The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to prosecutors.

US Justice Department officials said prosecutors would be told it was not a good use of their time to arrest people who used or provided marijuana for medical purposes such as pain relief.

The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce government anti-pot laws. Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Belfast Telegraph