Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A majority of Americans want the Trump administration to leave state marijuana laws alone.
Seventy-six percent of American adults want President Trump to leave state marijuana laws as they are, according to a new poll from Survey USA. Reform group Marijuana Majority commissioned the poll.
Currently, legal recreational marijuana has been approved in eight states plus Washington, D.C. A total of 29 other states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana in some form.
The drug remains illegal on the federal level, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been vocal in his opposition to legalizing marijuana – once calling it "only slightly less awful" than heroin.
In April, Sessions directed a Justice Department task force to review government policies enacted before his time, including those regarding marijuana. And in May, Sessions rescinded an Obama-era memo that allowed prosecutors to use their discretion for sentencing drug offenders to mandatory minimums.
The Survey USA poll also found some Americans support consumption of marijuana by professional athletes (46 percent), gun owners (48 percent) and journalists (50 percent) should the state they reside in have applicable laws — three groups that face various barriers to using the drug.
Despite the tough words from Sessions and other administration officials about marijuana, there is one thing stopping federal action against state-level laws: the 2013 Cole memorandum.
Then-Attorney General Eric Holder issued the memo four years ago, stating the Justice Department would defer to state governments that had legalized marijuana and were lawfully and properly regulating it.
"The Cole Memorandum set up some policies under President Obama's Department of Justice about how cases should be selected in those states and what would be appropriate for federal prosecution, much of which I think is valid," Sessions said in March.
The cellphone poll of 1,500 Americans was conducted between June 19-20.
In April, a Quinnipiac poll found 73 percent oppose government enforcement of federal laws against marijuana in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Three-quarters of Americans want Trump to respect state marijuana laws
Author: Kelly Cohen
Contact: Contact Us | Information | Washington Examiner
Photo Credit: Evan Vucci
Website: Political News and Analysis About Congress, the President and Federal Government
Seventy-six percent of American adults want President Trump to leave state marijuana laws as they are, according to a new poll from Survey USA. Reform group Marijuana Majority commissioned the poll.
Currently, legal recreational marijuana has been approved in eight states plus Washington, D.C. A total of 29 other states, including the District of Columbia, have legalized medical marijuana in some form.
The drug remains illegal on the federal level, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been vocal in his opposition to legalizing marijuana – once calling it "only slightly less awful" than heroin.
In April, Sessions directed a Justice Department task force to review government policies enacted before his time, including those regarding marijuana. And in May, Sessions rescinded an Obama-era memo that allowed prosecutors to use their discretion for sentencing drug offenders to mandatory minimums.
The Survey USA poll also found some Americans support consumption of marijuana by professional athletes (46 percent), gun owners (48 percent) and journalists (50 percent) should the state they reside in have applicable laws — three groups that face various barriers to using the drug.
Despite the tough words from Sessions and other administration officials about marijuana, there is one thing stopping federal action against state-level laws: the 2013 Cole memorandum.
Then-Attorney General Eric Holder issued the memo four years ago, stating the Justice Department would defer to state governments that had legalized marijuana and were lawfully and properly regulating it.
"The Cole Memorandum set up some policies under President Obama's Department of Justice about how cases should be selected in those states and what would be appropriate for federal prosecution, much of which I think is valid," Sessions said in March.
The cellphone poll of 1,500 Americans was conducted between June 19-20.
In April, a Quinnipiac poll found 73 percent oppose government enforcement of federal laws against marijuana in states that have legalized medical or recreational marijuana.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Three-quarters of Americans want Trump to respect state marijuana laws
Author: Kelly Cohen
Contact: Contact Us | Information | Washington Examiner
Photo Credit: Evan Vucci
Website: Political News and Analysis About Congress, the President and Federal Government
