Psychoactive Drugs

THC driving limit's passage means pot critic William Breathes may never drive legally again

Yesterday, a marijuana activist said that a controversial THC driving bill, a version of which failed each of the past two years, appeared to be a lock for passage -- and he was right. The measure breezed through by a 24-11 vote despite what critics describe as an almost total lack of scientific evi ... More >>

Marijuana: Bill that would transfer MMJ patient fees for drug counseling gutted

A bill that would have used $10 million in medical marijuana patient registration fees for drug-treatment programs has been gutted for the second year in a row. The Representative Beth McCann-sponsored House Bill 1238, would have transferred $10 million over the next four years from the medical mari ... More >>

Photo: NFL running back LenDale White at the High Times Cannabis Cup

Sean Azzariti (who we've featured in this space in the past) is a veteran of the Iraq War, medical marijuana patient, an advocate for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress who want to be able to use cannabis to help them cope, and a cannabis enthusiast. Azzariti also happens to be an NFL fa ... More >>

Marijuana Q&A with Laura Kriho: "The fight for legalization is nowhere near over"

This week's multi-part cover story about the state of the state of marijuana takes a look at Amendment 64 and how legislators will address implementing the legalization of small amounts of cannabis and the shops that will sell it. Our print edition also features a Q&A with Amendment 64 proponent Mas ... More >>

Marijuana: THC driving bill breezes through first House vote despite e-mail protests, petition

In a Monday interview with Representative Rhonda Fields, co-sponsor of the latest THC driving bill, we noted that the measure, which is similar to ones that failed the past two years, seemed on a steady march to passage this time around -- and that continues to be the case. The measure passed its f ... More >>

Medical marijuana registry numbers climb, but more patients dropping off active list

The active patient numbers for Colorado's medical marijuana community crept slightly higher in January, to 108,656 people, but any significant growth was offset by a pattern of people dropping off the registry each month. Although 2,911 new-patient applications were turned in between December 2012 a ... More >>

Damien LaGoy, R.I.P.: Medical marijuana patient and activist dies at 53

We've just learned about the death of Damien LaGoy, who became one of the most public advocates for medical marijuana patients like himself. Opponents of medical marijuana tend to characterize MMJ patients as twenty-something slackers who merely want an excuse to get high, but LaGoy contradicted th ... More >>

Medical marijuana industry-related bills alive in House and Senate

A Colorado House bill that would create a marijuana responsible-vendor program in the state moved through a second Senate reading Monday without any amendments, paving the way to final approval on a third reading. If passed -- which seems likely at this point -- HB 1061 would allow the state Medica ... More >>

Can hemp escape the role of marijuana's sober stepsister?

See also: Top ten hemp legends: Which myths are true -- and which went up in smoke?

Marijuana: Jeremy Usher, Navy vet, could go to jail for treating his PTSD with cannabis

After returning from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq ten years ago, Navy veteran Jeremy Usher experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder according to the Greeley Tribune. He subsequently tried treating his condition with alcohol, resulting in multiple DUIs and a probationary sentence. But ... More >>

Marijuana ordinance to make Nederland first U.S. city to regulate pot since its prohibition?

The Amendment 64 Shadow Task Force is made up of activists monitoring a governor-appointed group charged with making recommendations about the implementation of A64, which allows adults 21 and over to possess small amounts of marijuana. Now, the shadow task force is trying to beat the state to the p ... More >>

Marijuana: Obama administration has done poor job of talking about drug policy, czar says

Just over two months since the signing of Amendment 64, a direct challenge to federal marijuana policy, the Obama administration still has provided no guidance to Colorado about whether a challenge to the law is forthcoming. As a result, observers searching for clues about the feds' thinking are lef ... More >>

Marijuana legalization proposal like Colorado's coming to Pennsylvania: More states to follow?

Following Amendment 64's passage, marijuana reformers have pushed for similar measures beyond Colorado's borders -- the idea being that if cannabis is legalized in more states, the federal government will have to change policies making pot illegal under all circumstances. That's precisely what's hap ... More >>

Medical marijuana patient numbers rise in December, but are people still leaving registry?

After a significant dip in patient numbers from October to November 2012, we questioned whether the number of registered medical marijuana patients would decline steadily over the coming months, as some critics and activists have surmised. But new statistics released this week show the decline in a ... More >>

High Times Denver Cannabis Cup drops "medical" from name, tickets on sale

Tickets are on sale for what is being billed as the first-ever High Times Cannabis Cup on American soil, here in Denver over the 4/20 weekend. Since our first post on the event, the folks at High Times magazine have decided to include everyone in the festivities -- almost. Unfortunately for Colorad ... More >>

Marijuana: William Breathes outed as late New York Times restaurant critic?

