The potency of marijuana increased last year to the highest it has been in 30 years. A report released by the White House said that this means there are greater health risks for those who view the drug as harmless. Analysis was done at the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project to track the average amounts of THC. Levels have more than doubled since the 1980’s due to sophisticated growing techniques, like hydroponic systems.

John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said there are risks of psychological, cognitive and respiratory problems and the potential to become dependent on cocaine and heroin. I just have to say I have never used marijuana then felt the sudden urge to pick up a needle but hey, whatever. There’s no data that shows the higher potency leads to more addiction. Marijuana withdrawl symptoms are said to be mild irritability, craving for weed and decreased appetite. Well then wouldn’t you just smoke some weed, be happy, end the cravings and eat a crapload of food? Being hungover from drinking way to many dollar beers or running out of coffee seems way worse. Like a psychology professor at the State University of New York said, “Stronger cannabis leads to less inhaled smoke.”

There was a huge drug bust at San Diego State today. Nearly 100 people arrested for selling drugs in “Operation Sudden Fall”. 75 of them were students, more than a few of them studying for a degree in criminal justice and homeland security. The DEA infiltrated seven frats, where students regularly bought coke from frequently enough for one of the Theta Chi bros to send out mass text messages to his “faithful” customers advertising a sale on cocaine.

Check out the confiscated items list: four pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana and 350 ecstasy pills. Authorities also confiscated a shotgun, three semiautomatic pistols and $60,000.

DAMN! Kids these days!

Last week when I wrote about “Pancho and Lefty” I hadn’t realized that the man who made that song famous was having his birthday right around the corner. Today, American songwriter and Outlaw Country Music King Willie Nelson turns 75. NPR’s Fresh Air did a nice piece on Willie today, you can check it out here (audio available after 3 PM EST). They also played a portion of an interview and live set he did with Terry Gross from a few years back, and you can hear the whole thing here.

Willie Nelson will release a live album with acclaimed jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis on July 8th on Blue Note Records. Entitled Two Men With The Blues, the album was compiled from a two-night stand at the Lincoln Center in January of 2007. I got my advance press copy last week, and while the blues ranks kinda far down the list of my favorite genres, the disc is legit, showcasing two masters of American music. Here’s a teaser:

April 20th has come and gone, but not before it saw thousands of adolescents across the country tokin’ up and getting down with some fine herb. If you happened to partake in the festivities however, you may want to be wary. A bout of lead poisoning in Leipzig, Germany baffled doctors and it looks like Mary Jane was to blame.

According to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine, over the past 3-4 months about 29 incidents of lead poisoning were reported in the Leipzig area. This alarmed city officials, as Leipzig has been lead poison free in recent decades, and they were eager to discover the cause of the poisoning in case a public threat were imminent. Finally after probing the victims for background information, the culprit was revealed…

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Kevin Nealon takes time off from filming Showtime’s Weeds to sing a song about the monikers of herb. I can’t wait to see the new episodes! WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN TO NANCY!?!?!!!

Kevin Nealon on 4/20 - Watch more free videos

Season Four of ‘Weeds’ Begins on Showtime on June 16. Season Three DVD and soundtrack (feat. Beirut, Oh No! Oh My!, Illinois, Ween, Page France) out digitally on June 3.

I love stoners. Their humor is so absurd and silly. The latest joke is the new strain of marijuana they’re calling “Tom Cruise Purple.” LOL! You totally see visions of L. Ron Hubbard and laugh your ass off maniacally. And Mr. Cruise? Not amused.

One of Cruise’s friends found it “outrageous” that licensed cannabis clubs in Northern California are selling vials of pot featuring a picture of Cruise laughing hysterically. One weed devotee said, “I heard it’s the kind of pot that makes you hallucinate.”

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