Subject Block DOJ from interfering with state marijuana laws

Dear Member of Congress,

Message Body I am writing to request that you include an amendment in the CJS component of the pending appropriations bill package that prohibits the Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration from using federal funds to interfere in state-legal marijuana laws. This is urgent because Attorney General Jeff Sessions has rescinded Obama-era guidance by the Department of Justice allowing states to implement their own marijuana laws with limited federal interference. The 2013 “Cole Memorandum” gave states a tentative green light to move forward with marijuana legalization, while preserving the ability to prosecute in certain circumstances. In practice, it meant that states could feel relatively confident about moving forward with legalization, without federal intrusion. Appropriations negotiations are happening over the next two weeks. Congress can and must put the brakes on Sessions’ destructive agenda by limiting the Justice Department’s ability to undermine states’ decision-making. There is bipartisan support for states setting their own marijuana laws. Since 2014, the US Congress has approved the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment each year to stop the Justice Department from intervening in medical marijuana states. And in 2015 the (Republican-controlled) House came close to passing the McClintock-Polis amendment to stop the Justice Dept. from intervening in states that have legalized marijuana more broadly. A number of prominent Republican and Democratic governors and senators have sent letters to Jeff Sessions requesting that the Justice Department respect states’ rights on this issue. President Donald Trump has in the past also said he thought this issue should be left to the states. Vermont just became the first state ever to approve marijuana legalization through the state legislature. Now the bill goes to Governor Phil Scott who has indicated he will sign it into law. As Vermont moves towards becoming the 9th state to legalize marijuana, similar efforts to do the same through state legislatures are also happening in places like New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York. While progress is continuing despite Sessions’ destructive agenda, Congress must fight for protections to prevent any future federal attacks on marijuana legalization. Rescinding the Cole memo is not just an attack on sensible marijuana polices — it’s an attack on civil and human rights. Marijuana prohibition has resulted in the arrest of massive numbers of people, especially in communities of color. If Congress doesn’t act now, businesses and consumers in states that have legalized marijuana will be at risk of harassment and prosecution by the federal government. Accordingly, I urge you to block the DOJ from spending money to interfere in states that have legalized marijuana and stand against any attempts to undermine marijuana laws by Jeff Sessions’ Justice Department.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

[Your Address]