Freedom Lawyers of America

Drug Czar misled press on teen's suicide, marijuana Marijuana Policy Project"The parents of a teen suicide victim -- presented to the national media ... as having been driven to suicide by his marijuana use -- have revealed that their son actually tested negative for marijuana and positive for alcohol at the time of his death. ... In a May 3 press conference sponsored by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Czar John Walters touted 'growing and compelling evidence ... that regular marijuana use can contribute to depression, suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia.' One example presented to the media was Christopher Skaggs, whose parents spoke. Mrs. Skaggs described how her 15-year-old son was caught smoking marijuana in January 2004 and committed suicide seven months later. ... But later that week, Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs ... revealed that toxicology tests ... found 'nothing in his system but alcohol at that time.'" (05/12/05)

National ID battle continues Wired News"Legislation supporting a standardized national driver's license may have won unanimous approval in the Senate on Tuesday, but the bill's apparently smooth passage left some jagged edges in its wake. The Real ID Act appeared in take-it-or-leave-it spending legislation, which effectively forced lawmakers to sign on to the whole measure even if they disagreed with a portion of it. Several Republican and Democrat senators who cast favorable votes for the bill simultaneously railed against the provision authorizing the new driver's license rules. They're not the only ones refusing to accept the bill peacefully. The National Governors Association is threatening lawsuits to fight the legislation. And some states are threatening to ignore the legislation because they say it will cost up to $700 million for states to comply and will place a heavy burden on Department of Motor Vehicles workers." (05/12/05)