Hot off the Press: Legalizing marijuana edition

Shit! A measure to legalize marijuana will appear on the November ballot in California: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marijuana-initiative25-2010mar25,0,4756689.story. If passed, the initiative would allow adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce for personal use. An OUNCE! I wonder, though, what the entire state has to say about it. Here's something I didn't know about Cali:

Possession of an ounce or less has been a misdemeanor with a $100 fine since 1975, when Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who was then governor, signed a law that reduced tough marijuana penalties that had allowed judges to impose 10-year sentences.

A $100 fine? Man, I should go get a sack today.

Great LAT article regarding the elaborate label art featured on many microbrews: http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-0325-beerlabel-20100325,0,5997038.story.

"Arabic is fastest-growing language at U.S. colleges": http://gazetteonline.com/top-story/2010/03/25/arabic-is-fastest-growing-language-at-u-s-colleges.

A NYT review of Nell Irvin Painter’s newest book, The History of White People, which I will no doubt buy: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/books/review/Gordon-t.html?hp.

Unusually warm weather has ended Vermont's maple syrup season early: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/us/27syrup.html?ref=us.

Though still insanely low compared to California's (and many other states), Iowa's high school drop out rate is on the rise: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100327/NEWS02/3270318/Dropout-rate-increases-again-Iowa-data-show.

"Push to Eat Local Food is Hampered by Shortage": http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/28slaughter.html?hp.

The illegal bunny trade is booming in downtown LA in the weeks before Easter, and LAPD is busy shutting sellers down: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-santee-animals28-2010mar28,0,1931710.story.

Many New York singles are living with more than three unrelated roommates, which is, technically, breaking a municipal law: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/29/nyregion/29roommates.html. More power to them (though living with a ton of roommates, who you don't know, sometimes sucks)!

Report show that the Republican National Committee spends thousands on limo rides, private air travel, and high-end sex clubs: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/us/30gop.html?hp. What are two pillars of their party platform: thrift and family values? I'm sure the DNC is just as guilty of the same shit.

Lobbyists prowling the State Capitol in New York disregard a sign not to enter the Assembly chambers through the west doors to mingle with legislators: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/nyregion/30hallway.html. A great metaphor, no?