Jeff Sessions' reefer madness

[WhiteTara]

http://theweek.com/articles/664513/jeff-sessions-reefer-madness

snip

Sessions has called for more federal prosecutions of marijuana growers and businesses in states where it is legal. He said in April that it's important for the government to send a "message with clarity that good people don't smoke marijuana." He declared that "we need grownups in charge in Washington to say marijuana is not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized, it ought not to be minimized, that it's in fact a very real danger."

snip

"I can tell you that Sen. Sessions' nomination has a lot of people honestly scared for their businesses," said Jason Thomas, a former detention officer and marshal's deputy in Colorado who volunteers for the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. "He could dramatically change the legalized industry, recreation or medical. He could task the Department of Justice, the DEA, and even the FBI to work on shutting down the industry."

Robert Capecchi, the director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project, noted that Sessions would face at least one stumbling block: The Rohrabacher-Farr amendment to the annual appropriations bill (which has to be renewed annually) prohibits the Department of Justice and the DEA from using money to target or prosecute state-compliant medical marijuana businesses. But other than that hurdle, Capechhi said, the only thing standing between Sessions and a crusade against states' legal pot industries is "just DOJ policy." And policies are not laws. "There's nothing set in stone."

snip

Liszewski fears that most Americans aren't aware that it wouldn't take much to drive the industry into and then under the ground. "They probably have the impression that things are moving towards legality and that it's an inevitable thing," he said. "In the '70s, a lot of people in the marijuana movement also thought [legalization] was inevitable," but the Reagan administration cracked down instead, and it's been a difficult road for many advocates, patients, and business people who want to operate legally.

"All these appointments that are being made by President-elect Trump could really throw all that progress away."

[TonyPDX]

1. If legalization efforts are being pushed back in your state, thank a "protest voter."

[world wide wally]

2. Is this what it will take to tip the scales more against our new (and first) dictator?

[NightWatcher]

3. And we just voted for medicinal cannabis in Fl

Thanks a lot Jill Stein voters

[Lochloosa]

4. No shit.

[underpants]

5. I've seen this before

A new AG who is more concerned with pot* than terrorism and a POTUS who doesn't take full national security briefings.

*and porn in Ashcroft case.

[MineralMan]

6. How is that surprising? When Republicans are in charge,

all sorts of freedoms get trampled. We failed to elect new leaders, so these people are in charge. Marijuana is not the only thing they're planning to take away, and not even the most important thing.

If your state allows medicinal or recreational use of this substance, get ready to see your access disappear, once the Trump DOJ starts working.

Trump. The people in too many states voted for Trump, without enough people voting for Democrats. This is the result. Trump.

Hunker down, folks. It's going to be a tough four years.