POINT PLEASANT BEACH — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder issued a memo today saying the Obama administration would not challenge the decision by voters in Colorado and Washington to decriminalize marijuana possession — a move Gov. Chris Christie quickly criticized and called "a mistake."

The U.S. Department of Justice released a memo to U.S. Attorneys across the country saying that said the federal government "will use its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources to address the most significant threats."

"Based on assurances that those states will impose an appropriately strict regulatory system, the Department is deferring its right to challenge the legalization laws at this time," according to the memo. "Marijuana is and remains illegal under federal law. "

Christie, a former U.S. attorney, said that in his opinion Holders overstepped his authority.

"I think it's a mistake by the Attorney General, frankly. There is no such thing as medical marijuana, it's just marijuana," Christie said. "He essentially by fiat legalized marijuana in Colorado and Washington.That's certainly something I would never do in New Jersey."

"That's to be decided by the congress and president, not by the Attorney General," Christie told reporters during an unrelated press conference in Point Pleasant Beach.

Christie has said publicly that he would never sign a bill pending in the New Jersey legislature if it ever reached his desk.

New Jersey is one of 20 states and Washington D.C. that operates a medical marijuana program.

Holder's decision is consistent with President Obama's statement after Colorado and Washington voters passed the ballot initiative, when he said federal government had “bigger fish to fry” than prosecuting marijuana users.

Star-Ledger staff writer Jenna Portnoy contributed to this report.

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