California -- Los Angeles has become the unofficial capital of storefront shops that sell marijuana in recent years, and so many have sprouted that no one knows exactly how many exist. But those freewheeling times are skidding to a halt. The City Council has imposed a moratorium on any new pot shops and is moving to regulate the existing ones. Users are feeling a chill, too, from a recent court ruling that allows California employers to fire pot smokers even if the marijuana is used at home and purchased under state law.

New York -- Nearly three decades ago, Barack Obama stood out on the small campus of Occidental College in Los Angeles for his eloquence, intellect and activism against apartheid in South Africa. But Mr. Obama, then known as Barry, also joined in the party scene. Years later in his 1995 memoir, he mentioned smoking reefer in the dorm room of some brother and talked about getting high. Before Occidental, he indulged in marijuana, alcohol and sometimes cocaine as a high school student in Hawaii, according to the book.

Montpelier, VT — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it. Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.

Montpelier, VT — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it. Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.

Montpelier, VT — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it. Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.

Montpelier, VT — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it. Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.

Montpelier, VT — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it. Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.

Montpelier, VT — The House on Thursday overwhelmingly gave preliminary approval to a bill that would allow hemp to be grown in Vermont if the federal government permits it. Hemp is a product of the same plant as cannabis or marijuana, and the House Agriculture Committee member who described the hemp bill to his colleagues and urged its passage later called it unfortunate that the hemp and marijuana measures advanced on the same day.

Vermont -- It is true, as some have argued, that the need to free up the courts and police time from having to process small marijuana possession cases is not urgent. Therefore, that is no reason to alter the state penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug or possession of a small number of marijuana plants. However, that doesn't mean there are no good reasons for changing the law, which is now under consideration in the Vermont Legislature.

Vermont -- It is true, as some have argued, that the need to free up the courts and police time from having to process small marijuana possession cases is not urgent. Therefore, that is no reason to alter the state penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug or possession of a small number of marijuana plants. However, that doesn't mean there are no good reasons for changing the law, which is now under consideration in the Vermont Legislature.