Feds won’t sue to stop marijuana use in Colorado, Washington

The Obama administration says it will not sue to stop Colorado and Washington state’s laws legalizing recreational marijuana use from going into effect. The administration’s Thursday’s announcement clears one of the major concerns for state and local officials who feared the federal government could take action against businesses dealing in the new industry.

Brenna Linsley/Associated Press

×

The Obama administration says it will not sue to stop Colorado and Washington state’s laws legalizing recreational marijuana use from going into effect. The administration’s Thursday’s announcement clears one of the major concerns for state and local officials who feared the federal government could take action against businesses dealing in the new industry.

Brenna Linsley/Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The federal government says it will not sue to stop the states of Colorado and Washington from allowing recreational marijuana use.

In a sweeping national policy announcement, the Justice Department outlined eight top priority areas for its enforcement of marijuana laws.

They range from preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors to preventing sales revenue from going to criminal enterprises, gangs and cartels and preventing the diversion of marijuana outside of states where it is legal under state law.

The announcement follows comments in December by President Barack Obama, who said it does not make sense for the federal government to go after recreational drug users in a state that has legalized recreational use of small amounts of marijuana.