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Watch: Jeff Sessions Acknowledges States Have the Right to Set Their Own Marijuana Policies

(StoptheDrugWar.org) Even as he defended federal marijuana prohibition, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions last Thursday conceded that states have the right to pass their own marijuana laws.

Sessions, an avowed foe of marijuana legalization, has moved to rescind Obama-era guidance to prosecutors that gave some protection to state-legal marijuana operations, but the reality on the ground is that even when given a green light by the Justice Department to go after state-legal marijuana, federal prosecutors in those states are largely leaving it alone.

Sessions has also been left isolated by President Trump, who has signaled support for legislation that would end federal marijuana prohibition.

Last Thursday, Sessions was in Massachusetts, where voters in 2016 approved marijuana legalization and where sales in pot shops are expected to begin sometime this year. A reporter asked Sessions about his stance on legalization.

“We’ll enforce the federal law; the federal law remains the law of the land,” he replied. “Personally, my view is that the American republic will not be better if there are marijuana sales on every street corner, but states have a right to set their own laws and will do so, and we will follow the federal law,” he said.

After the press conference, a Department of Justice spokesperson told MassLive.com the comments did not represent a shift for Sessions. This is true: Sessions remains committed to federal marijuana prohibition, but he can’t seem to get his US attorneys in states where marijuana is legal to do anything about it. And now, he’s at least admitting that states have the right to craft their own pot laws.

Here’s the video:

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Lauren von Bernuth

Lauren is one of the co-founders of Citizen Truth. She graduated with a degree in Political Economy from Tulane University. She spent the following years backpacking around the world and starting a green business in the health and wellness industry. She found her way back to politics and discovered a passion for journalism dedicated to finding the truth.

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12 Comments

  1. #BRUCEHAWES August 2, 2018

    it was the @republicanparty that passed the alcohol prohibition laws. It’s Americans who will elect… https://t.co/WIVVD6GwBo

    Reply
  2. Robert Strauss August 2, 2018

    Why not? They set their own immigration policies.

    Reply
  3. tr lacey, ph.d. August 2, 2018

    Sessions has always been for States Rights.

    Reply
  4. Fred Nightwalker August 7, 2018

    Jeff. Piss on. Yourself. Sicko

    Reply
  5. Carroll Lunde August 7, 2018

    better stay away from anything Sssions wants, or we will be building for profit prisons, so the maggots such as Sessions can profit from someone relaxing burning a weed.

    Reply
  6. Doug Bryant August 7, 2018

    Trumpanzee

    Reply
  7. Ray Rossman August 7, 2018

    He is such an ass!

    Reply
  8. Fred Nightwalker September 4, 2018

    Money dance.

    Reply
  9. Fred Nightwalker September 4, 2018

    Deport

    Reply
  10. Fred Nightwalker September 4, 2018

    Damn the devil left him. Only god can 4 give.

    Reply
  11. George Converse September 4, 2018

    That piece of s*** need to be took to the highest tree and hunt or put in front of a firing range for treason

    Reply
  12. Dave Martin September 4, 2018

    What a moron. Racist ass

    Reply

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