Sen. Patrick Leahy says he strongly opposes a decision by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions to have the Department of Justice crack down on states that have legalized marijuana and Leahy says he will do everything that he can to block this new policy from going into place.
In 2013, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I held a hearing on the conflict betw. federal laws and evolving state laws on marijuana. That hg. prompted DOJ to release the Cole memo. Rescinding that memo is a terrible, facts-backwards decision by Atty Gen Sessions.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) January 4, 2018
In 2013, after voters in Colorado approved a referendum legalizing the sale of marijuana, the Obama Administration adopted a policy that discouraged federal prosecutors from arresting individuals for the possession of pot in any state that had legalized it.
(2/4) Make no mistake, the Cole memo NEVER PREVENTED the gov from going after bad actors, like those who traffic marijuana to minors or across state lines. ONLY reason to rescind the memo is because the AG wants to target patients & businesses that are COMPLIANT with state laws.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) January 4, 2018
Now, Attorney General Jeff Sessions says he wants to overturn the policy because he feels it is the responsibility of the federal government to enforce national drug laws. Marijuana is considered a Class One drug — it's a designation that's also used for heroin.
(3/4) We need to protect the patients and dispensaries in the 46 states with medical marijuana and CBD laws. As Vice Chair of Appropriations, I offered an amdt in Committee to do just that – and it was approved with a bipartisan voice vote.
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) January 4, 2018
Leahy says Sessions' decision comes at a time when the Department of Justice is operating on a very limited budget.
"Here's the Justice Department which doesn't have enough personnel to handle gangs that are murdering people across the country with illegal firearms but that grandmother with cancer who's getting some marijuana legally in a store we've got to do something about that,” said Leahy. “It makes no sense at all."
Leahy hopes to attach an amendment overturning the Sessions policy to an upcoming "must pass" federal budget bill.
(4/4) I'm now fighting to include my amdt in the final omnibus Approps bill so we can protect patients and law-abiding businesses. With an AG determined to waste finite DOJ resources to prosecute even those who are compliant with state law, this amdt is more important than ever
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) January 4, 2018
"Because the reaction that I'm getting from both Republicans and Democrats across the political spectrum is what in heaven's name is he wasting time on this?" said Leahy.
Local Impact
Vermont Sen. Dick Sears is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee. Sears says he's disappointed in the change of policy made by the Trump Administration.
"I think we need a more rational approach on both the state and federal level to marijuana prohibition. I think it's much better to have the states regulating it," said Sears.
Vermont is poised to become the first state in the country to legalize marijuana through the legislative process. All others have been approved through voter referendums.
A bill allowing individuals to possess up to an ounce of pot passed the Vermont House last week and will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary committee this Wednesday. [Read more on Vermont's bill here.]
Gov. Phil Scott says he'll sign the bill when it reaches his desk.
