CRACK DOWN ON DRUGS
The administration of Donald Trump has left top officials in some states that have made recreational marijuana legal, in the dark after signaling a crackdown on the federal drug laws.
Unlike the Obama administration that tolerated legal marijuana industries, some senior members of President Trump’s administration has in recent times, dropped a hint that they would enforce drug laws more strictly.
“I’m dubious about marijuana. I’m not sure we’re going to be a better, healthier nation if we have marijuana sold at every corner grocery store,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions told State Attorney General in February.
Meanwhile, Marijuana Legalization Advocates and industry leaders are already stepping up efforts to counter moves by the American government. Beth Collins, a senior director of government relations with Americans for Safe Access (ASA) said, “It’s definitely an interesting time. We are nervous.”
Beth and other representatives of the industry met in Washington over the weekend and the approach of Trump’s administration to the drug (marijuana) was high on the agenda.
Last week, Jeff Sessions said a crime reduction task force focused on “evaluating marijuana enforcement policy” had been set up. In late February, White House Press secretary Sean Spicer said, “I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement of it” “I think that when you see something like the opioid addiction crisis blossoming in so many states around this country, the last thing we should be doing is encouraging people.”
The Trump administration has a strong stance against crime and criminality unlike the Obama administration. Under the previous government, marijuana dealers were largely left to operate. In fact, a total of eight states have made the recreational use of the substance, legal; while about half of the states allow it to be used as a medical substance.