Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr Schwarzenegger

[T_i_B]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1065788,00.html

Where there's smoke, there's fire, said California's new governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the final days of his campaign in response to allegations of his harassing women. At the time, it seemed as though he was speaking metaphorically but, in retrospect, maybe he was pondering on the issue of what Californians smoke and where and what should be done about it.

This week comes news of the latest extension of the various bans on smoking in the state. California has one of the strictest no-smoking policies in the world: no cigarettes in bars, restaurants, public buildings and some public parks. Now a Los Angeles city council member, Jack Weiss, wants to extend the ban to LA's beaches. A small town, Solana Beach, down the coast near San Diego, has just voted for such a ban. LA may follow suit.

In fact, this has been a big week for local smokers of all varieties. First, we now have a cigar-smoking governor. But could this lead to the thawing of relations with Cuba? Amazingly, it is still illegal to bring a Cuban cigar into the United States. Second, we have the proposed ban on smoking on the beaches of LA. And third, the supreme court has rebuffed the Bush administration by ruling that doctors in California and six other western states are free to recommend marijuana to their patients.

The supreme court ruling was in response to an appeal by the Bush administration against a regional court decision to uphold a doctor's right to recommend marijuana. This does not mean medical marijuana is legal, but offers some protection to doctors who might suggest its benefits to a patient.