Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Wednesday announced the Justice Department has begun reevaluating federal policy on marijuana, according to a memo his office sent to the 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices.
The project will be handled by subcommittees of the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, which Sessions formed to look at a variety of issues, including “developing violent crime reduction strategies, supporting prevention and re-entry efforts, updating charging and sentencing policies, reviewing asset forfeiture guidance, reducing illegal immigration and human trafficking, combatting hate crimes, and evaluating marijuana enforcement policy.”
The Trump administration’s review of pot policies comes after eights years of the Obama administration’s essentially turning a blind eye to progressive state legislation on the drug.
Lawmakers in about two dozen states have proposed bills this year to ease their marijuana laws despite Sessions’ warning that he could crack down on pot.
Bills have been introduced in 17 states this year to make recreational pot legal for adults, while five others are considering voter referendums on the issue. Sixteen states have introduced medical marijuana legislation, 10 are considering decriminalizing the drug and three are considering easing their penalties. An effort in Wyoming to decriminalize the drug failed this session.
