WASHINGTON—President Trump has promised Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) that he will support congressional efforts to protect states that have legalized marijuana from any federal prosecutions.
Trump’s support is designed provide a measure of relief for banks and credit unions that have been concerned about Attorney General Jeff Session’s reversal of Obama-era protections. As CUToday.info reported, Sessions rescinded a broader policy from the former administration that has generally cleared the way for states to implement their own cannabis laws without Justice Department interference.
In January, following Session’s actions, Gardner said he would block all DOJ nominations.
In a phone call, Trump told Gardner that despite the DOJ memo, the marijuana industry in Colorado will not be targeted, the senator said in a statement.
“Since the campaign, President Trump has consistently supported states’ rights to decide for themselves how best to approach marijuana,” Gardner said in a Washington Post report. “…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.
“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,” continued Gardner. “Because of these commitments, I have informed the Administration that I will be lifting my remaining holds on Department of Justice nominees.”