State Capital.

Today I head to Sacramento to attend meetings and workshops put on by the State of California for those of us who work as drug and alcohol program directors for our county. That's my job title these days, and if you know me, you'll know there's a little irony in that. I'll go from my small county existence to a large county for the small counties meetings. Here, I'll be in a large hotel conference room in what now feels like a very large city and discuss the effect of budget cuts on our small counties. I'll represent the smallest county there--12,000 people at last count, and shrinking. We have 4.2 people per square mile here in Mono County, which seems about right; after all, I saw four people (and six dogs) when I was hiking after work yesterday.

This will be the first time I'll consciously prepare myself to go from a two stop light, no traffic town to trying to find my imbedded driving fast on the freeway memory. I learned to drive on LA freeways, so I do know how to manage heavy metal rushing around me at high speeds. Still....to be around the city takes an odd combination of tuning out and paying attention. "I'll take the notice but don't notice plate please."

The hotel where I stay prides itself on giving their guest "a home town feel." One way they do this is to remember your name, so I'll be Ms. Roberts for the next three days. Of course, I am living in a small town in a small county where I am beginning to experience the phenomenon of "being a local." Just yesterday Scott the postal worker remembered my name when he handed me the package of tea I'd just purchased over the internet. Donna knows me at Vons and Lynne always greets me by name when I come into her pet store. This will only increase, of course, as we get past the "how do I know her/him" look when we see each other about town. You have to be here awhile before the locals will give you the nod. You have to prove your salt, get through a few winters, before the person who sees you everyday is willing to remember your name.

At my meetings there will be a panel discussing the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of addiction. I'm interested to see if there will be a collision at the intersection between rigidity, hysteria and reality. Mammoth and Mono County is just beginning the dialogue about medicinal cannabis dispensaries. There's a lot of, "we're not like that" in the political talk, but as the director of drug and alcohol services for the county, I can tell you otherwise. Just as a citizen walking the trails ("what's that smell?") I can tell you we are in fact "like that." Doesn't take a rocket scientist or a 'drug counselor' to figure out snowboarding culture demands a bong hit or two. Not to mention, all the poor young people I see with "back problems", who got their pot card in LA.

At this conference I'll be interested in the dialogue between those who do, those who did and those who might benefit if they would. I think I see a cultural tide changing, but can we adjust? Will each "side" see the other's point of view? Will anyone say, "mellow out man" or "dave's not here"? Will I?

Big city politics for a small county gal.