Posted on 03/10/2018 12:55:20 PM PST by Drew68
WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors won't take on small-time marijuana cases, despite the Justice Department's decision to lift an Obama-era policy that discouraged U.S. authorities from cracking down on the pot trade in states where the drug is legal, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Saturday. Federal law enforcement lacks the resources to take on "routine cases" and will continue to focus on drug gangs and larger conspiracies, Sessions said, speaking at a Federalist Society event in Washington, D.C.
The comments come after the Trump administration in January threw the burgeoning marijuana legalization movement into uncertainty by reversing the largely hands-off approach that prevailed during the Obama administration, saying federal prosecutors should instead handle marijuana cases however they see fit.
The Obama-era policy allowed the pot trade to flourish, with eight states legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
The reversal added to confusion about whether it's OK to grow, buy or use marijuana in states where pot is legal, since long-standing federal law prohibits it. And it caused concern that prosecutors would feel empowered to jail individuals for marijuana possession.
"I am not going to tell Colorado or California or someone else that possession of marijuana is legal under United States law," Sessions said, answering student questions after the speech at Georgetown's law school. But, he added, federal prosecutors "haven't been working small marijuana cases before, they are not going to be working them now."
Of particular interest are problems that federal authorities have tried for years to tackle, like illegal marijuana-growing operations on national parklands and gangs that peddle pot along with more harmful drugs...
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
It’s not what I or anyone else wants. The law is supposed to be applied equally. That can’t be done with fluctuating enforcement. Setting a specification helps get the definition on a level understanding. Currently the federal law is 0 ounces and he could enforce that. Sessions seems to be attempting to be a little more flexible with smaller quantities. However, no good deed will go unpunished.
“His statement was totally reasonable. He’s not going after people who are keeping matters to themselves.”
But instead, he is publicly announcing he is tolerating some kind of lawbreakers, how any dumber can it be?
So no, his statement was neither reasonable, nor responsible.
If a person thinks that someone is doing Fed time on a first offender, single, dime bag possession charge then they are mistaken.
Great point. He should just say nothing/do nothing instead of making ambiguous statements.
Raise the speed limit, then enforce the letter of the law.
Thanks for the ping.
I don’t know what to make of Sessions these days so I’m just gonna wait & see what happens vs believing him.
Duh - federal prosecutors have never routinely prosecuted small marijuana cases, and in fact may well never have prosecuted a SINGLE small marijuana case. Anybody who thinks this is a concession or a cave by Sessions is a meathead.
Some law enforcement officials in pot-legal states argue the legal trade has caused unintended problems like black-market marijuana growing and dealing by people who don't even try to conform to the legal framework.
Speaking of meatheads: do these state law enforcement officials think there was never black-market marijuana growing and dealing before legalization?! Or do they think anyone hearing them will think so?
Same here. At times I think he was Trump's greatest mistake and then other times I think I just need to step back and try to filter out all of the noise.
If this means honoring local limited legalizations, I suppose so. Yet it would be better to have Congress spell out conditions rather than have some fiat come out of the USSC about it. Congress certainly may.
The patient, America, has been in a serious ‘accident’. She’s in critical condition, near death, suffering from illegal alien contusions to the head & internal bleeding caused by our leftist controlled corrupt stasi state. Don’t worry though, we have Dr. Magoo in charge of triage. /s
What the post office won’t tell you is that the cannabis business is helping pay for their pensions. A warrant is required to open a package sent via U.S. Postal Service. Not so with FedEx or UPS. Growers ship TONS of nugs all over the country via U.S. Post Office. The smart ones have a front website selling useless software or gadgets to account for their cannabis sales. The Feds busted Al Capone on tax evasion, not for bootlegging.
With all of the real problems this country is facing he has spent way too much time chasing pot heads. Seriously, a guy smoking weed in his apartment on Saturday night is more importent to Sessions than the previous administrations outright treasonous acts. He needs to be put out to pasture and Trump needs to put someone competent in the AG position.
Sessions can’t walk and chew gum at the same time?
Even with thousands of employees?
Almost as frightening as a strongly worded letter from Hans Bricks.
Then you will be sad to learn that You’re not even going to do State (Superior Court) time on non-sale/distribute weed possession. That is probation, only.
People dont understand how this actually works. Ive met way too many people who bought into the pro pot propaganda that our prisons are overfull with simple pot possession offenders. It makes people look stupid.
So you want police handing out tickets for anyone who goes 1mph over the limit?
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You are attempting to compare a local/city citation to a State and Federal felony charge.
It is like saying IF we are going to charge people for just one murder then we need to pull over everyone going 1 MPH over the limit.
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