Washington Gov. Inslee slams federal decision on marijuana enforcement

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Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is criticizing a Trump administration decision to rescind an Obama-era policy that paved the way for legalized marijuana to flourish in numerous states.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Session’s move would leave it to U.S. attorneys where pot is legal to decide whether to aggressively enforce federal marijuana law.

Inslee said Thusrady that would be a mistake, adding that the decision also disregards Washington voters who approved the legalization of recreational pot in 2012.

Inslee says Washington will vigorously defend the state’s laws against federal infringement.

Last year, Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson wrote to Sessions urging him to respect Washington state’s marijuana laws, which have also provided for additional tax revenue on which Washington state Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson says the state has come to rely.

Sessions’ plan also drew immediate strong objection from Republican U.S. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, one of eight states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use.

Gardner said in a tweet that the Justice Department “has trampled on the will of the voters” in Colorado and other states.  He said the action would contradict what Sessions had told him before the attorney general was confirmed and that he was prepared “to take all steps necessary” to fight the step, including holding up the confirmation of Justice Department nominees.  (AP)

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