Posted on 11/30/2017 10:49:51 AM PST by GIdget2004
Attorney General Jeff Sessions hinted Wednesday that the Justice Department may take a tougher stance on recreational marijuana in the near future, a change in policy that would have a significant impact on the five states plus the District of Columbia that already allow the drug to be used for more than medicinal purposes.
California is scheduled to join that group on Jan. 1.
Sessions and other DOJ officials previously indicated they would continue the policy laid out by the department under former President Barack Obama, which in essence allows state officials leeway in how they deal with the drug as long as they meet certain standards, like keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors, keeping it from crossing into states where it isn’t legal and preventing drugged driving.
Marijuana, however, remains illegal under federal law, and there was always the possibility the Trump administration could crack down.
“In fact, we’re looking at that very hard right now, we had a meeting yesterday and talked about it at some length,” Sessions said at a press conference Wednesday. “It’s my view that the use of marijuana is detrimental, and we should not give encouragement in any way to it, and it represents a federal violation, which is in the law and is subject to being enforced.”
“We are working our way through to a rational policy, but I don’t want to suggest in any way that this department believes that marijuana is harmless and people should not avoid it,” the attorney general added, noting that DOJ was also considering how to deal with opiods and other drugs.
Ian Prior, principal deputy director of public affairs at DOJ, declined to comment on what a new “rational policy” might look like or when it might be enforced.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
Other than with, perhaps, major importers of the stuff I think this should be a state matter. The Fed has much more important stuff to deal with and spend our money on.
I’m not a fan of pot, but I’m a list of 1000 things, I put this in place 1001 is far as important.
Well, if he’s got nothing better to do ...
Appointing Sessions as AG was a mistake.
You go girl! Get our priorities right.
Come on AG Sessions, forget the Pot. Go after the Clintons.
Jeff, Jeff, give it a rest. You may be too old for the trio of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, but the last two are worth a try. Two out of three ain’t bad. Don’t spoil it for the rest of us.
My very liberal sister who has lived in Colorado for 20 years says that legalization caused a huge influx of homeless slackers into the state. Marijuana is a problem.
Why in God’s name would Sessions go after the Clintons. Even if it goes someplace, she’ll never see any type of punishment. She’s no Martha.
Good to see Sessions focused on the really important issues. (Deep, dripping sarcasm)
Next up, illicit “in-home” mattress tag removal and illegal dubbing of vcr tapes.
It’s the major exporters, ie Cartels, that are beginning to feel the pinch of losing all that tax free money. Especially when California goes on line, since they found it easier to grow and ship from there instead of smuggling it across the border.
If you want less of something, tax the hell out of it.
My suggestion to Sessions is to get a tax on it pushed through congress or if an executive order can do it like Obamacare tax, get Trump to do it.
Sessions = Nero.
If Sessions goes after legal cannabis states & medical marijuana states he’s going to create a nightmare that could very well cost us far more than the Congress in 2018.
Too bad Hillary didn’t facilitate Russia commandeering 20% of our marijuana supply to Russia. She’d be in BIG trouble.
Sessions is a flaming asshole.
For your interest.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.