Koch Brothers Support Marijuana State Rights

In a rebuke of United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions's rescission of the Cole Memorandum, the Koch brothers released a sharply worded statement supporting states' rights with regard to legal marijuana and also labels the war on drugs "misguided" and advocates a "new, smarter approach to drug policy."

 

In a rebuke of United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions's rescission of the Cole Memorandum, the Koch brothers released a sharply worded statement supporting states' rights with regard to legal marijuana. The statement, first released in late January, argues that "citizens have spoken on marijuana" and that the United State Justice Department can "choose to be on the side of individual liberty and states rights" by not interfering.

The Koch statement goes beyond just defending states' rights in reference to their dispute with Sessions over legal marijuana. The statement also labels the war on drugs "misguided" and advocates a "new, smarter approach to drug policy."

"The administration would be better suited working with members of Congress to reform outdated sentencing laws," the statement reads. "However well-intentioned these laws were upon implementation, they have ruined lives, torn apart families and communities, and have burdened taxpayers, doing little to keep people safe."

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Senator Cory Booker Stays Firm Against Sessions

Colorado Republican Senator Cory Gardner said he would not allow any of Sessions' Department of Justice nominations to be confirmed if the Attorney General did not reverse his recent marijuana decision. And since Sessions has held firm, Gardner has followed through with his promise. 11 Justice Department nominees have been blocked from receiving a Senate floor vote in the past month as a result of Gardner's political maneuvering. 

When Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced his decision to rescind protections for states with legal marijuana laws, many politicians spoke out against him. But only one,  has taken actual steps to prevent Sessions' from enacting his agenda.

Last month Colorado Republican Senator Cory Gardner said he would not allow any of Sessions' Department of Justice nominations to be confirmed if the Attorney General did not reverse his recent marijuana decision. And since Sessions has held firm, Gardner has followed through with his promise. 11 Justice Department nominees have been blocked from receiving a Senate floor vote in the past month as a result of Gardner's political maneuvering. There are another 20 nominees that need to be confirmed in the following few months, and many politicians believe Gardner will continue to hold fast.

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Colorado Officials Respond to Attorney General Sessions on Marijuana Policy

Looks like states rights are coming on strong, and pushing back on AG Sessions.   The overwhelming benefits that are accruing to states with legalization along with strong public support is a force that the Federal government will hopefully start to better understand, and start prioritizing more critical issues to our country.

https://www.marijuanatimes.org/colorado-officials-respond-to-attorney-general-sessions-on-marijuana-policy/

Colorado Officials Respond to Attorney General Sessions on Marijuana Policy

By

 Joe Klare

 - 

  Aug 30, 2017

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Late in July, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent letters to officials in the first four states to approve adult use marijuana legalization: Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon. Officials in all four states have responded, the last of which being Colorado, who did so just last week.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D) and Attorney General Cynthia Coffman (R) took umbrage with several of Sessions’ assertions, saying he relied on outdated and incorrect information while touting the progress made in their state since retail cannabis sales began in January 2014.

“The State of Colorado has worked diligently to implement the will of our citizens and build a comprehensive regulatory and enforcement system that prioritizes public safety and public health,” the letter reads. “When abuses and unintended consequences materialize, the state has acted quickly to address any resulting harms. While our system has proven to be effective, we are constantly evaluating and seeking to strengthen our approach to regulation and enforcement.”

Colorado officials insist that their regulations are effective, citing stats that show youth marijuana use in the state declining by 12% between 2013 and 2016. The state has also seen over $500 million in tax revenue and a drop in marijuana DUIs.

Considering Colorado’s governor was an opponent of Amendment 64 when it was being battled over in 2012, it is a little odd to see him now defending legalization to Attorney General Sessions. That, perhaps more than any other single fact, is a testament to how well legalization is working in Colorado. 

I have opined in writing here and elsewhere that it would seem that Jeff Sessions has enough to worry about without bothering with a legal marijuana crackdown that no one is clamoring for. I don’t see anyone marching in the streets against cannabis legalization. It is not an especially divisive issue, with clear majorities supporting legalization in every poll taken on the subject. 

It has been theorized that Sessions is using this time to feel out how receptive citizens and officials would be to a crackdown; if he doesn’t see the answer to that by now, he never will. Most people and officials in legal marijuana states want Sessions to go away and spend his time on other subjects.

In fact, the message officials in Colorado sent to Sessions tracks pretty close to the message the other 3 states sent him as well. None are calling for federal interference in their affairs; they are calling for quite the opposite.

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