Author: Alice Stephens

Why is Marijuana Still Classified as Schedule I?

Why is Marijuana Still Classified as Schedule I?

Posted by | May 2, 2016 | , , |

The label of marijuana as “Schedule I” is highly controversial, and ever since this declaration, there have been multiple proposals to remove its classification as a Schedule I substance. This summer the DEA will review this classification. There are, of course, arguments for both positions. A great article by Scientific American discusses the history of the science around marijuana, and why it was originally classified as Schedule I in 1972. To clarify, a Schedule I drug is deemed to have absolutely no medical use and is simultaneously, highly addictive. But researchers and scientists are constantly disagreeing with this assumption. According...

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Capping the Number of Marijuana Retail and Cultivation Sites

Capping the Number of Marijuana Retail and Cultivation Sites

Posted by | Apr 21, 2016 | , |

Marijuana rules and regulations are tough to keep up with. Denver lawmakers have tentatively approved a proposed ordinance to impose caps on the number of marijuana retail and cultivation sites in the proverbial capital of the cannabis industry. The measure, approved Monday evening 8-3 by the Denver City Council, will become law if approved in the  final vote. It would apply to recreational and medical businesses. The vote came after lawmakers failed to reach agreement last week. If enacted, the new legislation would put a cap the total number of cannabis shop locations at their current level, and gradually reduce the...

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What Really Happens at a 420 Event?

What Really Happens at a 420 Event?

Posted by | Apr 21, 2016 | , |

Most new reports, videos and photos of 4/20 events merely show the large crowds that gather. You see headlines similar to, “Thousands gather to celebrate smoking marijuana.” It can often be depicted as some sort of riot, uproar or disturbance. But you rarely see the cameras dig in the the crowd to see what goes on. This video from the Denver Post TV is one of the few I have seen that walks through the crowd, rather than just hovering on the outside. There were advocates of marijuana education, friends gathering, people meeting new people, people creating art- drawing,...

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Teens Are Finding It Harder to Get Marijuana Since The Trend of Legalization Began

Teens Are Finding It Harder to Get Marijuana Since The Trend of Legalization Began

Posted by | Apr 18, 2016 | , |

The availability of legal marijuana has increased in the United States over the last decade, in that more people are able to sell cannabis. Despite this, teenagers are having a harder time finding pot. That’s good news for the country and for the legalization effort. These are big picture statistics, and in fact, “not so easy” only means a slight reduction in availability. But this is a change in the right direction. The data is from one of the most reputable surveys on drug use in the United States, and the change in availability data has historic significance. The Monitoring...

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General Mills 4/20 Friendly Ads: Frustratingly Legitimate

General Mills 4/20 Friendly Ads: Frustratingly Legitimate

Posted by | Apr 13, 2016 | , |

General Mills, the $18 billion global food giant started targeting Denver cannabis consumers with ads for a line of frozen snacks recently, igniting the interest of marijuana professionals. One executive even snapped a photo of a large billboard that promotes the snacks – Totino’s Pizza Rolls – by referencing the 4/20 cannabis holiday. The chief marketing officer of Dixie Brands (an infused products maker), Joe Hodas said, “I caught one on Colfax Avenue, so I took a picture of it and said, ‘It looks like we’ve really gone mainstream with this Totino’s Pizza Roll billboard.’” The bold advertising move, which includes billboards and ads on...

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