Ironically, Roy Cohn, of all people pointed that out at the time. Also, California trends have a way of setting the pace for the rest of the country for better or worse. For better, salad with meals, Reagan and the tax revolt. For worse, unfortunately the list may be much longer
You are correct: the land of fruits and nuts comes up with left-coast marxist legislation and within 15 years, due to the full faith and credit clause, legal fads spread across the whole country. Two of the very worst things for this nation were signed into law early on by Reagan as governor of California: abortion and "no-fault" divorce. He deeply regretted both.