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Half of all Dutch in favor of legalisation

February 4, 2010 - A recent opinion poll revealed that some 50% of the Dutch population thinks cannabis should be fully legalised, while 25% wants a complete ban. Supporters of the left wing green party Groenlinks are most favorable of legalisation (88%), while half the supporters of the two governing Christian parties CDA and ChristenUnie want soft drugs made illegal and all coffeeshops closed down. A...
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Azarius raises over 15000 euro in aid for Haiti

February 4, 2010 - From January 20 until February 1 we donated 20% of each sale to Haiti relief efforts. This, along with additional donations from customers, led to a grand total of 15639,96 euro to be donated to the Red Cross. Part of this amount comes from additional donations made through the ‘ Haiti donate ’ option, that appears when checking out. We will leave this in place for some time. Those who still...
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Avatar: Psychedelic Cinema?

February 2, 2010 - While some believe James Cameron’s Avatar 3D aims to bring our earthly spirits in some sort of higher consciousness, others describe it as brainless violence-drenched amusement. Meanwhile, several blogs and articles have been written in which the message of the movie and the relationship with psychedelics are being discussed. Aya Avatar - Drink the Jungle Juice - Erik Davis comments on...
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'Laws ineffective in curbing cannabis use'

January 26, 2010 - A new book published by the Beckley Foundation and Oxford University Press has concluded that cannabis prohibition policies have comprehensively failed and that a new approach to cannabis policy is urgently needed. In this book, experts say that while the drug harmed some users, it had only a modest effect on society, where cocaine and alcohol were potentially more damaging. Researcher...
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Russia outlaws Salvia and other entheogenic herbs

January 15, 2010 - Russia has recently put a number of herbs on a list of controlled substances, the government website reported Thursday. The list of banned plants includes Salvia Divinorum , Argyreia Nervosa ( Hawaiian Baby Woodrose ) and Nymphaea Caerulea ( Blue Lotus ). These plants have been banned from cultivation, sale and possession. Also added to the list are 23 synthetic cannabinoids. A...
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Ban the bong?

January 12, 2010 - Australia - Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said a Coalition government would ban the sale of bongs to reduce the harm to Victorian families caused by cannabis. "Cannabis is a dangerous drug which causes serious mental and physical damage to many Victorians every year," Mr Baillieu said. "Banning the sale of bongs sends a clear message that cannabis is a dangerous and harmful substance." ...
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10 Signs the Failed Drug War Is Finally Ending

January 6, 2010 - Those who've been keeping up to date with the ups and downs of drug legalization, will have noted that in many ways 2009 was a very positive year. There have been some setbacks in the Netherlands, Great-Britain, Germany and Australia, but the following 10 news items definitely encourage us to remain optimistic. 1) Three former Latin American presidents call the drug war a failure (February...
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Happy New Year!

January 4, 2010 - We might be bit late with this, as it took some time to recover from stockcounting and New Year's eve/night/day, but we are now fully back in action. Belated or not, we wish everyone a wonderful, beautiful, peaceful, inspirational, and healthy 2010! We hope you all enjoyed your holidays and had a great time partying - we sure did! The coming year you can expect tonnes of new and exciting...
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In the spotlight: EZ tests

December 10, 2009 - EZ Test is a quick and simple test kit that can tell you whether a pill contains MDMA or other substances. It's an effective tool in identifying adulterants and other possibly dangerous substances often found in street drugs and provides you with measures against unwanted (side) effects. EZ Test Marquis was the first Ecstasy test kit ever to come onto the market. It contains a chemical...
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Czech government approves personal possession

December 9, 2009 - Prague - The Czech government today approved a list of hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms, including cannabis, coca, mescaline cacti and magic mushrooms, which states that people would be allowed to grow up to five specimens of such plants and forty magic mushrooms at home. The cabinet would also discuss permitted amounts of synthetic drugs in people's possession. This debate however was...
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Drug use in outer space

