Trump administration targets recreational pot, placing thousands of marijuana businesses in California at risk
Well, the fight I projected just a few days ago has began. US Attorney General Beauregard Sessions has thrown down the first gauntlet. Where this fight will end?? Only time will tell but from the first reactions by state officials in California they aren’t planning on backing down from this fight. As you read below the first statement by Beauregard, an California officials, he does sight the law of this country that backs the viewpoint of federal law. I’m sure this issues will become a battle cry against states rights versus federal law and could end up in the US Supreme Court where conservative justices out number progressive judges. Those conservative justices past rulings for states rights will become front and center in this disagreement. Will their conservative rulings prevail which will be a slap in Beauregard’s face??
Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions ended an Obama-era federal policy that provided legal shelter for marijuana sales in California and five other states that have allowed recreational pot, placing at risk thousands of marijuana businesses operating legally under state laws.
The Justice Department move on Thursday plunged California’s fledgling recreational pot market into further uncertainty, and was met with a bipartisan backlash from lawmakers in states where marijuana is now sold legally to any adult who wants to buy it.
“It is the mission of the Department of Justice to enforce the laws of the United States,” Sessions said in a statement, which added that the Obama-era policy that directed federal prosecutors not to target state marijuana businesses “undermines the rule of law and the ability of our local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to carry out this mission.”
States that have legalized girded to fight.
“In California, we decided it was best to regulate, not criminalize, cannabis. Unlike others, we embrace, not fear, change,” Atty. Gen Xavier Becerra said. “After all, this is 2018 not the 20th century. At the California Department of Justice we intend to vigorously enforce our state’s laws and protect our state’s interests.”
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted on Thursday: “Have no doubt — California will pursue all options to protect our reforms and rights.”
With the California industry expected to generate up to $7 billion eventually, the Justice Department announcement was likely to chill potential investors in the state’s pot market, industry leaders predicted.
But California’s state Bureau of Cannabis Control, which on Monday began processing hundreds of applications for businesses seeking to legally grow, transport and sell marijuana. showed no sign of slowing after Sessions’ announcement.
The bureau’s chief, Lori Ajax, vowed to continue issuing permits “while defending our state’s laws to the fullest extent.”
Excerpts from LA Times:
-States are seeing a clear passage to increasing their flow of financial gains which was and is another prohibition fight from the roaring 20’s, now taking place in the 21st century roaring 18’s. The potential for huge windfalls to these states coffers is enormous, something that has been missed or through stubborn resistance from the Alt-right christian values on their states representatives on capitol hill.
We continue on this review of legal marijuana tomorrow “Sessions vs Legal Marijuana”
E. Bishop III, The Money Connection.Com
“Following The Money For Our Community”