Psychoactive Drugs

Anti-Pot Pinal County Attorney Thanks CBS 5 for Medical Marijuana "Investigation"

Rushing to the defense of CBS 5's severely flawed "investigation" of the state's medical-marijuana program is Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles, who wants to add to the disinformation campaign.In fact, Voyles sent out a press release including a public thank-you note to CBS 5, thanking them for the ... More >>

CBS 5's Medical-Marijuana Story: "Investigation," or Propaganda?

CBS 5 -- the local news station that claims to be "telling it like it is" -- ran one of the stranger "investigations" we've seen from a local TV station.In the report, "investigative reporter" Morgan Loew told the state health department it was true that he had severe and chronic pain, but then clai ... More >>

CBS 5 "Investigation" Into Medical Marijuana Includes a Made-Up Statistic

CBS 5 -- the local news station that claims to be "telling it like it is" -- prominently displayed a made-up statistic during its recent anti-medical marijuana propaganda piece "investigation."In the report, in which "investigative reporter" Morgan Loew told the state health department it was true t ... More >>

Riding High: Arizona's Zero-Tolerance Stance on Pot and Driving

Will the Feds Ever Shut Down Arizona's Medical-Marijuana Dispensary Industry?

As our colleague Ray Stern pointed out yesterday, it was not even a year ago that Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk declared the feds would shut down every medical-marijuana dispensary in Arizona "as it opens."Stern called bull on Polk's claims at the time, and as you can tell at this point -- sin ... More >>

Arizona Medical-Marijuana Dispensaries Taking Off; New Shops Open in Glendale, Eloy and Bisbee This Week

The state-regulated medical-marijuana dispensary industry that Arizona voters approved in late 2010 is becoming a reality, with three new retail shops opening this week. Two dispensaries were slated to open today: One in Glendale (the city that already supports the only medical-pot facility in the ... More >>

Russell Pearce's Pal Constantin Querard Pimps Medical Marijuana Industry

As Mr. Zimmerman once crooned long ago, the times they are a changin', and though progress has generally leap-frogged our benighted state, there are odd signs that Arizona is slouching toward the 21th Century, like some rough beast come round at last. See also: -Arizona Organix Steps Out as the Sta ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Loses in Petition to AZ Supreme Court on Medical Marijuana, But Fight Still On

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery has been shot down by the Arizona Supreme Court in his attempt to expedite a decision about Arizona's medical-marijuana law. Today's decision by the state's highest court to reject Montgomery's petition represents a lost battle for the conservative lawman's ... More >>

Mel McDonald, Former Anti-Drug U.S. Attorney, Speaks Against Pot-Destroying Law

Former anti-drug crusader U.S. Attorney Mel McDonald, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, appears to be very serious about defending Arizona's medical-marijuana law as a citizen and father of a patient who uses medical marijuana.You may have seen the video McDonald recorded a couple months ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Supported by Former Anti-Drug, Reagan-Appointed U.S. Attorney

On the list of people we'd probably never expect to come out in support of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, we'd probably put an anti-drug crusader U.S. Attorney who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan somewhere near the top of the list.However, we've seen that man, A. Melvin McDonald, all ov ... More >>

Should John Kavanagh Give Up on His Quest for a Repeal of Arizona's Medical-Pot Law?

The second public-opinion poll released in recent weeks on Arizona's medical-marijuana law also shows that voters support the act more than in 2010, when it was approved by voters.The newest poll, from Chad Willems' Summit Consulting Group, says 55 percent of "likely voters" support the law, while j ... More >>

James Chaney, Tempe Pot Club Owner, Busted Again; Charges Were Dropped After '11 Raid

James Chaney, the owner of a Tempe medical-marijuana club that was the site of a shooting last year, was arrested today in a raid of the club and two alleged Tempe "grow houses." In a news release that invites the media to talk to cops about the raids at, hilariously, 4:20 p.m., Tempe police detail ... More >>

Medical-Marijuana "Vapor Lounge" in West Valley Allows Patients to Toke Up, Rent Bongs and Hang Out

A group of medical-marijuana dispensary owners at the State Capital yesterday afternoon urged authorities to shut down unregulated cannabis clubs. Meanwhile, up the road in a small, west Valley strip mall, medical-marijuana patients toked up openly in a "lounge" that has the look, feel, and scent o ... More >>

Rep. John Kavanagh Wants No Exception for Cancer Patients or Anyone Else in Proposed Medical-Pot Repeal

John Kavanagh, the Republican State Representative from Fountain Hills, doesn't want any exceptions in a proposed medical-pot repeal for patients with cancer, AIDS, or any other serious disease. Verifiable illness or not, they would be booked into jail under Arizona's felony possession law like any ... More >>

Bill Montgomery Fights Arizona Voters on Medical Marijuana Law While President Obama Gives Nod to Legal Pot Use in Two States

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery is worried he's being forced to violate federal law by implementing Arizona's voter-approved medical-pot law. Meanwhile, President Obama said today that federal law enforcement officials have better things to do then prosecute adult use of marijuana by anyon ... More >>

