NPR has an interesting report on marijuana in California that I listened to yesterday and today. Things have really changed in CA since the passage of proposition 215 which allows the use of medical marijuana, and liberal interpretations of it by various counties. It's a good listen, and I find this bit from part two especially interesting:

"As they haul off a truckload of confiscated plants, (Sheriff's Sgt.) Hanson makes a somewhat surprising admission.

"'Part of me wants marijuana legalized,' he says, ''cause it would take away the wealth and the greed and the violence.'

"But he says it would have to be legalized in all of the U.S., not just California. 'Cause if it gets legalized in California, you'd have all the riffraff coming to California to make money to sell to the other 49 states,' he says."

Personally, I'm in favor of full legalization (or at least decriminalization) of marijuana for everyone. I used to hold different views on this, but after moving to Washington state four and a half years ago, where sometimes it seems everyone is smoking a little pot, I've eventually come to the conclusion that I just don't care. I'd rather hang out with folks who are a little high than a bit drunk.

Here are the links to the stories:

Part one: Marijuana Sales Boost Northern California County. Part two: California Officials Target Big Marijuana Growers.