Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
President-elect Donald Trump's pick for U.S. attorney general did not provide a definitive plan during the first day of his confirmation hearing Tuesday for how he would direct the Justice Department to treat states' legalization of marijuana, but he said just enough to make Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace optimistic.
The question as to how U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, would handle this issue has been hanging in the air since Trump chose him for his cabinet and has left those in the marijuana industry uncertain about the future.
Pace, a strong proponent of the adult use of legalized commercial marijuana in Colorado and Pueblo County, said Wednesday that he is very encouraged by Sessions' comments that came during his confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
"Jeff Sessions, during his nomination hearing, did not close the door on continuing Obama-era marijuana policy. This is very encouraging in light of some of his past statements," Pace said.
Sessions, who in the past has been outspoken about his opposition to legalized marijuana, acknowledged during questioning by his fellow U.S. senators that disrupting states' legal marijuana markets by enforcing federal marijuana laws could create an undue strain on federal resources.
"The voters in Pueblo County spoke loud and clear that they want a robust regulatory system that allows for adult marijuana use to be regulated and taxed," Pace said.
"Fundamentally, this is a states' rights issue."
Sessions never said on Tuesday he wouldn't commit to never enforcing the law.
According to several news outlets, Sessions, in describing himself as a lieutenant in the war on drugs, said he was "heartbroken" when President Barack Obama compared marijuana to alcohol and criticized the administration for not enforcing drug laws in states like Colorado that have legalized marijuana.
Sessions sidestepped questions Tuesday about whether he would put the weight of the Justice Department behind drug prosecution in those states. Doing so would set up a huge fight over states' rights and federal drug policy. "I know it won't be an easy decision," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pueblo Commissioner Encouraged By Sessions' Marijuana Comments
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: The Pueblo Chieftain
The question as to how U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, would handle this issue has been hanging in the air since Trump chose him for his cabinet and has left those in the marijuana industry uncertain about the future.
Pace, a strong proponent of the adult use of legalized commercial marijuana in Colorado and Pueblo County, said Wednesday that he is very encouraged by Sessions' comments that came during his confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
"Jeff Sessions, during his nomination hearing, did not close the door on continuing Obama-era marijuana policy. This is very encouraging in light of some of his past statements," Pace said.
Sessions, who in the past has been outspoken about his opposition to legalized marijuana, acknowledged during questioning by his fellow U.S. senators that disrupting states' legal marijuana markets by enforcing federal marijuana laws could create an undue strain on federal resources.
"The voters in Pueblo County spoke loud and clear that they want a robust regulatory system that allows for adult marijuana use to be regulated and taxed," Pace said.
"Fundamentally, this is a states' rights issue."
Sessions never said on Tuesday he wouldn't commit to never enforcing the law.
According to several news outlets, Sessions, in describing himself as a lieutenant in the war on drugs, said he was "heartbroken" when President Barack Obama compared marijuana to alcohol and criticized the administration for not enforcing drug laws in states like Colorado that have legalized marijuana.
Sessions sidestepped questions Tuesday about whether he would put the weight of the Justice Department behind drug prosecution in those states. Doing so would set up a huge fight over states' rights and federal drug policy. "I know it won't be an easy decision," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pueblo Commissioner Encouraged By Sessions' Marijuana Comments
Author: Anthony A. Mestas
Contact: (719) 544-3520
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: The Pueblo Chieftain
