Patients increase control of Insane Asylum

I hear the area of LA I live in is being renamed the "Faux-Medical Marijuana District," but at least they are getting the scourge of plastic grocery bags under control:

The city of Santa Monica's ban on plastic shopping bags took effect Wednesday with supermarkets, convenience stores, liquor stores and pharmacies barred from handing out single-use plastic bags.

A six-month grace period will be in place before enforcement kicks in, with fines starting at $75 per infraction. Criminal prosecution is possible for repeat offenders.

Recyclable paper bags will still be available in stores for 10 cents apiece. [...]

The Ralphs grocery store in Santa Monica expects little resistance to the ban. Assistant manager June Kim said 30% to 40% of their customers already bring their own reuseable totes to shop. [...]

I understand those are a bacterial nightmare.