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| Trump administration scraps marijuana protections in move that threatens legalisation | Trump administration scraps marijuana protections in move that threatens legalisation |
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| US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded an Obama-era policy that eased enforcement of federal marijuana laws, in a move that critics say is the latest example of Trump administration policies that could hurt communities of colour who have historically been targeted by anti-drug directives. | US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded an Obama-era policy that eased enforcement of federal marijuana laws, in a move that critics say is the latest example of Trump administration policies that could hurt communities of colour who have historically been targeted by anti-drug directives. |
| An official at the Justice Department said that the policies put in place by the administration of President Barack Obama to ease federal enforcement of recreational marijuana distributors abiding by state laws "created a safe harbour for the marijuana industry to operate in these states and... there is a belief that that is inconsistent with what the federal law says." | An official at the Justice Department said that the policies put in place by the administration of President Barack Obama to ease federal enforcement of recreational marijuana distributors abiding by state laws "created a safe harbour for the marijuana industry to operate in these states and... there is a belief that that is inconsistent with what the federal law says." |
| Federal prosecutors have now been instructed to disregard that Obama policy, and have been instructed to approach recreational marijuana dispensaries operating in accordance to state law in the same way that they would any other case. | |
| "It was interpreted as a safe harbour for individuals," Mr Sessions said of the Obama-era policies. "This memo does not have safe harbours in it." | |
| During the Obama era, several states moved to pass recreational marijuana laws, including Colorado and Washington states. And, just days ago, California opened up its recreational marijuana market -- the largest state in the country so far to do it. | During the Obama era, several states moved to pass recreational marijuana laws, including Colorado and Washington states. And, just days ago, California opened up its recreational marijuana market -- the largest state in the country so far to do it. |
| Critics of the new Department of Justice directive point out that America's so-called war on drugs has resulted in skyrocketing incarceration rates in the country, predominantly among populations of black and brown Americans. The arrests and imprisonment that has resulted from those drug policies, including those surrounding marijuana, have damaged communities, disenfranchised would-be voters, and denied basic services to those who have been swept up, they say. But, this latest policy is in-line with previous anti-drug sentiments Mr Sessions has expressed, they say. | Critics of the new Department of Justice directive point out that America's so-called war on drugs has resulted in skyrocketing incarceration rates in the country, predominantly among populations of black and brown Americans. The arrests and imprisonment that has resulted from those drug policies, including those surrounding marijuana, have damaged communities, disenfranchised would-be voters, and denied basic services to those who have been swept up, they say. But, this latest policy is in-line with previous anti-drug sentiments Mr Sessions has expressed, they say. |
| "Sessions has not proven himself to be someone who cares about these communities," Maria Mcfarland Sánchez-Moreno, the executive director at the Drug Policy Alliance, told The Independent. "This is more proof about the callousness that he has, and the willingness, and interest, in pursuing policies that will harm, overwhelmingly, people of colour." | "Sessions has not proven himself to be someone who cares about these communities," Maria Mcfarland Sánchez-Moreno, the executive director at the Drug Policy Alliance, told The Independent. "This is more proof about the callousness that he has, and the willingness, and interest, in pursuing policies that will harm, overwhelmingly, people of colour." |
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