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Federal Drug Czar Says California Pot Law Could Spark Court Action

PASADENA (AP) - President Barack Obama's drug czar says federal officials haven't ruled out taking legal action if California voters pass a ballot initiative to legalize recreational medical use.

Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske was in Southern California on Wednesday for a visit to a drug treatment center. He plans to discuss new government data on marijuana abuse in the state.

His trip follows Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement last week that the federal government plans to aggressively enforce anti-drug laws even if they are allowed under state law.

Kerlikowske tells The Associated Press that the Justice Department is "looking at all their options," including going to court to get the state measure struck down.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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