By 9 a.m. today I had received at least three e-mails asking how I felt about my "real identity" as Craig Claiborne being outed in a New York Times opinion piece today by Frank Bruni. Last I checked, though, I'm not a long-dead Times food critic. Or am I? Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Marijuana: Colorado Springs owes $3.3M-plus after dispensary prosecution fails, attorney says

In March, Rocky Mountain Miracles owner Ali Hillery was hit with felony charges over alleged discrepancies in the Colorado Springs dispensary's plant count. She was cleared of these charges last month, and her attorney, Sean McAllister, issued a motion calling for material seized by authorities to b ... More >>

Amendment 64 responsible for decline at medical marijuana registry?

Could Amendment 64 be the reason that the Colorado Medical Marijuana registry saw the first decline in active patient numbers in almost a year? Like a late holiday gift from a strange uncle who only sends sensible socks, the Colorado health department posted the figures for October and November late ... More >>

Ask a Stoner: William Breathes answers your questions about Amendment 64 and more

Since the passage of Amendment 64, which legalizes adult possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, have you been getting questions about how it will work? So have we. To help clear the foggy air, we've asked medical marijuana dispensary critic William Breathes to follow in the footsteps of the OC ... More >>

Amendment 64's Brian Vicente spreading state's medical marijuana message to Massachusetts

After the passage of Amendment 64, opportunities abounded for its main proponents, Mason Tvert and Brian Vicente. But while Tvert said he had no immediate plans to spread the gospel about the measure to other states, despite being invited to do so in California by HBO's Bill Maher, Vicente is branch ... More >>

Marijuana: TSA says flying between Colorado and Washington with herb will be okay...sort of

According to the Transportation Security Administration, if medical marijuana patients' paperwork checks out, they can board a flight with meds in tow as long as they are headed to a medical marijuana state that honors Colorado red cards. So...now that voters in Washington and Colorado have legalize ... More >>

Marijuana: MMJ dispensaries seeing flood of people looking for legal ganja

Although Amendment 64 passed last week, Governor John Hickenlooper has told us not to bring out the Cheetos and Goldfish just yet. But apparently people need a firmer reminder that there are more hurdles to be surmounted -- and we're not just talking about the feds -- before pot shops can open in Co ... More >>

William Breathes looks back on three years as the country's first pot critic

The history of cannabis in Colorado...or how the state went to pot

See also: William Breathes looks back on three years as the country's first pot critic

Medical marijuana patient numbers rise to more than 104K in August

It's that time of the month again! No, not harvest time. Much less enjoyable than that. Yup, you got it: It's the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's update to the medical marijuana patient registry statistics page. And the numbers are going up...again.

The House I Live In blends explosive statements and soft scenes

Medical Marijuana Industry Group likes not always flattering Newsweek "pot barons" article

Newsweek may be abandoning print at year's end, but the venerable magazine remains an actual publication -- and its current cover story, "The New Pot Barons," shines a light on a major player in the Colorado weed biz: the Medical Marijuana Industry Group. The resulting article doesn't always cast MM ... More >>

Marijuana: New Jersey MMJ program more restrictive (and less potent) than Colorado's

There are more dispensaries in Denver than locations of McDonald's and Starbucks combined, according to Sunday night's 60 Minutes report. But things are very different in New Jersey, the latest state to authorize retail cannabis sales.

Marijuana: Why ex-drug warriors hate Amendment 64, other drug initiatives

Former drug czars, DEA administrators and national "addiction experts" have come out in opposition to Colorado's Amendment 64, as well as similar measures before voters in Washington and Oregon. In other wildly-unexpected news: The sky is, indeed, blue.

Ten things near schools more dangerous than medical marijuana dispensaries

We hear it all the time from the anti-cannabis crowd: "We've got to think of the kids!" It's the chief argument behind federal letters sent out over the last year shutting down dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools. But what about the other, much more pressing risks that can be found just as clo ... More >>

Medical marijuana patient numbers climb back over 100k in July

New data released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shows that in July, the number of medical marijuana patients in this state finally climbed back over the 100,000 mark. That's the first time this has happened since September 2011.

