U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent shock waves through the cannabis industry in early January when he issued a Department of Justice (DOJ) memo rescinding the Cole Memos and all related guidelines aimed at the legal cannabis industry, including how financial institutions should handle cannabis clients. Source: Justice Department
Bob Troyer, U.S. Attorney for the district of Colorado, told CBT that his priority is targeting crimes that “significantly threaten our community safety.” He said the Sessions’ memo returns prosecutorial discretion to U.S. Attorneys who can evaluate the impact of cannabis businesses in their districts. Source: Cannabis Business Times
Massachusetts’ Republican Governor Charlie Baker offered his strongest support of the legal cannabis industry to date in his message to the state’s U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. Lelling called cannabis a “dangerous drug” and pledged to investigate bulk trafficking and cultivation cases, as well as those who use the federal banking system “illegally.” Source: Boston Globe
Kansas State Rep. Steve Alford was harshly criticized for this statement he made during a legislative coffee session with constituents in his home state. Alford was referring to policies put into place by known prohibitionist and racist Harry Anslinger, who was the founding commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Source: Garden City Telegram
