what is attorney general sessions stance on marijuana

What does the Attorney General’s memorandum on marijuana prosecutions mean?

Jan 05, 2018 · It is surprising that the Trump Administration known for its pro-business stance, allowed for such an anti-business decision to be made by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Just in California alone with the change in law allowing both medical and recreational marijuana, the marijuana industry in California is expected to be a $3.7 billion market in 2018 and could rise …

What does the Department of Justice’s new memo on Marijuana Policy mean?

Jan 04, 2018 · FROM: Jefferson B. Sessions, i@ Attorney General -P-SUBJECT: Marijuana Enforcement . In the Controlled Substances Act, Congress has generally prohibited the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana. 21 U.S.C. § 801 . et seq. It has established significant penalties for these crimes. 21 U.S.C. § 841 el seq.

Did Jeff Sessions rescind the Executive Order?

In early January 2018, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the long-standing Obama-era guidance regarding the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) treatment of the marijuana industry. In a series of memoranda dating back to 2009, Deputy Attorney Generals David W. Ogden and James M. Cole had established national guidance listing eight key areas of marijuana enforcement for …

What do legal experts say about sessions'2018 memo?

Jan 04, 2018 · The Department of Justice today issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy announcing a return to the rule of law and the rescission of previous guidance documents. Since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970, Congress has generally prohibited the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana. In the …

See more

Aug 09, 2017 · Despite recent efforts by the Trump Administration and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to interfere with states that have passed and implemented their own cannabis laws, market research reports predict that marijuana legalization will continue to spread throughout the U.S., with one report even suggesting it will reach all 50 states by 2021.

Has the Cole memo been rescinded?

January 4, 2020 marked the two year anniversary of the “Sessions Memorandum” in which (then) Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memorandum and other Obama era DOJ guidance which essentially stated that DOJ would not prosecute state-compliant marijuana-related activity.Jan 6, 2020

What was the stance taken by the Office of the Attorney General in the original Cole memo?

While the memo (signed by then United States Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole) reiterates the view that marijuana is a “dangerous drug” and federally illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, it provided some comfort to the cannabis industry by offering some restraint in terms of enforcement of the prohibition.

What is the Ogden memo?

The Ogden Memo In 2009, following the effort in several states to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, the U.S. Department of Justice's Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden issued a memo to all U.S. attorneys.Mar 6, 2018

Is the Cole memo still in effect?

The Cole Memorandum was a United States Department of Justice memorandum issued August 29, 2013, by United States Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole during the presidency of Barack Obama. ... The Cole Memorandum was rescinded by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018, during the presidency of Donald Trump.

Who is the current attorney general?

The current Attorney General is Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame. He was appointed by President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo in 2021.

What is the Cole Memo quizlet?

Cole Memo. drafted by attorney general in 2013. Obama era guidance saying that federal officials should only focus on certain priorities(eg. distribution to minors, gangs)

What did the 2013 Cole Memo say about federal enforcement?

In 2013, Deputy Attorney General James Cole issued a directive to federal prosecutors, telling them not to target businesses or individuals who were in compliance with state cannabis laws. Known as the Cole Memo, this directive did not carry the force of law and did not prevent the enforcement of federal prohibition.

Who created the Cole Memo?

The Cole Memorandum, or Cole Memo as it's sometimes referred to, was authored by the Justice Department's Deputy Attorney General James Cole in 2013. Drafted under the Obama administration, the memo was issued as the cannabis landscape in the US began to change.Dec 21, 2020

What are the Cole Memo priorities?

The Cole Memo Priorities include preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors, preventing revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states, and preventing state-authorized ...Apr 24, 2020

How many jobs does the cannabis industry generate?

According to a newly published market research report from Marijuana Business Daily, the nation’s cannabis industry has so far generated 165,000 to 230,000 full- and part-time jobs, up from 100,000 to 150,000 jobs last year.

Does legalizing cannabis increase crime?

It is a popular belief in Trump’s administration that cannabis legalization will increase crime rates in states that pass it. However, once again the research portrays a radically different picture.

Is cannabis bad for you?

Prohibitionists like Sessions also often claim that cannabis is bad for the health of Americans, using scare tactics like claims that cannabis use can damage the lungs, harm the brain, and even cause death. However, research published in reputable medical journals demonstrate that these claims simply are not true. In fact, cannabis consumers seem to be healthier, wealthier, and more active outdoors than non-consumers.

What is the DOJ memo?

The memo laid out certain standards for states that legalized recreational cannabis, which ensured that the DOJ wouldn’t interfere with adult-use market launches or prosecute marijuana industry insiders.

Who was Biden's attorney general?

President Joe Biden’s pick for U.S. attorney general, Merrick Garland, was confirmed easily by a 70-30 vote in the Senate on Wednesday, a development that was cautiously hailed by some marijuana advocacy groups.

Who is Erik Altieri?

Erik Altieri, executive director of Washington DC-based NORML, also praised Garland’s positions. Marijuana advocates should be “optimistic,” Altieri said, but he added, “Such a ‘hands off’ policy is little more than a short-term Band-Aid.”.

When did Jeff Sessions rescind the Cole Memo?

The single-page January 4, 2018 memorandum signed by Jeff Sessions rescinding the Cole Memo. States with legalized cannabis were concerned about the incoming Trump administration 's handling of the Cole Memo and their congressional representatives and governors saw Attorney General Jeff Sessions as adamantly opposed to its continuation.

Who wrote the memo on marijuana?

James M. Cole. On August 29, 2013, the Department of Justice published a memorandum authored by Cole which described a new set of priorities for federal prosecutors operating in states which had legalized the medical or other use of marijuana.

When was the Cole Memorandum rescinded?

The Cole Memorandum was rescinded by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in January 2018, during the presidency of Donald Trump. In response to this, the Sensible Enforcement of Cannabis Act was introduced as a way of enshrining into law the protections offered by the memo.

What is the Cole Memorandum?

Cole during the presidency of Barack Obama. The memorandum, sent to all United States Attorneys, governed federal prosecution of offenses related to marijuana. The memo stated that given its limited resources, the Justice Department would not enforce federal marijuana prohibition in states that "legalized marijuana in some form and ... implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of marijuana," except where a lack of federal enforcement would undermine federal priorities (such as preventing violence in marijuana cultivation and distribution, preventing cannabis impaired driving, and preventing marijuana revenues from going to gangs and cartels).