Marijuana


Students get higher education at cannabis college

Oakland University in California offers a curriculum pot heads around the country find irresistibly alluring — an education based on the lucrative medical marijuana industry, writes Jason Motlagh.

Getting high and driving a car: a police sanctioned experiment

Californian police believe if Proposition 19 (aka the marijuana bill) passes next month more people will be driving while under the influence. Steve Lopez participated in an odd, police-staged experiment to study the differences between driving drunk and driving high.

Businesses struggle to inhale marijuana profits

America’s first attempt to fully regulate, license and tax a legit marijuana trade might sound like an opportunity for easy cash, but retailers say their profits aren’t nearly as high as their customers.

Business As Usual: Trade deficit bigger than expected … Resources the real bubble, not property … Sigma’s appalling results … We’re still a cafe society

There could be softening in demand and activity in the economy … February’s trade deficit was much larger than expected by the market … Resources are the real bubble, not property …

Letter from...: The Cannabis Cup, Amsterdam

The Cannabis Cup is the Tour de France for pot heads from around the world. For US$199, stoners can buy a pass entitling them to sample the green stuff from nearly 30 participating “coffee shops” all this week, writes Grant Doyle from Amsterdam.

America opens its first pot cafe

America’s first “pot cafe” has opened its doors in Portland, Oregon. Certified medical marijuana can get their dose of Mary Jane from the “budtenders”, as well as food, should the munchies strike. Trippy.

The cannabis classification wars spark up in the US

The real dangers (or lack thereof) of cannabis use are being hotly debated in the UK, and now the issue has hit the US, with the American Medical Association pushing for a review into the drug’s status as a Schedule I drug.

Dr David Nutt is not the new Galileo

Dope-loving Britons are hailing Dr David Nutt — the UK government drugs advisor whose views on cannabis got him sacked — as a “modern-day Galileo”. Get real, says Brendan O’Neill: Galileo was a pioneer; Nutt is a famewhore.

Deadly drugs: users vs. deaths vs. media coverage

Is Dr David Nutt correct that cannabis is no more harmful than alcohol? Does the drug just suffer from bad press? Data journalist David McCandless mashes up the government’s own data on drug death, users and press coverage to find out.

David Nutt: Governments should get real on drugs

The stoush over the UK government sacking its chief drugs advisor David Nutt (now humorously dubbed “NuttSack” for his views on cannabis continues, with this guest editorial from Nutt in the latest New Scientist.

Nutt: Why cannabis isn’t as dangerous as you think

Former UK chief drugs adviser David Nutt explains what’s wrong with the government’s current drug classifications, and why he believes cannabis isn’t as damaging as cigarettes or alcohol.

Drugs vs. booze

Debate is heating up in the UK after the government’s former chief drugs adviser, Dr David Nutt, was sacked over his views that cannabis is less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. Now the scientific community is coming to his defence.

Drugs expert shown the door for disagreeing with government

The UK’s most prominent drugs expert has been kicked off a drugs advisory board for disagreeing with the government’s view that cannabis should be classified as a lethal drug.

Guy Rundle: Dope reform a sign of Obama’s worth and intent

Barack Obama has transformed the US overnight, from a country with one of the harshest anti-dope regimes, to one with some of the most liberal in the world.

The magazine getting high on the economy’s lows

The global financial slump has been a disaster for most magazines, but for the mellow folk at High Times, it’s been a real trip, with more people toking up to get through the tough economic times. “Weed is recession proof,” says editor Bobby Black.

Drug use by animals is increasing

As suggested by anecdotal evidence

Republican moms heart marijuana

As a Republican mother committed to legalizing marijuana, political life can be lonely,” admits Jessica Peck Corry. “But while many in my party whisper about the Drug War’s insanity, we should shout it from the rooftop: the time to legalize is now.”

Weeds presents: the history of weed

Showtime advertises the new series of Weeds with a bit of infotainment about the controversial plant.