Observatory measures directly, the report states what was counted, the sample used, the observation date and the rule applied. Downloadable rows and source hashes are provided where they form part of the result.
Question-led synthesis
Each report begins with one question and a bounded short answer. Key findings, supporting analysis, limitations, frequently asked questions and sources follow in a consistent order.
Legal questions separated by route
“Legal” is not treated as one universal status. Sale, possession, domestic online ordering, personal import by parcel and traveller import may be governed by different rules. Where a report discusses law or availability, it states the route and jurisdiction being described and directs readers to current official requirements.
Comparison is not causation
Reports use comparative language only as far as the evidence permits. An observed association, the absence of smoke or a change occurring alongside another event does not by itself establish cause. When the evidence supports plausibility rather than a measured outcome, the wording remains explicitly qualified.
Uncertainty, disclosed
Evidence gaps, contested classifications, product variation and limits in long-term data are carried into the short answer and conclusion. The publication does not convert an unresolved question into a definitive claim for clarity or promotion.