In the "it would be funny and surprising if you didn't live here" department, the Mendocino County assistant agricultural commissioner, Tony Linegar, is asking the state to regulate Marijuana cultivation so that the rules can be put in place to regulate medical marijuana crops as organic. "With no products officially developed for marijuana cultivation, some growers have been using chemicals intended for ornamental plants, which could make users sick."

Mendocino County, like many Northern California counties that once depended on a thriving lumber industry which now languishes, has been leading the way in both organic farming methods and the legal cultivation of marijuana. Municipalities and county government see an opportunity in legalizing cultivation as it would take the plant off of the black market, where there are no taxes or regulations, so that the industry could begin contributing to the community's economy. Further savings to the community would be realized because of the cost of enforcing prohibition. From the Department of Justice:

"Cannabis cultivation and marijuana use are widespread in Northern California. Because of the costs associated with surveillance and the eradication of cannabis, some Northern California authorities rank marijuana a more costly threat than cocaine. Medical marijuana initiatives complicate local law enforcement efforts throughout California. Authorities in some areas consider marijuana a more serious threat than cocaine because of manpower, violence, and financial issues."

In other words, as marijuana use and cultivation continue to be brought above board in California, significant gains in terms of health and safety could definitely be the result.

Image of some kind Canadian buds from the Department of Justice.