Massachusetts federal prosecutor will not rule out busting pot businesses

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters

JANUARY 8, 2018 / 3:19 PM / UPDATED 16 MINUTES AGO
Reuters Staff

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts’ top federal prosecutor will not rule out prosecuting businesses dealing in marijuana, he said on Monday, less than a week after the Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era policy easing enforcement in states that legalized the drug.

Massachusetts is one of eight states whose voters have legalized use of recreational marijuana, which remains illegal under federal law. Legal retail sales of the drug were to begin in Massachusetts this year under the terms of a voter initiative passed in 2016.

“Deciding, in advance, to immunize a certain category of actors from federal prosecution would be to effectively amend the laws Congress has already passed, and that I will not do,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement posted on Twitter. “The kind of categorical relief sought by those engaged in state-level marijuana legalization efforts can only come from the legislative process.”

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday rescinded a policy put in place under Democratic President Barack Obama that limited enforcement of marijuana laws where the drug had been legalized, currently California, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada and Maine. Maine has not yet cleared the way for retail sales.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-massachusetts-marijuana/massachusetts-federal-prosecutor-will-not-rule-out-busting-pot-businesses-idUSKBN1EX26T

[PoliticAverse]

1. Until pot is made legal at the federal level, this is always a possibility. n/t

[PJMcK]

2. Another unnecessary mess brought to you by Trump & Co.

This will be a monumental legal morass. Ultimately, many people's lives will be disrupted, businesses will be affected and the whole shit-show will end up at the Supreme Court.

Why not screw up some more of our country?

Thanks, Trump.

[maxsolomon]

3. I expect you'll see the same from all the states now at-risk

It's cynically designed to make Liberals waste time and effort on re-fighting battles that have already been won.

Weed, Off-shore Drilling, Gay Marriage, Abortion, etc.

[PoliticAverse]

5. The battle isn't won until pot is legal at the federal level. n/t

[maxsolomon]

7. The WAR isn't over

but those battles were victories.

[LanternWaste]

16. Is not the corollary then true as well?

Is not the corollary then true as well?

It's designed to make Conservatives waste time and effort in re-fighting battles that have already been lost.

[Cattledog]

4. Andrew Lelling

member of the Federalist Society.

[BigmanPigman]

10. I wondered which party he belonged to.

That answers the question...Fed Society. Figures.

[samnsara]

6. and yet prostitution remains legal in parts of nevada?

[PoliticAverse]

9. Prostitution isn't illegal at the federal level, unlike pot. n/t

[mreilly]

8. I am so fucking fed up with this...

... I live in Massachusetts and marijuana would be a boon for this state both from a financial and a recreational aspect.. Yes, I plan to take it and enjoy it. WE VOTED FOR THIS.

And yet still the nonsense continues from these people. Ever since November 2016 they have dragged and dragged and dragged their feet getting the retail shops open, and the stench of a resentful: "MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD MARIJUANA BAD" attitude has overshadowed the entire process.

And yet we continue to allow thousands of alcohol-related crimes and deaths to occur, year in and year old as pricks like this and that fucking little Keebler Elf of an attorney general continue to bang the drum about jailing marijuana users.

To these fuckers, smoking God's plants is a horrible, awful sin... but hey, molesting teenage girls? No problem if you're a Republican!

I REPEAT: WE VOTED FOR THIS. And I don't give a SHIT if they don't like it !!!

[getagrip_already]

11. yeah, I'm a masshole also...

I started growing as soon as it became legal. Not because I use (rarely), but because I could. Friends and family seem to be happy.

This guy is and always has been trouble for anything progressive. It's not clear if he has been confirmed yet. Hopefully not.

[mreilly]

14. I will have to start growing too....

.... marijuana could save my liver but these worthless fucks think it's a sin. SMDH....

[getagrip_already]

15. it is a lot of fun....

and it has a lot of health benefits. alcohol on the other hand has only one benefit listed by the ama, and that is as a treatment for the DT's; although the AMA points out there are now better treatments.

Cannabis is useful for everything from joint pain to seizures, to sleep to appetite stimulation.

Growing it isn't hard once you get your system dialed in. I get anywhere between 10 oz's to a pound every 4 months from a small tent grow. Everyone I give it to (we can gift an oz at a time legally) raves about it.

I don't sell, barter, or let kids anywhere near it. But it is now our right. And its fun.

[rollin74]

12. fuck these tyrants. the will of the voters should be respected

[Massacure]

13. If I were in Andrew Lelling's shoes, I'd probably say the same thing.

I wouldn't get too worked up until he starts prosecuting people. From a pragmatic point of view, in the current political climate it is much easier to be quiet about not prosecuting people than it is to openly advertise non-prosecutions.