The LA Times reports that the White House drug czar issued a warning to parents on Friday about the link between Marijuana use and depression, especially amongst teens. Here's a clip from the story:

The report, timed to be released during Mental Health Awareness Month, cited a study that marijuana use increases the risk of developing mental disorders later in life by 40%.

"In short, marijuana makes a bad situation worse," said John P. Walters, director of the drug control policy office.

Critics said the administration was trying to scare teenagers by exaggerating the dangers.

"When you start convincing young people and their parents that marijuana is the cause of problems rather than the symptom of them, you can get into real problems," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Washington-based Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates decriminalization of the drug. "It may cause people, parents, teens and counselors to overlook the real cause of the problem."

The LA Times stays objective in this one, the White House, as always is feeding us more BS and FUD, the American College of Physicians seems to disagree with he White House quite a bit.

I was appalled when I read this story on NORML. It seems a 27 year old quadriplegic man died in jail, after being put there for a minor Marijuana charge. He was given improper health care and died as a result, here's a snippet from the article:

The victim, Jonathan Magbie, had been paralyzed from the neck down since the age of four, was unable to breath on his own, and required nursing care 20 hours a day.

Magbie was sentenced to spend ten days in jail on September 20, 2004 after pleading guilty to one charge of marijuana possession. Though prosecutors had recommended probation, the judge in the case ordered Magbie to serve jail time - noting that the defendant had told pre-sentence investigators that he would continue using marijuana because it made him feel better.

I hope the judge and the jail staff can live with the blood of Jonathan on their hands for the rest of their lives.

SF Gate has word that the DEA plans to target landlords to get rid of S.F. pot clubs. It seems that the owners of the land that rent to pot club owners are being threatened that if they rent to these medical marijuana providers, they could lose their buildings. Here's a snip:

"By this notice, you have been made aware of the purposes for which the property is being used," said a copy of the letter sent to Sacramento landlords, signed by the special agent in charge of the DEA's San Francisco office, Javier Pena.

"You are further advised that violations of federal laws relating to marijuana may result in criminal prosecution, imprisonment, fines and forfeiture of assets."

They will stop at nothing to stop the medical marijuana movement, it's a shame the buildings are owned and operated by California residents, which makes it a state matter.

The OC Register posted news of talks to place a ban on medical Marijuana dispensaries in Huntington Beach, CA. It seems the city council is worried that a pot club would bring violence and other ills to their city, here's a snip from the article:

The council will vote tonight on an ordinance that bans the dispensaries from opening in the city. Huntington Beach is one of several cities that in the last several years has shied away from an 11-year-old law enacted by voters that allows medical marijuana dispensaries to open and operate in the state.

Huntington has no medical marijuana dispensaries. The closest legal medical marijuana dispensaries are located in Los Angeles.

Mayor Gil Coerper said he believes there are better alternatives than medical marijuana to ease the pain of illnesses. He said medical marijuana dispensaries can promote violence.

Violence? I doubt it.