Trump AG pick could halt legal pot industry

[WhiteTara]

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/12/02/trump-pick-could-halt-legal-pot-industry/jJzBgw7GAowt0dKvZiJwIK/story.html?p1=Article_Recommended_ReadMore_Pos4

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, who has a long history of hard-line opposition to marijuana, could unravel the burgeoning recreational marijuana industry across the country, including in Massachusetts.

Senator Jeff Sessions, a former federal prosecutor and Alabama attorney general, has been taking on marijuana dealers since the 1970s.

He said earlier this year that “good people don’t smoke marijuana” and “we need grown-ups in charge in Washington to say ‘marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized.’ ”

Because marijuana remains illegal under federal law, Sessions, if he is confirmed, could choose to order targeted prosecutions of recreational marijuana farms and shops that are operating legally under state law. Such a move could seriously threaten the retail marijuana industry, worth a billion dollars in Colorado alone.

short article. no more at link

[roamer65]

1. Does he want a civil war?

[bdamomma]

7. he will get one.

[Miles Archer]

2. First TWO MONTHS of legal weed in El Paso County (CO) kicked $2 million back to the state

"Maggie's Farm"...the only recreational dispensary in El Paso County. No crime, the place is run like a frigging Ultramax prison. Security cameras everywhere, walk in, hand them your drivers license, take a number, your number is called, walk through a locked door which is opened for you, make your selection, pay, leave. All very orderly, all 100% in compliance with the law.

TWO MILLION BUCKS kicked back to the state in the first two months.

A Republican who owns a gift shop (and was a very vocal Romney supporter) paid to get a measure on the ballot after the first month to have them shut down. He had his ass handed to him.

But Sessions? Sessions could really rain on the parade.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Yeah, nobody knows. Trump, of course, said "states should decide"

But Sessions clearly has a hard-on for weed. And not in a good way.

I guess the question is, will they really want to expend tons of political capital going after something that has broad bipartisan support? There are a lot of Republicans- from Rand Paul to Dana Rorbacher- who wouldnt be pleased with that approach too.

[Calculating]

4. This is like the 5th thread on this now

And the answer so far is "Nobody knows". Trump has said that it should be a state rights issue, but his cabinet picks so far are some real hardcore drug warriors. Will he restrain them if they want to go after the legal cannabusiness? Nobody knows. It would be smart to do so considering it will cost him A LOT of support of Sessions or that Price guy want to start raiding businesses. The people voted for these laws, and it would just make Republicans look like hypocrites to violate state rights on this issue.

[RAFisher]

6. You believe something because Trump said it? I don't. I don't believe he has any ideology.

You're right we really don't know. Sessions is one of the most anti-marijuana Senators so I think it'd be a miracle if Sessions continues to ignore federal law. I'm sure a Democratic Senator will bring it up in the confirmation hearings. The problem is that I feel we have zero reason to believe Trump will stand up to his cabinet. It just doesn't make sense. If Trump actually cared about marijuana issues then he would not have picked Sessions.

Also I think Alaska is the only red state to legalize weed. While there are Republicans that are in favor of legal weed many not too many Trump States did. I could see our vindictive leader decide to only enforce marijuana laws in states that did not vote for him.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. A couple points on that. One, Colorado is still a pretty big EC swing state.

Also, more than half the states have medical marijuana laws, and those are in just as much conflict with Federal law as the recreationally legal states are.

Lastly, poll after poll shows a majority of Americans support legalization. I'm not saying Trump won't go against what he said during the campaign and let Sessions try and shut the whole thing down, but it would be a massive undertaking with a big political downside.

[walkingman]

5. Jeff Sessions is

George Wallace reincarnated. It's folks like him in the South that make us all look like racists dumbasses. Although I live in Texas where weed has always been easily obtained. I'm quite sure we will be the last state in the union that legalizes it. The only way possible is if something like "support the troops" is in the equation otherwise we will find someway to blame the Mexicans for it. The good ole boys don't mind getting shit-faced drunk but god forbid you laugh and smile too much.