Phoenix New Times | The Leading Independent News Source in Phoenix, Arizona

kris mayes holds up a vape cartridge at a press conference

Undercover baby cops help bust Valley smoke shops selling vapes to kids

By Morgan Fischer

Jul 8, 2025

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has roughly 100 underage volunteers who try to buy tobacco products on the sly.

arizona attorney general kris mayes holds up THC-infused products that she said are being illegally sold

Judge to rule on whether to halt Mayes crackdown on hemp THC products

By TJ L'Heureux

Jun 20, 2025

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes faces a lawsuit for declaring hemp-based THC products found in smoke shops illegal.

a man and woman pose with whoopi goldberg, who is holding a gray pouch that says "Better U"

You can do ketamine therapy at home in Arizona. Is that a good idea?

By Morgan Fischer

Jun 5, 2025

Companies operating in Arizona mail ketamine for at-home mental health treatment. One expert calls it a “terrible idea.”

How a Scottsdale lab got into the business of growing peyote

By TJ L'Heureux

May 5, 2025

Peyote is a sacred substance to many Indigenous peoples, but it's verging on endangered. A Scottsdale lab wants to fix that.

An advertisement for Kratom at a shop in Phoenix

A kratom retailer calls for crackdown on 'unsafe' 7-OH variant

By Morgan Fischer

Apr 21, 2025

A synthetic variant of the plant-based drug poses risks. A kratom retailer wants to see products pulled from Arizona shelves.

Arizona study of ‘Jedi Mind Fuck’ magic mushrooms clears FDA hurdle

By TJ L'Heureux

Mar 28, 2025

Scottsdale Research Institute’s clinical trial will be the nation’s first of whole psilocybin mushrooms on humans.

Party’s over: Kris Mayes to crack down on unregulated THC products

By Morgan Fischer

Mar 25, 2025

“This is obviously not legal,” the Arizona attorney general said. “And we are going to enforce the law.”

‘Literally lifesaving’: Why Sinema is pushing for psychedelic drug research

By Morgan Fischer

Mar 14, 2025

Kyrsten Sinema doesn't often give interviews, but the ex-senator was eager to tell us about lobbying for ibogaine research.

Sinema urges Arizona lawmakers to fund psychoactive drug research

By Morgan Fischer

Feb 27, 2025

The former senator made a rare public appearance to stump for ibogaine, a promising Schedule 1 drug for brain injuries.

a man with black hair and glasses smiles

This local GOP hitman helped free an online drug ‘kingpin’ from prison

By Stephen Lemons

Feb 19, 2025

Brian Anderson knee-caps politicians for work. He also helped nab a Trump pardon for accused drug trafficker Ross Ulbricht.

two sheriff's office employees in uniform

12 overdose in county jail a month after it stopped screening officers

By TJ L'Heureux

Feb 17, 2025

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office says the overdoses are unrelated to halting the scanning officers for contraband.

The pros and cons of reclassifying weed as a less-dangerous drug

By Chris Meyers | The Conversation

Oct 14, 2024

The Drug Enforcement Agency is considering changing marijuana from a Schedule I drug to Schedule III. What would that mean?

High-potency kratom is all over Arizona, even though it’s illegal

By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Sep 30, 2024

Kratom exists in a big legal gray area, and nobody's quite sure who’s supposed to enforce laws about it.

Should Arizona let more former drug users become cops?

By TJ L'Heureux

Sep 23, 2024

This month, the board that licenses peace officers granted an exception to an ex-Nevada trooper who used drugs 20 years ago.

a man and woman pose for a selfie outdoors

His wife died after using kratom. He’s suing the company that sold it

By Morgan Fischer

Aug 20, 2024

Viable Solutions markets kratom products as an herbal supplement. This Gilbert man says the drug killed his wife.

10 songs about methheads and speed freaks

By Melissa Fossum

Aug 11, 2024

Don't do it, just listen to songs about it.

Mushroom laws are fueling psychedelic comeback. Is Arizona next?

By Benjamin Y. Fong | The Conversation

Aug 8, 2024

Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill legalizing psilocybin therapy. But the state is still funding clinical research into the drug.

The 10 best songs about cocaine

By Melissa Fossum

Jul 30, 2024

Don't do it — just listen to these songs about it.

Arizona poised to provide MDMA therapy to first responders with PTSD

By Isabelle Marceles | Cronkite News

Jul 22, 2024

The Arizona Legislature added the treatment to its workers' compensation plan, but it won't matter without FDA approval.

Move over, shrooms: Americans are most curious about this psychedelic

By Zach Buchanan

Jul 10, 2024

A study of search terms shows that Americans search most for DMT, a psychedelic commonly used in ayahuasca.

Drugs

Arizona has 4 times more vape shops than McDonald’s

Sinema gushes over ‘Jedi Mind Fuck’ shroom researcher

Drugs

Arizona has 4 times more vape shops than McDonald’s

Sinema gushes over ‘Jedi Mind Fuck’ shroom researcher

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