Trump Administration Offers Verbal Commitment Not to Interfere in Legal Marijuana States
Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally in February 2016. (Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore)
WASHINGTON, DC Republican Senator Cory Gardner (CO)says that he has received a verbal commitmentfrom President Donald Trump that the administration will not take action to disrupt marijuana markets in states that legally regulate it.
Since the campaign, President Trump has consistently supported states rights to decide for themselves how best to approach marijuana, Gardner told theAssociated Presson Friday. I received a commitment from the President that the Department of Justices rescission of the Cole memo will not impact Colorados legal marijuana industry.
He added: Furthermore, President Trump has assured me that he will support a federalism-based legislative solution to fix this states rights issue once and for all. Because of these commitments, I have informed the Administration that I will be lifting my remaining holds on Department of Justice nominees.
In January, US Attorney General Jeff SessionsrescindedObama-era guidelines directing federal prosecutors not to take action against those who were compliant with state-sanctioned cannabis regulations. In response to that decision, Rep. Gardner had vowed to block all nominees for Justice Department jobs.
In response to the administrations pledge, NORML Director Erik Altieri stated: We applaud this commitment from President Trump, who promised during his campaign to take a federalist approach with regard to marijuana policy. That ...
