cannabisnews.com: What Jeff Sessions Could Mean for Legal Marijuana
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What Jeff Sessions Could Mean for Legal Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on November 22, 2016 at 15:32:19 PT
By Mike McPhate
Source: New York Times
California -- President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice to lead the Justice Department has roiled California’s emerging marijuana industry. Just as supporters of marijuana legalization were celebrating voters’ approval of the recreational use of the drug in the state, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama entered the picture as Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general.Cannabis is illegal under federal law, and if Mr. Sessions were to be confirmed, many supporters of legalization worry that his past remarks about marijuana could portend a crackdown.
“We need grown-ups in charge in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized,” Mr. Sessions said at a Senate hearing in April.Thomas Fuller, our San Francisco bureau chief, wrote on Monday about the fragility of the truce that has existed between the federal government and states that have legalized the drug.So, what are we to make of Mr. Sessions?We asked John Hudak at the Brookings Institution to help explain. Mr. Hudak’s research has focused on state and federal marijuana policy. His book, “Marijuana: A Short History,” was published in October.• How worried should California’s emerging marijuana industry be about Mr. Sessions?As attorney general, Sessions would have the ability to rescind two Justice Department directives — known as the Cole and Ogden memos — that called for stepping back from marijuana prosecutions. He could also use federal law enforcement power against operators and sue state regulators to block state systems. The only person who can stop the attorney general is the president, and it is unclear whether Trump will direct or delegate drug policy — the latter option being what should worry California the most.• What’s your read on Mr. Trump’s posture toward states with legal marijuana?Trump has made statements that seem supportive of states’ rights around marijuana and made others that are unclear. It is also unclear whether this is a policy he will direct from the White House or just let his attorney general steer this ship. It all means, pot policy in the U.S. is up in the air.• What might a marijuana crackdown in California look like?First, the Justice Department would likely sue the state to prevent the enforcing of Prop 64. They could use other law enforcement entities — outside of the Drug Enforcement Administration — to begin physical crackdowns on existing operators. The law enforcement efforts would be expensive. The litigation approach might be cheaper and easier — if less effective.• What does all this mean for the individual consumer?It would be nearly impossible for federal officials to arrest every marijuana consumer in California (or elsewhere), but if the Trump administration strikes at the heart of the industry — shutting down the supply chain — it would drive producers underground and consumers back to the black market.Source: New York Times (NY) Author: Mike McPhatePublished: November 22, 2016Copyright: 2016 The New York Times CompanyContact: letters nytimes.comWebsite: http://www.nytimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/KIMJTgIECannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on November 23, 2016 at 15:18:48 PT
Prohibitionists are not in the way.
at the risk of being redundant,These squirmy prohibitionists are worthless fighting against the superplant.None of them measure up to this plant much less anything else respectable.They can kick and scratch; so what.Does anyone think, then We will lay down?Not a chance.The more they bite and kick and scratch the more the nation will stop them from harming everything involved.I don't care what they do, which way they approach or don't approach the superplant.They are not even in the way. -0-I used to view the RE-legalization of this God-Awesome plant as a race of sorts. Who will be 1st...Now, after the last election with Maine and Mass winning the east coast conference, I wonder who will win the battle between 1st to do it through the legislature rather than the referendum...-Looks like east coast teams / states are leading that competition. -Give them cheerleaders... Sam Adam's dominoes are all coming down, with the only potential hold outs being the worst of America, in the end.-0-And don't forget:The only Biblical restriction to using cannabis is to use it with thankfulness!If You're having wine with that bird, You're likely having a toast, which is kind of a cheap prayer.Thank Our Creator. Thank The Creator of everything.-0-Finally,We don't thank God for the devil though, do We?
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Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on November 23, 2016 at 14:38:18 PT
dominoes
as expected, legislators and governors in Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut are talking about legalization.  Trump and Sessions are not on their minds...green fields of tax revenue are!http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/11/16/east-coast-marijuana-legalization-next/67699/http://digital.vpr.net/post/vermont-lawmakers-will-push-legalize-pot-against-gov-elect-scotts-urging#stream/0http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2016/11/16/malloy-reopens-legalizing-pot/
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on November 22, 2016 at 23:47:24 PT
and by extension,
What would the devil do?
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on November 22, 2016 at 23:46:04 PT
What would Hitler do?
What would Hitler do?
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on November 22, 2016 at 21:32:21 PT
he can't sue everyone
The government hasn't stepped in and shut down an entire industry since the original Prohibition! Not going to happen. Suing 8 states at once? Not going to happen.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on November 22, 2016 at 15:38:39 PT
Paranoia!
A favorite among partakers! Paranoia!Well, Mr. Jeff Sessions surely can agree to democracy!How can he undo that?If you think otherwise, I think you are overly paranoid.But, hey a little paranoia is healthy, I think.Peace, Love, Prosperity, Abundance... (of pot)Blessings to all, including Jeff Sessions.
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