White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated at a Thursday news conference voters should expect to see greater enforcement of federal laws against the use of recreational marijuana. Spicers comments appear to signal President Donald Trump might be willing to put down nascent attempts to legalize recreational cannabis nationwide.
At the same time, Spicer said the president was supportive of a federal rule that gave leeway to states allowing medical marijuana use.
Theres a big difference between (medical marijuana) and recreational marijuana, and I think 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, Spicer said, when asked about the topic of legalization. There is still a federal law that we need to abide by in terms of recreational marijuana and other drugs of that nature.
Spicers statements did not come as a surprise to California Growers Association Executive Director Hezekiah Allen, who said that they were the tip of the iceberg.
I feel like what we needed most from Washington was information, he said. Now we have it and now well have to put our heads together and figure out how to implement these (legalization) laws as quickly as possible. Our communities and watersheds cant benefit from regulations until the regulations are written and implemented. Weve got to get this done.
California state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said the states efforts to implement its recreational marijuana regulations are now on standby until the U.S. Department of Justice releases more details on its plans.
You cant put the genie back into the bottle, McGuire said. Marijuana regulation and enforcement cant and shouldnt go backwards.
Others questioned the federal governments ability to enforce its own prohibition laws. Marijuana is currently categorized as a Schedule I narcotic with no medicinal value under the Controlled Substances Act. Aaron Herzberg, who is a partner and general counsel for the Santa Ana-based cannabis real estate company CalCann Holdings LLC, described Spicers statements as saber rattling.
If in fact Trump were to reinstitute raids on medical marijuana facilities that would be a major setback for the industry, he wrote in a statement. But I dont see such a frontal attack as likely. The HincheyRohrabacher amendment that prohibits federal funding be used to raid medical and recreational marijuana businesses has passed three times in Republican-controlled Congress. If it is again passed in April it will ensure that Trump can complain all he wants, but he or Sessions wont be able to do much other than complain and saber rattle.
Marijuana Policy Project Communications Director Mason Tvert urged Congress in a statement to continue to keep this budget amendment in place, stating that a reduction in regulation will have its own consequences.
It is hard to imagine why anyone would want marijuana to be produced and sold by cartels and criminals rather than tightly regulated, taxpaying businesses, Tvert wrote.
Eight states have voted to legalize recreational marijuana since 2012. California has been working to reconcile separate regulations for medical cannabis under the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act and the newly adopted recreational cannabis laws under Proposition 64. The state has a fast-approaching Jan. 1, 2018 deadline to implement the new laws.
Allen said the White Houses stance could now shift the states focus to medical cannabis only depending on how state leaders respond.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: White House Signals Possible Crackdown On Recreational Marijuana
Author: Will Houston
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Photo Credit: Digital First Media
Website: Willits News