The House I Live In: Powerful Voices Explain the Failed War on Drugs

Ninth Circuit Rejects New Hearing on Whether Medical Marijuana is Protected by the ADA

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a petition to re-hear arguments that medical marijuana is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. In a split decision in May, a three-judge panel of the usually liberal court shot down the idea that the ADA allows sick or disabled peopl ... More >>

Authorities Subvert Voters, Continue Medical Pot War

Zonka Bar Bust: Arizona's Anti-Pot Zealots Throw Medical-Marijuana Entrepreneurs in Jail

Chris Martin had an idea for a business in Arizona, where voters passed a law that legalizes medical-marijuana "edibles" under certain conditions. Last year, the Zonka Bar was born: Available in chocolate, sugar-free peanut butter and other flavors, and infused with marijuana extract. Like other ed ... More >>

Allan Sobol: Arizona's Medical-Pot Martyr?

Medical Marijuana Grower Shot and Stabbed in Robbery Could Face Charges

See also: Medical Marijuana Grower Shot and Stabbed During Apparent RobberySee also: Medical Marijuana Grower Who Was Shot Runs a "Compassion ClubSurprise police are not ruling out the possiblity of charges against the medical marijuana grower who was shot and stabbed inside his home Monday in a rob ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Grower Who Was Shot and Stabbed Runs a "Compassion Club"

See also: Medical Marijuana Grower Shot and Stabbed During Apparent RobberyMartin Ridgway, the medical marijuana grower who was shot and stabbed inside his Surprise home yesterday during a robbery, was actually running a "compassion club" out of his house.You can find the website for 420 Compassion ... More >>

Sheriff Scott Mascher's Letter to Governor Jan Brewer Contains Discredited Info on US Attorney's Intentions; Same as Sheila Polk's

See Also: Sheila Polk's Letter to Brewer Misstates AZ U.S. Attorney's Position on Medical Marijuana See Also: Medical Marijuana Dispensary Lottery Coming Tuesday, and Will Be Streamed Live Online A letter about medical marijuana to Governor Jan Brewer by Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher, and ... More >>

Sheila Polk's Letter to Brewer Misstates AZ U.S. Attorney's Position on Medical Marijuana

See also:Bill Montgomery and Sheila Polk Probed Whether Prop 203 was Constitutional See also: Judge Orders Arizona to Implement Medical Marijuana Act, Tosses Out Four Rules for Dispensary Applicants Is the new Arizona U.S. Attorney, John Leonardo, going to shut down medical marijuana dispensaries ... More >>

DEA Carries Out Raids Nationwide, Including Five Arizona Cities, for Making and Selling Chemicals Similar to Illegal Drugs

The federal government announced another victory in its war on drugs, as federal authorities made raids in 109 cities nationwide -- including five Arizona cities -- to take down an industry that sells chemicals "similar" to illegal drugs.Yes, the word "similar" comes straight from the Drug Enforceme ... More >>

Marijuana Is Real Medicine for a Long List of Ills

Marijuana Dispensary Loan for $500,000 Doesn't Need to be Paid Back, Judge Rules, Because Pot is Illegal Under Federal Law

A $500,000 loan to a Colorado company intended for a medical-marijuana facility doesn't have to be paid back because pot is illegal under federal law, a county judge has ruled.The bombshell ruling, (tip of the hat to lawyer Richard Keyt's medical-marijuana blog), has major implications for the buddi ... More >>

Will Humble, AZ DHS Director, Not Worried About Running Medical-Pot Program Despite New Federal Warning

If the feds decide to pull up their jackboots and bust state employees for administering Arizona's medical-marijuana program, the director of the state Department of Health Services could be a target.After all, Will Humble is the boss at DHS, the state agency that will be approving applications for ... More >>

Judge Orders Arizona to Implement Medical Marijuana Act, Tosses Out Four Rules for Dispensary Applicants

​Arizona needs to start up the 2010 Medical Marijuana Act as voters intended, but without several of the rules designed to restrict dispensary applicants, a judge has ordered.Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Richard Gama ruled on the Compassion First, LLC, lawsuit yesterday, noting that voters ... More >>

Governor Brewer's Lawsuit Vs. Medical Marijuana Act Criticized by Federal Judge; Says State Must Choose Sides

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton hammered Governor Jan Brewer's lawsuit against medical marijuana today in court. Bolton is also the judge in the SB 1070 case.​Governor Jan Brewer's lawsuit against Arizona's medical marijuana law took a beating today in federal court, where a judge told the state' ... More >>

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, November 10th, 2011

In a Strange About-Face, the President Tries to Hack Medical Marijuana Off at the Knees

Feds Target Property Owners of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in California

The feds launched a new assault in their fight against medical marijuana today, threatening to seize the property of California medical marijuana dispensaries unless they close within 45 days.If there's no push-back from the states that have legalized weed for qualified patients, including Arizona, ... More >>

