Representatives from the Justice Department, Vice President Mike Pence’s office and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy traveled to Colorado for closed-door meetings on marijuana policy.
Members of the delegation met with with Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers (R) and the city’s chief of police. They also met with Gov. John Hickenlooper’s (D) staff, state regulators and the U.S. Attorney’s office.
"Probably most of the discussion centered around the huge black market that exists for marijuana in Colorado," legalization opponent Suthers said.
Months ago, Attorney General Jeff Sessions requested recommendations by July 27 (Thursday) on marijuana enforcement from his Justice Department task force. Sessions adamantly opposes legalization, but it’s not clear how he plans to put his beliefs into practice.
Justice official Michael Murray who’s leading the marijuana assessment was with the delegation as was a State Department official with expertise in international treaty negotiations.
A legal aid to Hickenlooper said the only question he remembers Murray asking involved 2014 guidance, from the Treasury Department’s financial crimes unit.
“Immediate or future federal enforcement activities [were] not broached,” The Cannabist reports.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post learned Sessions discussed campaign related matters with the Russian ambassador during the 2016 campaign, appearing to contradict Sessions’ sworn testimony.
Trump ally Dana Rohrabacher, probably cannabis’s best Republican friend in Congress, is also “the most vociferous defender of Russian interests in Congress.” Rohrabacher, who I believe is the only member of Congress to say he has used MED, also asked a Nasa scientist about the possibility of ancient civilizations on Mars.
Trump said his Mexican border wall should be transparent to prevent people from being hit by flying sacks of drugs. The Daily Show did a segment.
Massachusetts lawmakers sent a REC implementation bill to Gov. Charlie Baker (R), who’s expected to sign. State treasurer Deborah Goldberg (D) has “no idea” if dispensaries will open as scheduled in July 2018. MJ Biz Daily has an FAQ.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage said he would veto any bill taxing REC but not MED.
New Hampshire decriminalized. The Concord Monitor has a good piece on how police are preparing. All six New England states have now decriminalized.
California may issue grow licenses early to avoid product shortages. San Francisco is setting up an Office of Cannabis.
Four Congressmen, two from each party, discussed cannabis reform on Facebook live.
Rep. Keith Ellison, (D- Minn.) wants Democrats to campaign on cannabis legalization.
Republican candidates for Colorado governor discussed marijuana policy.
D.C.’s non-voting Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton wants the capital to have a cannabis industry.
Some other Congresspeople made pot jokes.
Some of Canada’s provincial premiers -- the equivalent of governors -- want to see REC implementation delayed. REC is on sale in Uruguay pharmacies.
Lynwood became the first city in L.A. County to start negotiating with licensed cannabis businesses.
Oregon has a new director of legal cannabis enforcement.
In-store use could happen in Alaska.
It was a false report that said Malia Obama was fired from her internship at the U.S. Embassy in Spain for smoking pot.