BREAKING: Colorado Senator Gardner Says Trump Has Agreed to Support States’ Legal Weed Protections
The president promised Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado that he will support congressional efforts to protect states that have legalized marijuana, reported the Washington Post, thus defusing a months-long standoff between the Republican Senator and the Trump administration over Justice Department (DOJ) nominees.
This past January, Senator Gardner said he would block all DOJ nominations after Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo rescinding Obama era guidance on marijuana and states’ rights, which raised the specter a national weed crackdown.
Gardner, who was furious when Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, has been holding up about 20 DOJ nominees.
But now, it seems the president has changed his mind (or backed down?) and a deal has been struck. At least this episode of Trump’s change of heart won’t get thousands of people killed…and for that we are grateful.
Senator Gardner explained: “Late Wednesday, I received a commitment from the President that the Department of Justice’s rescission of the Cole memo will not impact Colorado’s legal marijuana industry,” reported the Washington Post on Friday.
“Furthermore, President Trump has assured me that he will support a federalism-based legislative solution to fix this states’ rights issue once and for all.”
A bill has not been finalized, but Gardner has been talking with other senators about a legislative fix that would, in effect, make clear the federal government cannot interfere with states that have voted to legalize marijuana.
“Because of these commitments, I have informed the Administration that I will be lifting my remaining holds on Department of Justice nominees. My colleagues and I are continuing to work diligently on a bipartisan legislative solution that can pass Congress and head to the President’s desk to deliver on his campaign position.”
Stay tuned for updates.
