MM Report
It is “unacceptable” that the Department of Justice has yet to reissue federal marijuana enforcement guidance to discourage interference in state cannabis programs, leaving Americans in a “legal limbo” despite promises to update the policy, two Democratic congressional lawmakers said in a new letter to the attorney general.
Writing to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday, Congressional Cannabis Caucus co-chairs Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) said the department should “correct this oversight and reissue a memo making clear DOJ’s limited resources will not be spent prosecuting those acting in accordance with state or Tribal law.”
It’s been over six years since then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the previous Obama-era Cole and Wilkinson memos that generally directed prosecutors not to interfere with state and tribal marijuana laws, respectively. And making matters “especially concerning,” it’s been over a year since Garland signaled that updated guidance was forthcoming, they said.
“While we appreciate the historic steps the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to pardon federal simple possession marijuana offenses and begin the formal review of marijuana’s schedule under the Controlled Substances Act, it is unacceptable that more than half of Americans living in jurisdictions with legal marijuana markets are left in limbo without public guidance to prevent unjust prosecution of those complying with their state’s or Tribe’s regulations,” the lawmakers wrote.
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