MARIJUANA CHARGES DISMISSED AGAINST POT ADVOCATE

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The district attorney's office has dismissed charges
- -- for now -- against a nationally known medical marijuana advocate after
police said they found more than $60,000 worth of packaged pot and child
pornography in his apartment.

Richard Evans, 35, was arrested after police searched his San Francisco
home last Friday night.

The charges were not permanently dismissed, but were "discharged" pending
further review, said John Shanley, a spokesman for District Attorney
Terence Hallinan. He said prosecutors planned to decide by next week
whether to refile the charges.

A silent emergency alarm alerted officers to Evans' apartment, where they
said they discovered an elaborate marijuana growing operation.

Evans was jailed on charges of cultivation and possession for sale of
marijuana and possession of child pornography.

Officers responding to the alarm forced their way into the apartment
believing it may have been triggered by someone with a medical emergency.