By Monterey Bud
United States Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions issued a memo on Wednesday informing personnel in the Department of Justice (DOJ) to expect a review of existing policies/guidelines concerning the federal implementation of marijuana laws.
Established on February 27, a DOJ Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety is currently in the process of reviewing “existing policies” concerning violent crime, illegal immigration, and of course, marijuana enforcement.
According to the AG’s memo, “Task Force subcommittees will examine these issues as well and make recommendations to me on needed improvements.” Due by July 27, the Task Force recommendations will aid Sessions and the DOJ as they work to establish their own set of guidelines for reducing violent crime and dealing with state sanctioned marijuana.
Since being sworn in, Sessions has routinely spoken out in opposition to legalized marijuana and has systematically instilled fear and revulsion in those states that have reformed their laws.
Per the Jeff Sessions memo, task force subcommittees will “undertake a review of existing policies in the areas of charging, sentencing, and marijuana to ensure consistency with the Department’s overall strategy on reducing violent crime and with Administration goals and priorities.”
With the new DOJ marching orders due by midsummer, participants of the new Crime Reduction and Public Safety Task Force were drawn from the federal government’s list of usual suspects. Tapping the director of the ATF, the DEA, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service as Task Force members, these entities will be in charge of reviewing and making recommendations on profitable policies like asset forfeiture.
