On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice finally addressed its enforcement strategy as it relates to the recent Washington and Colorado initiatives legalizing marijuana in those jurisdictions. In a memo issued to U.S. Attorneys (PDF), Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole announced that the United States would not sue the states to overturn the voter-endorsed initiatives.
The DOJ instead expects to focus on preventing marijuana sales to minors, illegal cartel and gang activity, interstate trafficking of marijuana, and violence and accidents involving the drug. See generally the New York Times report for complete background.
The announcement was welcomed by the Washington State Liquor Control Board, which endorsed Governor Jay Inslee’s view that the U.S. DOJ “helped lay a path forward for Washington and Colorado to implement its systems of producing, processing and retailing recreational marijuana.” The Board explained that, “[our] primary rule-making focus has been to create a tightly regulated market with emphasis on public safety and restricting youth access. In his letter, AG Holder shared the same concerns. . . . The Board is confident that Washington’s recreational marijuana system will meet most, if not all, of the federal government’s stated concerns.”
What does this mean for Washington businesses? They may go forward, at least on a small scale, without the threat that the federal government will immediately sue to suspend I-502 on supremacy cause grounds. They should be careful, however, not to engage in activities that would trigger federal inquiry — that is, those activities outlined by the DOJ on Thursday. There is no question that the DOJ will scrutinize Washington’s implementation of I-502 to make certain it reinforces federal law enforcement priorities.
For example, a business selling recreational marijuana that complies with state laws nevertheless could trigger federal wrath if it were involved in selling pot to Oregon distributors from someone connected to the supply of marijuana from illegal sources, including gangs or cartels. Moreover, the fact remains that marijuana will remain classified as illegal for recreational use by the federal government. Although the new policy is certainly friendly toward I-502 and Washington’s thoughtful implementation of a working pot market, a new administration could revoke the policy and choose to enforce federal law. At the end of the day, the policy removes some uncertainty for the time being. It may be a first step toward legalization under federal law, but it is by no means a permanent green light for Washington marijuana businesses.