Growing marijuana and marijuana use are illegal in the United States under federal law. However, eighteen states and the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, permit the use of marijuana for medical treatment. Just last week, President Obama joked about his own marijuana use as a college student. So it seems positions toward pot are changing.

The state of Washington legalized marijuana last year
Last year, voters in two western states approved the recreational use of small amounts of the [bad word]  In other words, people can smoke it for fun, much like the way they can use alcohol.

On our show today, we examine some of the measures being proposed to govern the production and sale of marijuana. And we visit the state of California to hear what people there think of the marijuana laws in other states.

Officials in Seattle, Washington expect their state’s new marijuana law to help the pot business grow into a multi-million industry within months. Avi Arditti tells about how this expansion might develop and what controls might be placed on it.

Patients flow in and out of The Joint, a marijuana supply center in Seattle. Owner Shy Sadis provides the [bad word] in many forms, including marijuana-based baked goods, like cookies, and soft drinks. 

Mr. Sadis hopes to expand his business to recreational pot users.

“All around Washington, and eventually someday, possibly in Oregon, California, Colorado, wherever cannabis is legal.”

Medical marijuana requires a [bad word] from a doctor. Marijuana supply centers, known as dispensaries, are set up as non-profit businesses. But, Washington state lawmaker Roger Goodman says a different business model is being created for recreational marijuana.

“We have to have regulations that put in place means to produce cannabis, to process it and to sell it, that’s economical enough to be sold at a price that’s lower than the black market, and yet that is high enough to deter youth consumption.”

Under the new Washington state law, adults 21 and older can possess about 28 grams of the [bad word]  However, there is still no legal way to buy marijuana, except for medical use. production, sales and supply system is to be put in place later this year.

Recreational marijuana could be heavily taxed and the industry could be huge. State and local officials hope to gain hundreds of millions of dollars to help finance government spending.

At the same time, local governments may save money from not having to investigate, try and jail marijuana users. Pete Holmes is a lawyer with the Seattle city government. He says whites have been treated differently from racial minorities in connection with marijuana control laws. He first noted this when he took office in 2010.

“And that was an eye opening experience for me, because of all the pending cases. 59 to 60 percent were against African-Americans in a city with a seven percent African-American population. And a progressive city, I would add.”

Psychologist Steve Freng works for [bad word] federal and local law enforcement program called the Northwest High Intensity [bad word] Trafficking Area. He says many questions about the new law have yet to be answered.

“How demand may increase, how consumption and purchasing may increase, how it’s going to impact folks under 21 years old, in much the manner that we are dealing with underage drinking right now.”

He says at least ten percent of marijuana users could [bad word] dependent on the [bad word]  Most marijuana supporters agree that pot is a psychotropic substance. They admit it can temporarily change behavior and thinking. They say it is not something everyone should use. But they also argue it is safer than alcohol.

Sixty-eight year old James Higgins is a medical marijuana user. He supports the legalization of the [bad word] 

“They will put no more people in jail for an ounce of weed (marijuana) or a couple of joints (marijuana cigarettes). Yes, I think it’s a good deal that it is legalized. It is going to help the economy and the peo