Psychoactive Drugs

New Jersey Gets First Medical Marijuana Dispensary. New York Still Weighing "Risks"

Today, about 20 medical marijuana patients will meet with staff at the Greenleaf Compassion Center, New Jersey's first medical marijuana facility to open its doors since the state passed a law legalizing prescription pot in 2010.While medical weed is now legal in the Garden State -- as we've chronic ... More >>

New Jersey Gives the "OK" for First Medical Marijuana Dispensary. New York: Still "Studying."

The New Jersey Department of Health yesterday issued the first permit to a medical marijuana dispensary, which grants it permission to start distributing marijuana to state residents who qualify for prescription pot.New York, however -- which Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared the leader of "progres ... More >>

The House I Live In Pushes the Straight Dope

Powerful voices (but not the director's) explain the failed war on drugs

New York's "Public View" Marijuana Law Ranked "Dumbest Drug Law" In America

Of all the ineffective, unfair and idiotic drug laws out there, New York's "public view" marijuana law officially is the dumbest -- according to a recent ranking of idiotic drug laws, anyway.We've been covering the debate over the controversial law for several months. It essentially says that having ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Denver Moves Toward Prescription Pot Ad Ban

Yesterday proved difficult for Denver's prescription pot shops. The City Council voted 13-0 to ban outdoor advertising for medical marijuana, The Associated Press reports. What this means? Though the measure needs one more vote next week, it's likely to pass, so dispensaries would no longer be pe ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Will Denver Ban Prescription Pot Ads?

Though the citizens of Colorado generally oppose President Barack Obama's pressure on prescription pot ops, the City of Denver will soon weigh whether to ban medical marijuana ads. As detailed by the Denver Post, the City Council will discuss tonight a proposed prohibition on "billboard, bus-bench ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Montana Cannabis Under Fire From Feds

The Department of Justice's crackdown on California medical marijuana might be the most well known in the country, but it's worth paying attention to legal developments in Montana, where U.S. Attorneys are also doing battle with dispensaries. As detailed by the Helena Independent Record, federal pr ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: New Jersey Registers Prescription Pot Patients

Despite previous delays in the development of its medical marijuana program, New Jersey is now moving to implement it -- and has started signing up patients and caregivers. Here's how it works: Prescription pot participants have to get a rec from one of the 150 docs in the program, according to The ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Solana Beach To Weigh Prescription Pot

Even though Los Angeles is being a total buzzkill when it comes to curative bud, some Californians still seem pretty open to the idea of permitting prescription pot. And they happen to live in Solana Beach. On Nov. 6, Solana Beach citizens will vote on whether to permit medical marijuana dispensar ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Maine Establishes Prescription Pot Guidlines

In Maine, state regulators are trying to come up with new ways to manage medical marijuana. Maine health officials want to make a prescription pot patient-monitoring program optional. Now, users must participate in a state ID program that keeps track of them, according to The Associated Press.

Medical Marijuana: Los Angeles Bans Prescription Pot Shops

After Los Angeles' prescription pot supporters and opponents took to City Hall to do verbal battle about the legal future of medical marijuana dispensaries, the L.A. City Council decided Tuesday night to ban prescription pot shops. The unanimous vote requires that all 762 dispensaries close immedia ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Ron Paul Pushes Prescription Pot Legislation

As the federal crackdown on California cannabis continues, Rep. Ron Paul is actively backing legislative protections for prescription pot users. Paul is part of the bipartisan effort spearheaded by Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) On Tuesday, Farr introduced the Truth in Trials Act, according to The Hil ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Oakland Rallies Behind Harborside Health Center

Shortly after the Feds announced their campaign against Harborside Health Center -- the nation's largest and most famous medical marijuana dispensary -- Oakland city officials are rallying behind the prescription pot shop, warning that the cannabis crackdown would have critical economic and social c ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Can Weed Help You Get Food Stamps?

In Oregon, some medical marijuana users can deduct the cost of prescription pot from their income to qualify for food stamps, according to The Associated Press. How does this work?

Medical Marijuana: Can Long Beach Keep Lighting Up?

