top of page
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Attorney General Terminates Obama Administration's Hands-Off Policy in Legalized Pot States



image: @reuters

Just after the passing of California’s Proposition 64 which legalized marijuana in the state on January 1, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has reverse the policy of the Obama Administration. Obama’s hands-off approach discouraged enforcement in states that legalized the drug, with the expectation that state officials would act to keep it out of the hands of criminal gangs and children.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been a strong enemy of marijuana, and has referred to the drug as dangerous, comparing it to heroin. In a written statement, the Attorney General said, “It is the mission of the Department of Justice to enforce the laws of the United States, and the previous issuance of guidance undermines the rule of law and the ability of our local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to carry out this mission. Therefore, today’s memo on federal marijuana enforcement simply directs all U.S. Attorneys to use previously established prosecutorial principles that provide them all the necessary tools to disrupt criminal organizations, tackle the growing drug crisis, and thwart violent crime across our country.”

White house spokeswoman Sara Sanders addressed the press, saying President Trump strongly believed in enforcement of federal law regardless of the topic, be it immigration or marijuana and that the termination of the policy under the previous administration would now allow prosecutors to go after large scale distributors. Out of the 93 U.S. attorney slots across the country, President Trump has nominated 58 people, 46 have been confirmed by the Senate. On Wednesday, Sessions picked 17 more, serving in interim posts in Nevada, California, and Washington, all states where marijuana is legal.

Advocates against the federal law said that Sessions’ action could be the beginning of the country returning to the war on drugs, which disproportionately targeted African-Americans and ballooned the prison population. It is still unclear if a new policy will replace the termination of the Obama era-rule. It is also unclear how it will affect retailers of marijuana in legalized states. The legalization of pot in California is projected to generate $1 billion in tax revenue over the next several years.


RK Magazine Logo_Circle-04.png
bottom of page