Pubdate: Fri, 30 Aug 2013
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/625HdBMl
Website: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Authors: Kevin Johnson and Raju Chebium

FEDS MELLOW ON STATE POT LAWS

Legalization Backers Hail Justice Dept.'s Announcement

The Justice Department's sweeping decision not to challenge state 
laws that permit medical and recreational use of marijuana is being 
hailed as a major breakthrough by advocates of decriminalizing the drug 's use.

Although the directive issued by Attorney General Eric Holder will 
apply nationwide, it will largely affect the 20 states and the 
District of Columbia that allow for medical marijuana use, and 
Colorado and Washington, where laws allow medical and recreational 
use by adults.

"Today's announcement demonstrates the sort of political vision and 
foresight from the White House we've been seeking for a long time," 
said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, 
which supports legalization and favors referring offenders to 
treatment rather than prison.

Holder's directive says the department won't challenge laws in those 
states as long as the drug sales do not conflict with eight new 
federal enforcement priorities. Those include the distribution of 
marijuana to minors and sales that assist or act as cover for 
trafficking operations, according to the directive being issued 
Thursday to federal prosecutors across the country. Holder briefed 
the governors of Colorado and Washington on the new directive in a 
conference call. Federal prosecutors were also to brief authorities 
in other states.

The new guidelines do not change marijuana's classification as an 
illegal drug, but it effectively discourages the pursuit of 
individual non-violent marijuana users who have no links to criminal 
gangs or cartel operations.

Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., had pressed the federal government to 
respect the state's decision. "This is a critical first step in 
providing much needed certainty for Colorado's residents and 
businesses who have been left in limbo since the voters 
decriminalized marijuana in 2012," he said.

The announcement, however was not being hailed in all corners. "We 
are very disappointed that Eric Holder's not doing his job," said 
Calvina Fay, executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation. 
"He has created what will become a tsunami that will most likely 
result in far too many young people becoming victims of chemical slavery."

Peter Bensinger, former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, 
said the action amounted to a violation of the law. Holder is "not 
just abandoning the law," Bensinger said, "he's breaking the law."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom