What would you do

Last week, the Obama administration sent out a letter to U.S. attorneys reminding them the cultivation and distribution of marijuana is illegal under federal law (http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/federal-officials-could-target-states-marijuana-industry-11260). The letter also stated the U.S. Department of Justice can prosecute “those who knowingly facilitate such activities,” strongly implying the government would be cracking down on states, such as California, that up until now have been skirting the law.

In a joint investigation with KQED, and in association with “FRONTLINE,” (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/2011/07/feds-remind-states-marijuana-is-illegal.html) the Center for Investigative Reporting is launching a series of reports looking at how the United States, and especially California, has gotten to this point. Today, more than a third of all states have some form of legislation allowing for medical marijuana use – in California, the city of Oakland went further than any other city by proposing to license four large pot-growing facilities.

So what is the solution? KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting want to hear from you about what measures the federal government and the states could take to deal with this billion-dollar industry. If you were in charge, how would you change the legislation? We’ve crafted a Public Insight Network query that you can fill out either online (http://www.publicinsightnetwork.org/form/cir-and-kqed/59504e7aa117/how-would-you-change-marijuana-laws) or via text and voice messages. To respond by phone, just text the word CAPOT to 30644. We look forward to reading – and hearing – your suggestions.