December 8, 2009 - Discovery published an interesting article listing the different types of drugs NASA astronauts are on while on duty in outer space. This topic adds a whole new dimension to ‘being high’. Here’s a summary of what astronauts indulge on in their missions: Alcohol: Earth's most popular drug remains within somewhat of a grey area in orbit. Buzz Aldrin actually celebrated his arrival on the...
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Drug Users Know Their Stuff

November 26, 2009 - Drug users are well informed about the harms associated with the drugs they use and perceive alcohol and tobacco to be amongst the most dangerous substances, according to a survey by UCL (University College London) and Imperial College London researchers. The findings, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, suggest that the current system of classifying psychoactive drugs in the UK...
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Drugs & Magic in Classical Greece

November 18, 2009 - Classical literature abounds with sorcerers, magicians, and witches. Translators rarely reveal that their power stemmed from their great expertise in drugs. Sorcerers were classical drug dealers and the effects of drugs were seen as magical in those times. Drugs and magic were one. Dr. David Hillman writes in his book, The Chemical Muse (2008): "The Greeks and Romans used opium,...
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Profesor Nutt desenrolla un tipo de alcohol saludable

November 11, 2009 - El ex-czar de las drogas del Gobierno Británico, Profesor David Nutt, esta trabajando para desenrollar de un tipo de bebida alcohólica sin los riesgos para la salud asociados normalmente con el consumo de alcohol. Se dice que imita los efectos del alcohol pero sin la resaca o los danos en el hígado. Nutt dice que están siendo hechos testes en voluntarios, y con el apoyo del Gobierno, el...
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Holandeses están entre los que fuman menos cannabis en Europa

November 6, 2009 - De acuerdo con los números publicados en el informe del Centro Monitor Europeo de las Drogas y el Abuso de Drogas, los holandeses están entre los que fuman menos cannabis en toda la Europa. Solo 5.4 por ciento de los adultos holandeses afirman usar cannabis, que es un numero bastante mas bajo que la media europea de 6.8 por ciento. Una porcentaje mas alta de adultos en Italia, España,...
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Dice la verdad, te quedaras sin trabajo

November 2, 2009 - David Nutt, el presidente del consejo antidrogas del gobierno británico, esta “extremamente desilusionado” después de ter sido dimitido por afirmar que la Cannabis, el ecstasy y el LSD son menos peligrosos que el alcohol y los cigarrillos. En una palestra y en un documento informativo para el centro de estudios criminales y judiciales de la universidad de King's College, en Londres, el...
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'Rape drugs in drink is urban myth'

October 31, 2009 - The use of date-rape drugs such as rohypnol and GHB is just “an urban myth” a study revealed where more than 200 students in the UK and US were surveyed. Academics believe this legend is fuelled by young woman unwilling to accept they have simply consumed too much alcohol. The study – published in the British Journal of Criminology - revealed a number of interesting facts. For one,...
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Psychedelic research making headlines

October 28, 2009 - The Guardian, Scientific American and many other reputable news outlets have recently published articles about new studies investigating the therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances like psilocybin and MDMA. Prior to the early '70s lots of research had already been done and many patients had been treated, primarily with mescaline (the active component of the Peyote and San Pedro...
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Supreme Court: Bong water is illegal drug

October 23, 2009 - The Supreme Court of Minnesota ruled that the water left in a bong after smoking can be considered an illegal drug. The case involved a 46-year old woman from Minnesota who was arrested in 2007, and items seized from her home included a glass bong. It contained a small amount of liquid that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The Supreme Court says that bong water now...
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Tougher laws in Australia

October 17, 2009 - The West Australian government plans to toughen its cannabis law by reducing the legal possession limit from 30g to 10g and banning the sale of all smoking implements and paraphernalia. To be introduced this week, the new legislation will repeal the former Labor government's Cannabis Control Act, which allowed people to cultivate two plants for personal use. Under the new laws anyone...
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Dutch Labour Party: ‘lift ban on magic mushrooms’

