Marijuana-friendly states rebuke ‘reckless action’
Officials in states that have legalized medical and recreational marijuana are criticizing the Department of Justice for moving yesterday to eliminate protections for the booming cannabis industry.
U.S. Sen. Corey Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, angrily rebuked Attorney General Jeff Sessions yesterday on Twitter, accusing him of reneging on earlier assurances that prosecutors wouldn’t be unleashed on his state’s marijuana industry.
“I am prepared to take all steps necessary, including holding DOJ nominees, until the Attorney General lives up to the commitment he made to me prior to his confirmation,” Gardner wrote.
Colorado’s U.S. attorney Bob Troyer, meanwhile, said his office won’t change its approach to prosecuting marijuana crimes.
Troyer’s statement came hours after Sessions rescinded the Obama-era policy that had helped legalized marijuana flourish in Colorado and other states.
Sessions said prosecutors can now decide how aggressively to pursue marijuana cases.
Troyer said his office has always focused on prosecuting marijuana crimes that “create the greatest safety threats” and will continue to be guided by that goal. He says that’s consistent with Sessions’ latest guidance.
Eight states have legalized recreational marijuana, including Colorado, California, Oregon, Massachusetts and Maine. The first dispensaries in California opened just this week.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra had all but dared Sessions to initiate raids in his state, suggesting it would be a fool’s errand.
“Have no doubt,” Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted yesterday. “California will pursue all options to protect our reforms and rights.”
Bay State U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Congress should act to preserve recreational and medical marijuana.
“This reckless action by the DOJ disrupts the ability of states to enforce their own drug policies and puts our public health and safety at risk,” Warren said in a statement. “Congress needs to take immediate action to protect state marijuana laws and the patients that rely on them.”