Last week, the Voice brought you news that Long Beach was weighing more restrictions on medical marijuana dispensaries. The city's move is in keeping with many California municipalities, which have cracked down on prescription pot because of continued federal flak. Now, however, comes word that ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: No Prescription Pot in New Hampshire

Last week, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch vetoed a medical marijuana measure. He claimed that the proposed law -- which would let minors use prescription pot -- could: "downplay the perceived risk of use of this drug and will lead to increased adolescent use." Supporters of the bill had hoped that ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: California Weed Regulation Put On Hold

It looks like one legislator's attempt to reform California's medical marijuana regulations at the state level has been postponed at least one year. As our sister paper, the San Francisco Weekly, explains, California's dispensaries are "currently overseen by only local law, creating a patchwork o ... More >>

Failed War On Drugs Contributing To AIDS Epidemic: Report

The Global Commission on Drug Policy released a report this afternoon that shows how the failed "war on drugs" is contributing to the AIDS epidemic amongst intravenous drug users and their sexual partners (you can review the entire report below).The Commission, which is made up of the who's who of f ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: California City Bans Prescription Pot Shops

Some new developments worth noting in the world of weed policy: San Leandro, Calif., has banned medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities for a year, according to multiple media reports. The San Leandro decision stems from disagreement between city council members, largely because o ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Doesn't Prompt Kids To Smoke Pot, Study Finds

More kids are using pot, but that doesn't have anything to do with medical marijuana legalization, according to a just released study. Researchers from the University of Colorado Denver looked at data from 1993 to 2009 and found that there's no evidence linking prescription pot to increased hard or ... More >>

Reefer Roundup: Feds Arrest Six, Target Medical Marijuana Clinics' Bank Accounts

The Voice reported yesterday that the U.S. Department of Justice, backed by Barack Obama's administration, has started to crackdown on landlords who lease space to medical marijuana dispensaries -- and is threatening them with eviction. Now, news reports out of California indicate that federal auth ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Assembly -- But Don't Get Your Hopes Up, New York

A bill that would legalize medical marijuana in New York passed in the Assembly yesterday, but don't go making up any ailments that qualify you for a weed prescription just yet; Governor Buzz Kill ain't gonna sign it -- even if it does find its way to his desk.The bill would legalize prescription we ... More >>

Cuomo's Plan To Decriminalize "Public View" Marijuana Doesn't Make Him A Hero -- It Makes Him Bipolar

Yesterday, law enforcement officials and state lawmakers got in line to pucker up to the rump of Governor Andrew Cuomo because of his plan to decriminalize "public view" marijuana possession. Cuomo's move is being heralded as a civil rights victory for young Hispanic and African-American New Yorkers ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Ban Doesn't Hurt Disabled, Court Says

More weed news from the West Coast: A federal court in California just ruled 2-1 that cities can ban medical marijuana dispensaries -- and that doing so doesn't violate the Americans With Disabilities Act. As detailed by the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco's Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appea ... More >>

Pot Politics: Here's How Medical Marijuana Can Influence Elections

As the medical marijuana debate continues in New York, there's a bit of news from the West Coast that might interest vote-seeking Empire State pols: Looks like prescription pot can make or break a candidate.

Drug Policy Advocates: Cameron Douglas (Son Of Actor Michael Douglas) Doesn't Need More Prison Time, He Needs Treatment

In 2010, Cameron Douglas, the son of actor Michael Douglas, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he was in possession of heroin and was dealing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine out of a New York hotel room.Last year, while in prison, Douglas, 33 -- ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries In Rhode Island Could Be Open By Fall. New York Still Weighing The "Risks"

The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a revised bill yesterday that paves the way for the opening of three medical marijuana dispensaries that likely will be open by fall. Governor Andrew Cuomo's "progressive" New York, however, is still assessing the "risks" of legalizing prescription po ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Bill Headed For Another Assembly Vote (Calm Down, Stoners -- You're Not Getting Prescription Pot)

A bill that would legalize medical marijuana in New York has cleared the Health Committee and is headed to the Codes Committee where it will likely be approved and sent to the full Assembly for a vote.Don't get too excited, though, stoners -- even if the bill does pass in the Assembly (which it like ... More >>

New York's One Step Closer To Making Fake Weed More Illegal Than Real Weed

The New York State Senate today passed a bill that would make the possession and sale of fake marijuana a crime in the Empire State -- which would make the possession of fake marijuana more illegal than possession of real marijuana.Real marijuana, as we've mentioned in prior posts about the proposed ... More >>

