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U.S. NEWS Saturday 9 June 2018

Trump signals support for states deciding if pot is legal

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD there is. ... My view is clear:
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The federal law remains
President Donald Trump in effect nationwide, just
said Friday that he was as it does for heroin and
inclined to support a cocaine."
bipartisan effort in Congress The proposal's prospects in
to ease the U.S. ban on Congress were unclear.
marijuana, a proposal Gardner, who heads
that would dramatically the Senate Republicans'
reshape the nation's legal campaign arm, is close
landscape for pot users to Senate Majority Leader
and businesses. Mitch McConnell. The
The federal ban that puts Kentucky Republican
marijuana on the same has consistently opposed
level as LSD and heroin legalizing marijuana but
has created a conflict has called hemp and
with about 30 states that marijuana "two entirely
have legalized pot in some separate plants."
form, creating a two-tiered The bill would amend the
enforcement system at the definition of marijuana
state and federal levels. in federal drug law to
The legislation would exclude industrial hemp,
ensure states have the which like marijuana is
right to determine the best part of the cannabis plant President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One as he arrives for the G7 Summit, Friday, June 8,
2018, in Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, Canada.
approach to marijuana family but doesn't contain Associated Press
within their borders, but the THC that gives pot users
some U.S. restrictions would the high. Hemp produces echo a promise that facing the threat of federal fearing it could lead to
remain, including sales of the non-intoxicating Gardner said he received prosecution. prosecution. In California,
non-medical pot to people cannabinoids, or CBDs, privately from the president A major problem stemming for example, paying taxes
under 21. that have become a in April to support legislation from the federal ban: and other transactions
The proposal introduced health rage and a lucrative protecting the marijuana Major banks have been are often carried out in
Thursday has support from crop in Kentucky and other industry in states that have reluctant to do business cash, sometimes in vast
members of Congress from states. legalized the drug. with marijuana companies, amounts.q
both parties, including Despite his comments, Gardner said the measure
Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Trump has sent mixed would ensure U.S. authorities
Gardner of Colorado. signals on the drug: While respect the will of voters in
"I support Senator Gardner. campaigning for president, each state, whether laws
I know exactly what he's he pledged to respect provide for legalization or
doing," Trump told reporters states that legalized prohibition.
in Washington, when asked marijuana, but he also He said in a statement
about the legislation. "We're has criticized legalization released Thursday that
looking at it. But I probably and implied it should be the federal government
will end up supporting that, stopped. "is closing its eyes and
yes." "I don't think anyone would plugging its ears" to
The president's remarks make a bet on the long- spreading legalization.
place him in conflict with term validity of an offhand Another co-sponsor of the
his own Justice Department remark by the president measure, Democratic U.S.
and Attorney General Jeff that he 'probably' would Sen. Elizabeth Warren of
Sessions, who staunchly support something," said Massachusetts, said in a
opposes marijuana. Kevin A. Sabet, head of statement that Washington
He lifted an Obama Smart Approaches to "needs to get out of the
administration policy and Marijuana, a nonpartisan business of outlawing
freed federal prosecutors group opposed to marijuana."
to more aggressively marijuana legalization. California, home to one in
pursue cases in states that "I think he'll find out soon eight Americans, launched
have legalized marijuana. from ... victims of marijuana the nation's largest legal
Asked about the measure in addiction and impaired marijuana marketplace
an interview with Colorado driving that this is not as on Jan. 1 but thousands
Public Radio, Sessions said, popular as Cory Gardner is of businesses that have
"We'll see how far it goes leading him to believe." been licensed are still
and how much support Trump's remarks Friday