• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • BOSTON BETTER BEER BUREAU
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • Close

Dig Bos

The Dig - Greater Boston's Alternative News Source

NATIONAL WIRE: WILL THE SESSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT HINDER CANNABIS LEGALIZATION?

Written by ANDREA SEARS Posted January 7, 2018 Filed Under: News, NEWS+OPINIONS

 

 

The Trump administration is taking aim at states that have legalized marijuana. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced he is rescinding an Obama-era policy that discouraged prosecutors from enforcing federal marijuana laws in states that have legalized its sale for recreational use.

 

Massachusetts is one of eight states that has voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana, and several more are expected to pass similar laws this year.

 

Grant Smith, the deputy director of the Office of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance, says Sessions’ action undermines state-level reforms around the country.

 

“It has a chilling effect in terms of the ability for states to move forward with marijuana law reforms that have dramatically cut arrests, and with that, have helped to reduce racial disparities with the marijuana arrests we’ve been seeing,” he laments.

 

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission says it will proceed with plans to begin marijuana sale for recreational use, despite the announcement. Before this week’s action, Sessions has voiced concerns about marijuana use and blames legalization for challenging law enforcement and encouraging drug trafficking.

 

Twenty-nine states now have laws allowing the sale of medical marijuana. But Smith notes that the attorney general’s action should not affect clinics or patients.

 

“There’s a rider that’s still currently in effect, that was passed by Congress, that prohibits the Department of Justice from spending federal funds to interfere with the implementation of state medical-marijuana laws,” he says.

 

In May, Sessions sent a letter to Congress asking for that rider to be removed, but the provision has strong, bipartisan support.

 

And Smith points out that public support for ending marijuana prohibition is strong and growing.

 

“The latest Gallup poll shows that 64 percent of Americans support making marijuana use legal,” he adds. “And I don’t think the voters are going to be swayed by Attorney General Sessions’ perspective on this.”

 

He also points out that states that have legalized cannabis have benefited through increased tax revenue from sales.

 

ANDREA SEARS
+ posts
    This author does not have any more posts.

Filed Under: News, NEWS+OPINIONS Tagged With: cannabis, Commonwealth, Mass, Massachusetts, medical marijuana, MMA, Sessions, Trump, US Justice Department, weed

WHAT’S NEW

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Massachusetts Bill, Victim Advocates Call For Coordinated Date-Rape Drug Response

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

Report: Fewer Youth Transition Out Of Massachusetts Foster Care System

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

State Wire: Activists Urge Congress To Raise Debt Ceiling, Resist Spending Cuts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Dancing On Banana Peels: Life On Lifetime Parole In Massachusetts

Justice Department Completes Vetting Of Rachael Rollins

Justice Department Completes Vetting Of Rachael Rollins

AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”

AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”

Primary Sidebar

LOCAL EVENTS

AAN Wire


Most Popular

  • AG Investigating BPD To Determine If “Gang Unit” Engages In “Unconstitutional Policing”
  • Over Yondr: Are Cell Phone Pouches At Shows Liberating, Dangerous, Or Annoying?
  • Deep Cuts Brings Sandwiches, Craft Beer, And Live Music To Medford
  • Daring Greatly: TikTok Star Alden McWayne (aka Gucci Pineapple) On Scheming And Dreaming
  • Dead As Ever: Meet The Rising Dark Star Of Boston’s Jam Band Scene

Footer

Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Advertise

Customer Service

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an email blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: sales@digboston.com To reach editorial (and for inquiries about internship opportunities): editorial@digboston.com