It is official: The war between U.S. federal government criminalizing marijuana versus states has begun. California is the biggest change thus far.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is preparing a new assault against legal marijuana. He is trying to annul a policy allowing U.S. states to fully operate legal marijuana within their jurisdiction. This came from sources, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press.
The sources said they were not allowed to publicly discuss it before an announcement expected Thursday. The bid will leave it to U.S. attorneys to decide whether to aggressively enforce federal marijuana law, The Associated Press reported.
This will further complicate the situation on the ground. People are already confused on whether it’s allowable to grow, buy or use marijuana in states. Sessions is an anti-marijuana hardliner. He compares marijuana to heroin and blames it for spikes in violence.
The Associated Press report is a follow up to The Daily Beast’s article published on Wednesday. Secondly, The Daily Beast reported that an advisor to Sessions wants American doctors to make drug testing part of a primary-care medicine.
Making drug testing a routine, could land people in hot waters and force some users into treatment against their will.
Nevertheless, Sessions is vowing to change the Obama administration’s policy. In 2013, the former administration announced that it would not stand in the way of states that legalize marijuana. As long as officials acted to keep it from migrating to places where it remained criminalized.
GOP senator threatens Sessions
In reaction, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) threatened in a series of tweets on Thursday to start holding up the confirmation process for White House Justice Department nominees unless Sessions backs from advancing his crackdown on already legalized marijuana.
Gardner said Sessions had told him before he was confirmed by the Senate that he would not change the Obama-era policy.
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.
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) January 4, 2018
This reported action directly contradicts what Attorney General Sessions told me prior to his confirmation. With no prior notice to Congress, the Justice Department has trampled on the will of the voters in CO and other states.
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) January 4, 2018
The US attorney in Colorado also said there will be no change to marijuana enforcement despite Sessions’ shift on pot policy.
BREAKING: US attorney in Colorado: No change to marijuana enforcement despite Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ shift on pot policy.
— AP West Region (@APWestRegion) January 4, 2018
