Four Governors Send Letter to Trump Administration Officials Urging them Respect State Marijuana Laws
Governors from four states have joined forces in sending a letter to Trump Administration officials urging them to support state marijuana laws.
In the letter dated today, Governors Bill Walker (Alaska), John Hickenlooper (Colorado), Kate Brown (Oregon) and Jay Inslee (Washington) begin by asking Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to “engage with us” before embarking on any changes to regulatory and enforcement systems regarding marijuana.
The governors then protect the Cole Memo, stating that overhauling it is “sure to produce unintended and harmful consequences”. They state that “Changes that hurt the regulated market would divert existing marijuana product into the black market and increase dangerous activity in both our states and our neighboring states”.
In a statement released today, Governor Hickenlooper’s adviser on marijuana Mark Bolton stated that; “Any forced change in federal enforcement policy will interrupt the collaborative approach we have taken with local law enforcement and the federal government.. Our hope is that we can continue working with the administration to build on a regulatory system that prioritizes protecting public safety and public health.”