Earlier today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Trump administration would be ending an Obama-era Marijuana policy that allowed state attorney generals to decide how lenient they are on prosecuting pot-related offenses.
From the Associated Press:
“In deciding which marijuana activities to prosecute under these laws with the Department’s finite resources, prosecutors should follow the well-established principles that govern all federal prosecutions,” by considering the seriousness of the crime and its impact on the community, Sessions wrote in a one-page memo to the nation’s federal prosecutors.
Reaction to the sudden change has many, on both sides of the political aisle, sharing their two cents on social media.
Senator Cory Booker (D-NY) had a MELTDOWN.
Senator @CoryBooker on Attorney General Jeff Sessions' #marijuana policy change: "This is an attack on our most sacred ideals." pic.twitter.com/ehkAS2f65Y
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 4, 2018
Washington State’s Senator Patty Murray (D) wasted no time coming out against the proposal. After all, Washington State is one of a handful of states that will be targeted in this policy change.
This is just the latest example of President Trump and his Administration breaking their promises and trying to jam through an ideological agenda that would be deeply damaging to people in Washington state and across the country. https://t.co/WX5fnUHwFX
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) January 4, 2018
There are TONS of legal pot dispensaries in Washington.
This reported action directly contradicts what Attorney General Sessions told me prior to his confirmation. With no prior notice to Congress, the Justice Department has trampled on the will of the voters in CO and other states.
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) January 4, 2018
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Colorado Senator Cory Gardner (R) is also against this policy change.
I am prepared to take all steps necessary, including holding DOJ nominees, until the Attorney General lives up to the commitment he made to me prior to his confirmation.
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) January 4, 2018
And he’s willing to play hardball to get his constituents what they want.
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wasn’t too thrilled either.
States like Massachusetts have put a lot of work into implementing common sense marijuana regulations. https://t.co/KteYeEzxVe
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 4, 2018
“Common sense” laws. Where else have we heard this before?
@TheJusticeDept's reckless decision to rescind its policy allowing states to enforce their own drug policies puts our public health and safety at risk.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 4, 2018
Technically, it’s still illegal on a federal level.
Congress needs to take immediate action to protect state marijuana laws, and the patients that rely on them.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 4, 2018
Translation: Democrats, let’s come together to make sure this won’t become a reality.
We'll give Jeff Sessions our legal pot when he pries it from our warm, extremely interesting to look at hands. https://t.co/LF0RpdCiHG
— Colorado Senate Dems (@COSenDem) January 4, 2018
Ohhh…hands! How…interesting?
The marijuana industry supports hundreds of small businesses across our state.
Since legalization, marijuana has generated $617,767,334 in tax revenue. Instead of going to drug cartels, that money helps fund our schools and addiction treatment programs for more dangerous drugs.
— Colorado Senate Dems (@COSenDem) January 4, 2018
Their motto must be smoke a joint, buy a kid a book. Err….something like that.
@usagsessions So this means the Attorney General of the United States of America is going to defy the will of the voters. Not very lawful behavior from the guy that's supposed to be in charge of the laws. Guns Good/Pot Bad??? Come on Beauregard, back off. #FIRESESSIONS #IMPEACH45 https://t.co/MoyLZ0oGL6
— elliot55 (@elliot5678) January 4, 2018
Is this part of a new movement to get rid of Sessions?
Oh yeah…push for more state level government unless of course it’s uncomfortable for your bible bashing morality…because Sessions and his alt right are so very Christian…well unless you are talking about the poor, or human equality…or severe pain.
— Caroline Hickey (@Clouhickey67) January 4, 2018
Hypocrisy? You decide.
Was #jeffsessions #bullied by #grass as a child!? #obsessed #regressive pic.twitter.com/AfxMcwz9Ha
— Julie El Taher (@DrNancyDrew) January 4, 2018
Apparently, a wedgie is the solution to all our problems.
— Tim Donovan (@Ledfloyd13) January 4, 2018
Wasn’t Obama a pothead himself?
In the middle of an opioid crises, it would seem to me to be political suicide to go after marijuana now. https://t.co/8zEQiD4zMi
— John Lynch (@John347L) January 4, 2018
That’s one way of looking at it.
East Coast hittin' that blunt, West Coast hittin' that honey-dip
Marijuana joint then I want another hit
Roll it up, (light it up), smoke it up
I wanna stimulate my mind (so I toke it up)— thiago (@thiagoouw) January 4, 2018
How poetic.
Others were rather happy about the administration’s sudden shift in policy:
Actually the 23 billion dollar industry is going up against federal law. Sessions is upholding the law. The democrats ain't got the guts to introduce pot legislation and fight for it. They try & circumvent laws instead of changing laws.
— Bill Williams (@BillWil81634194) January 4, 2018
Democrats do do shady stuff.
https://twitter.com/NeilDwyer93/status/949025087528857602
There’s a thought.
I'm not for marijuana, but I'm even less for lives being ruined and our jails being filled up with people who have committed what is essentially a victimless crime. https://t.co/IlBBK7PNA7
— Matt Fahrner (@mattfahrner) January 4, 2018
Is it possible to be anti-pot but anti-pot enforcement? Seems a bit contradictory, don’t you think?
https://twitter.com/Tommauro82/status/949024942846132224
HAHAHAHA.
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