Weed Feed: Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Mirror ‘Cole Memo,’ Which Was Rescinded by Jeff Sessions

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WEED FEED / John Ross Ferrara / Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 @ 8:30 a.m.

Weed Feed: Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Mirror ‘Cole Memo,’ Which Was Rescinded by Jeff Sessions

A bipartisan bill was introduced in the House last week which would mirror the “Cole Memo,” an Obama era policy put in place to protect lawful businesses from federal prosecution in states where marijuana has been legalized.

U.S. Attorney General and unofficial weed lawman Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III. Photoshop illustration by John Ferrara.

The Hill reports that Representatives Matt Gaetz from Florida and Lou Correa from California offered the bill, known as the “Sensible Enforcement Of Cannabis Act,” in hopes of sidestepping Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent attempts at meddling with marijuana legalization. Sessions, who is an outspoken opponent of marijuana, rescinded Obama’s “Cole Memo” last month, potentially opening lawful weed businesses up to federal crackdowns.

“To date, eight states have legalized recreational cannabis, and twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia, representing more than half of the American population, have enacted legislation to permit the use of cannabis,” Correa said is a statement. “Attorney General Sessions’ decision to rescind the ‘Cole Memo’ created great uncertainty for these states and legal cannabis businesses, and put citizens in jeopardy for following their state laws. In my state of California, voters want legal cannabis. It boosts our economy and is a strong medical tool. By 2020, revenues from cannabis sales taxes could reach $1 billion annually for California. This bill will protect California and other states from federal overreach and ensure the will of the American voter is respected.”

California meanwhile, is actively working to reign in unlawful cannabis businesses throughout the state. Leafly reports that cannabis regulators sent several hundred warning letters to unlicensed weed businesses last weed. The letters threaten to enact civil and criminal sanctions on the businesses not in compliance with the Adult Use of Marijuana Act.

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