Please consider Attorney General Jeff Sessions to End Policy that Allowed Legal Pot to Thrive.
Sessions is expected Thursday to announce his intentions to repeal a 2013 Obama-era policy that’s protected legalized marijuana from federal intervention, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the decision.
The policy change would allow for each state’s U.S. attorneys to decide whether to aggressively enforce the federal marijuana law — even if the substance has already been made legal in their state, according to the sources, who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
The Obama administration in what’s been dubbed the “Cole Memo,” announced it would not prevent states from legalizing marijuana as long as the substance is kept away from minors and criminals. The memo, authored by then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole, also required officials to prevent it from reaching places where it was still illegal.
In October a poll found that 64% of Americans support legalizing marijuana, with both political parties mostly in favor.
Sessions, a vocal critic of marijuana, has been expected to crack down on federal enforcement. In November he hinted at repealing the memo, telling reporters there would likely be changes to the Obama-era guidelines.
“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 law and is subject to be enforced,” he told The Sacramento Bee at the time.
He’s previously blamed the substance for spikes in violence and has compared it to heroin.
Pot Stocks Plunge
Bloomberg reports Pot Stocks Plunge on Report U.S. to Rescind Expansion Policy
- Canopy Growth, the world’s largest medical marijuana producer, fell 10 percent to C$32.21 at 9:38 a.m. in Toronto
- Aphria plunged almost 13 percent to C$18.73, the most since Oct. 17.
- MedReleaf fell 6.5 percent to C$28.01, its biggest decline since Nov. 14.
Sessions a Foolish, But Dangerous Neanderthal
It’s pretty clear that Sessions is a dangerous Neanderthal. It’s not clear whether or not Trump put him up to this ridiculous task, but it is clear Sessions has done nothing but make a big fool out of himself, assuming the report is true.
- For starters, with 64% of the US supporting legalized cannabis, Sessions is entering a battle against public opinion he cannot possibly win.
- Secondly, what can Sessions possibly achieve? Are states that legalized cannabis actually going to go out and enforce Federal law? The notion is ridiculous.
- Finally, millennials are going to swing hard left in the next election instead of sitting it out as many did in the last election.
Many people who voted for Trump as the lesser of two evils vs Hillary now have serious reservations over the administration’s tax policy, over nuclear button feuds with North Korea, and over complete silliness like this.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
Nobody know whats Republicans think, this AG problem is similar to one Obama had with selective enforcement on immigration. The AG is still sworn to uphold the law, however it is written. Not sure where Scotus is on states rights issues, and not sure I want to know.
“Republicans with a few exceptions are always in favor of big government telling people what they can do in the privacy of their homes.” “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” – Pope John Paul II
I don’t know why anyone is surprised by this. Republicans with a few exceptions are always in favor of big government telling people what they can do in the privacy of their homes. They love economic freedom but nor social freedom.
let the dummies smoke pot, easier to take from them
Jeff Sessions announcement is precisely the impetus that HR-1227 (Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017) needs to kick-start it in congress. Judging from yesterday’s negative reaction from a number of Republicans, the bill has a much better chance to pass congress than the 10% chance it was given when first introduced in the House. Further, populist President Trump will sign it. The Cole Memo was the kind of short-term patch that one would expect from the corrupt, feckless leadership of the Obama/Holder DOJ.
“It’s not clear whether or not Trump put him up to this ridiculous task…”. I don’t believe this issue is on the president’s radar screen. The past year is a testament to Trump’s lack of influence with his attorney general, in other words, in my opinion, he did not “put him up to this ridiculous task”.
Ted Lieu: “AG Jeff Sessions apparently wants to take America back to the 1920s. Prohibition didn’t work then and it will not work now.” I don’t take seriously anything Ted Lieu has to say. Certainly no law works, because someone breaks every one of them, regardless how may comply.
“all the chronic pot heads that have lost all ambition and can’t remember where their butts are to wipe them” — my bet is most of them have no ambition and couldn’t find their butts with or without pot. The world has no shortage of idiots without drugs or alcohol. Almost everyone I know smokes/smoked, and all are extremely productive members of society.
The real problem is that we have built a culture that is so tedious that people need to numb-out to survive it. What to do about it? I have no clue.
I know people that get relief from chronic pain with medical marijuana. On the other hand, there are all the chronic pot heads that have lost all ambition and can’t remember where their butts are to wipe them. It is just another scourge. Should that be reason to keep it illegal… No. Should we support those that have disabled themselves with it. Hell, no. That is always the government’s excuse for more nanny state: If we don’t stop them from doing xxx, we’ll just have to pay for their failure later.
@Bam_Man – I have no idea where you are getting your medical ideas on Cannabis. I was a forensic Toxicologist performing testing and research for 20 years before moving to Molecular Bio and your information is wrong. There are also thousands of research papers on medical benefits of Cannabis. I worked with SAMHSA/NIDA in Tox and even they (and the NIH) understood the benefits. Making a drug illegal will never stop it’s use as we have seen with abundant data on alcohol and still illegal drugs. For a country that says it is for freedom, many people seem to think it is okay to trample others rights if they do not agree. Why not make cigarettes and alcohol illegal? Ah, it does not work!
