POTUS: Feds “Allowing States” to Choose Legalization

Originally published at blog.NORML.org

The federal government is not standing in the way of states that decide in favor of legalizing and regulating marijuana, President Donald Trump stated on Friday in comments first reported by MarijuanaMoment.net.

In response to a reporter’s question regarding whether or not the administration will support a change in federal marijuana policy, President Trump responded: “It’s a very big subject and right now we are allowing states to make that decision. A lot of states are making that decision, but we’re allowing states to make that decision.”

Reacting to the President’s comments, NORML’s Political Director Justin Strekal said, “The reiteration of a non-enforcement policy from the president is a clear sign that states should continue to defy the federal government when it comes to marijuana prohibition.”

During his Presidential campaign, Trump similarly said that he believed issues surrounding cannabis legalization ought to be decided “state by state.” However, the administration’s first Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, rescinded an Obama-administration memorandum which directed the Justice Department not to interfere in state-sanctioned marijuana-related activities.