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Two teens are in custody after police say they broke into a medical marijuana dispensary.

Officers say that an employee with the business saw the teens inside the Easy Natural Alternatives dispensary when watching a surveillance video, and called police around 1 a.m. Wednesday. When an officer arrived to the dispensary on the 3000 block of Pine Tree Square in Colorado Springs, he noticed a vehicle leaving the premises. The driver refused to stop, but the officer was able to track down the vehicle after getting the license plate number.

When found and questioned, police say that both teens confessed to the burglary. All of the stolen merchandise was returned.

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Austin. TX - There's been a big push lately from California to Washington to legalize marijuana, but one Texas State Representative is looking to reduce the penalties on those caught in possession of relatively small amounts of marijuana.

Rep. Harold Dutton Jr. (D-Houston) is planning on bringing House Bill 458 to legislature that would reclassify possession of less than one ounce of marijuana from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Class C Misdemeanor. A Class B misdemeanor would be issued for those with 2 ounces or less, but more than one ounce. A Class A Misdemeanour would be issued to those in possession of 4 ounces or less but more than 2 ounces. And a state jail felony would be issued to those in possession of five pounds or less but more than four ounces.

A Class B Misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine and/or six months in jail, while a Class C Misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of a $500 fine. Currently, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana is a Class B Misdemeanor.

Many organizations pushing to legalize marijuana in the state of Texas say that a small bill like this could help down the road in the fight for legalization.

Full version of House Bill 548

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MEDFORD, Ore.-- A local hockey coach is arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing marijuana Saturday.

Eric Hamlet turned himself into authorities after allegations of possessing large amounts of weed. Police say Hamlet and his hockey team were on their way to a game in Vancouver, Washington when he stopped the bus at a Post Office in Albany. That's when he attempted to mail a box that post office employees found suspicious.

"What made it kind of suspicious was just somebody coming to pay a large amount of cash to get this box shipped overnight, no signature required," said Albany Police Captain Eric Carter.

Police inspected the package to discover 20 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $65,000. Twelve hours into the investigation, 37-year-old Erica Hamlet turned himself in and was arrested for the possession and distribution of marijuana.

Hamlet was the assistant coach for the Southern Oregon Spartan Hockey team all year. Co-owner Forest Sexton says he would have never suspected Hamlet to be involved in such a crime.

"We were just shocked and saddened-- worried for the boys," he said.

Spartan Fans say they hope what happened this weekend does not affect the team's image.

"The team has come a long way, I'd hate to see something like this tare the team apart," said longtime fan Buddy Lawruk.

Hamlet was released from jail Sunday after posting bail. He is suspended from the team without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leading hemp advocacy organizations Vote Hemp and the Hemp Industries Association are applauding the introduction two weeks ago of SB 676 in support of hemp farming in the state of California. The bill clarifies that industrial hemp is separate and distinct from forms of Cannabis used to produce marijuana and if passed will allow commercial farming of industrial hemp, which occurred in the state up until shortly after World War II. Industrial hemp is the non-psychoactive, low-THC, oilseed and fiber varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant. Hemp has absolutely no value as a recreational drug.

SB 676 was introduced on Friday, February 18th by state Senator Mark Leno. Senator Leno believes that hemp farming will help revitalize California's economy, "The time is long over due for California farmers to be allowed to grow this sustainable and profitable crop once again. The passage of SB 676 will create new jobs and economic opportunities for many farmers and manufacturers throughout the state."

A variety of products made from industrial hemp, including healthy food and natural body care products as well as eco-friendly clothing, are made in California. "There are over 50 member businesses of the Hemp Industries Association

(HIA) that make or sell hemp products in the state of California alone that could benefit from an in-state source of hemp seed, fiber and oil," says Eric Steenstra, Executive Director of the HIA. "Because of an outdated federal policy these businesses are forced to import millions of dollars of industrial hemp from Canada, China and Europe."

"Dr. Bronner's currently purchases twenty tons of hemp oil each year from Canada. We look forward to the day that we can meet our supply needs from hemp produced right here in our home state," says David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps of Escondido.  

To date, 17 states have passed pro-hemp laws or resolutions, including the California Assembly in 1999, when it passed a resolution declaring that "the Legislature should consider action to revise the legal status of industrial hemp to allow for its growth in California as an agricultural and industrial crop."

SB 676 would only allow farmers to produce and enter into the marketplace the parts of the industrial hemp plant already legal to import under state and federal law: its seed, oil, fiber and woody core. "SB 676 would not conflict with federal law or interfere with the enforcement of marijuana laws," explains Patrick Goggin, California Legal Counsel for Vote Hemp.  

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(CBS/AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Is medical marijuana going mainstream? 

On Saturday, a cavernous 10,000-aquare-foot pot emporium is set to open here, and in coming months the company behind it plans to open similar stores in Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey, and Oregon.

The new weGrow store - which wags have dubbed the "Wal-Mart of Weed" - isn't selling weed. It's offering up how-to experts and merchandise to help medical marijuana patients grow pot hydroponically.

The Sacramento Bee says the enterprise started in Oakland last year as a warehouse store called iGrow.

In the past, hydroponics outlets have avoided any mention of marijuana because pot cultivation is illegal under federal law. But hydroponics stores have exploded as states approve medical marijuana use.

Fifteen states now allow the use of marijuana for pain relief, nausea, and loss of appetite by people with debilitating diseases like AIDS and cancer, according to the New York Times. 

Given the federal government's opposition to decriminalizing pot, what should patrons of the weGrow store be called?

Smart shoppers? Or scofflaws?

(Source)