CALIFORNIA MEDICAL POT GROWERS SEE BRIGHT SPOT IN FEDERAL CRACKDOWN
- -- HIGHER PRICES

A crackdown by federal prosecutors is casting a long shadow over the
state's marijuana industry, but there is one bright spot, at least
for some Northern California growers willing to risk prison time:

Wholesale prices appear to be on the rise.

After slumping, prices for a pound of high-grade, outdoor-grown
marijuana are stabilizing and in some areas are up between 20 percent
and 40 percent, according to interviews with growers, law enforcement
agents and analysts.

"It's been a downward thrust since 1996, but this year, prices have
been up," said Kym Kemp, a Humboldt-based blogger.

In recent years, California's medical marijuana industry attracted
new players harvesting increasingly large amounts of pot for
storefront dispensaries and the black market. Some longtime operators
responded by also "growing big."

Surging production pushed down prices for some strains to less than
$1,000 per pound. This led more growers to illegally ship their pot
out of state, where they can double or triple their profits.

This year, production dropped in part because of rainy weather and a
"bumper crop of mold," said medical marijuana grower and activist
Charley Custer.

Stepped-up enforcement by local and federal law officers has also led
some growers to reduce plant counts.

BALLOT WATCH

The California Supreme Court expects to rule as early as the end of
January on which state Senate districts would apply to next year's
elections if a Republican-backed referendum challenging the new maps
qualifies for the November ballot. Justices told parties Friday to
submit arguments this month in preparation for oral arguments in early January.

WORTH REPEATING

"I see Prop 65 warning at coffee shop for chemicals in coffee & baked
goods. Do authors of Prop 65 expect us to not drink coffee? #overreach"

SEN. TED LIEU, D-Torrance, via Twitter, about the 1986 measure
intended to protect Californians from chemicals causing cancer or birth defects