Now that a proposal to legalize pot is on the ballot in California, well-organized groups are lining up on both sides of the debate. And it's not just tie-dyed hippies versus anti-drug crusaders.

So far, the most outspoken groups on the issue are those affiliated with California's legal medical marijuana industry and law enforcement officials who vehemently oppose any loosening of drug laws.

whyprohibition.ca
kdvr.com

A 99-plant maximum for permitted marijuana growers is the new limit after the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 3-2 to adopt a set of changes to its ordinance governing medical marijuana cultivation, codified as Chapter 9.31 of the county code.

Fifth District Supervisor David Colfax and 3rd District Supervisor John Pinches voted against the changes.

"The people of California voted Prop. 215 (for) medical marijuana to be legal, but yet now we're going to get the sheriff department involved and coming into the houses and their bedrooms and stuff ... to me, that's not the whole concept of what legal' means," Pinches said.

ukiahdailyjournal.com

If they aren't already, elected officials in the District should be keeping close tabs on this year's election in California.

On Wednesday, advocates for legalizing marijuana officially secured enough signatures to put a referendum on the California ballot this November asking voters to legalize and tax pot.

And, judging by recent legislation in the District, what starts in California often eventually makes it way to the left-leaning District.

San Francisco's decision in 2007 to ban plastic bags, for example, was one impetus for the District's recently enacted bag tax. And San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome launched the modern same-sex marriage movement when he issued marriage licenses to gay couples in 2004 -- long before the District took up the issue.

washingtonpost.com