A U. S. military nurse who cared for Saddam Hussein in jail threw light on the softer side of the person deemed responsible for taking the lives of hundreds of people. The nurse said Hussein actually saved bread crusts to feed birds and was a very cooperative person. Master Sgt. Robert Ellis cared for the disgraced leader from January 2004 until August 2005 at Camp Cropper. Ellis said Hussein also watered weeds in a jail garden and drank coffee while smoking cigars to keep his blood pressure down.

A 120-year-old woman claims that smoking cannabis every day is her secret to long life. Fulla Nayak, from India, says she reached the age of 120 by smoking pot and drinking strong palm win in her hut everyday.

A professor of philosophy and a professor of criminology, enacting Canadian human rights and medical marijuana legislation, were granted the right to smoke the green plant in specially ventilated rooms near their offices this week. According to a report by Reuters, both professors suffer from chronic medical conditions and their doctors say smoking pot can alleviate some of the physical symptoms of pain. Each professor was able to convince their academic employers that they must have the right to smoke on campus as opposed to their previous arrangements to make trips just off university grounds to partake.

According to an article published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the war in Lebanon and increased border security with Palestine and Egypt has caused the price of marijuana to rise eightfold. Smoking and distributing cannabis are illegal in Israel.

Pop singer George Michael has openly admitted to taking drugs, saying smoking cannabis helps keep him "sane. " The singer recently revealed his drug-taking habits during a television talk show. In fact, Michael says he even lit up before his interview for the British show 'South Bank Show'. According to British newspaper The Daily Mirror, Michael told interviewer Melvyn Bragg: "This is the only drug I've ever thought worth taking but you have to wait.