As the cannabis industry begins to take shape here in the State of Washington, one of the leading concerns for canna-businesses has been addressed. The Justice Department sent a memo stating that it will not sue to stop the sales of retail marijuana in Washington and Colorado.
The new policy is being called a “trust but verify” approach, and outlines eight priorities that will become the focus for federal prosecutors in cannabis legal states. These focuses include:
- Prevention of distribution of cannabis to minors.
- Prevent revenue from sales of cannabis from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels.
- Prevent cannabis from being illegally exported out of the legal states.
- Prevent sales of cannabis from being used as a cover for other illegal activity.
- Prevent the use of violence and firearms in the production and processing of cannabis.
- Prevent drugged driving and other public health consequences related to the use of cannabis.
- Prevent the growing of cannabis on public lands and the environmental impact that it causes.
- Prevent possession or use of cannabis products on federal property.
It will be up to the U.S. Attorneys to implement the policy, but many take this as a positive sign that the Department of Justice will allow canna-business to operate, as long as they do so within the guides of the law.
Article Link: http://news.yahoo.com/feds-wont-sue-stop-marijuana-2-states-173520230–politics.html