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The State of Washington's Attorney General says he will resist federal efforts to undermine his state's legalized cannabis laws:
With White House press secretary Sean Spicer suggesting Thursday that the Trump administration would crack down on states that have legal recreational marijuana, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson vowed to defend Washington state's legal pot law. "I will resist any efforts by the Trump administration to undermine the will of the voters in Washington state," Ferguson said in an interview. Spicer said during a press briefing Thursday that the issue rests with the Justice Department. But he said, "I do believe that you'll see greater enforcement of it."
[...] Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee sent a letter to U.S. attorney general Jeff Sessions, dated Feb. 15 that laid out arguments for Washington's state-regulated pot industry. They said illegal dealing is being displaced by a tightly regulated industry that is projected to pay $272 million in taxes this fiscal year. That frees up law-enforcement officers to protect communities facing more pressing threats. They also noted that legal pot entrepreneurs must undergo criminal and financial background checks.
California's Attorney General is also on board:
"Until we see any sort of formal plan from the federal government, it's full speed ahead for us," said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the California Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation. In Congress, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) plans to introduce legislation that could blunt Spicer's threat by preventing the Department of Justice from enforcing federal laws against the recreational use of marijuana in states that have legalized it, a spokesman said Friday. [...] California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra says he is ready to safeguard the rights of the 56% of voters who approved Proposition 64, which allows California adults to possess, transport and buy up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use.
In other weed news, make sure to check your weed bales for nukes.
(Score: 2) by Ellis D. Tripp on Sunday February 26 2017, @02:08AM
Just completely remove all mention of cannabis from state law. The DoJ can try to prevent states from passing new laws to legalize pot, but they can't force them to pass laws making it illegal.
Yes, the state would lose the tax revenue, and consumers would be stuck with the unregulated black market again, but the feds would be SOL as far as trying to arrest every pot smoker and grower without any assistance from state or local cops...
http://www.thestranger.com/news/2016/12/21/24755256/one-way-to-protect-washington-states-legal-weed-market-from-trump-burn-it-to-the-ground/ [thestranger.com]
"Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!"--Edward Abbey
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 26 2017, @05:36AM
Doesn't make a difference. It's been illegal under both state and federal law for decades. Now in some places it's only illegal under federal law. It remains to be seen how that plays out when people take the profits of pot across state lines; or don't at all, or buy supplies from other states. But it's inaccurate to suggest that the state law has any relation to federal law.
Even prior to state law being changed, the cops weren't necessarily arresting a lot of people. And I know some places where the prosecutors were turning a blind eye to first offenses.