Cannabis industry roiled by White House comments on enforcement

[napi21]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/02/23/cannabis-industry-roiled-white-house-comments-enforcement/98323774/

Colorado Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder-area Democrat, criticized Spicer's comments: “Now either the president is flip-flopping or his staff is, once again, speaking out of turn — either way these comments leave doubt and uncertainty for the marijuana industry, stifling job growth in my state. The public has spoken on recreational marijuana, we've seen it work in Colorado, and now is the time to lift the federal prohibition.”

Spicer’s remarks came just hours after the release of a Quinnipiac University poll showing 71% of Americans would oppose efforts to enforce federal marijuana laws in those eight states. The poll also found that 93% of voters support allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes and 59% support making it legal for all purposes. Congress has prohibited the Justice Department from interfering with states’ medical marijuana programs but has remained silent about recreational marijuana.

“If the administration is looking for ways to become less popular, cracking down on voter-approved marijuana laws would be a great way to do it,” said Tom Angell, chairman of the pro-legalization Marijuana Majority. “On the campaign trail, President Trump clearly and repeatedly pledged that he would leave decisions on cannabis policy to the states. With a clear and growing majority of the country now supporting legalization, reneging on his promises would be a political disaster and huge distraction from the rest of the president’s agenda.”

The legal cannabis marketplace is estimated to create more than 250,000 new jobs for American workers and $24 billion in sales by 2020, according to a new analysis by New Frontier Data, which tracks industry trends. New Frontier based its estimates on a study commissioned by Colorado state officials.

With all the $$ in the cannabis business and all the voters who object to the Feds interfering with State laws, I predict the Con will back off this plan.