Assembly Members Want To Criminalize Fake Weed (Real Weed Still De-Criminalized In New York)

Members of the New York state Assembly want to criminalize fake marijuana that's often sold at head shops and tobacco stores -- which seems hilarious considering real marijuana has been de-criminalized in the Empire State since 1977.Governor Andrew Cuomo already has banned synthetic marijuana (meani ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Growing In New Jersey. Cuomo's "Progressive" New York: Not So Much

Things just got a little greener in the Garden State.The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services issued a permit to Montclair-based Greenleaf Compassion Center yesterday to begin growing medical marijuana. It's the first "compassion club" in New Jersey to receive a permit since the state ... More >>

Medical Marijuana: Is Andrew Cuomo A Weed-Bully Or Is "Cuomo 2016" On His Mind?

As we reported yesterday, a bill will soon be introduced into the state Legislature that would legalize medical marijuana in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo, however, says he won't sign the bill -- despite overwhelming public support for prescription pot. It seems as though maybe -- just maybe -- th ... More >>

Andrew Cuomo's Saying Nope To Medical Dope Actually Is "Encouraging" To Prescription Pot Advocates

An upcoming bill in the New York Legislature that would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes is getting no love from New York's gov -- Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that he still thinks the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to medical marijuana and that he wouldn't support the bill...this year ... More >>

Marijuana Has No Accepted Medical Use, DEA Decrees

​The feds have spoken: marijuana has no legitimate medical use and will continue to be classified as a hard drug. This decision comes nine years after medical pot advocates asked the federal government to reclassify marijuana to reflect growing evidence that it has beneficial medical properties. D ... More >>

Richard Branson and Friends Gathering Tomorrow in NYC For Drug Legalization

Very powerful man​Tomorrow at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, Virgin boss and billionaire Richard Branson will appear with former presidents from Brazil, Switzerland and Columbia, together representing the Global Commission on Drug Policy, to present a report that calls for an end to t ... More >>

Ecstasy Not Bad For Your Brain, Actually

​Scratch what you've heard about ecstasy being bad for the brain. Tests that found nonusers more mentally competent than users are now being called "flawed," according to a press release today from the science journal Addiction, which says "the experiments overstated the cognitive differences" ... More >>

Ibogaine: Can it Cure Addiction Without the Hallucinogenic Trip?

The substance has helped addicts kick heroin, meth, and everything in between. Is it the trip that does the trick?

BPA Found in Cans; Sushi Chain Sells to Potheads

​Kraft says it's still interested in purchasing British confectioner Cadbury, but stresses that it would "maintain a disciplined approach." The conglomerate has been beating sales estimates, but acquiring Cadbury would help it grow even more. [NY Times] Bad news for those who replaced plastic ... More >>

Obama DOJ Goes Easy on Medical Marijuana

The Department of Justice will not go after medical marijuana users and suppliers who are following state laws which allow them to operate, according to new DOJ guidelines examined by the Washington Post. This would seem to reverse the policy of the previous Administration, which continued to send D ... More >>

Clip Job: LSD in Churches by 1984 -- Timothy Leary

​Clip Job: an excerpt every day from the Voice archivesDecember 10, 1964, Vol. X, No. 8An Interview with Timothy LearyBy John WilcockTimothy Leary and Richard Alpert, former Harvard professors, have been experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs (mainly LSD and psilocybin) for 4 1/2 years. They main ... More >>

Busted for Iboga

Ibogaine enthusiasts get bad vibes from conspiracy arrests

Hell No, I Won't Go

End the War on Drugs

'The War on the War on Drugs'

It's Just a Book

How a 'pro-marijuana' children's story found its way to Congress

Medical Marijuana Keeps on Rolling

Pot for patients may run into trouble with the Supreme Court, but the issue is gaining here at home

The People's Prosecutor

In an Albany primary, a candidate for D.A. attacks the Rockefeller drug laws—and wins

The Reluctant Activist

One mother's unlikely education in New York's Rockefeller drug laws

The Ecstasy Factor

Bad Science Slandered a Generation's Favorite Drug. Now a New Study Aims to Undo the Damage.

Movement Hijacked by Hiphop?

Activists Fear a Compromise on Rockefeller Repeal