The Herald, 16 Dec 2012 – SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – President Barack Obama says he won’t go after pot users in Colorado and Washington, two states that just legalized the drug for recreational use. But advocates argue the president said the same thing about medical marijuana – and yet U.S. attorneys continue to force the closure of dispensaries across the U.S. Welcome to the confusing and often conflicting policy on pot in the U.S., where medical marijuana is legal in many states, but it is increasingly difficult to grow, distribute or sell it. And at the federal level, at least officially, it is still an illegal drug everywhere.

Press-Enterprise, 15 Dec 2012 – Local cities think they can use zoning to ban medical marijuana dispensaries ("Medical marijuana dispensary ban upheld again," Dec.3). But the majority of Californians voted to approve Prop. 215, legalizing medicinal pot, and local politicians should not have the after-the-fact power to ban it.

The Ukiah Daily Journal, 14 Dec 2012 – To the Editor: I don’t grow marijuana. I don’t smoke marijuana. I do pay taxes and believe there are more like me in this city. Why should my tax money go to hire an out of town attorney to fight the federal government over something I don’t believe in? Do the supervisors really believe we are above federal law? If so, we need to start thinking about our elected officials before the federal government decides to withdraw all help they give to this county.

Sacramento News & Review, 13 Dec 2012 – Please, please, please tell me that California is gonna be the next state to legalize weed. Can it happen? – -California Cannabis Crusader No one really knows. It’s like California is losing its status as a groundbreaking state. Legalize weed? Hell, we can’t even legalize gay marriage.

The Cullman Times, 16 Dec 2012 – SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – President Barack Obama says he won’t go after pot users in Colorado and Washington, two states that just legalized the drug for recreational use. But advocates argue the president said the same thing about medical marijuana – and yet U.S. attorneys continue to force the closure of dispensaries across the U.S. Welcome to the confusing and often conflicting policy on pot in the U.S., where medical marijuana is legal in many states, but it is increasingly difficult to grow, distribute or sell it. And at the federal level, at least officially, it is still an illegal drug everywhere.

Chico Enterprise-Record, 16 Dec 2012 – This is not an opinion – it’s a fact. According to a news release, there are 55,000 people in the state of Oregon with a "medical marijuana" card. Wow. That’s an awful lot of ill people living there. And here I have always been under the impression that because of its fresh air and wholesome environment, it was a desirable and healthy place in which to live. Sadly, since the state of Washington has legalized pot, now there is concern that it could become a source of pot for Oregon and Idaho.

Appeal-Democrat, 13 Dec 2012 – Elections have consequences. Mitt Romney was poised to be president of the United States. He lost the election and ended up on the Marriott hotel chain’s board of directors. He went from nearly being the next leader of the free world to trying to keep hotel guests from stealing from their hotel room mini-bars. Overlooked in the long race for president (won, as most marathons are, by a Kenyan) were some state votes on social issues.

The Orange County Register, 13 Dec 2012 – The problem of legalizing marijuana has nothing to do with those who smoke it ["What a long, strange trip," Focus/Society, Dec. 11] but has everything to do with economics and why it was made illegal. Marijuana, or the hemp plant, is an amazing species that has a multitude of uses. It was that threat that still makes it illegal. The almighty dollar is what matters. There are about 2,000 varieties of hemp. Look at how great hemp is. The seeds of its plant are the only ones in the world that contain all the essential fatty acids and amino acids required by the human body. The oil can be used for lamps, food, bio-fuels, cosmetics, skincare, health aids and medicinal purposes. The fiber makes excellent paper products which do not yellow or disintegrate over time, unlike regular tree paper. Also it makes great building and construction materials, hemp plastics and rope. In textiles and fabrics, it far surpasses the cotton plant. Since it is more easily grown in wider climates, it requires few pesticides and no herbicides, has fewer problems with pests and is easier to harvest.

The Press Democrat, 10 Dec 2012 – The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors this week could drastically cut the amount of medical marijuana allowed for patients outside city limits. The board on Tuesday will consider a proposal to get rid of guidelines the supervisors approved six years ago allowing medical marijuana patients to have 30 plants and three pounds of dried pot per year.

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