Pubdate: Mon, 02 Sep 2013
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2013 The Seattle Times
Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/
Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117

FED MEMO WON'T ALTER POT PLAN - YET

Officials This Week Will Propose Final Rules on Limited Sale of Marijuana

SEATTLE - For some laboring in Washington state's fledgling marijuana 
industry, last week's announcement by the U.S. Justice Department was 
a policy shift more nuanced than bold, more a flashing caution signal 
than a green light.

The department's long-awaited statement on legalized marijuana in 
Washington and Colorado offered neither outright support nor 
opposition. Instead, the four-page memo to federal prosecutors set 
boundaries on what the feds would tolerate from the two states that 
are creating recreational markets for adults. At the same time, the 
memo made it clear that all marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

While the new federal direction might eventually lead to profound 
changes in marijuana policy across the country, things on the ground 
in Washington state haven't changed dramatically - yet.

Final rules will be proposed Wednesday by state officials for a 
system that will allow adults to buy an ounce of marijuana in 
regulated stores. Those rules already contain many of the safeguards 
the federal government is seeking: Don't sell or market to minors, 
don't evade taxes, don't divert marijuana to other states.

But obstacles remain. Nothing in the federal memo compels resistant 
Washington cities to allow marijuana merchants within their borders.

And the reluctance of federally insured banks to touch legal 
marijuana money is still a major impediment, leaving a 
multibillion-dollar industry to deal only in cash.

"I'm not ready to put the rosy glasses on just yet," said attorney 
Hilary Bricken, whose firm specializes in advising marijuana entrepreneurs.
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