Page 6 - FUNDACION LOTTO PA DEPORTE

A5
U.S. NEWS Saturday 6 January 2018

Medical marijuana seen at risk following move by Sessions

By ANDREW SELSKY in a letter Thursday.
Associated Press Georgia state Rep. Allen
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — When Peake, a Republican who
U.S. Attorney General Jeff sponsored a bill in his state’s
Sessions green-lighted fed- legislature that legalized
eral prosecutions of mari- possession of medical mari-
juana lawbreakers, the vast juana in 2015, denounced
majority of U.S. states that the move.
allow some form of medi- “I’m very disappointed
cal marijuana were unex- in Jeff Session’s actions,”
pectedly placed at risk of a Peake said Friday in a tele-
crackdown and are warily phone interview.
watching developments. “He will be hurting the
Forty six states — includ- grandfather with Alzheim-
ing Sessions’ home state er’s, the soccer mom with
of Alabama — have legal- breast cancer, the college
ized some form of medical student with Crohn’s dis-
marijuana in recent years, ease, the young child with
according to the National seizures — these are the
Conference of State Legis- people that will be impact-
latures. ed by this action by the at-
Eight of those states also al- torney general.”
low recreational marijuana. The only legal protection
Among the guidance that now for medical marijuana
Sessions rescinded was the growers, processors, sell- This photo shows the MedMen marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles. When U.S. Attorney General
so-called Ogden Memo- ers and users is a tempo- Jeff Sessions green-lighted federal prosecutors to pursue violators of federal marijuana laws, not
only states that legalized recreational pot are at risk of a crackdown, but so is most of the rest of
randum of 2009 that in- rary measure sponsored by America. All but four states allow some form of medical marijuana, even Sessions’ home state of
structed federal prosecu- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher Alabama.
tors not to pursue cases (R-Calif.) and Rep. Earl Blu- (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
against medical marijuana menauer (D-Ore.) prohibit- juana legalization. “This is a Only Idaho, South Dakota, marijuana did so in 2013
patients and distributors ing the U.S. Department of wakeup call for American Nebraska and Kansas do and 2014.
who complied with state Justice from using govern- people who believe in free- not allow any access to Georgia’s General As-
laws. “Previous nationwide ment funds to target them. dom,” Rohrabacher said. marijuana, said Karmen sembly passed that state’s
guidance specific to mari- Rohrabacher, in a confer- “It will mobilize people Hanson, a cannabis policy medical marijuana law
juana enforcement is un- ence call with reporters throughout the country.” analyst with the National in 2015. Called Haleigh’s
necessary and is rescinded, and four other members Many politicians, includ- Conference of State Legis- Hope Act, it was named
effective immediately,” of Congress, said Sessions’ ing Republicans, have cast latures. for a girl who was suffering
Sessions told the U.S. attor- move should galvanize Session’s move as an in- Many of the states that al- from hundreds of seizures a
neys based in all 50 states national support for mari- fringement on states’ rights. low some form of medical day. q
Despite law changes lottery winners will face big tax bills

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE ment. But even as the new “The changes roughly off- last month take effect at a the jackpots are incredibly
Associated Press law cut top federal income set,” said Steven Rosenthal, time when jackpots for the small, at about one in 302
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) tax rates, it also reduced a senior fellow at the Wash- nation’s two national lotter- million for Mega Millions
— Pity the Powerball and the ability to deduct state ington-based Tax Policy ies have grown enormous. and one in 292 million for
Mega Millions lottery game taxes. Center. “The new tax bill The Mega Millions game Powerball. Even for those
winners. There are exceptions, as 10 will not give any benefit to will offer a $445 million prize who beat the odds, they
Federal tax law changes states including California, most lottery winners.” for Friday’s drawing, and might find that their dream
would seem to promise Texas and Florida don’t tax The issue arises because the Powerball game’s top paycheck is smaller than
that those who beat the lottery winnings. But in most federal income tax bracket prize has reached $550 they thought.
odds and win a jackpot of the country, the newly changes approved by Con- million for Saturday night’s In part, that’s because
could keep more of their rich won’t be even richer gress and signed into law drawing. nearly all winners take the
winnings from the govern- because of the tax law. by President Donald Trump The chances of winning cash option.q