In news from California, federal prosecutors have announced a major crackdown on the state’s medical marijuana industry. Marijuana is legal for medical use in California, but the state laws conflict with federal law, which does not recognize any legal use for marijuana. It is unclear whether similar crackdowns will follow in other states. Benjamin Wagner is U.S. attorney in Sacramento.

Benjamin Wagner, U.S. attorney: "We are not focused on backyard grows with small amounts of marijuana for use by seriously ill people. We are targeting commercial operations which profit from growing and distributing marijuana, and which often use the trappings of state law for cover but in fact are abusing state law."

Many medical marijuana users criticized the Obama administration’s move to crack down on the industry.

Steve Younesien, medical marijuana user: "I just don’t understand this whole, what do you call it, business of controlling this stuff. This is the best painkiller I’ve ever used in my life."

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10/10/headlines