Marijuana: Amendment 64 blasted by Douglas County sheriff, Mason Tvert responds

The powers-that-be in Douglas County really, really oppose Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. Yesterday, the Dougco commissioners passed a strongly worded resolution against the measure, while Sheriff David Weaver launched a salvo that paints a world in which Amendment 64 is law ... More >>

Medical marijuana gardens suffering after lengthy, hot summer

The start of fall this past weekend brought relief not just for heat-stricken Colorado residents, but for their indoor medical marijuana gardens as well. Cannabis grows across the Front Range have been suffering from heat stress, bug issues and mold problems, resulting in a decrease in summer produ ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division's next available appointment: February 2013

Want a job working in the MMJ industry in Colorado? Well, get comfortable, because it might be a while before you can even start. In yet another sign of the struggles afflicting the Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, the department is now informing potential new employees that there are no appo ... More >>

Marijuana groups backing outdoor ad ban won't disclose membership

Despite the pleas of patients, dispensary owners and infused-product entrepreneurs, Denver City Council members unanimously approved going forward with a ban on all outdoor medical marijuana advertising in the city -- a more draconian measure than the original proposal for a ban near schools, parks ... More >>

Marijuana advocate to Denver City Council: If changes in MMJ ad ban not made, we'll sue

Update below: Last week, our William Breathes noted that a Denver City Council-proposed outdoor medical marijuana advertising ban is up for public discussion tonight -- but advocate Rico Colibri isn't waiting. During the wee hours, he sent an open letter to the council (read it below) threatening to ... More >>

Medical marijuana outdoor advertising ban moving forward at Denver City Council

For the past several months, the Denver City Council has been debating outdoor medical marijuana advertising. The main question: Should it be prohibited near schools or banned entirely? Now, a ban seems to have the momentum, and could be approved in the next several weeks.

Marijuana: Could Amendment 64's success hurt Barack Obama in Colorado?

The presidential contest between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will likely be very tight in Colorado, a key swing state -- and a close vote is also expected for Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. But could a big turnout for the latter undermine Obama in the state? This theory is b ... More >>

Medical marijuana dispensaries giving free Vape-Pen to chemotherapy patients

Medical marijuana advocates say THC is especially effective when it comes to reducing nausea for people who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy. Now, The Clinic and Flower of Life are offering a way of delivering that substance free of charge to medical marijuana patients on chemo -- with th ... More >>

Marijuana: George Soros link to Amendment 64 claimed, disputed

Billionaire George Soros is a frequent conservative target for donating big bucks to liberal causes (of course, conservatives have munificent billionaires of their own -- but that's another story). Now, Smart Colorado, a group opposing Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, sees Sor ... More >>

Medical marijuana registry stats up again, but far below previous peak

As of the end of May, there were 98,910 red card-holding medical marijuana patients in the state according to MMJ registry numbers released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. That's up from the previous report, released in June. But despite a steady increase over the past s ... More >>

Medical marijuana superstores possible federal targets in Colorado?

U.S. Attorney John Walsh has sent out two waves of closure-threat letters to medical marijuana dispensaries near schools -- and his spokesman reveals that a third wave is coming. But could Walsh's targets in Colorado expand to so-called marijuana superstores, as has taken place in California? His of ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Patient fired for failing DISH drug test finds possible loophole

We've recently shared with you the story of Brandon Coats, a paralyzed medical marijuana patient fired by DISH Network for failing a drug test. Coats's appeal is moving forward -- but it turns out he's not the only MMJ patient with a case against DISH. Meet Sonny Meyers.

Statewide dispensary moratorium ends, new applications slow to come in

A statewide moratorium on new medical-marijuana businesses ended Sunday, but don't expect to see many new dispensaries popping up right away.

Medical marijuana: Fort Collins voters to decide about retail ban (again)

Last November, Fort Collins voters elected to shut down all medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, with the MMCs closing by midnight on Valentine's Day. Now, a group of pro-dispensary supporters is hoping voters will bring the industry back to the northern Colorado town.

Marijuana: Brandon Coats filing argues using MMJ is a lawful activity

In April, we told you about the story of Brandon Coats, a paralyzed medical marijuana patient fired from DISH Network for failing a positive drug test. Coats's complaint lost in the first round, but it's under appeal -- and with the filing of a new brief, the case is entering a new phase. See the b ... More >>

Marijuana: CBI says cross-checking MMJ registery against gun databases off the table

Last week, we told you about 2011 documents uncovered by activist Corey Donahue that outlined using the proposed medical marijuana patient registry database to cross-check federal firearm databases. The reason: MMJ patients are not legally allowed to own guns. Now, however, a state official says su ... More >>

Medical marijuana outdoor-ad-ban decision in Denver delayed until August

Two competing medical marijuana advertising bans have been proposed by Denver City Council members, and their concepts are very different in scope. The council's Debbie Ortega and Christopher Herndon have until August to find a compromise before their colleagues take a vote.

Medical marijuana patients won't be auto-flagged in criminal database

It's not really a consolation, but at least Colorado medical marijuana patients won't be treated like sex offenders in the proposed computer link between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and law enforcement crime databases.

Medical marijuana registry numbers still on the rise after five months

The medical marijuana patient registry saw an increase in patients for five straight months through April 2012, bringing the total number of Coloradans with medical marijuana cards to 96,709. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the registry is still 32,000 names be ... More >>