Not Always Sunny in California

"Of particular importance to California is whether federal authorities will tolerate states, cities or counties licensing and regulating commercial marijuana growing and distribution.

Tommy LaNier of the National Marijuana Initiative, which is funded by the White House, is unequivocal: "That, in very simple terms, is what drug traffickers do,” LaNier says.

Justice Department officials in California say they are stepping up a broad enforcement strategy that could target medical marijuana operators even if they are in compliance with state medical marijuana laws.

But Jay Rorty, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, says those warnings violate previous assurances from federal officials.

"It's important that the DOJ makes clear that people who are complying with valid state law do not fear federal prosecution," Rorty says.

Rorty and others insist that was the promise made in a 2009 Justice Department memo, which he interprets this way: Comply with state law, and federal officials won't prosecute you." Read More