*Huffington post covers *joint phone call: Attorney General *Holder: Cannabis reform

[Jaqen H'ghar]

Ah man, all the puns from that title alone.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2...washington-get-ok-from-feds-on-marijuana?lite

Today, as Ryan J. Reilly and Ryan Grim reported, Colorado and Washington got their answer.

The United States government took an historic step back from its long-running drug war on Thursday, when Attorney General Eric Holder informed the governors of Washington and Colorado that the Department of Justice would allow the states to create a regime that would regulate and implement the ballot initiatives that legalized the use of marijuana for adults.

A Justice Department official said that Holder told the governors in a joint phone call early Thursday afternoon that the department would take a "trust but verify approach" to the state laws.

That last part is important. The DOJ is effectively letting the states know that they can proceed on their current course, but if federal law enforcement has reason to believe in the future that Colorado and Washington are failing to be responsible, the feds can revisit the new policy.

In the meantime, though, that means these states -- and any others that choose to follow their lead -- can move forward on legalization.

The Huffington Post added that Deputy Attorney General James Cole also issued a three-and-a-half page memo to U.S. attorneys outlining eight priorities for federal prosecutors enforcing marijuana laws. These are the areas where prosecutions will continue:

* the distribution of marijuana to minors;

* revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels;

* the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;

* state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;

* violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana

* drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use;

* growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands;

* preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property.

But note that this leaves a whole lot of recreational pot use that federal prosecutors will no longer feel the need to pursue.

 

[Chairdor]

But honestly this is a great step forward, albeit this federal policy can change with the drop of a hat when a new president is elected

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

But honestly this is a great step forward, albeit this federal policy can change with the drop of a hat when a new president is elected

Very true, but given that there's currently 20+ states with medical policies, and more than a couple that will likely follow Colorado and Washingtons steps in the next year hopefully the next guy in office will see how messing with the business market like that will hurt his chances for re-election. There's going to be huge tax revenue on a state level, hell with MMJ there already is. Granted, that's hoping for a lot from whoever the next president is, we'll mainly just have to wait and see.

 

[Empress]

well it IS already legalized here, state run stores are scheduled to open in march iirc and they began handing out licenses to growers early july here ( think of it as how some states have state run liquor stores)

I find it funny, WA USE to have state run liquor until recently when it was voted on to privatize sales...so all the state run stores close up, but will re open for the sale of pot. though its notd that the tax on them is heavy ( wa has a steep sin tax anyway sorta makes up for next to nothing cost of living -well outside of Seattle anyway- and no income tax ) but this also will cover textiles and anything else created with the plant