The Federal marijuana prohibition laws are legal, but blatantly unconstitutional.
In my great grandfather’s day it was obvious a Federal statute prohibiting production, transportation, and sale of alcohol would not pass constitutional muster without an enabling amendment.
The 18th Amendment (repealed with the 21st Amendment) made the “Volstead” act constitutionally permissible.
But with drugs Uncle decide to push aside the Constitution and by law forbid what it could not constitutionally forbid (there is nothing in Article I, Section 8 that gives Uncle the power to do what he did).
However, unconstitutional laws are enforceable. Violators will be prosecuted, convicted, and punished … such governmental actions are not “right”, but they are “legal”.
On the other hand, a free citizen has the right to be stupid … but remains responsible for his actions … voluntary impairment (of any kind) does not absolve him of his responsibility.
So what does that make us?
If I, as a “legal adult”, do not own myself; if Uncle insists I cannot make decisions that do not impair the property and lives of others; am I a free person or government chattel?
Attorney General Sessions is in a tough spot. I understand wanting to enforce the law. On the other hand, a politician must pick fights he can win and defer those fights he is likely to lose until circumstances are more favorable. Federal Government fighting the States on marijuana use seems like a no-win situation for Republicans. Surely there are better places to spend federal resources. Provide solid policy and enforcement (NOT amnesty) concerning illegal immigration? Enforce ignored anti-trust laws with respect to health care? Stop local profiteering via abuse of civil forfeiture laws intended to intercept drug trafficking?
I agree with our host. I expect this issue will be a big loser for the Trump administration.
It is a federal crime to own/grow marijuana. Obama era EOs and regulations ignoring laws on the books (like immigration) is not the way to run a country. What happens when another state wants to ignore gun laws? Environmental laws? Tax laws? Etc. CHANGE THE LAW and don’t blame those whose job it is to ENFORCE the law.
I’m sure that you also don’t know that the root of marijuana prohibition was all about William Randolph Hearst empire built on cotton. It was hemp that led to prohibition.
Bam_Man, lol at tying the dependency of states to tobacco settlements with their changing stance on marijuana. You understand, son, that with the advent of the internet, and the ushering in of the information age, that the establishment can no longer bullshit the general population. Access to information has led to the crumbling of the false beliefs of the plant, perpetuated by many industries that have an economic incentive to keep it illegal.
The fact of the matter is that tobacco tax revenues to the states go DOWN every year and they NEED the money that legalized marijuana will bring in to avoid an imminent pension crisis. It’s because the NEED the money. As Carlin said, “They don’t give a F*UCK about you. They don’t care At All. At ll….” And neither do I.
Look Spangler, I don’t care personally whether pot is legal or not or whether the people using it develop cancer, COPD, emphysema, premature dementia or not. The fact is, there have been exactly ZERO long-term clinical trials on marijuana and that is one of the reasons that it cannot be approved for medical use by the FDA.
Bam_Man has no idea what he is talking about and that is a lot of issue around pot. Pot has been and always will be around, why not make it legal? Alcohol and crazy presciptions pills (Oxycotin) are legal, what’s so bad about a plant. The industry is there, take the money out of the black market and get the tax revenue.
Mish, their ignorant based ideology, fueled by propaganda financed by the pharma/alchohol industry, and feared by the church for what this plant will do to harm their current structure, will not change their belief. These sheeple will only change their stance when the federal government does so.
Gallup Poll – 64% and rising – What’s not to believe? http://news.gallup.com/poll/221018/record-high-support-legalizing-marijuana.aspx
and Klausmkl, you are just as ignorant. a simple google search of “legalized marijuana effect on drinking and driving, fatal accidents, decrease in use of pain pills that KILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE each year. How many people in history have died from marijuana? lol, thats what I thought.
msurkan, the majority of conservatives that are against legalization are so because they are forced to ignore scientific studies in order to preserve their ideology. Most of these folks are DARE advocates, drinking alcohol, eating shite fast food/processed foods filled with sugar (which is much much more detrimental to health than marijuana), and as a result, are obese. Pure ignorance. (But not as ignorant as Bam_Man’s claim of marijuana being a carcinogen.
Going after the newly legalized marijuana industry may be terrible policy but it’s good politics. There are still a lot of Americans who oppose legalization, particularly in the conservative base of the republican party. Heck, it will make the republican base giddy with joy to see drug dealers in blue states get arrested.
Mark my words.
Just wait and see.
The only ones who will benefit long-term from legalizing pot are going to be the same trial lawyers who got rich suing the tobacco companies back in the 1990’s.
Marijuana is FIVE TIMES more carcinogenic than tobacco and long-term use has many other harmful side effects that nobody seems to want to talk about.
So right away mish you start calling people names. One poll indicates 64% favors legalization and you take that as solid fact? Pools in this day and age are a joke. Have you even looked into the problems Pot has been causing with car accidents in the states that legalized it? Show some respect to Sessions. You might disagree which is fine but name calling went out in the second grade.
I thought Obama’s was ridiculous, but the Trump administration is taking to a whole new level.
This administration a become a complete farce.
Sessions is making a fool of himself, and if the repubs do lose next November, I would put most of the blame on him.