Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) on Thursday ripped Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTrump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status White House officials voted by show of hands on 2018 family separations: report MORE’s decision to roll back an Obama-era policy that allowed states to legalize marijuana, likening it to Prohibition.

“AG Jeff Sessions apparently wants to take America back to the 1920s. Prohibition didn’t work then and it will not work now,” Lieu tweeted.

AG Jeff Sessions apparently wants to take America back to the 1920s. Prohibition didn't work then and it will not work now. Congress needs to pass sensible laws to prevent a monumental waste of precious federal resources chasing Americans who use #cannabis. #thursdaythoughts https://t.co/GP3qPyKIve — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 4, 2018

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Sessions earlier Thursday moved to rescind the so-called Cole memo, which ordered U.S. attorneys in states where marijuana has been legalized to deprioritize prosecution of marijuana-related cases.

Sessions, a vocal critic of marijuana legalization, has hinted for months that he would move to crack down on the growing cannabis market.

It was not immediately clear when Sessions will formally revoke the agreement, authored in 2013 by then-Deputy Attorney General James Cole.

The new policy sets up a battle between the federal government and states that have legalized the drug for recreational use.

Lieu represents a district in California, which on Monday became the sixth state to allow the sale of recreational marijuana.

CNN reported hundreds of people lined up Monday morning at dispensaries to purchase the drug. The policy was expected to create a new business opportunity for some entrepreneurs, with analysts putting the North America cannabis market at $10 billion in annual sales.

Sen. Cory Gardner Cory Scott GardnerAirline job cuts loom in battleground states House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats Congress needs to finalize space weather bill as solar storms pose heightened threat MORE (R-Colo.), whose home state allows the sale of recreational marijuana, also criticized the decision, saying it should be left up to individual states.