A staff member of Harden Middle School in Salinas, California found a backpack with a strong smell of marijuana near the quad area of the school. School officials inspected the backpack and found a baggie containing an unspecified amount of marijuana and a smoking pipe. Officials then reviewed the schools security cameras to find out who the backpack (and marijuana) belonged to.

School officials were surprised to discover the backpack belonged to Harry Williams, 70, a substitute teacher at the school who had sat down with the backpack and forgot to pick it up when he left. Williams was questioned and admitted that it was his backpack and marijuana, but that he forgot it was in his bag when he came to work. (more…)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered more than 6,000 pounds of marijuana hidden in a shipment of door knobs (pictured). The tractor trailer hauling the marijuana was stopped at the Calexico East port cargo facility on the U.S/Mexico border in California.

Authorities say drug-sniffing dogs alerted officers to a total of 458 wrapped packages in 67 boxes and investigators estimate the marijuana’s value around $6 million. A 30-year-old trucker from Mexicali, Mexico, was arrested. His name wasn’t released. (more…)

Police officials in Los Angeles served a search warrant on an elaborate indoor marijuana garden (pictured) just 25 feet from the back door of the Topanga police station. Officials found 850 marijuana plants, grow lights, and an automated irrigation system.

An investigation was launched after police smelled marijuana from the station parking lot adjacent to the industrial building that housed the grow site. Investigators also discovered an unusually high electric bill to secure a search warrant which was executed Wednesday afternoon. Police also admitted the grow had been there at least 8 months despite being so close. (more…)

The small ski town of Breckenridge, Colorado recently made national headlines after voters approved a measure to decriminalize marijuana use for adults. The vote will surely inspire other towns to try and make their own rules on marijuana until state and federal laws catch up to the will of voters. Its important to note that Breckenridge’s success may not of happened without the example Denver set for the state by passing a decriminalization measure 4 years earlier.  Want more sensible marijuana laws in your town? The following cities help draw a blueprint for marijuana activists at the local level. (more…)

24-year-old U.S. Naval Academy student Juan D. Alonso was sentenced to nine years and 10 months in a military prison and a dishonorable discharge for his role in smuggling more than 150 pounds of marijuana.

Alonso was mentioned on Spark Report back in June when he was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after trying to smuggle marijuana in a rented car at the San Ysidro port of entry near San Diego. (more…)