Page 4 - aruba-today-20180414

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 14 april 2018

Trump vows to back law to protect marijuana industry

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI ner said Sessions had prom-
Associated Press ised him he’d do nothing
DENVER (AP) — President to interfere with Colorado’s
Donald Trump has prom- robust marijuana market.
ised to support legislation Gardner said he was blind-
protecting the marijuana sided when Sessions made
industry in states that have his announcement in Janu-
legalized the drug, a move ary regarding pot prosecu-
that could lift a threat to tions.
the industry made by the In retaliation, Gardner used
U.S. attorney general just his power as a senator to
three months ago. prevent consideration of
Republican Sen. Cory any nominees for the De-
Gardner of Colorado said partment of Justice — an
Friday that Trump made extraordinary step for a
the pledge to him in a senator to use against an
Wednesday night conver- administration run by an-
sation. other member of his party.
It marked the latest flip by Some of Gardner’s fellow
the president who pledged GOP senators groused at
while he was campaigning the impact of the hold, and
to respect states that legal- Gardner allowed some
ized marijuana but also crit- In this Jan. 1, 2018 file photo, different types of marijuana sit on display at Harborside marijuana nominees to proceed in a
icized legalization and im- dispensary in Oakland, Calif. Sen. “good-faith” gesture last
plied it should be stopped. Associated Press month. On Friday, he said
Gardner has been push- galized in eight states, and ernment from interfering in soon,” said Kevin Sabet, he was fully releasing his
ing to reverse a decision 24 states allow some form state marijuana markets. founder of Smart Ap- holds on Department of
made by Attorney Gen- of marijuana use. Marijuana legalization ad- proaches to Marijuana. Justice nominations.
eral Jeff Sessions in January White House spokeswom- vocates were ebullient. “This reckless plan will not The action came amid
that removed prohibitions an Sarah Huckabee Sand- “We may now be seeing go unanswered.” widespread speculation
that kept federal prosecu- ers said Gardner’s account the light at the end of the During his campaign, that Trump will remove Jus-
tors from pursuing cases was accurate and the tunnel,” said Mason Tvert, Trump said states should tice officials overseeing the
against people who were president supported states’ who spearheaded the be able to chart their own Russia investigation.
following pot laws in states rights in the matter. 2012 ballot measure legal- course on marijuana. “I’m Replacements of any of
such as Colorado that Gardner hopes to intro- izing recreational marijua- a states person, it should be those officials would re-
have legalized the drug. duce bipartisan legislation na in Colorado. “This is one up to the states, absolute- quire new nominations.
Marijuana has been fully le- keeping the federal gov- more step toward ending ly,” he told one television Gardner and the Depart-
the irrational policy of mari- interviewer in Colorado in ment of Justice have been
juana prohibition, not only 2016. However, at the Con- in discussions for months to
in Colorado but throughout servative Political Action get the holds lifted. Gard-
Paradise in the Caribbean the country.” Conference in 2015, Trump ner has met with Sessions
Other marijuana supporters said he supported medical and Deputy Attorney Gen-
were wary given the presi- marijuana but called recre- eral Rod Rosenstein, the of-
dent’s record of reversing ational pot “bad.” ficial overseeing the Russia
positions and pledges of He singled out Colorado, probe who has been the
legislative support. the first state in the nation target of Trump’s ire.
“This cannot be another to allow recreational mari- Legislation to protect states
episode of @realDon- juana sales. where marijuana is legal is
aldTrump telling somebody “They’ve got a lot of prob- still being drafted.
whatever they want to lems going on right now It may be modeled on a
hear, only to change direc- in Colorado - some big 2014 budget amendment
tions later on,” U.S. Sen. Ron problems,” Trump told the that prevented the De-
Wyden of Oregon, a Dem- crowd. partment of Justice from
ocrat, wrote on Twitter. When he selected Sessions, spending money to en-
Opponents of legalization a former federal prosecu- force federal laws against
said they were concerned. tor and U.S. senator from marijuana users and busi-
“We hope the president Alabama, as his attorney nesses in states that legal-
-- who doesn’t want to be general, marijuana sup- ized the drug and were fol-
SALES OFFICE +297 2801005 info@leventaruba.com known as the ‘Pot Presi- porters girded themselves lowing all applicable state
MOBILE +297 5927275 www.leventaruba.com dent’ -- will reverse course for a crackdown. But Gard- laws.q