Kratom: Some Say the Latest "Legal Drug" Is a Harmless Herbal Tonic. The DEA Says It's Far More Sinister

Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, July 28, 2011

Governor Brewer to Police Chiefs: You Should Have Tried Harder to Stop "Dreadful" Medical Pot Law

Governor Jan Brewer, having halted the state's medical marijuana dispensary industry, laments that she and police chiefs didn't campaign hard enough against the new pot law before the November election. ​ Governor Jan Brewer told the state's police chiefs today that they should have tried ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Is Under Attack in Arizona Again -- But This Time, Voters and Patients Hold the High Ground

Arizona Marijuana Dispensaries Face More Problems After Letter by Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole, Industry Reps Say

​The medical-marijuana-dispensary industry faces more hurdles and delays following a "clarification" by the U.S. Justice Department, industry reps say.The letter by Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole, which dizzily seems to give protection to marijuana patients while threatening the busin ... More >>

Governor Jan Brewer Says Feds' New Letter on Medical Pot Proves She Took "Proper Course of Action" in Derailing Dispensary Program

Governor Jan Brewer​Governor Jan Brewer believes that a "clarification" by the feds on medical-marijuana programs proves she took the "proper course of action" in halting the voter-approved dispensary program.Brewer and state Attorney General Tom Horne filed a declaratory judgment in federal ... More >>

Morning Poll: Have Gilbert Police Gone Rogue With Medical Weed Arrests?

Gilbert PDGilbert police Chief Tim Dorn is a law enforcement official who doesn't seem to recognize Arizona's voter-approved medical marijuana law. ​In the past week, Gilbert police -- under the leadership of Chief Tim Dorn -- have raided the home of a qualifying medical marijuana patient, arreste ... More >>

Gilbert Police Raid Tempe Medical Marijuana Shop; Officers Seize Pot, Make No Arrests

Image: Ray SternGarry Ferguson, founder of the Medical Marijuana Advocacy Group, says he'll continue to offer patients a safe place to get their medicine despite a raid by Gilbert police last week on his Tempe business.​Gilbert police made another medical marijuana raid last week -- this one at th ... More >>

Gilbert Police Storm Home, Seize Two Ounces of Marijuana From Card-Holding Medical Pot Patient

Image: azcannabiscenters.comThe owner of Cannabis Patient Screening Centers, Ross Taylor, had his Gilbert home raided last week by police looking for an ounce of marijuana.​ Twenty Gilbert police officers, some in masks and riot gear, stormed a home last week after receiving a tip that the own ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Claims its First Arizona Death: a Medical Marijuana Thief Shot During Weed Robbery

​Larry Miller, 38, tried to rob medical marijuana from a Phoenix man yesterday afternoon, which was a colossal mistake -- the man he tried to rob fatally shot him.According to the Phoenix Police Department Miller and another man contacted a guy who'd been advertising himself as a medical marijuana ... More >>

ACLU to Defend Medical Marijuana Law Against Legal Attack by Governor Jan Brewer

Governor Jan Brewer followed through today on her threat to attack the voter-approved medical marijuana law.​ Governor Jan Brewer followed through today on her threat to attack Arizona's voter-approved medical marijuana law, but advocates of democracy are fighting back. Numerous defendan ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Users Become Legal: Nearly 600 People Approved, Mostly for Chronic Pain

  ​Most people approved to use marijuana legally in Arizona complain of chronic pain related to back problems, severe headaches, injuries or arthritis, new stats show. The Department of Health Services is keeping close track of nearly every facet of the program, and will also soon relea ... More >>

Arizona Department of Health Services Approves 68 Percent of Medical Marijuana Applications on Day One

hempbeach.com​Thursday was the first day for hopeful medical marijuana patients to apply for their voter-mandated medicine, and ADHS spokeswoman Laura Oxley tells New Times the Arizona Department of Health Services approved 44 out of the 65 applications processed by 3 p.m. The department ende ... More >>

Arizona's Medical Marijuana Law in One Handy Guide

Final Rules on Medical Pot Too Tough on Patients, One Doctor Says; Other Pot Advocates Satisfied With Rules

Image: www.azmmgablog.com Dr. Edgar Suter​ The final rules for medical marijuana are too tough on patients and may encourage a lawsuit, says one Valley doctor. Edgard Suter, an East Valley nuclear medicine physician who has been an outspoken advocate for medical marijuana, decried an a ... More >>

Pot Cases in Mohave County Dismissed 'Cause of Out-of-State Medical-Weed Cards

  ​Proposition 203 has sparked dismissal of pot-possession charges in Mohave County against at least 10 people who had out-of-state medical-weed cards. Though the charges shouldn't have been brought against such marijuana card-holders in the first place, what's been happening ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Discrimination Bill Passes House, Heads to State Senate

Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, says her bill expands, not dilutes, Prop 203. We're not so sure.​ Arizona's new medical marijuana law protects qualified patients from discrimination by their employers, a progressive feature that sets it apart from similar laws in other states. A legislative bill ... More >>