The “Yelp for marijuana” is getting an ad on the New York Times

Tomorrow readers of the Sunday New York Times will have an added distraction to the crossword puzzle: a paid advertisement for marijuana. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. On July 5, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law New York’s Compassionate Care Act, making the use of medicinal marijuana legal. Conditions qualifying for legal purchase and use of marijuana include cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord tissue damage, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s Disease, neuropathies and Huntington’s Disease). The advertiser getting all the buzz (so sorry) is Leafly, but it isn’t actually marijuana at all. The company is described as a “Yelp” of marijuana, offering an exchange of information in the surprisingly complicated world of selection and ingestion. Leafly’s website describes the company as “the world’s largest cannabis information community,” inviting visitors to “discover, connect and share.” There is a Leafly app available for iPad, iPhone and Android devices, as well. Through the website or app, potential users can search dispensaries by entering their zip code. A variety of licensed outlets appear, with distance, “$” to indicate price, user reviews, and home delivery options. Further details include information like does the dispensary offer a veteran’s discount or accept credit cards. Imagine a restaurant review format that replaces sushi and pizza with marijuana brownies and vaporizers.