The Times' Scott Glover reported earlier this month that the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles sent a confidential memo to prosecutors in February ordering them to stop filing charges against medical marijuana dispensaries -- then reversed himself on the issue a few days later.

Now there is word out of Washington that the Justice Department's stance on pot dispensaries might be changing. The Associated Press reports that Atty. Gen. Eric Holder says authorities will target marijuana distributors that violate both federal and state law — "a departure from the Bush administration, which targeted medical marijuana dispensaries in California, even if they complied with that state's law."

Holder has not spelled out details -- or whether Drug Enforcement Administration raids of California clinics will stop. [UPDATE at 1:45: Times reporters are looking at Holder's comments and will have a story later in the day. It remains unclear whether his comments will immediately change any DEA or Department of Justice policies].