BOSTON–With the recreational marijuana business now legal in Massachusetts—but with a dearth of financial institutions willing to serve the industry–the top federal prosecutor in the state has issued a statement saying his focus when it comes to cannabis will be on overproduction, targeted sales to minors and organized crime.
As CUToday.info reported here, marijuana-related businesses in the Bay State are facing the same issues around security and crime that other states have also experienced and continue to experience as they handle large amounts of cash.
Not a single financial institution in the state has indicated it will provide financial services to the cannabis businesses, with one person with the Commonwealth Dispensary Association calling it a “major concern.”
‘No One Immune,’ But…
Now, with recreational marijuana legal under state law but with distribution still a federal crime, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling issued a statement saying he won't "immunize" state residents from federal enforcement.
But, Lelling added, his office’s focus remains on opioid addiction as it is claiming thousands of lives in the Commonwealth each year. His office will also watch overproduction by licensed growers that increases the sale of illicit sales in neighboring states, and will further be eyeing sales to minors and the involvement of gangs such as MS-13 in the marijuana trade.