By Deb Murphy
Now that Inyo and Mono counties have spent time and resources gauging area acceptance, or not, of recreational marijuana, the U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has roiled the waters.
Late last week, Sessions rolled back the President Obama policy of letting states deal with pot issues. In essence, under the Cole Memorandum the federal agencies did not allocate resources to low level marijuana offenses.
But, marijuana is still federally listed as a Schedule 1 drug, right up there with heroin.
Sessions still leaves the pursuit and prosecution up to federal agencies in each state, but locally Inyo’s District Attorney Tom Hardy has no idea what that will look like.
In an e-mail, Hardy explained the hierarchy of law enforcement. The AG “can’t order state or local authorities to take action. But he can have the DEA, FBI, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and other federal agencies investigate violations of federal laws.”
According to Hardy, federal and state or local agencies worked closely, figuring out on what level to prosecute marijuana violations. “Right now, I have no idea what is going to happen in states with legal cannabis,” he stated.
Both Inyo and Mono counties fall within California’s Eastern District and U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. Scott’s office provided the following statement into which almost anything can be read:
“The cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana has long been and remains a violation of federal law for all purposes. We will evaluate violations of those laws in accordance with our district’s federal law enforcement priorities and resources. We will continue our long-standing efforts to assess and address the unique threats and challenges facing our district together with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners.”
Sessions and the shift in federal policy wasn’t even mentioned at yesterday’s Inyo Supervisors’ meeting as they approved the county’s cannabis ordinances. The only major change from prior hearings: Planning Director Cathreen Richards strongly recommended not allowing non-volatile manufacturing in residential zones—citing non-compliance with Inyo’s General Plan.
Next Tuesday, the Supervisors will hold the second reading with the ordinances going into effect 30 days later. Deputy County Counsel John Vallejo explained staff will use those 30 days to work through licensing details. With the permitting time-frame anticipated to take 60 days, the first commercial operations could open for business by spring or early summer.
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The states created the federal goverment. Federal law does not superceed state law. Read the Constitution and bill of rights. To hell with the federal goverment.
You might read article VI of the Constitution. Especially the “Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding” part.
“States’ rights!..But only when we agree.”
Such hypocrisy.
No surprise.
Inyo Citizen…That is so true,but even more so than County and/or State, nowdays how about the COUNTRY ?…someone so foolishly voted into the highest office in 2016,that actually lost the popular vote in America by millions,if you don’t agree with him,or worse yet,if the whole State doesn’t agree with him by not voting for him,giving him those oh so important electorial votes he so wanted and craved for his “legacy and fame”,threatens to cut anytype of Federal aide if they don’t agree with him…good thing about it is,just all talk,not going to happen,sanctuary state or not… my only hope is,after his stupid talk this week about Africa and Haiti,and who else was it…El Salvador ?,I’m only hoping these Countries don’t look at all of Americans as racist,bigoted butt-holes,just a small minority,not all of those that supported him and voted for him in 2016….I think most of them voted for him because of maybe hoping for better economics and tired of what’s going on in Washington D.C.,not so much agreeing with his racist and bigot views….at least I hope so.I hope the next generation is learning a big lesson from all this,and hope the Democratic party learned a BIG lesson too,next time nominate someone that doesn’t carry a bunch of baggage and just hope they will win just because of being the lesser of two evils.And I am so glad whoever sits in the oval office has nothing what-so-ever to do with my own life in any way,other than feeling sorry how he’s making America,not only the laughing stock of the World,but looked down on by just about every Country, maybe seeing all of us as a bunch of fools.
All trump and Fed bull**** talk with that here….the State voted to legalize….the Feds don’t like it cause they know they can’t control the black market and not getting their taxes from it….and trump don’t like California ,since they didn’t kiss his butt and give him all those electorial votes in 2016,and the “fame” it would’ve given him if he had won California….users and buyers,nothing to worry about at all…growers and sellers,do as you been doing..just gotta be careful who you talk to and deal with,that’s all….