The Trump administration says pharmaceutical companies have agreed to slash the Medicare prices for 15 prescription drugs after months of negotiations and that it's expected to produce billions in savings for older adults. But the net prices unveiled Tuesday aren't what Medicare recipients will pay at their pharmacy counters because those final amounts will depend on each individual's plan and how much they spend annually on prescriptions. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touted the deals as part of efforts to address affordability concerns. The negotiation program is mandated by law and began under the Biden administration.

IV therapy clinics are springing up around the country, touting quick ways to recover from a hangover or a hard workout. But doctors and regulators preach caution before plunging into a visit. The service has been on a growth spurt since the COVID-19 pandemic, offering drips that also aim to boost energy levels or immune systems or deal with things like joint pain. Regulators worry about who delivers the treatments, the source of any pharmaceuticals used and how the services are provided. Customers should come prepared to ask questions before they get connected.

Products with delta-8 THC, so-called "magic mushrooms," and other legal but less-regulated compounds are easy for consumers to get their hands on. But just because it's on a store shelf doesn't mean it's safe — or that the ingredients are clear. Many states have banned or tried to ban delta-8. Experts say its important to do careful research and talk to a doctor before taking any substances. The best option is to only take drugs from a legal and licensed source to avoid getting sick or worse.

Erin Fox has tracked drug shortages for more than 20 years, and she sees no easy solutions for what has become a record run. The University of Utah Drug Information Service says total active shortages hit an all-time high of 323 earlier this year. That's up 85% from a 10-year low of 174, at the end of 2017. There have been 48 new shortages recorded through March. Fox is associate chief pharmacy officer at University of Utah Health. She sees some positive news developing, thanks to growing interest from Congress in the subject.

The Justice Department has formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift in generations of U.S. drug policy. A proposed rule sent Thursday to the federal register recognizes medical uses of cannabis and acknowledges it has less potential for abuse than some of the most dangerous drugs. The plan signed by Attorney General Merrick Garland wouldn't legalize marijuana outright for recreational use. The Drug Enforcement Administration will take public comment on the proposal to move marijuana from its classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. It moves pot to Schedule III, alongside some anabolic steroids. The U.S. Cannabis Council trade group applauds the proposed change.

President Joe Biden has pardoned six people who've served out sentences after convictions on a murder charge and drug- and alcohol-related crimes. Those granted pardons include an 80-year-old Ohio woman convicted of killing her abusive husband about a half-century ago and an Arizona man who pleaded guilty to using a telephone for a cocaine transaction in the 1970s. The other people pardoned are from South Carolina, Florida and California. The pardons mean the criminal record of the crimes is purged. The White House said Friday the pardons reflect Biden's view people deserve a second chance. The Democratic president months ago pardoned thousands of people convicted of "simple possession" of marijuana under federal law.