October 14, 2009 - Lea Bouwmeester, MP of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) says she would like to see a roll back of the much-criticized mushroom ban. She claims the ban is ineffective and does not tackle the actual problems. She believes combined use of alcohol and drugs amongst tourists is the main issue, and not particularly the use of mushrooms. “Statistics prove this, as 95 percent of ambulance calls related...
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Rise in use of grade-boosting drugs

October 13, 2009 - A study has shown that seven percent of Dutch university students use the ADHD-medicine ritalin for non-medical purposes. Three percent say they use the amphetamine-based 'smart drug' to improve concentration during exam periods, while five percent claim to use it for recreational purposes. Of all interviewed students, 12,5 percent say they intend to use Ritalin for these reasons in the...
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Carl Sagan's essay on cannabis

October 7, 2009 - Below are a few citations from an essay that astronomer Carl Sagan wrote in 1969 for Marihuana Reconsidered , a book published by Dr. Lester Grinspoon. At that time Sagan was 35 years old. He continued using cannabis for the rest of his life. "The cannabis experience has greatly improved my appreciation for art, a subject which I had never much appreciated before. The understanding of the...
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Prince of Pot surrenders

September 30, 2009 - Canadian activist Marc Emery, also known as the ‘Prince of Pot’ was taken into police custody on September 28, and now awaits extradition to the US, where he faces a five year prison sentence. He has sold millions of marijuana seeds around the world through the internet over the past decade. And while the Canadian government was fully aware of his business and did not have any problems...
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The art of acid

September 25, 2009 - Online art and culture magazine Juxtapoz published an interview with blotter artist Mark McCloud, who is known to have the most diverse and extensive collection of Blotter Art on the planet. In the interview Mark gives a rundown on the history of blotter art, and shares his view on this extraordinary art form; McCloud believes "it is the great American art in miniature". About...
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Dutch border town coffee shop owners lose court battle

September 18, 2009 - Following new rules set earlier this year, eight coffeeshops in the Dutch border towns Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom are no longer allowed to sell cannabis. Under the ban, the shops are allowed to stay open and serve alcohol but not marijuana. If they continued to sell marijuana, they could be punished with a five year closure. The ban comes in an attempt from the mayors of these towns to...
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Canada approves new MDMA study

September 9, 2009 - Two Canadian therapists have been permitted to give ecstasy to patients in a scientific trial aimed at finding new ways to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologist Andrew Feldmar and psychiatrist Ingrid Pacey, with the help of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies ( MAPS ), are recruiting 12 people to take part in the trial, which they hope might...
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Noche de pelicula en la tienda de Azarius!

September 2, 2009 - Hace años que organizamos noches de películas en la oficina de Azarius. El viernes 18 de septiembre tenemos nuestra primera noche de películas en la nueva tienda , situada en Kerkstraat 119 en Amsterdam. Habrá bocadillos y bebidas disponibles, pero siéntete libre de traer tus propios. Empezaremos con uno de los mejores documentales sobre usos nativos y modernos de plantas y de compuestos...
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Maria puede proteger el cerebro contra alcohol

September 2, 2009 - La marijuana puede proteger el cerebro contra algo del daño causado por el binge que bebe, según un nuevo estudio. Los investigadores en la Universidad de California San Diego realizaron exploraciones del cerebro entre 16 - a 19 años en tres grupos: los bebedores, los bebedores que también fuman porros, y ésos con pequeña experiencia de consumición droga y alcohol. Los bebedores demostrados...
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Plantación de marihuana es campo de testes de la Universidad

September 1, 2009 - Una plantación con nada menos que 47,000 plantas de marihuana ha sido descubierta en un campo de maíz dulce cerca de Lelystad el miércoles pasado y pertenece a la Universidad de Wageningen. La plantación ha sido descubierta por la policía que recibió una llamada anónima. Un helicóptero de la policía fue usado para localizar el campo de cannabis. ( video en holandés ) De inicio, segundo la...
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