U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions rescinded an Obama-era policy this week that de-prioritized marijuana enforcement throughout the Department of Justice, a policy that largely paved the way for states like Colorado, Washington and California to open the door for ballot measures that legalized recreational pot use at the state level.
By rescinding the so-called Cole Memo, Sessions has opened the door for federal prosecutors to begin enforcement of the 1970s-era Controlled Substances Act, something former Attorney Generic Eric Holder had put on the back burner.
Mark spoke with FOX40 News about what the policy could mean for California residents and businesses.
“There’s no defense,” Mark said, adding that the Attorney General’s move could be devastating for those in the state-legal cannabis industry. Mark said in his experience, most people charged with marijuana-related crimes only have two chances of avoiding conviction: “Number one is, is it marijuana? Number two is, did you possess or sell it?”
But Mark said it’s premature to panic over the rescinded policy because it’s ultimately up to local Department of Justice prosecutors to decide if they’re going to enforce the law. So far, few have signaled a willingness to.
“It’s definitely wait and see,” Mark said.
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