[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto||4px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/medicalmarijuanainc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/KimNunleyProfile_WB_150x150.png” title_text=”KimNunleyProfile_WB_150x150″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”25.5%” custom_padding=”|5px||||” border_radii=”on|100px|100px|100px|100px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”2px|||-226px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
By:\u00a0<\/span>Kim Nunley<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.10.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Federal prosecutors can now decide whether to enforce federal law prohibiting marijuana, even in states where marijuana has been legalized. Here\u2019s a look at the implications of the change.<\/i><\/p>\n According to a report by the\u00a0<\/span>Associated Press<\/i><\/a>, United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced this morning that he has rescinded an Obama administration federal policy that directed prosecutors and law enforcement to not prioritize interference with states that legalized marijuana.<\/p>\n That policy, the\u00a0<\/span>Cole Memo<\/a>, was a memorandum originally drafted by former U.S. Attorney General James M. Cole in 2013. Published through the Department of Justice, the document indicated that federal law enforcement would not crackdown on state-legal adult use marijuana operations, provided officials made efforts to prevent the distribution of marijuana to minors, criminal enterprises, and to states where it was illegal.<\/p>\n Sessions one-page memo to federal prosecutors announcing the policy being rescinded comes only days after\u00a0<\/span>retail marijuana shops opened in California<\/a>, and indicates that Sessions does have plans to aggressively enforce federal law and stand in the way of states that legalize marijuana.<\/p>\n \u201cIn deciding which marijuana activities to prosecute under these laws with the Department\u2019s finite resources, prosecutors should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions,\u201d Sessions wrote in the memo.<\/p>\n Months ago\u00a0<\/span>Sessions acknowledged the Obama-era hands-off policy was still in place<\/a>, but quickly reiterated that marijuana \u201cstill remains illegal with regard to federal purposes.\u201d Sessions is a\u00a0<\/span>staunch cannabis opponent<\/a>. In the past, he compared marijuana to heroin and blamed it for spikes in violence, despite these claims being\u00a0<\/span>based on fear and not fact<\/a>.<\/p>\n The announcement by Sessions was quickly criticized by advocates and lawmakers, including Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, who said in a\u00a0<\/span>tweet<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>that the move by the Justice Department \u201chas trampled on the will of the voters.\u201d<\/p>\n