Nevada governor responds to Attorney General decision that now threatens state's pot industry
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval responded to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions decision Thursday to rescind the Obama-era directive that allowed states to make decisions regarding federal enforcement of marijuana laws.
Sandoval said his administration has been largely successful in implementing laws that govern the voter-approved marijuana initiative, noting that the state's industry is a model for other states.
The Obama administrative directives had discouraged enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that had legalized marijuana medically and recreationally.
“Since Nevada voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016, I have called for a well-regulated, restricted and respected industry. My administration has worked to ensure these priorities are met while implementing the will of the voters and remaining within the guidelines of both the Cole and Wilkinson federal memos," said Sandoval in a statement.
"We have been largely successful in these efforts. I believe Nevada’s marijuana industry is a model for other states. My staff and I will review the memo released this morning and our state options. I look forward to the appointment of the new Nevada United States Attorney and further guidance that will be provided by the Department of Justice.”
Cannabis in Nevada became legal for recreational use effective Jan. 1, 2017, having been legalized by ballot initiative in 2016.
Medical marijuana use was legalized by ballot initiative in 2000, and has been available to licensed individuals in the state since shortly after that date. Nevada also licenses growers and distributors, and citizens of Nevada are banned from growing their own cannabis unless they live more than 25 miles from a licensed dispensary.
Below is the announcement issued Thursday from the U.S. Justice Department.
The Department of Justice today issued a memo on federal marijuana enforcement policy announcing a return to the rule of law and the rescission of previous guidance documents. Since the passage of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970, Congress has generally prohibited the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana.
In the memorandum, Attorney General Jeff Sessions directs all U.S. Attorneys to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and to follow well-established principles when pursuing prosecutions related to marijuana activities. This return to the rule of law is also a return of trust and local control to federal prosecutors who know where and how to deploy Justice Department resources most effectively to reduce violent crime, stem the tide of the drug crisis, and dismantle criminal gangs.
"It is the mission of the Department of Justice to enforce the laws of the United States, and the previous issuance of guidance undermines the rule of law and the ability of our local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners to carry out this mission," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Therefore, today's memo on federal marijuana enforcement simply directs all U.S. Attorneys to use previously established prosecutorial principles that provide them all the necessary tools to disrupt criminal organizations, tackle the growing drug crisis, and thwart violent crime across our country."
On Monday, a year after recreational marijuana was legalized, two Carson City facilities began selling recreational use of cannabis to those 21 and older.
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